I’m sure we have all had times and moments we wish we could have again, the opportunity to capture something or someone we missed. I know that I certainly do. More often than not – that moment has gone and we have missed it, it will never happen again, almost certainly not as we witnessed it. For myself, they exist only in my mind now, memories of what I wished I had taken when the opportunities presented themselves and images not captured. Now, they live as regrets and they haunt my photographic mind.
The type of photography I’m writing about here are missed opportunities with people, or scenes involving people, the moments that only happen once, miss them and they are gone, usually forever. There have been instances where I didn’t have a camera with me, in the days of film, so no cell phone either. On some occasions, when I have been carrying a camera - I lacked the courage to take the shot. I will relate a couple of instances shortly.
Making images of people, especially if you’re up close to them, is not an easy thing, some photographers shy away from it, or use a long lens. My style of photography usually involves me being fairly close-in and using a 17mm-35mm lens – so anyone you may be photographing, with those focal lengths, certainly knows about it! However, it’s when you have such close proximity to your subject(s), your images take on a different life, one that shooting them from afar cannot capture, because they lack the intimacy that being so close can bring.
Years ago, whilst in India – Mumbai (though it will forever be Bombay to me), I was out with an aunt, we were in one of the many back lanes of Bandra, our family's home for generations. We came upon three women pounding spices into masala, it was an age-old traditional method, standing - using long poles, pounding the spices in stone vessels into fresh masala. An amazing sight and one, which my aunt told me, would be gone soon, I never did see this again. I didn’t have my camera with me. I didn’t learn my lesson that day.
It may have been the same day, perhaps a few days later…out one evening with my aunt and uncle, we went to Versova Beach, as the evening catch was being brought in by fisherman. It was crowded, the late evening sky was glorious shades of reds, pinks, oranges and yellows. The fishing boats, were packed onto the beach, the catch being unloaded by fisherman. Fisherwomen selling the fresh catch and people buying their fish. I cannot fully describe the amazing scene that was laid before me, nor can I convey my emotions and yes, I didn’t have my camera with me. Sadly, I still hadn’t learnt my lesson.
Three years ago – almost to the day, (as I write this), I was out early one morning with my camera, walking along the quiet streets of Zihuatanejo, in Mexico (The Shawshank Redemption – if you have seen and remember the movie). There were a few people about and I walked past a sight I have huge regrets of not shooting, it was a beautiful setting and my courage failed me. I was very used to shooting complete strangers and had done so, so many times in the preceding days. But here and now, armed and ready, I lacked one vital ingredient – courage. The scene, you may ask, was of a family – a man standing by the roadside, his wife sitting on the edge of the road, breast feeding their baby and their young daughter standing beside her mother. They had seen me, there were very few people around, but apart from me they were alone in the tableau, had I shot it. It was so natural, calm, a truly engaging moment and I wish to this day and forever more that I had stopped to ask for permission to capture that beautiful moment – this was not the time for street photography, respect was called for here. I know that many people interested in street photography feel or think that stopping to ask, will/may impact the situation and the corresponding photograph, I don’t feel that stopping to ask would have changed the shot in this instance – here, in this situation, nothing would have changed.
A trip to St Louis in the USA a few years earlier found me on a deserted street, with my camera, I saw a group of men, they were chatting and I approached them. They made for great subjects – this was no situation to walk up and shoot. I spoke to them and asked if I could shoot their portraits – I already knew the answer was “no”. I was told that very quietly and calmly by the biggest member of the group. There was certainly no surprise and I understood why they didn’t want any photographs taken of them. I’ll admit I was a little scared, I was totally on my own, but I should have remembered this day and taken my chance in Zihuatanejo.
Every situation is different and we are all individuals with our own personalities, approaching strangers is not easy. Photographing people in a controlled situation can be challenging. Photographing strangers on a street, life as it happens, is much harder. If you don’t take the opportunities as and when they present themselves, if you don’t ask or try – you may well have regrets, as I do.
After many years of photographing strangers, I still find it a little intimidating walking up to or stopping people, there is always a little nervous energy present. There will always be an amount of nervousness and anticipation – there has to be – you and I are human. It’s not for everyone, though some people are better at this than others. My point here is that you have to try – it is the only way to limit your regrets.
Let me end by relating an amusing encounter which took place last month in Toronto… a little street photography, portraits of strangers, a visit to RIC – Ryerson Image Centre…
Walking along the road, three striking women (I’m playing this down), walked out of a hotel. I couldn’t help but notice them. The tallest of the three bumped into me and apologised (I’d like to think it was on purpose, but she was looking at her phone) – I smiled and said, “no problem” and quickly seized upon the opportunity to ask if they wouldn’t mind me taking a couple of photos of them. There were a few quick glances exchanged between them and I thought they were going to agree. However, one of them apologised, explaining that they were in Toronto from BC and were late for a meeting, so no. It seemed a little odd to me, their demeanor, the bags they were carrying and it took me a few moments to realize their purpose here was probably not what I was being told. I shot a few frames as they walked away – this is street acceptable to me and no faces were involved. Still, it brings a smile to my face. No regrets.
Needless to say, I can’t show you the images in my mind, the missed opportunities…but in this post I have shared with you a few images, the occasions I have stopped and asked people for their permission to take a photograph or two.
When I was younger, I took so many things for granted, not so now, at least I hope not – one thing’s for certain – I do spend more time in thought and if you happen upon me…it’s unusual these days to find me without a camera.