Project365 - Street Photography

Introduction

I travel to Las Vegas at least once a year. I love the glamour and the bright lights. It's simply a photographer's paradise to shoot at night ! But when the sun is shining, the same glitz looks a little bit shabby. Many parts of the infamous Las Vegas Strip are downright seedy !

I am learning about Street Photography. While there is no prescriptive definition of the term, the very best examples depict real people in real situations. Often, their faces are wrought with raw emotion. Admittedly, I am not very good at it.

The Setup

Truth be told, this was a spur of the moment, "out the car window" shot ! I used my Canon 60D handheld, with my "general purpose" Canon 24-105mm f/4 L series lens. Back button focus was extremely helpful in getting this shot !

The Photo

When I first took the shot, I was looking at the man and his dog. I was interested by the expression on the man's face & and the state of his dog. Frankly, I never noticed the OTHER homeless man, huddled beside the railing ! When I compare the two, it makes me realize that homelessness has many faces.

Lessons Learned

This photo was not so much about technique or even composition. It's about learning to "see" the environment, and capturing it faithfully. While I was unable to capture the other man's face, mostly because I never saw it, you can still feel an element of desperation in his body language.