Authenticity in Photography

This may fall under the idea of being original, but I would say it also includes being true to yourself and that, to me, means pouring some feeling into what you want to portray in your work. Not doing the work for the sake of praise, or accolades, but for the love of producing something that can be of service - now, and/or for generations to come.

Developing your own style is one thing, but style without meaning is nothing. Style without feeling may be just as bad as an empty imitation. Pretentiousness and ego need no place in street photography - the work is what is important, not the photographer. It is the work which as to last through the ages, not the photographer, not awards, or recognition.

I look at other photographers work to find what I like, what I can improve on in my own work - the idea is not to imitate, but incorporate elements which I believe can enhance my photos, and to enhance my own strategy and philosophy about photography, especially street photography.

Again, what is street photography? I’ve written about this before but as I keep practicing, I believe the definition keeps becoming more and more complex. As I look at the photos I’ve taken over the past year, I realise that many of them, for me, become more meaningful as time passes. I look back and I say to myself: I’m glad I took that - I’m glad I went out that day. Many of the images I’ve taken are sources of deep introspection for me, and although many are merely fractions of fleeting moments, my value for them continues to grow over time. Each moment becoming part of a gallery of a time and place that can be considered an anomaly: interesting, beautiful, chaotic, sublime.

The year is closing, and I feel like there’s much work still left to be done for the few weeks left. i’ll be out and about, pushing my mind to see more, to preserve the exciting, and banal - all extraordinary in this dear land of mine.