Once a Street Photographer, Always Street Photographer
Can you turn the street photographer in you off?
While on assignment in Koenji, for the Awaodori festival, I began to ask myself this very question. My task was simple: shoot the Friday night showcase with staff photographers to create a portfolio that would provide me with an opportunity for an official space in 2026. Tokyo Awaodori festivals have staffed me in years past, but this is the biggest event on the calendar. Spots are coveted and can be challenging to come by.
I found myself asking this question over again through the night as I passed on classic shots in favour of something more intimate and often much more gritty. I wondered, “Is this me? Is this the way I shoot? Can I turn the street off? Should I? The conflict was real. I genuinely wanted to deliver the quintessential shot, but in the moment, I chose to follow my heart and not my brain. I am delighted with what I got.
It is enough for me, but will it make the Koenji staff happy?
The answer is, it should, but if it doesn’t, I won’t mind. The whole experience was exceptional, and I would love to help share it with the world. If it’s not officially shared, so be it. What I learned was that I need to shoot on my own terms. Witnessing such a powerful performance in the theatre of the streets provides an experience unique to each individual observing it. The image should reflect that experience.
If I were to copy those photographers who have come before me, recycling the same images that everyone strives for, I would be doing a disservice to myself and, more importantly, the Awaodori. Getting those shots is what they do; it is the reason they spend three days in Tokyo's summer heat. What I do is something different, but it motivates me in the same way they are.
I follow my heart, follow my vision and follow the moment.
I spent three and a half hours working on a constantly changing scene. I took several thousand images, culling them down to less than a hundred. The story was clear; I went after details, frames, and eyes. These five images are not necessarily the best of the shoot, but they effectively illustrate the point: I am an artist, and I communicate via street photography.
As always, I would love to hear your story in the comments below. If you feel so inclined, share a coffee with me. I am a flat white kind of guy. Happy shooting, everyone.
