ONLINE COURSE
The Art of Street Photography: Capturing the Unexpected
It’s crucial for a street photographer to be open and ready to face new situations — particularly in these unpredictable times. We have to be aware of the unexpected as it unfolds in front of us, and also have the presence of mind to capture those fleeting moments. This class will focus on the important elements that help create captivating street photography: the interplay of light and shadow, gesture, color vs. black and white, layers, and more. Exercises will introduce you to different techniques that will help sharpen your skills and create more powerful photos, whether you're an advanced street photographer or just starting out. We’ll cover candid street photography, how to approach strangers for street portraits (even in these times), and we’ll work through some of the tricky ethics of our practice. Weekly assignments and critique will develop your eye and instincts, and we’ll analyze what makes a good street photograph by studying historical and contemporary examples.
James Prochnik is a Brooklyn-based photographer who uses photography as a means to explore the world outside, focusing on people, place, memory and the poetry of the everyday. His photographs have been published in The New York Times, Vice Media, Lenscratch, USA Today, and Shots Magazine and have been exhibited in galleries around the country. In 2019, James launched NYC Photo Community — a weekly newsletter listing photography events, workshops, exhibitions, and opportunities for photographers everywhere. James has been a regular guest lecturer on ethics and aesthetics in street photography at the University of Vermont.
James teaches street photography, poems and pictures, richness of light, and more for StrudelmediaLive.