I Need A Grocery Bag 🛍️

One of my favorite things to do when traveling to Asia is street photography. There is nothing like roaming around the bustling markets, squeezing through crowded stands selling who knows what, and listening to the cacophony of sounds from the bargaining to the unloading and deliveries of goods. There is no shortage of action and interesting subjects. 

I remember the first day after arriving in Guangzhou, China deciding which lens to use. Since I knew I was going to be in tight spaces and shoulder to shoulder with people, I thought a 16-35 zoom lens would be best.

So I entered the street market (shìchǎng 市场) with my full frame DSLR and zoom lens on my shoulder  and it didn’t take long for me realize that my large camera and lens was spooking people 😳. I stood in the middle of the crowded aisles surrounded by varieties of vegetables and people looked at me awkwardly as if I was a professional photojournalist. I stood out like a sore thumb and couldn’t capture anything candid 🙁. People even stopped what they were doing and stared at me when I raised the camera to take a photo 🤦🏻‍♂️. To end the awkwardness, I shoved my camera away in my backpack and started using my phone instead. 

The next day I decided to go back, this time with a smaller lens, no camera strap, and no lens hood. I also purchased a bag of groceries which I carried in my left hand. It made all the difference. There was no more weird stares or awkward looks. I blended in with the crowd; just another shopper.  

How do you capture a true expression of a scene or person? You become them. Photojournalism is all about learning about your subject, spending time with your subject, or even becoming your subject. Only then can you capture the most compelling and intimate moments, create images that convey a deeper story, because you are them. 

December 20, 2016 | Photography & Art