Angelina

The title of my project will be “Simplicity and Impact.” Inspired by the era of candid photography, I want to bring back the raw, honest feeling of street photography before the rise of advanced technology. My final product will focus on capturing an individual who has made an impact on our world—someone whose actions, character, or presence reminds us of the strength and value of humanity. In today’s society, people often feel lost in a fast-moving world full of artificial intelligence, digital distractions, and social pressure. Through my photography, I want to remind viewers of the real power that lies within human beings—our thoughts, emotions, and ability to influence the world.

My idea is to photograph this individual in a way that feels natural and unposed. I will use monochrome photography to help the audience focus on emotions, textures, and mood rather than being distracted by color. The goal is for people to imagine the scene in their own minds and connect with it personally. My compositions will reflect the calm and honest feeling of an earlier time—before society became overwhelmed with digital tools. I want to show how even simple actions and expressions can hold deep meaning when captured at the right moment.

To achieve this, I will be using techniques like the decisive moment, where I wait for the perfect instant to take the photo when gestures, expressions, and light come together in harmony. I will use eye-level or downward angles to highlight the strength or emotion of the person I’m capturing. My photography will also include close-up shots to focus on the subject’s face, allowing viewers to wonder about their story and their unseen impact beyond the frame.

Most importantly, I will trust my artistic vision. I believe capturing the scene honestly and at the right moment matters more than perfection or permission. I will carefully crop and frame my images to control the balance and visual flow, and to bring out the emotional and abstract meaning of each shot.

In street photography, several important techniques help photographers create powerful and meaningful images. One of the most well-known ideas is the decisive moment—this is when a photographer captures an exact instant where everything in the scene, like the subject’s action, the light, and the setting, comes together perfectly. It takes timing, practice, and the ability to predict what will happen next.

Another key concept is working the scene. Instead of taking a quick photo and leaving, photographers return to the same spot, explore different angles, and observe how people move and interact with their surroundings. This method helps them find the best composition and story within the scene.

The background also plays an important role. While the main subject might be a person or action, the setting—such as buildings, nature, or streets—adds depth and meaning. A strong background provides context and helps the viewer understand the photo’s mood or message.

Balance and harmony in a photo come from how the elements are arranged visually and emotionally. Photographers often experiment with shapes, tones, and textures to make their images feel calm, stable, or even dramatic. These choices affect how pleasing the photo is to look at.

The way a photo is put together is called composition. Photographers use the rule of thirds and other techniques to position subjects and objects in a way that draws the viewer’s eye and makes the image feel complete. A strong composition helps communicate the feeling or story behind the photo.

Lastly, perspective and angle are tools photographers use to control how a viewer sees the subject. Taking a photo from above, below, or at eye level can completely change how the subject is understood. Different perspectives can highlight certain details or emotions, while creative angles can add impact or mystery.

The street photographer I am influenced by is Vivian Maier. Vivian was a quiet and private person who worked as a nanny, but secretly took over 150,000 photographs during her lifetime. She explored different types of photography, including portraiture and street photography. Vivian is known for capturing natural, unposed moments of people in public places, especially in cities like Chicago and New York. Her photographs often show the everyday lives of strangers, with a focus on emotion, detail, and realism. Most of her photos are in black and white, which helps highlight expressions, textures, and contrasts without the distraction of color. Vivian’s compositions are often simple but powerful, using reflections, shadows, and symmetry to create balance and meaning in her work.

In her street photography, Vivian often used a Rolleiflex camera, which allowed her to take photos from waist level. This helped her capture people more naturally because they didn’t notice they were being photographed. Many of her photos feel honest and personal, showing emotions like loneliness, curiosity, or joy. In one of her well-known self-portraits, Vivian takes a photo of herself through a mirror on the street. The reflection is not just about her appearance but about identity and mystery, since she rarely revealed her personal life. Vivian also paid close attention to small details like clothing textures, facial expressions, and body language. These details help the audience feel like they are witnessing real moments frozen in time.

Vivian’s photographs often use strong contrasts between light and dark, helping to create a mood or focus the viewer’s attention. She didn’t follow the typical photography rules strictly but used her instinct to frame interesting and emotional scenes. While the backgrounds in her photos might seem ordinary—like buildings, walls, or sidewalks—the real focus is on the people and their actions. She captured both stillness and movement, showing the rhythm of city life. Vivian’s eye-level photos give us the perspective of someone quietly observing the world around them. Her ability to stay unnoticed helped her capture real and sometimes raw emotions. Vivian Maier inspires me to take street photographs that are emotional, mysterious, and deeply human—photographs that tell silent stories through ordinary moments.