The streets are a vibrant canvas of human experiences, emotions, and stories waiting to be captured through the lens of a camera. In this article, I’ll share my personal journey in street photography, the challenges I’ve faced, and the rewarding moments that keep me passionate about this beautiful art.

I love nothing more than walking round the city I live in armed with my camera, usually a 35mm Pentax K1000 loaded with black and white film and 50mm lens, but any of my cameras will do. I enjoy observing life and people going about their business and more often than not something is always happening in the city, whether that’s a demonstration, live music or street performances.

There’s something about a 35mm camera that makes it easy to open a dialogue with people that would normally just keep on walking without giving you a second glance. A random encounter with a guy that stopped and said “don’t photograph me” changed his mind completely after a few seconds and I grabbed a portrait of him and his father.

Street photography for me is about life, it helps me train my eye to capture fleeting moments that are profound, humorous or concerning. Its an exercise in observation, capturing a moment that somehow resonates. Sometimes multiple things in life align to create a moment that if not photographed just flashes by and is lost forever.

Every street photography session is an adventure filled with surprises. You never know what you might encounter on any given day. This element of unpredictability keeps the art form fresh and exciting. Whether it’s a serendipitous encounter or a fleeting moment, street photography has taught me to be alert and ready to seize the opportunity when it presents itself.