Honestly, I literally have no idea. Each and everyday is an adventure. I take the LA's public transit to go to the different neighborhoods. So far it's been both convenient and inconvenient but none of that matters when at the end of the day, I have that one shot that makes sense to me. For me, having good photos means that the images strike people's thoughts and emotions. If I accomplished that then my work is done. I do this not for monetary gain but for personal growth and satisfaction.
So far it's been an interesting few months of shooting as I try to develop my personal style. Not knowing where street photography will take me doesn't mean I don't have direction. It's actually the opposite. I know I'm moving forward because of what the previous experiences carved in me. No longer am I afraid to take that shot, that one decisive moment where you feel as if the consequences of taking someones photo outweighs the benefits you receive. In the words of a fellow street photographer, Eric Kim. "The worst that could happen is to get yelled at." I for one really agree with that because I know my city but a different rule applies to photographing illegal activities or gang members. The rule is to NOT do it for your own sake.
One really big tip I can give to aspiring street photographers like myself, is to connect rather than disconnect with your shooting environment. By this I mean with the streets. There's no better way to really feel and predict upcoming events around you than by using all possible senses to compose your shot. Which means take off those earphones! Plus you'll never get a good response from people if you zone them out and treat them like wildlife.
Street Photography takes time to learn and the internet is your friend. My direction is based on the past experiences of myself and others. The internet truly has helped shaped a lot of dreams but you can never live it if you don't go out there and shoot!
One really big tip I can give to aspiring street photographers like myself, is to connect rather than disconnect with your shooting environment. By this I mean with the streets. There's no better way to really feel and predict upcoming events around you than by using all possible senses to compose your shot. Which means take off those earphones! Plus you'll never get a good response from people if you zone them out and treat them like wildlife.
Street Photography takes time to learn and the internet is your friend. My direction is based on the past experiences of myself and others. The internet truly has helped shaped a lot of dreams but you can never live it if you don't go out there and shoot!
Norman Estrologo © 2011 Los Angeles based Street Photographer