Street Photography Process

   This assignment was truly frustrating. Three evenings in a row I went out to explore Tri-Cities in search of an area that had a group of people to photograph, and I was continuously disappointed. However, I feel that I had several things holding me back aside from the obvious challenge of finding a location. I was so focused on finding an interesting spot that had interesting people that I probably didn't notice many good opportunities around me. I was searching for something specific when I should have been just taking in the world around me for what it was. Furthermore, the fear of confrontation with someone also held me back. I saw a couple opportunities for great shots, but I did not capture them because I was too afraid to ask a stranger if I could photograph them. Ultimately, I'm not pleased with any of my final images, but I greatly appreciate the exercise in making me a bit more courageous and unapologetic in taking photographs around the city.

   My journeys through Tri-Cities somehow always took me to the Uptown Mall at the end of the night. The neon signs and the bars really intrigue me, and I feel that the nightlife lends itself to great street photography as well as the photographs that I want to take personally. The final image that I chose was taken at the Uptown outside of a restaurant. It was one of the few images I was able to capture of people being candid, and I enjoy the symmetry of it (I watched a Wes Anderson movie this weekend). None of my work in this class had been in black and white before, and I though this image was a good fit for more of a film noir aesthetic.