Small Town Street Photography is a recent artistic exploration for me.
I find it offers a freshness and a level of creative story telling.
There's an interesting and unique beauty of how people go about spending their day in a small midwest town. Sometimes I wonder what the people I photograph are thinking, what's their story.
I hope you enjoy these street moments and my short interpretations.
I find it offers a freshness and a level of creative story telling.
There's an interesting and unique beauty of how people go about spending their day in a small midwest town. Sometimes I wonder what the people I photograph are thinking, what's their story.
I hope you enjoy these street moments and my short interpretations.
'Passing By'
The long shadows of empty chairs on an October Sunday afternoon await those who pause to capture the warmth of the sun and fleeting moments of a fall weekend.
'Goldfish Tears'
During an annual sidewalk art event I was stopped by the eye's of this young Mermaid staring back. Even though the original colors were bright and playful I couldn't help but feel there was an uneasy secret hidden behind that sole goldfish falling from her watery eye. Something felt out of place. I couldn't shake the stare, the placement of the goldfish, the shading under the eyes and the tight lipped expression. Haunted, I decided to creatively color grade this image to fit the deep feelings I walked away with.
During an annual sidewalk art event I was stopped by the eye's of this young Mermaid staring back. Even though the original colors were bright and playful I couldn't help but feel there was an uneasy secret hidden behind that sole goldfish falling from her watery eye. Something felt out of place. I couldn't shake the stare, the placement of the goldfish, the shading under the eyes and the tight lipped expression. Haunted, I decided to creatively color grade this image to fit the deep feelings I walked away with.
'Peace & Harmony'
It was an early November morning. I was waiting outside a local coffee shop, there was a chill in air as I watched the town came to life. I turned around and noticed this lady, sitting by herself inside the shop, eyes closed, hands folded. She looked so content, so at ease.
Later when I looked at the image I noticed the two frames behind her. Peace and Harmony.
(digitally colored)
Later when I looked at the image I noticed the two frames behind her. Peace and Harmony.
(digitally colored)
'Eyes Closed,
Thousand Mile Stare'
Thousand Mile Stare'
One of the beauties of street photography is things change so quickly. Somethings you miss the shot, other times capture more than you imagine.
I find the interplay and the close alignment between to the two subjects catching.
A contrast of inward and outward subject relationship balanced by the oddity of an indoor streetlight.
I find the interplay and the close alignment between to the two subjects catching.
A contrast of inward and outward subject relationship balanced by the oddity of an indoor streetlight.
The near shadowed person's eyes are still closed after she removes her glasses. The far person in the light but her gaze is a thousand miles away.
'Inside Out Avenue'
Reflections of the street paint a cafe window as a
shadow figure heads for the EXIT. Sidewalks on the Avenue begin to roll up for the night for some while for others it's just waking up.
Reflections of the street paint a cafe window as a
shadow figure heads for the EXIT. Sidewalks on the Avenue begin to roll up for the night for some while for others it's just waking up.
'Basic Communication'
I was enjoying a cup of coffee and watching these two interact from a lower table.
While I couldn't hear the conversation I didn't need to.
Their hands were creating a separate story.
While I couldn't hear the conversation I didn't need to.
Their hands were creating a separate story.
'Rainy Day for a Ride'
A cold October rainy afternoon found this rider caught on wet streets dodging puddles. Refections of city businesses and traffic lights lay over the crosswalks framing his path.
A cold October rainy afternoon found this rider caught on wet streets dodging puddles. Refections of city businesses and traffic lights lay over the crosswalks framing his path.
"Reliving Memories'
Two old friends having coffee together...
One listening quietly, arms crossed; the other pauses and glances slightly to the right.
A reflection in the glass of a young woman carrying flowers approaches like an echo from the past.
Two old friends having coffee together...
One listening quietly, arms crossed; the other pauses and glances slightly to the right.
A reflection in the glass of a young woman carrying flowers approaches like an echo from the past.
'CLOSED. Please Call Again'
In the middle of busy Saturday Morning Farmers Market, I encountered this person meditating in the doorway of a closed business.
Seated, grounded in a doorway, shadows play in empty rooms behind clear glass like distant memories.
The 'Closed. Please Call Again' sign above the person's head and the ghost-like reflections of busy people moving about.
In the middle of busy Saturday Morning Farmers Market, I encountered this person meditating in the doorway of a closed business.
Seated, grounded in a doorway, shadows play in empty rooms behind clear glass like distant memories.
The 'Closed. Please Call Again' sign above the person's head and the ghost-like reflections of busy people moving about.
'Hat in Hand'
'Early Morning Research'
While out for an early morning spring walk I noticed the sunlight focused directly on the hand of a college student seated at a window table in a coffee shop just off campus.
Couldn't help but notice the text book with underlined notes, hands frozen on the keyboard, and a less than full cup of a hot caffeinated drink.
With soft reflections clouding the window glass the like unformed thoughts. I questioned if another cup was on the way.
While out for an early morning spring walk I noticed the sunlight focused directly on the hand of a college student seated at a window table in a coffee shop just off campus.
Couldn't help but notice the text book with underlined notes, hands frozen on the keyboard, and a less than full cup of a hot caffeinated drink.
With soft reflections clouding the window glass the like unformed thoughts. I questioned if another cup was on the way.
'Hidden by a Reflection'
It was a beautiful spring Saturday morning. I was sitting waiting for my breakfast sandwich and a coffee just watching the street when I happen to noticed this couple sitting oddly still at an outdoor table. He was looking slightly off in one direction, her head was pointed straight over his shoulder, her eyes were hidden by sunglasses. She didn't move, she just sat there, she just sat there with her chin resting in her hand thumb pressed against her cheek, lips flat as her expression. The busyness of the morning was reflected in her glasses but everything felt blank.
You know, the kinda blank where the world becomes distantly quiet, colors begin to fade and you're somewhere else. Or wish you were.
Is it just the look of wandering thoughts; fragments of a day dream or maybe something else i wondered.
Breakfast arrived. When I looked up again the table was empty.
It was a beautiful spring Saturday morning. I was sitting waiting for my breakfast sandwich and a coffee just watching the street when I happen to noticed this couple sitting oddly still at an outdoor table. He was looking slightly off in one direction, her head was pointed straight over his shoulder, her eyes were hidden by sunglasses. She didn't move, she just sat there, she just sat there with her chin resting in her hand thumb pressed against her cheek, lips flat as her expression. The busyness of the morning was reflected in her glasses but everything felt blank.
You know, the kinda blank where the world becomes distantly quiet, colors begin to fade and you're somewhere else. Or wish you were.
Is it just the look of wandering thoughts; fragments of a day dream or maybe something else i wondered.
Breakfast arrived. When I looked up again the table was empty.
'When will the Rain Stop?'
The smile of the 'Drive-In' movie character, summery drinks and spring umbrellas aren't quite enough to stop the rains of May.
The smile of the 'Drive-In' movie character, summery drinks and spring umbrellas aren't quite enough to stop the rains of May.
'Witness Protection'
Happenstance is a street photographers friend.
It was Saturday morning and we were finishing up at the farmers market. The accompanying breeze of an unseasonably cold early September morning had everyone wrapped in layers wondering where summer had gone.
Out of the corner of my eye I noticed this lady in her booth huddled tight up against her pink vendor tent. Based on her expression she appeared to be hiding from the characters lurking behind her.
Happenstance is a street photographers friend.
It was Saturday morning and we were finishing up at the farmers market. The accompanying breeze of an unseasonably cold early September morning had everyone wrapped in layers wondering where summer had gone.
Out of the corner of my eye I noticed this lady in her booth huddled tight up against her pink vendor tent. Based on her expression she appeared to be hiding from the characters lurking behind her.
'The Lads'
Yes, this is not in the midwest, but it is still a small town.
The expressions and interplay between these young lads being boys are just to good to not include. While waiting for a bus in Donegal, Ireland these three characters came bounding down the sidewalk. To me their expressions and good natured clowning around take me back to earlier days.
Good to see somethings haven't changed.
Wonder if the man in the background is having the same thoughts as me?
It's said the best camera is the one you have with you, guess the cell phone did ok.
Yes, this is not in the midwest, but it is still a small town.
The expressions and interplay between these young lads being boys are just to good to not include. While waiting for a bus in Donegal, Ireland these three characters came bounding down the sidewalk. To me their expressions and good natured clowning around take me back to earlier days.
Good to see somethings haven't changed.
Wonder if the man in the background is having the same thoughts as me?
It's said the best camera is the one you have with you, guess the cell phone did ok.
'Open Mic Night Duo'
The night and city streets can make for interesting stories.
Reflections of two young women blend with the interior of a local establishment as the streets begin to wind down like a dream with within a dream.
The night and city streets can make for interesting stories.
Reflections of two young women blend with the interior of a local establishment as the streets begin to wind down like a dream with within a dream.
'Somewhere Else'
I was a block away when I noticed this man sitting outside a business on a side street.
It was a lazy hot summer Sunday afternoon and I couldn't get over the way he was just sitting there.
Arms and legs crossed, head down, staring down past the cigarette lighter on the chair into the nearest of nowhere.
Maybe he was tired or maybe there's a story only known to him.
It was a lazy hot summer Sunday afternoon and I couldn't get over the way he was just sitting there.
Arms and legs crossed, head down, staring down past the cigarette lighter on the chair into the nearest of nowhere.
Maybe he was tired or maybe there's a story only known to him.
To me he seemed lost, not physically, not in a homeless sense but in a somewhere else in time.
'Weather Aware
Day'
And the snow turns to rain,
a car stops beside mine.
A young woman gets out quickly,
she doesn't look back.
With her head down she hurries into an apartment building.
Day'
And the snow turns to rain,
a car stops beside mine.
A young woman gets out quickly,
she doesn't look back.
With her head down she hurries into an apartment building.
the car drives off...
'Eye Catching'
My guess is this little girl is looking at the dog.
My guess is this little girl is looking at the dog.
But my thought was, I hope the dog doesn't see his reflection.
'May Time Cast It's Spell on You'
A panel sign on a jewelry store, reinterpreted photographically with a twist.
I couldn't help but think of the many meanings of emotions.
Title inspired by a song.
A panel sign on a jewelry store, reinterpreted photographically with a twist.
I couldn't help but think of the many meanings of emotions.
Title inspired by a song.
'Bear Sighting'
Not what one would expect to see walking the streets of a small midwest town. Behind those Yogi Bear Boo Boo eyes I wasn't too sure he was friendly based on the walk and swing of his arms.
He definitely wasn't out looking for picnic lunches.
Not what one would expect to see walking the streets of a small midwest town. Behind those Yogi Bear Boo Boo eyes I wasn't too sure he was friendly based on the walk and swing of his arms.
He definitely wasn't out looking for picnic lunches.
I grabbed my shot and kept walking.
'Modern Day Sherlock?'
I almost titled this image 'Smok'n Hot' since the heat index was in the upper-90's. But the more I looked at this image I was drawn by the cigarette smoke curls rolling up and the studied look on the man's face.
I almost titled this image 'Smok'n Hot' since the heat index was in the upper-90's. But the more I looked at this image I was drawn by the cigarette smoke curls rolling up and the studied look on the man's face.
Maybe a reference to Sherlock Holmes is a reach?
'Perfecting
Their Street Sound'
Mid day April sun, two street musicians find the shade of a closed business entryway to perfect their sound.
While their sound and their legs sticking out of the doorway were the first things to catch my eyes, I quickly noticed the subtleties and contrast of the stickers and using the Bible as a drum.
Their Street Sound'
Mid day April sun, two street musicians find the shade of a closed business entryway to perfect their sound.
While their sound and their legs sticking out of the doorway were the first things to catch my eyes, I quickly noticed the subtleties and contrast of the stickers and using the Bible as a drum.
'Late Night
Fresh Start,
New Beginnings
maybe?'
A warm summer night, it's still in the mid-80's,
and it's getting late.
The air is heavy, there's no breeze and no relief coming either.
A lone person,
hidden with a hood,
is about to board the empty last bus.
Fresh Start,
New Beginnings
maybe?'
A warm summer night, it's still in the mid-80's,
and it's getting late.
The air is heavy, there's no breeze and no relief coming either.
A lone person,
hidden with a hood,
is about to board the empty last bus.
'Hands of Hope'
When asked, 'Why do I enjoy Street Photography?' This one image best describes it better than most. Not just for the important brightly colored message you see but for the story and personal connection.
It was an early October gray day, I was feeling a little lost, many things were weighing heavily on my mind when I came across this man painting his mural on the front of a Literacy Building. Something made me stop, I didn't want to, but I couldn't deny fate this strong. I asked him if he would mind if I photographed him, he agreed and then proceeded up the ladder between the out reached hands on the mural and started painting. I needed this. The following day I returned as he was finishing up, I met his wife and he shared his story of hope and journey.
I learned how much of him was really on this wall.
That day I was reminded how as artists our work can have a deeply personal meaning and story, but it can also have uniquely individual meaning and story to whomever stops to fully take it in.
When asked, 'Why do I enjoy Street Photography?' This one image best describes it better than most. Not just for the important brightly colored message you see but for the story and personal connection.
It was an early October gray day, I was feeling a little lost, many things were weighing heavily on my mind when I came across this man painting his mural on the front of a Literacy Building. Something made me stop, I didn't want to, but I couldn't deny fate this strong. I asked him if he would mind if I photographed him, he agreed and then proceeded up the ladder between the out reached hands on the mural and started painting. I needed this. The following day I returned as he was finishing up, I met his wife and he shared his story of hope and journey.
I learned how much of him was really on this wall.
That day I was reminded how as artists our work can have a deeply personal meaning and story, but it can also have uniquely individual meaning and story to whomever stops to fully take it in.
All images are property of the artist and are copyrighted.
Please respect the art and the artist, contact me to purchase an image.
Please respect the art and the artist, contact me to purchase an image.