If anything can brighten up my day, it’s movies and street photography. I’ve been a fan of both ever since I first saw Charlie Chaplin’s The Circus and a photograph of Sophia Loren and Jayne Mansfield at a party in Beverly Hills. I was very young back then, but I appreciated the use of black-and-white and thought the movie and the photograph were hilarious.
What I love most about The Circus and Loren and Mansfield’s photograph is how they capture really funny moments in time—the flamboyant gestures of Chaplin’s Tramp and Loren’s disdainful expression when she looked at the plunging neckline of Mansfield’s dress. Both the movie and the photograph got me thinking about the relationship between movies and photography: movies are actually a collection of still images shown in rapid succession, and there wouldn’t be movies today if photographs never existed.
Now what is street photography—really? Its definition differs from person to person, but most people tend to agree that it’s a photography style that highlights spontaneity and genuine reactions. In street photography, shots are not staged and little to no interaction happens between photographers and the subjects of their photos. Subjects must be allowed to naturally interact with their environment, and this aspect of street photography is best exemplified by the technique of influential French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson, who even wrapped the body of his Leica with layers of black tape to make it less noticeable and effective in stealthily shooting others just living their lives.
Street photography continues to evolve to this day, and it’s not a pursuit enjoyed by only a few. Nowadays anyone can be a street photographer. Whether you’re an amateur or a professional, there’s a camera you can use to take wonderful street photographs. And here at HiLO Lens we’ll help you make the best of your beloved iPhone camera. Because, really, why not?