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January 25, 2013

6 Comments »

1. Hi John, Are you doing any shows between May 30 and June 11th? I’ll be in Tokyo at that time. If you’re free, let me know…lunch is my treat.

   Comment by Jim Clinefelter — January 26, 2013 @ 2:40 pm

2. Great shots John. Put me on the list for your book!

   Comment by davy — January 27, 2013 @ 7:57 am

3. Alright, I’ll bite.

   What do you classify it all as, then?

   Comment by Colin Corneau — February 4, 2013 @ 12:09 pm

4. It’s all just photography- – I’ve watched from a distance how this online Street Phoot (SP?) community thing has developed over the past few years and at it’s best it’s an opportunity to view some interesting new work- and other times, due to the personalities involved and popular/faddish methods employed, it’s just not something I’m not interested in actively engaging in or being associated with. The fact that this has gotten misinterpreted as elitism or pretension in the past is mystifying.

   Comment by John — February 6, 2013 @ 8:40 pm

5. There’s always going to be those who insist on ‘going one’s own way’ who ironically criticize others when they do precisely that.
   For what it’s worth, my take on it is simply that my view of it has been shaped by my surroundings and the influence of others I’ve been lucky to cross paths with.

   I’ve always looked at photography as a way to connect to others; taking someone’s picture is like having a conversation with them.

   Most of the ‘street photography’ I do is centred around a sense of community. I portray my small city and just try to record what it’s like to be there. Maybe decades later, it can be a kind of historical record or convey an impression.
   I got inspired to this way of thinking by sources I’ve mentioned before (and can pass along if anyone’s interested) who have recorded a time and a place…for me this adds a whole other dimension to photography than the trendy aspects you mentioned.
   I was horrified, a while back, to see a YouTube video of some self-professed street photographer who lunges at strangers on the street, setting off a powerful flash in their face…they even had music from old western gunfighter movies as a soundtrack! In either case, I guess it speaks to motivation.

   Comment by Colin Corneau — February 14, 2013 @ 6:27 am

6. Yes, I like taking photos in the street, but the prevalent culture in street photography does pander to that rather aggressive lunging which I doesn’t suit my personality. So I also choose not to self-identify as a street photographer.

   Love the mask. Something very alluring about photos of people in masks. I have dozens.

   Comment by Darren — March 16, 2013 @ 9:06 am

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