The streets will always have an impact on every person regardless of who, how, and what they are. Streets don’t necessarily have to involve roadways or the urban environment; it is something that can link architecture, portraiture, landscape, and many other els – and what’s interesting is being able to capture surreal or unmediated moments that can speak or appeal to the others in any way or manner.

There are lots of styles, techniques, and other elements or factors that photographers use to capture a certain scene or moment and we’re curious to know how and what they think of, how they visualize and develop their ideas before they snapping a photo. Let’s all get a glimpse of how the looming street photographers of today comprehend to the scenes around and about the metro.

 

BEN GABRIEL REGALA

 

What is the street for you?

Para sakin streets kasi yung place where you see a lot raw things na most of the people haven’t discovered yet. Andito yung mga scene na sobrang unpredictable in a way na lahat ng bagay pwede mangyari with just a snap.

What do you see in the streets that made you use it as your subject for photography?

What I always see with streets is the real life, the real shit ika nga, kasi sa streets walang panggap, what you see is what you get, yung tipong hindi scripted yung mga nangyayari. Kaya iba ung feeling pag nakakakuha ako ng mga magagandang photo kasi alam kong hindi ko na siya mauulit.

What do you want your audience to see and take from your photos?

Kasi ako talaga gusto ko lang mag shoot for myself nung una, then it became an inspiration for others na kasi may mga taong nag mmessage na asking and telling me na naiinspire ko sila which is nakakataba ng puso, yung sobrang random lang ng mga shots and post ko biglang nakakainspire na pala ko, what I would like to share with my photos is that, as a normal person, kaya din nila makadiscover ng bigger picture, different views or ways in life, kasi ganun ako sa mga photos ko, I always look for better views ng isang subject para mas mapalabas ko ung tunay na ganda nito.

Do you think that we’re missing out on something that only street photographers could see?

Medyo mahirap tong tanong kasi I haven’t really tried a lot of style sa photography eh, pero sa tingin ko nagkakaiba lang ng pananaw depende kung pano mo muna ivvisualize ung shot na gagawin mo. Bahala na yan haha!

What is the best experience you had in the streets that you can share to us?

Siyempre yung kasiyahan of course! Sobrang solid makibonding sa mga kapwa photographers sa streets, yung pagod sa paglalakad whole day hanap ng spot dito spot diyan then siyempre nagkakaron ka ng mga bagong kaibigan, photog, models. Kagandahan din is that you can share skills to one another, yun ung dabest e, ung tipong hindi mo na kailangan mag photography class kasi sobrang lalakas na ng mga kasama mo and you can learn from them first hand. I always learn everyday, and will continuously learn.

WAHICO DE LEON

 

What is the street for you?

For me, the streets know no boundaries, no limits, no rules; anything goes, and everything and everyone has its own place, story, perspective. The streets to me, is freedom.

What do you see in the streets that made you use it as your subject for photography?

A lot of times I realize how much unique or compelling stories and perspectives that can be told or interpreted from scenes that most of the time can last for only seconds. And most people just pass them by, unaware and unnoticed. I try to document those moments and perspectives as much as I can from my point of view.

What do you want your audience to see and take from your photos?

My photos are mostly open to interpretation. Everybody has their own view or opinion on my work and I guess that’s important. Either positively or negatively received, I wouldn’t take anything away from my work.

Do you think that we’re missing out on something that only street photographers could see?

To the majority, I guess I would have to say yes. But through street photography and social media, more and more people are probably being more aware or observant of their surroundings. Hopefully through continuous work, they would somehow gain deeper appreciation for the streets for how it is and gain new perspective of their environment that they dwell in.

What is the best experience you had in the streets that you can share to us?

There are a few experiences I could tell, but what comes at the top of my head, was last year around August or September. I was shooting at night around Makati and it rained heavily while I was walking around. I thought I had to call it a night because of the weather conditions. And at the time, I was not comfortable shooting during bad weathers. And the fact that it was during rush hour and my camera not being weather-sealed, didn’t make the situation any more convincing to keep going. But somehow, there was this urge to try and step out of my comfort zone and give it a go despite the conditions and that there was nothing to lose. The rain kind of weakened but my sneakers still got soaking wet from walking a lot; my bag and clothes weren’t safe from the rain also, and I had this fear that somehow even a tiny bit of water could’ve got into my camera (which can be fatal). But despite all of it, braving the condition and situation made for some great photos; some of which were even well received. An overall test of my capabilities which in the end, yielded valuable experience.

CHARLES RAMENTO

What is the street for you?

For me, the street is my platform to explore new ways to create and new things to make. Street is worth more than a lingering glance because on the street a story to capture is everywhere and it is the snippet of a beautifully messy society.

What do you see in the streets that made you use it as a subject for photography?

With a camera at hand, plus a little bit of patience and luck, I set out on the streets to make photographs that hopefully provoke a smile, a frown, and a thought. Usually when I go out I always look for symmetry on the streets because for me, it is eye pleasing to see the symmetry / balance in people’s everyday life on the streets.

What do you want your audience to see and take from your photos?

I just want them to appreciate the photographer’s appreciation of the under-appreciated and depict an emotion or character on people you capture on the streets.

Do you think that we’re missing out on something that only street photographers could see? 

if there’s something missing out maybe its the decisive moments because you only have a split second to capture the moment before it’s gone forever.

What is the best experience you had in the streets that you can share to us

For me my best experience on the streets is enjoying what I do and the only thing I can share is doing what you enjoy.

 

PAOLO NICOMEDES

 

What is the street for you?

The street is a very candid place where life happens. It is the common ground where people from all walks of life pass through. It does not discriminate nor judge, it is a passageway for some but a home for many.

What do you see in the streets that made you use it as your subject for photography?

Street photography is a very lax type of photography, it is not manipulable, it’s sincere and straightforward. It immerses the photographer to the life of the subject he/she is taking a photograph of. The feeling of getting caught while capturing the photo really excites me and I think it is one of the reason why I am into street photography.

What do you want your audience to see and take from your photos?

Look at the big picture but don’t forget to appreciate the details.

Do you think that we’re missing out on something that only street photographers could see?

Not really, if you look at your surroundings hard enough you’ll always see something interesting, the only difference that we have is that I have a camera at that moment and you don’t.

What is the best experience you had in the streets that you can share to us?

A kid told me I had a nice camera and wanted a picture of him eating ice cream, I thought it was a cute interaction.

NIKKO MAYORMENTE

What is the street for you?

Yung street for me is that kung saan mo makikita lahat ng pangyayare sa araw araw. Ibat ibang klase ng pamumuhay, estado, character, emosyon ng isang tao.

What do you see in the streets that made you use it as your subject for photography?

Para sakin is emosyon, It’s because hindi na kailangan mag lagay ng quote/caption sa picture. Yung larawan mismo mag ku-kwento sayo sa pangyayare na iyon.

What do you want your audience to see and take from your photos?

Story behind the pictures. Kung pano mo bigyan ng buhay ang isang larawan.

Do you think that we’re missing out on something that only street photographers could see?

Candid Shot / Juxtapose. Timing talaga dapat kailangan at naka ready palagi camera mo at all times. Kumbaga once in a blue moon lang yun kaya dapat pag nandun ka na sa scene na yun, be ready na at pitik agad.

What is the best experience you had in the streets that you can share to us?

Yung best experience for me sa streets is yung kahit medjo delikado yung lugar, pipitik ka parin kahit alanganin kase gusto mo ma-achieve yung shot/scene na yon. Yung kahit mahulan mag ri risk ka parin mag shoot kahit hindi weather sealed yung camera mo. Basta masarap sa feeling mag photography. Para sa akin walang rules lahat pwede mong gawin basta wag ka lang makakatapak ng tao.

MELVIN BISPO

What is the street for you?

Actually, the street is my second nature and my friend.

What do you see in the streets that made you use it as your subject for photography?

I see a lot of things in the street but the best subject for me is daily life of the people and architectural lines

What do you want your audience to see and take from your photos?

My rooftop shoot.

Do you think that we’re missing out on something that only street photographers could see?

For me there’s nothing missing out on the street. Street photographers have their own creativity, angles and great composition so sometimes the person who sees my work say’s there’s something on it, that street photographers can see.



 

What is the best experience you had in the streets that you can share to us?

The best experience that i ever had in the street is having shoot with your friends who also loves street photography.

NOAH SAN PEDRO 

 

 

What is the street for you?

Street is where the people are busy. When I say busy, it is not necessary that people do a lot of things. In the street, people have their own world which makes the street itself a universe. It is where you encounter, meet, or pass by different types of people. And when you see it with your eyes, it is so diverse. Ironically, this diversity makes the street well-cohesive.

What do you see in the streets that made you use it as your subject for photography?

People and what keeps them busy in the streets are usually the ones that make the street photography. People staring at my lens are so mesmerizing but a “stolen” one is more captivating. The more casual it is, the more powerful it becomes. Together with these people are the leading lines that go towards them. In this manner, the subject elevates more. But it is important to note that buildings / structures can stand alone in the picture as well.

What do you want your audience to see and take from your photos?

I don’t want them to take something from my photos. Instead, I want my photos to take them in order to feel what is happening in each of my photos. With several plays in shadows, highlights, temperature, tint, vibrance, etc, the image becomes more dramatic to the point that my audience tend to go inside the frame.

Do you think that we’re missing out on something that only street photographers could see?

Photography has never been strict in just capturing reality. It is never limited to what our eyes actually see. One technique is proper framing of the subject. So maybe street photographers can see things what others cannot. An example is the emotion in the picture. What the people are doing are matched together with the colors of the foreground and the background. One might see a lonely old lady sitting on the sidewalk but a street photographer can also see a warm sky over the abandoned buildings that contribute to the loneliness of the old lady.

What is the best experience you had in the streets that you can share to us?

It’s when they do not notice me. I mean, yes it is sad that no one notices me but I love it since the actions I framed in the photo will become as natural as what they are supposed to be. Again, the more casual it is, the more powerful it becomes.

There are a ton of possibilities and interesting moments taking place within the streets, and we hope that after seeing the works of these photographers, we all have been refreshed and gain a better appreciation of what happens around us. We don’t always get to see the same thing twice, sometimes we only get a split second to grasp a specific juncture of whatever is taking place and with the help of street photography, we’re enabled to immortalize the moment and revisit that plight.

 

Prod. & compiled by: KidIllus + PINS