Vision Statement

My goal as a photographer is not just to document scenes but to make a statement about the world I see around me. I want my images to express my unique vision—how I perceive everyday life, emotions, and moments that often go unnoticed. Inspired by the six concepts of street photography—candid moments, the decisive moment, everyday life, feelings and emotions, good composition, and being observant and patient—I aim to capture authentic, unposed scenes that reveal the beauty and complexity of ordinary people and places.

Devin Allen’s work inspires me deeply. Like him, I want to use my camera to tell honest stories about my community, showing both its struggles and strengths with dignity and respect. I believe that by slowing down and paying attention to the small, quiet moments around me, I can create photographs that connect with viewers on a personal level and encourage them to see the extraordinary in the ordinary.

Creative Process

• Connect: I began by exploring key street photography concepts and studying photographers like Devin Allen to understand how to tell powerful community stories.

• Create: I focused on blending into my environment to capture authentic, candid moments without disturbing the scene. I scouted interesting locations with compelling backgrounds—such as murals, doorways, or street corners—and carefully composed my shots by observing light, shadows, and human interactions. I practiced patience, waiting for the decisive moment when people naturally moved into the frame or interacted in meaningful ways.
• Present: I selected one of my best image that best represent my vision and mission, titled the project “Stories in the Streets”

• Respond: I reflected on how this project deepened my appreciation for the ordinary and enhanced my skills in observation, patience, and storytelling through photography.

BrainStorm Outline

• Candid Moments: Capture people unaware, engaged in natural activities.

• The Decisive Moment: Seek that perfect instant when all elements align.

• Everyday Life: Focus on ordinary scenes that reveal deeper stories.

• Being Observant and Patient: Blend in, wait for moments, and anticipate action.

  • Examples:

  • People interacting on streets, markets, or parks

  • Shadows  against background or wall

  • Reflections in puddles or windows creating abstract effects

Final_Street_Steve Zhu

“Behind the Scenes: Unsung Backbone of Our City”

My main goal in creating this triptych is to highlight the quiet strength and importance of everyday workers-janitors, sanitation workers, and delivery people-who keep our city running. What motivated me was a simple but powerful question: Who are the people we depend on every day, yet rarely notice? This question made me realize how easy it is to overlook those who work tirelessly behind the scenes, ensuring our daily lives are clean, safe, and comfortable. The phrase “Behind the Scenes: Unsung Backbone of Our City” reflects my desire to shine a light on these essential workers. They are the foundation of our community, yet their efforts often go unseen and unappreciated. Each image is a tribute to their quiet heroism, showing moments of hard work, focus, and sometimes even small joys found in the routine.

In street photography, the beauty often lies in the ordinary. Inspired by photographers like Devin Allen, I aimed to document real, unposed moments that tell a story about the people who make city life possible and functioning in their own unique way. These moments may seem simple, but together they reveal the deep connection between these workers and the life of the city. The three images in my triptych work together to show different sides of this theme. One photo might capture the physical labor, another a quiet moment of reflection, and another the interaction between worker and city. By presenting these images side by side, I hope viewers will see not just the work, but the humanity and value of the people doing it.

Through this project, I want to encourage others to notice and appreciate the essential workers around them. The triptych is a reminder that every city is built on the efforts of people who often go unnoticed. By recognizing their contributions, we can develop a greater sense of gratitude and community. Ultimately, “Behind the Scenes: Unsung Backbone of Our City” invites viewers to reflect on the people who make everyday life possible, and to see the extraordinary in the ordinary.

All Photos_Street_Steve Zhu

Red_Street_Steve Zhu

Yellow_Street_Steve Zhu

Green_Street_Steve Zhu

Final_Street_Steve Zhu

The title of this project would be “Everyday life in Shine.”The theme I would like to capture would use the concept of everyday life. To achieve this goal, I would be observant and patient, with good composition and candid movement to capture the moment of everyday life. In this photo, I want to show how ordinary moments can be powerful. By waiting and watching, I can capture people as they really are-relaxed, talking, or just spending time together. I focus on the small details: a child’s expression, the way people stand on the steps, and the feeling of community in the neighborhood. Using black and white helps highlight the emotions and the structure of the scene. The lines of the railings and the bricks create a strong background, while the people bring the image to life. The photo feels natural and unplanned, showing real life as it happens. By being patient and observant, I can find those special, honest moments that tell the story of daily life.

Photo Analysis

Urban Community Life:
The photographer appears interested in capturing the everyday moments of life in an urban neighborhood, focusing on how residents interact with their environment and each other.

Human Connection and Social Dynamics:
There is a clear emphasis on the relationships and unspoken communication between the individuals, highlighting the sense of community and shared experience present on the stoop and sidewalk.

Architectural Context:
The image draws attention to the architectural details of the row houses-brickwork, iron railings, and stoops-using them to frame the human subjects and evoke a sense of place.

Suggested Title

“Stoop Stories”
This title reflects the central role of the stoop as a gathering place in many urban communities, where daily life unfolds and stories are shared.

Analysis Using the 6 Concepts of Street Photography

Candid Moments:
This photo shows real people in a natural moment on their stoop. No one is posing – they’re just being themselves in their neighborhood.

The Decisive Moment:
The photographer caught this exact moment when everyone was positioned perfectly – an adult watching over children, with others visible in the frame. It feels like a slice of real life frozen in time.

Everyday Life:
This image shows what daily life looks like in this urban neighborhood. We see people hanging out on their steps, children gathered together, and the normal routines of community living. The brick buildings and iron railings create a familiar setting where these everyday interactions happen naturally.

Feelings and Emotions:
The body language of the people shows their comfort in this space. The way they stand and interact suggests a sense of belonging and familiarity with each other and their surroundings.

Good Composition:
The photo is well-arranged with the steps, railings, and brick walls creating natural lines that draw your eye through the image. The people are placed in a way that creates visual interest.

Being Observant and Patient:
The photographer clearly waited for the right moment, watching carefully until all elements came together naturally. This patience resulted in a genuine glimpse into neighborhood life.

Everyday Life in Focus

This photo really shines in showing ordinary life. It captures a simple moment that happens countless times in urban neighborhoods – people gathering on stoops, watching the street, and being part of their community. There’s nothing fancy or staged here, just the beauty of regular people in their everyday environment.

The idea of everyday life in street photography is all about finding beauty and meaning in the simple, ordinary moments that happen all around us every day. It’s not about big events or dramatic scenes, but about the small, quiet parts of life—people walking down the street, children playing, friends chatting, or even just shadows falling on a sidewalk. These moments might seem ordinary or even boring at first, but when captured through a camera, they reveal stories, emotions, and connections that we often overlook.

What inspires me most about this concept is how it reminds me to slow down and pay attention to the world around me. Life isn’t just made up of big, exciting events; it’s the little moments that truly shape our experiences and memories. Street photography teaches me to appreciate those everyday scenes and to see the extraordinary in the ordinary.

Every day life in street photography also inspires me to be more curious and open-minded. It encourages me to explore my own neighborhood or city with fresh eyes, looking for moments that tell a story or show something real about people’s lives. It shows me that everyone has a story worth telling, even if it’s just a simple moment of someone crossing the street or sitting quietly on a bench.

What is Street Photography?

Street photography is a type of photography where people take pictures of everyday life happening in public places, like streets, parks, or markets. The goal is to capture real, natural moments without asking people to pose or get ready for the photo. It’s about catching those little, often unnoticed moments that tell a story about life and people. The photos show people doing normal things, like walking, talking, or just going about their day, without them knowing they’re being photographed. It focuses on ordinary scenes that happen all around us, making the ordinary look interesting or beautiful. The pictures aren’t staged or planned. They’re spontaneous, capturing whatever happens in that moment. Even a simple photo can show emotions, tell a story, or make you think about life and people. Sometimes street photos don’t have people in them but still show signs of human life, like a bench, a shadow, or graffiti.

Devin Allen

Devin Allen is an inspiring figure in the world of photography and activism. As a self-taught photographer from Baltimore, he gained national attention for his powerful images capturing the Baltimore Uprising following the death of Freddie Gray in 2015. His work has been featured on the cover of Time magazine not once, but twice, cementing his role as a voice for social justice and equality.  Allen’s commitment to his community is inspiring. He founded “Through Their Eyes,” a program that teaches photography to underprivileged students in Baltimore, empowering them to tell their own stories. This dedication to giving back and empowering others motivates me to find ways to support my own community. Devin Allen’s artwork is unique because it combines raw, powerful storytelling with deep personal and community connection. As a self-taught photographer from Baltimore, Allen uses his camera not just to capture images, but to fight against oppression like poverty and racism in the United States. His photographs stand out because they portray Black life with honesty, complexity, and dignity, showing both the struggles and the strength of his community

MindMap

Mood Board

6 Concepts of Street Photography

1. Candid Moments

2. The Decisive Moment

3. Everyday Life

4. Feelings and Emotions

5. Good Composition

6. Being Observant and Patient

Background Info

For my identity project, my initial thoughts were inspired by Veerle Symoens, a versatile artist known for her vibrant collages, mixed media art, and paintings, characterized by feminine energy and inspiration from nature and travel. “Chartists of Identity” photography project draws inspiration from her collage style, particularly “Face the Feminine Collage.” The project involves taking “mugshot” photos of models, interviewing them about their identities, and creatively editing the images to visually represent their personal interests and passions on their faces. By doing so, the project aims to highlight the societal issue of people losing touch with their true selves by conforming to norms, encouraging viewers to reflect on whether they live authentically or follow societal expectations. To develop this concept, you can explore creative editing techniques like color grading and texture overlays and draw inspiration from conceptual photography projects.

Worked on it, and my focus changed. In class, I noticed that many people were unsure of themselves and struggled with making decisions. They often hesitate between options, like A or B, and then change their minds. This made me want to capture when someone’s true feelings are overshadowed by what others expect.

But I wasn’t sure how to turn this idea into a picture. I didn’t know how to show people’s confusion and self-doubt. Then I remembered a project my sister, Stephanie, had done. She took several photos of me showing different emotions and combined them into one image. She overlapped the pictures to create a single, fascinating portrait. This memory helped me figure out how to capture the idea I had in mind.

As I developed this concept, I realized that my initial inspiration from Veerle Symoens had led me to explore something more profound. The project became more personal and meaningful, showing how people struggle with their identities and the expectations placed upon them. By using creative editing to blend different elements into one portrait, I aimed to capture the essence of this struggle. I wanted viewers to think about their identities and their choices. This journey from my initial idea to the final concept was a growth process as an artist and a person.

Free Time

The title of this Photography Portrait is Free-Time, this is because while having free-time I would find myself lost on what to do all the time. Whether to do some work that’ll be due in the next week or to enjoy me time, whether to watch a movie or just scroll, whether going out to eat or stay in and eat on the couch-these moments of indecision capture the core of modern downtime.

• The photo uses multiple exposure or layering techniques, creating an overlapping effect when the same person faces different directions. This mirrors the concept of inner conflict and indecision.

• The layered effect visually represents the struggle between choices or the conflict between one’s true self and societal expectations. The slight transparency and overlap suggest that these other aspects are intertwined.

•  The subject’s blurred and duplicated features create a sense of unease and confusion, mirroring the internal struggle you aim to capture in your project. The subject’s gaze in different directions adds to the feeling of being torn between choices.

• The image effectively captures the feeling of being pulled in different directions, representing the struggle to reconcile one’s true self with external pressures.

The project photo employs a layering technique to create an overlapping effect of a person facing different directions, effectively visualizing inner conflict and indecision. The subject’s blurred and duplicated features evoke a sense of unease and confusion, mirroring the struggle to reconcile one’s true self with external pressures, a central theme of the “Chartists of Identity” project. The different gazes contribute to the feeling of being torn between choices, with the slight transparency suggesting that these conflicting aspects of identity are deeply intertwined. The overall impression is one of a fragmented self, pulled in different directions, which aligns with the project’s goal of capturing the complexities of identity and the pressures of societal expectations.

Needs Improvement

• Lighting
• Composition
• Textures and Patterns
• Facial Expressions
• Layering and Blending

I feel like to enhance the photo and focus on specific details, consider several key elements. Lighting can dramatically affect how details are perceived, with soft natural light ideal for textures and harsher light creating stark contrasts. Composition techniques like the rule of thirds or leading lines can effectively position details within the frame. Textures and patterns can add depth and context, so highlight these if present in clothing or accessories. Facial expressions are crucial in capturing identities and emotions, so ensure they are sharp and well-defined. Finally, if using layering or blending techniques to represent different aspects of identity, focus on how these elements interact, ensuring smooth transitions between layers for a visually appealing effect.

Contact Sheet

MindMap

Veerle Symoens

Veerle Symoens is a versatile artist who creates unique collages, mixed media art, and paintings. Her work is characterized by feminine energy, a love for colors, and intense compositions. She draws inspiration from nature and travels, creating colorful and energetic pieces. Veerle’s art is exhibited and sold worldwide, and she has also worked as a content creator in PR, journalism, and advertising1.

Your Photography Project: “Chartists of Identity”

My “Chartists of Identity” project is inspired by Veerle Symoens’ collage style, particularly her “Face the Feminine Collage.” The project involves taking “mugshot” photos of models and interviewing them to understand what defines their identities. I will then edit these photos to incorporate elements that reflect their personal interests and passions onto their faces. For example, if a model enjoys reading, nature, and traveling, these themes might be visually integrated into their portrait.

Societal Issue and Message

The project aims to highlight the issue of people losing touch with their true selves by conforming to societal norms. By visually representing what makes each person unique, I encourage viewers to reflect on whether they live authentically or follow societal expectations. The goal is to inspire self-reflection and a desire to reconnect with one’s true identity.

Inspiration and Development

I can explore photographs that incorporate edited elements into portraits to develop my ideas. Techniques such as creative editing, color grading, and texture overlays can enhance my images and convey the themes I want to emphasize. Looking at conceptual photography projects, like those by Karen Jerzyk or Laura Makabresku, might also provide inspiration for storytelling through images