No, it’s not to make a killer photo or for exercise…or for likes or clout. Or to show all the strangers online how brave you are to take a photo of some person high on drugs.
You should do street photography because you’re alive and aware. You’re curious. The two photos in the post are mediocre, but they are what keeps me intrigued. Who cares about the photos, it’s better to see the world around us.
I saw this kid from the Santa Monica Pier collecting all sorts of sea trash and throwing it in a pile. Wearing khaki pants into the water didn’t matter, collecting the trash was most important. I have no idea why he was collecting trash, but I was intrigued so I headed down to the beach. I watched him for a good 15 minutes do this. He was in his element, so happy and productive. I felt good for the future. This kid is probably 14 or so. Not glued to a phone or playing video games. This kid was experiencing life and full of joy doing it.
Then my patience for the scene rewarded me. I hear a voice from behind and his sister comes into the scene, bringing him a pair of swim trunks. I think they were twins, they looked similar and the same age. What a nice gesture from his sister.
In the span of 15 minutes, I saw a happy intrigued kid interested in sea trash and a caring sister.
This is why you should do street photography.
Chris Athanasiadis 