reflections of a street photographer

If you ask me, and, you mostly likely did not ask, I have opinions on street photography.  But, it seems everyone has opinions.  Some of the content creators have strong opinions.  Some of street photographers have strong opinions.  But they’re all just… opinions. There is no NIST standard.  And remember, Vivian Meyer was never selected by Magnum, or even discovered for that matter.  Magnum selected a guy who will shove a camera in someone’s face, but can’t discover someone who saw a slice of life never seen until after they died.  They have opinions. There are to many opinions, is mine.  But it’s 2026, and I’ve got some reflections.

(There’s a pseudo promise this is going somewhere, just hold tight a little.)  Horton plaza was this great place to go take photos. It sucked a lot of us in with it’s quirky design, mix of high end and homeless. It wasn’t the start of street photography for me, but was definitely a place that was a spark. Hours would be spent there, wandering, or sitting in place, watching people go by and light change. You could get lost in time there. Second to that was Symphony Towers on B street.  Being a bit of a contrast and symmetry addict, it fits a niche that will make me lean like someone in the midst of a fenty fold. In the street, at most any hour. I don’t see many others do it, if at all. I come back to it often, different lenses, time of day, angles, positions, with varied results. Sometimes inadvertently getting the same angle, lens, timish of the day and a similar photo.  Except, it’s not.  This is the subtle difference between Ichi-go Ichi-e (一期一会) and Mono no Aware (物の哀れ). Looking a Symphony Towers in the reflection of the building across from it, it struck me. Street photography is an appreciation of the now, with an understand that it will not last. Except in your photo. Except in your photo(s).