Street photography lessons from a professional

Professional street photographer Eric Kim teaches his craft in workshops around the world.

In this small issue you will find some tips from a professional.

1. Studying sociology in Los Angeles, Eric believes that it is possible to consider a street photographer as a sociologist with a camera, acting as a research tool for studying people.

2. Kim says that the most important thing is to overcome your discomfort from approaching strangers and photographing them. He himself comes very close to many of his models. "In most cases, people's reactions are positive," he says. — My rule is: whenever I take a picture of someone, make visual contact with this person, smile and say thank you to him after shooting."

3. In his workshops, Kim recommends that students focus on ordinary people, he says that the best way to photograph a stranger is to approach him openly and honestly.

4. This image, like many other works by Eric Kim, conveys the beauty of ordinary city life.

5. Kim has also met with negative reactions from people. In Tokyo, where this picture was taken, he took a picture of a guy sitting at the counter and smoking a cigarette. "After the shot was taken, when I was about to leave, he turned around and chased me, hitting me in the back with my own bag," Kim recalls. "He was furious, and I quickly bowed, apologized and quickly left there."

6. This image is called Jazz hands, Kim is proud of it. He saw a "pompous" lady on the street in Hollywood, wearing a beautiful hat, and the sun shining on her from behind. "I sat down to take a picture of her, and when she saw it, she began to pose," he recalls. "She is not one of those who wants to remain unnoticed, this woman longs to be seen."