Chance Encounters
The Art of Street Portaits
I like street photography for its ability to capture candid, unposed moments of daily life. I enjoy the simplicity of carrying one camera on a walk about town and capturing images as they present themselves. However, there can sometimes be an intersection between observation and interaction where a portrait presents itself. By working definintion, street portraiture involves photographing strangers in public spaces, capturing their likeness with their consent. It blends candid and posed styles, as photographers approach individuals for a photo and may offer direction to the subject. These images are not stolen from a distance but are gifted through a moment of human connection. The value of such a photograph lies not only in its composition but in the courage of the photographer to initiate, and the generosity of the subject to accept, an impromptu collaboration that documents the beauty of the human spirit.
When I first started taking street photos, I focused on architecture, unnoticed details in the grit of the street, or reflections in windows. I would abide by an unwritten social contract to respect people’s personal space when they are out in public. Over time I became more comfortable with my camera and confident in my abilities to work up the courage to ask someone to let me take their photograph. My senior portrait sessions are meticulously planned, every detail of location, lighting and wardrobe worked out weeks in advance. The street portrait on the other hand is predicated on the serendipity of the moment when I see a face or personality that speaks from the crowd. This initial spark is followed by a leap of faith when I decide to approach a stranger to ask for a photo. Success depends entirely on the ability to navigate this social dance with grace and respect. I only have a few moments to establish a rapport.
I am not an authority on street portraiture but here are a few of my guidelines:
I never approach someone in distress. I am not a photojournalist looking for a Pulitzer. Respect people.
I try to start with eye contact, a smile, and a gesture towards the camera. If they don’t reciprocate I move on. Regardless of how compelling the image may be I won’t push, show respect. (Bruce Gilden’s work is remarkable but I find his method to be obnoxious)
I make my intention clear. I am an ametuer photographer and I just like taking photos of people in the street. No agenda. I give them a contact card or let them take a photo of my screen if they like the picture. Rarely I have had someone ask me to delete the picture. This is an exchange, respect their wishes and delete the picture.
I don’t waste their time. Know your gear, know the light, get the shot. I limit the exchange to three clicks, unless they ask me to shoot a few more. Every image I posted here (except two) was a one and done. You can message me to guess the two that were more than three.
I always thank my subject for taking the time and offer some parting compliment.
I tend to approach men more than women simply because as a man it my be threatening to randomly approach a woman on the street and ask to take her photo. When I do approach a female subject it is always in an open area.
It is a testament to the fundamental human desire for connection that so many of these encounters result in a successful portrait. In the few years I have worked on street portraits I have yet to enounter any hostility from people I have approached. Plenty of “no thanks”, but more “sure, why not?” At the end of most exchanges the subject thanks me for the photo. The portrait, therefore, becomes more than just a picture of a person; it is a document of a moment of mutual trust.
In an era where carefully curated digital identities dominate, the authentic, unposed street portrait is a refreshing and powerful counterpoint celebrating all that is messy, and beautiful in the human experience. I have found the practice of creating street portraits from chance encounters a deeply rewarding artistic pursuit. It has refined my eye for light and composition, while honing my social skills.
These photographs are precious to me not only for the stories they tell but for the stories of their creation where a stranger becomes a subject, and a brief exchange becomes a lasting image. They are a celebration of the unplanned and a profound testament to the power of human connection in the modern world.
Go out and make connections, you wont regret it. Thanks for reading.