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The Business of Busyness on the Streets of Paris
A photo essay about filling the composition with maximum detail while getting closer to the action
I have always been quite fond of minimalism.
This is partly a personal preference: I like the clean look of images devoid of elements that can distract from the subject.
But it’s also an approach borne out of pragmatism. Taking photos with elements filling every nook and cranny of the frame usually requires getting pretty close to the subject — and that can be tricky to do on the streets.
However, I’ll be the first to admit that there’s an intimacy to being close to subjects that you just can’t replicate when you’re standing far away. When Robert Capa famously said that “If your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough,” he wasn’t just referring to physical closeness but to emotional and psychological proximity as well.
So over the last few months, I’ve been experimenting with taking quick snapshots of busy scenes in the street while being nearer to subjects than my comfort zone would normally permit.
I’m also fully aware of the discomfort that people can feel about being photographed. So not only do I try to be discreet, I never take or share photos that could…
