POST 10: Into a street photographer's mind

Remember back in high school where everybody had their own opinions on something but nobody ever got the courage to shout it out. Everybody was hiding their feelings until one precise moment, when a person asks the right question. Suddenly one's opinion could start a controversy, an argument, a debate about the specific topic. One must ask to know another one's perspective.

To be able to know more information about street photographers and why they practice this art, Interviewers ask very intelligent and specific questions. Romulo Avendano, a Venezuelan street photographer, was interviewed by someone who uses the username "Will" on the website www.photoswarm.com.

Here is a few questions Romulo was asked followed by his answers.:



1.Much of your work is street photography, what drove you in this direction?

"I’m driven by the adrenaline that I feel whilst I’m in the street looking through my lens. I find I can get past language barriers, ignore fears and overlook concerns just to get the image I’m looking for."



This is what most street photographers call their motivation, the feeling of taking a picture with their equipment at risk. Not to mention themselves.  They also think about the reaction of their subject (if they are human).



2.Have you ever offended anybody or found yourself in a sticky situation because of street photography?

"One thing I learned early on in my studies is to be very careful with my camera. It’s very easy to unintentionally cause a negative reaction in the people you’re hoping to photograph and I understand that not everyone wants to be photographed – and nor do photographers have a license to invade their space!" 

Like Romulo, he experiences problems with the public especially regarding one's privacy. The knowledge that one may intimidate another with all the equipment that a photographer's holding may cause a violent reaction, or a great moment has passed. Though most photographers worry about what their subject may do if they take a picture of some random person on the street.


Despite the problems that street photography have, It would be easy and fun. But then it wouldn't be called street photography. The information on this post may serve as a guide or may be an inspiration to others that everybody encounters problems with what they love to do. Of course Romulo is a well known photographer, but his human subjects are not professionals when it comes to candid photographs.

And so we can say that learning from another person is best.





The interview of Romulo Avendano by Will is located here : http://www.photoswarm.com/blog/interview-street-photographer-romulo-avendano/


Romulo Avendano's work: http://www.romulex.com/images/india

All images used are from Romulo Avendano