John Lipscomb – Street Photography
Street Photography is a delicate interplay between anticipation, patience and quite often blind luck! It thrives on the ability to seize a decisive moment when all the elements align in a single frame. It asks of us a quiet presence and an attentive eye to capture the beauty and spontaneity of everyday life. Yet, the reward is so much more than the image alone.
From the moment I first saw her on the station platform, I was captivated. She boarded the train with her family and sat across the aisle.
I did not want to intrude in their lives or create the wrong impression. I simply wanted to capture a moment naturally. After I checked my camera settings and waited patiently, the opportunity finally arrived. Just as I raised the camera to my eye and pressed the shutter, she looked at me.
A moment like this, is the magic. Even in the briefest encounter, capturing one in an expression of authenticity and vulnerability is a witness to the beauty of the human experience.
And this…is why I am a Street Photographer!
When I first looked at this photograph, the blonde hair and the blonde hat were the first things I noticed. The hair was not especially interesting to me, but the hat was!
I started to research cowboy hats and learned that the most popular ones are made of fur based felt. Others are made from straw. The lesser expensive straw hats are molded from plastics but the more expensive ones are “woven”. And there it was…the perfect title!
I went back to the photograph to confirm my decision. This time, I noticed her eyes. I realized that “woven” does not describe her hat as much as it characterizes her being. Who she is today has been woven by experiences and time.
It’s fascinating how a single element, initially perceived as merely an interesting detail, can evolve into a powerful metaphor for deeper meaning. It reminds me that a simple photograph, taken in a split second, can teach me something about the human condition and myself. As photographers and storytellers, it encourages us not to look at the composition with just our eyes, but with our heart and mind as well.
Do we ever really lose the identity of our youth?
Psychologist and Artist Erik Erikson’s eight stages of psychosocial development, suggest that one’s identity is a continuous process of self-development and that the understanding of “self” changes and evolves with accumulated experiences and different life stages as we age.
But, is the degree to which one’s identity changes a complex interplay of internal and external factors or does the idea of a soul suggest a deeper, potentially unchanging core? Does the understanding of “self” evolve and change rendering our youthful ideals a distant memory or Is there something deep down inside, so entrenched and engrained in us that it never really leaves our soul?
I don’t know about you, but for me, the ideals of my youth are still center stage even though the audience has long abandoned the theatre and all that remains is a tattered script. I feel its unique presence whenever I hear a song from the past, communicate with an old friend or peruse a 1972 TV Guide.
Now that I am older, there is contentment in embracing my youthful ideology…with the wisdom to know why it mattered to me in the first place.
I am certain she thought my intentions were less than honorable. People can sometimes reach spurious conclusions during an unexpected encounter. I get it!
It was really quite innocent…My camera simply thought her eyes were beautiful!
I will never be accused of being one who is stylishly and neatly dressed with an elegant or sophisticated flair. But…that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate those who do!
It would be fascinating to know all the conscious, subconscious and unconscious thoughts that tumble through her mind on a daily basis.
I suspect it is loud in there. But then again…it’s loud in there for everyone!
I have often heard that if you edit a photograph, you are not being true to the craft. After all, the Masters never edited their photographs! Correct?
If you have an opportunity to view the detailed notes made on the negative by master printer, Pablo Inirio, for the production of Dennis Stock’s 1955 iconic photo of James Dean in Times Square, you will note the extensive degree of darkroom ‘manipulation’ commonly employed in the creation of some of photography’s greatest images. Almost one hundred years earlier, the 1860 photograph of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln standing next to the Emancipation Proclamation is actually a composite of Lincoln’s head and the Southern politician John C. Calhoun’s body.
When it comes to editing, Photography lost its innocence not long after Niepce ushered in the art in 1814. But to me, the dichotomy is not, if or if not, a photo is manipulated but is the photograph taken or made.
Street Photography, by its very nature would imply that one is “taking” a picture…The split second act of clicking the shutter to reveal an unscripted singular moment in time. While this is true, Street Photography is also “made”. One often considers location, lighting, depth of field, shutter speed and framing…not to mention the art of recognizing the uniqueness of a particular subject matter!
Even though the debate rages on, I choose not to participate. I really don’t care if I take or make a photograph. I simply want to steal someone’s soul….If only for a moment.
In mathematics, the Fibonacci sequence is one in which each number is the sum of the two preceding ones.
In geometry, the golden angle is the smaller of two angles created by sectioning the circumference of a circle according to the golden ratio; that is, into two arcs such that the ratio of the length of the smaller arc to the length of the larger arc is the same as the ratio of the length of the larger arc to the full circumference of the circle.
Within a Sunflower, each floret is oriented toward the next by approximately the golden angle and produces a pattern of interconnecting spirals. The number of left spirals and the number of right spirals are successive Fibonacci numbers. The beauty is simple yet the complexity is stunning!
The sunflower symbolizes adoration, loyalty, warmth, positivity and strength. One of strong bonds, lasting hope and love…but only if it turns into the light.
A Physiological Optical Illusion is dependent on the over stimulation of the brain’s senses. The eye sees so much light, movement, color, size and dimension that it confuses the brain. At first glance, a two-dimensional figure appears to be three-dimensional because the brain immediately interprets it to be that way.
A Psychological illusion is somewhat different. It is one in which the heart chooses how to feel the light, movement, color, size and dimension. But as before, in its entirety…it too is just an illusion.
Not everything of Love moves as it is portrayed.
Mural By: puckmcgruff (Matt Moore-Luminous Lane-Charlotte, NC USA)
Vivarium is Latin for “Place of Life”. It is an area, usually enclosed, for keeping and raising animals for observation or research.
An article I recently read on the subject stated; “An enclosure is considered a vivarium if it provides quality of life through naturalistic components such as living space and natural decor that allow and encourage natural behaviors.”
This photograph certainly depicts naturalistic components and behavior in an enclosed space, but for some reason…I don’t think this is what they had in mind!
I seldom ask permission to take the shot. In this moment I did…and my intuition was rewarded!
Albeit replete with potential subject matter, I rarely photograph at city bus stations. The risk of irrational confrontation outweighs the reward!
This day was different. I had been walking for hours and decided to rest and observe. It soon became apparent that there was an ample supply of people who had no where to go. This was fascinating to me. After all, it is a bus station!
As I contemplated the reason, I realized that many were there to dawdle, sleep, eat, smoke cigarettes, erratically yell at one another and otherwise engage in a whole lot of nothingness. Everything but get on the bus!
With an abundant supply of resources, I suspect the bus station provides asylum from daily life on the street. It is also a public space, so you are free from the harassment of law enforcement. You can always claim you are waiting on the bus.
I wonder where they go at night…when the last bus leaves.
I intentionally travelled to the alley at twilight to photograph this mural by Joshua McQuary. Better known as McMonster.
As I was about to take the shot, a figure unexpectedly walked into the frame. I could not have staged it better…even if I tried!
A subculture is a group of people within society that differentiates itself from the standard values of the general culture to which it belongs. Examples include Hippies, Furries, Goths, Hip-Hoppers, Cosplayers, Metalheads, Hipsters, and Yuppies…just to name a few.
But why do subcultures exist? Do these groups organically form because the dominant culture does not meet the needs, interests or shared experiences of an individual? Is the choice a deliberate decision that is methodically plotted with careful consideration or is it by unmitigated chance?
It is irrelevant if the process is conscious or not. The sense of identity and belonging one derives from a chosen subculture brings security, fulfillment and comfort…Just like Cashmere!
1/1000 of a second. That’s all it took. 1/1000 of a second…One flash of life.
1/1000 of a second…That’s all it takes.
Body language is the nonverbal signals we use to communicate our feelings and intentions to others. I have read that 60% to 65% of how we interact with one another is in silence.
During an unanticipated public encounter, is stroking ones hair a sign of confidence or a means to self-soothe during an uncomfortable moment? Is holding your hand to the face a display of surprise, shock or incredulous disbelief? Is a smile an expression of scorn, amusement or is it an approval?
I suspect subjective context is key. Even if the interpretation is false. It does not matter if you comprehended the meaning correctly…only that you comprehend.
Quite often, it is not what you say, but what you don’t say that really matters…and this is a symphony!
On the outside, a kaleidoscope is an intriguing yet unassuming object. Inside, however, the interplay of inclined mirrors, broken pieces of glass and light create a mesmerizing pattern. It is amazing, stunning, and uniquely complicated.
If you shake it up, altering what is there, you can see something new… something equally beautiful…but only if you take the time to hold it up to the light and look inside.
You can be crazy. You can be Kooky. You can be flaky, foolish, nutty, wacky, weird, daffy or screwy. I prefer goofy!
One greater than One.
“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.” Roald Dahl
So, what are your expectations? The fog…or Creativity, Understanding, and Transcendence? What are you dying to live for? What you already know…or the unimaginable?
What are you waiting for? You can see anything you want…but first you have to look.
If giggles were a color…they would be pink!
A mere 25 years ago, this photograph would never have been possible. Then, if you wanted to read, you opened a book or sat down with a cup of coffee and a newspaper. If you needed directions, you unfolded a map or asked the local gas station attendant. If you wanted to play a game, your family and friends gathered around the card table. Now, all these things are instantaneously in one place.
I recently read an article that highlighted the use of artificial intelligence in helping people construct and interact with their perfect digital soul mate. Have we reached the point were where we subconsciously believe that everything we need is on our phone?
I often ponder what would happen to us if our cell phones were rendered inoperable for 30 days. Would we even be able to cross the street?
You can spend your time regretting the past or worrying about the future, but spinning your wheels thinking about such things is meaningless!
Dogs live in the moment…and so can we. We can appreciate every day as it comes and be grateful when the sun shines upon our face. It is really quite simple…when we live in the present, there is more time for a conscious life.
And there he was. The blink of an eye. My camera settings were not what I would prefer, but it still tells a great story…and isn’t that the point?
He is either a Banker, Lawyer or Mechanical Engineer. As someone who often finds security and order inside the box, I can dig it!
They travelled from the beach to the shore all day long. Sometimes together. Sometimes apart. It was over and over…Back To Back.
Just a young couple in love who didn’t know what to do next.
Being confident requires a realistic sense of one’s abilities…and most importantly…feeling secure in that knowledge.
After observing theses ladies for several hours, it was obvious that they were self assured in their being and all that goes along with the attitude. I appreciate this confidence and aspire to remember this story whenever I lack courage.
Sometimes there’s a vibe.
Have you ever passed someone on the street, your eyes meet for a split second and you thought “this is a person I would like to get to know?”
I was down on the pavement trying to get an upward angle for the shot. He was in the last 100 yards of a 90 mile race. He acknowledged my attention with a smile, a two finger wave…and was gone.
Every time they traveled from one part of the park to another, the adults would require that everyone hold hands. It earned my attention. I appreciate this type of respect for one another…and others!
Notice the young girl in the black shorts. She dutifully complied with the rules but wasn’t going to give up on her soda. She is going to survive just fine.
When you remember someone, it means that you have carried something of who they are with you, that they have left some mark of who they are on who you are. It means that you can summon them back to your mind even though countless years, miles and even death may stand between you.
A mark made by pressing an object onto a softer substance so that its outline is reproduced.
At night they wash down the streets. In the morning, the sidewalk businesses reappear. Food, drink, clothing, trinkets and even lottery tickets are traded. In this case, shoe repair.
In Europe, North America and parts of Asia, this young lad would be in school. Here, he is learning the family business…and by the number of shoes strewed about, it looks like it is a successful one.
Succession: a number of things sharing a specific characteristic, following one right after the other.
“Woo-woo! The wind blew in the trees. Squeak-squeak! Went the lanterns. And the dark was all around.”
The book, The Dark, Dark Night by M. Christina Butler follows a frog heading home to his pond after a long winter’s nap. Along the way, he stops to frolic with his friends Hedgehog, Badger, Rabbit and Mouse. As darkness falls, Frog borrows a lantern from his friend, Mouse, to light his way home.
As Frog approaches the reeds at the edge of the pond, he finds himself face to face with an enormous pond monster with huge claws. Terrified, Frog hightails it back to his friends. Each friend returns to the pond with Frog—only to flee when the monster reappears.
In the end, Frog and friends are all amused when Mouse accidentally reveals the true identity of the pond monster. It is not a monster after all—just the shadows created by the lanterns light.
“The four friends laughed and laughed and laughed. Hurray cried Frog! There’s no monster after all! And with a huge happy splash he leapt into the lovely pond at last.”
I am often befuddled by people’s reaction to the lens. If one holds up a cell phone to take a photograph, the world ignores them. As people wonder the streets and boulevards of the city, they are oblivious to the multitude of video cameras surveilling their every move. Yet, once a traditional camera is raised to a photographer’s eye, the subject becomes rigid, tense, unnatural and sometimes…blatantly contentious! While I comprehend the emotion, it still defies logic.
Difficult to master, hip shooting is a photographic style described as shooting photographs from waist level without using the viewfinder of the camera to centralize the subject. This learned technique is practiced by many Street Photographers for the unique and varied artwork that can be constructed from the photographs. It allows the capture of a natural, relaxed moment without the conflict.
I have been unsuccessfully experimenting with this technique for several months and I have hundreds of photographs of walls, the sky, asphalt, and my shoes to prove it! This composition was my first tangible success…and I was as giddy as a goat on a sunny day!
When it comes to “Peer Pressure”, is one’s internal harmony disrupted when faced with the threat of external rejection and conflict…For failing to conform to a group standard?
If one complies, eliminating the external threat, internal conflict appears because one has now abandoned their own logic. To rid oneself of this internal conflict and self-rejection, an “identity shift” is undertaken and one will consciously, or subconsciously, adopt the group’s standards as their own.
When it came to running…I never made the shift!
Much of what we learn about an object comes from analyzing its light. Most people can obtain an idea of an object’s luminosity by simple observation. However, appearance alone is almost always deceptive.
Behind the words, there might be complications, behind the laughter, there might be wistful smiles and behind the tears, there might be painful memories…and then again…there might not.
Transcendence means going “beyond”, and self-transcendence means going “beyond” a prior form or state of oneself.
I spotted him the moment I arrived and waited for almost three hours for him to stand for the lens. From the John Deere hat to the Green Acres Music Festival shirt to the braided ponytail, white beard and sunglasses…this man went “beyond” in all facets!
And there they were! A picturesque couple decked out in black leather walking two large dogs…Backpacks, sleeping bags and all their earthly belongings in tow. I certainly couldn’t pass up this opportunity and they graciously acknowledged my attention with carefully chosen words and select hand gestures. My enthusiasm quickly pivoted to disappointment. I realized that I would never let myself post anything this negative.
With my faith in the human race bruised, the photo was now worthless to me. If only it had not turned out so good!!
Later, I saw this one riding a bicycle constructed from a shopping cart. About ten frames in our eyes met. I was caught!
In school, we all learned that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. I assumed she was familiar with Euclidean geometry because that’s the exact route she took. Based on the earlier encounter, you can imagine the scenarios frantically pondered as she headed in my direction! As I continued to shoot, she peddled up, stopped, took a brief pause and gave me this gift!
There are many magnificent cities in the world, but few are uniquely bizarre. Places where you constantly ask yourself if your eyes are deceiving. Did I just see what I thought I saw? Cairo, Riyadh, Mumbai, Bangkok, and Rio De Janeiro come to mind.
In the United States, it is not Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco or even New York. All quite ordinary in my opinion. It is Las Vegas and New Orleans. I am not suggesting they are better or inferior to any other city. Just distinctively different. The polar opposite of one’s big city expectations.
To me, this young lad appears to be experiencing the sensory overload common with a visit to the Big Easy. Before you can absorb one experience, another interrupts. Is he on the edge of that chaos? Who knows for sure…but I wouldn’t doubt it for one minute!
There was once a grandpa who wanted to run with his grandson. He said, “I’m going to defeat you!” The boy said, “Grandpa, you can’t.” Grandpa said, “Come on, get set, ready, go!” The child dashed and ran. The grandpa just stood there running in place.
The grandson came back and said, “Grandpa, you never ran.” He said, “I ran.” The boy said, “Where? You are here!” The grandpa said, “I ran with my sight, and I was ahead of you.”
The boy said, “What about with the body?” He said, “Son, this body is just a wreck, but my eyesight is still good, so I ran with my eyes!”
There was joy. There was love. There was inverted balance.
While in the prefecture of Nancy in the Lorraine Valley of France, we noticed an elaborate wedding ceremony spilling out into a park nestled against the shore of la Meurthe water way. I was able to capture this photograph without disturbing the festivities.
The beading on her wedding gown mirrored into his coat and the shadow cast by his face onto hers, are symbolic reflections of the promises they made to each other this day.
Let me be clear, the hand gesture was not directed at me! These gentlemen were having a conversation when one of them heard the shutter. He looked at the camera and continued. His conversation unbroken by the distraction.
One of the objectives of a street photographer is to be as invisible as possible. It doesn’t always work out that way! More times than I would like to admit, my attention has been revealed. Some believe this deviates from the intent of the craft, but I love it! It creates a personal connection to the photograph. To me, it adds depth and substance.
I had been watching this subject for a several hours waiting for the right moment. Hoping the background contrast would not fade with the afternoon sun. Unfortunately, she was surrounded by a pack of young teenage girls. At one point they scurried away to pursue other interests and I started shooting. Even though I was 25 feet from the subject, at about 15 frames in her eyes locked in on the lens…and I was “Caught Red Handed”!
It appeared that this gentleman was closely listening to every note played. His intensity was notable and it seemed that the act was a conscious effort.
Wisdom is not obtained because one is “smart” or “intelligent”. It is not earned with a diploma. It is not how one is perceived by others or even how they perceive themselves. It is only through living life that it can materialize. Just like rust.
