Sharjah 24: Street photography is commonly known as one of the most challenging, yet one of the most rewarding genres of the art form. Documenting people in their everyday environment is not easy; it requires patience, hard work and a great deal of interpersonal skills to be able to approach and shoot a complete stranger.
Speaking at a seminar titled Child’s Play – Street Photography, on the inaugural day of the fifth annual edition Xposure International Photography Festival (Xposure 2021), on Wednesday, Ashok Verma, who began his photographic career in 1995 with no formal training, no mentor and no business sense, emphasised that street photography was a game of intuition, and required one to, “steal moments, be spontaneous, and above all, see the unusual.”
“Common perception holds that street photography is child's play and that it teaches you nothing. On the contrary, there is a lot more to it. Emotions and a knack for storytelling are a part of the process of capturing the life that happens on the street, to which you need to add punch and drama,” said Verma, who works as a senior photojournalist for a leading Arabic daily newspaper in the UAE.
This session busted the common misconceptions that surround this photography genre, and Verma offered tips on how lens professionals interested in street photography could work towards eliminating their stress by shifting focus away from the tough competition that surrounds them to celebrating and manifesting a child-like curiosity and passion for it; treating street photography almost like a game they love to play.
Verma presented a fresh perspective of the art form as he shared unique images from his body of work – a man surrounded by smoke at the Dubai Air Show, illusions in street photography, people on the go, and much more.
Furthermore, Verma shared his insights as a street photographer. “Street photography teaches us to observe, to be patient, to weave stories with whatever elements are available to you, to understand your tool, to see the light consciously, to be spontaneous, to master principles of photography.”
“It makes you understand human behaviour, to anticipate, stay focused and to work with minimum tools. If you can do street photography, you can do anything,” he concluded.
Organised by Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB), the four-day festival runs from February 10 to 13 at Expo Centre Sharjah with the participation of the world’s most celebrated photographers and leading international brands.
For an optimal experience, please
