I recently have been intrigued by street photography after I watched the movie “Finding Vivian Maier”. It is very interesting getting to share what you saw from your perspective and to share unguarded or unscripted moments.
My first few tries at the genre though all were not of good quality as I was still experimenting with the settings of the camera and I feel so nervous trying to secretly photograph random people as they might take offense. I had to invest in a zoom lens so that I can have some distance between me and my subject but it was still not enough to give me the confidence I needed to take the plunge. It took a very special circumstance and the expression of two people.
It was very hot that day, the temperature went over 40 degrees and the humidity was high pushing the heat to feel like it is above 50. I have a 10 to 15-minute walk from where the company car drops me to my accommodation and I remember complaining to myself that day that it will be a hellish 15 minutes because of the heat. As I was crossing the pedestrian bridge I saw a street sweeper and I was stopped in my tracks as I admire and commiserate with this guy doing his job in the temperature. I whipped out my camera and took a few photos.
After that, I stowed away my camera again and resumed my walk thinking that those photos I just took will not see the light of day maybe until I gained more confidence or maybe when I have passed away. I continued on my way home using the newly swept jogging path and that’s where I crossed paths with another guy from the same services. This guy’s job this time is picking up large pieces of trash. His expression when I saw it was what decided for me to post the photos I took that day. I walked a few meters away as I can see in his expression that he is not comfortable with me there. Luckily he sat down and began to drink and pour water on his head to alleviate some of the heat. My camera went out of the bag for the second time.
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What do you guys think? I am in awe at all of the people that the jobs are outdoors, braving the elements.