I am a Street Photographer.
Now, for those of you who know me well, (family, friends, etc.), this may sound odd. You know me for doing other types of photography. But things change.
It all started in 2005, when I won a Canon Digital Rebel XT. At that time I thought, “Wow, ok, so I have a camera now. This might be kinda fun.” Little did I know that I was about to begin a long and wonderful journey. I immersed myself into photography, learning as much as I could. I read articles, bought books, and watched videos, trying to soak up as much information as possible. I experimented with camera settings just to see what would happen.
I dabbled in every genre of photography out there. From weddings to portraits, abstracts to landscapes, macro to commercial, I tried to find my niche. And it was landscapes that eventually won. (Although it’s the hardest to make any money from!) I love going out on my own and capturing that colorful sunset, or dramatic fog, or snowy mountain range. Mother Nature sure can put on a show!
However, I was never really satisfied. Sure, people told me the images were great and that I should sell them. But something was still missing.
I’ve always been drawn to crowds and bustling cities. Ok, let me clarify something here. Standing in line at the Kreutzberg Monastery in Germany, with people pushing me and tripping over my son’s stroller is not what I mean. But I love being around people. Maybe it’s from being in the military and traveling to European countries where there are always people and places to see that I love people. Or maybe it’s because I’ve always liked to just “people watch”. Whatever the case it’s people that fascinate me.
Since moving to Arizona from Wyoming I’ve loved going to Phoenix and walking around watching life in the streets. (Not to mention the great weather!) I’ve gone out solo and with groups, always seeing something new and exciting. And after finding other Street Photographers online (Eric Kim, Charlie Kirk, and Bellamy Hunt just to name a few) and reading their blogs and watching their videos, I’ve completely fallen in love with Street Photography. It’s unplanned, spontanious, and always surprising. I capture life’s little moments as they happen.
I try to approach Street Photography like I’m documenting life in hopes that future generations (and maybe even visitors from out of this world!) will understand what life was like during my stay on Planet Earth. Just think about it. If there were no Street Photographers, there would be no real documentation of life. Pretty heavy.
I’m extremely greatful to have such a loving family who supports me while I take this great journey. Without them, I’d go nowhere.
I am a Street Photographer.
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