Street Photography
Stars, Cartagena 2024
One of the striking features of Cartagena would most definitely be that which saturates it, the colors… followed by the sun and shadows cast. But putting those devices together, sometimes the only way to see it best it without color—in black and white. These facets together bring a genesis of moments revealed.
I always come back to black and white.
Wrought Iron, Cartagena de Indias, 2024
Colorful, lively, hot, I came for the wedding of my two friends Liz and Chris but stayed for the photography… and food. The vibrancy of this place is only eclipsed by that of its people.
Some parts look like a movie set, some look like a Latin American Miami Beach, and some a not as pleasant. However, one with a camera might find all of it beautiful and would also hope to share it with others. Should you find yourself in this part of the world, keep your iPhone or camera ready… and bring extra storage. This would be the first time I nearly ran out of memory for my photographs—only room for thirty-four shots by the time I boarded my flight home.
At times I felt like I was in an episode of White Lotus, with friends traipsing around this magnificent place on the verge of some drama and excitement—which we found occasionally. Other times I was fending off street vendors with trinkets, cigars, and bottles of aqua, sin gas… if that’s all they were trying to sell me.
Many times words serve not the justice a place deserves and I find little sense in an attempt for this place. The days are hot, the evening more kind, but the people of Cartagena are always easy on the photographer.
Man with Glasses
I’ve sent plenty of time in Lucca, where my father lives, and tend to take many beauty shots. After so many trips, I wanted [needed] something new—inspiration, subjects, etc. I usually take my 23mm (35mm in 35mm terms) lens and my FujiFilm camera; usually my X-T5. Italy works very will with wider lenses. Many streets are narrow compared to the broad spaces we have in the United States. However, taking the same gear would have put challenges in the backseat.
My lens of choice: 35mm ƒ1.4 lens. Just a change in lens but doesn’t do well for broad, sweeping landscapes, or whole-building architecture but for details—getting close to ones subject and maximizing the minimalism of photography. That focal length doesn’t distort much, it doesn’t exaggerate perspective or compress the seen. It is a boring lens… and one much focus on interesting content.
For this trip to Italy, people became a suprisingly common subject for me. Surprising because I tend not to do the typical street photography but I loved it. While New York City is considered a mecca for street photography, I would argue the people of Italy of been sold short on that premise.
These are some of the people of Italy; Lucca, Pisa, Orvieto, and Firenze.
Edited on iPad Pro using Capture One
