Why I Stopped Getting Close in Street Photography 

I lived 25 years of my life in Hong Kong from 1987 - and have a very emotional and close connection to the place. To hear your line about how people in HK have changed and are more worried about being watched or photographed is heart breaking. HK's soul sounds like it has changed. Great video.

For 20 plus years I was a wedding/portrait photographer. What I found was that getting in close caused my subjects to become affected by my presence and by that I mean the natural look in their faces and the scene became awkward. So I set to use a telephoto and shoot reportage style from a distance. A new dynamic was unfolding when I shot like this because the people looked and reacted naturally because they were unaware of me taking their pictures. In 2013 I decided to shoot people on the streets and so wedding photography being a stage set if you like was like photographing Ground Hog Day. Wash rinse repeat. I needed a more unscripted world in which to photograph and street photography became my playground. I never listen to the greats of any genre, I just do my thing. There are no rules in photography that were meant to be unbroken. A photographer who inspired me was not a street photographer, but photographed models in the streets of New York on 35mm not the expected medium format. He is David Bailey. I also like the work of Aussie street photographer Trent Parke, but ultimately I follow my own path. Great video as always.

I love the sentiment you share on “getting close” and the alternative meaning. Your video resonates with a video of Sean Tucker quoting another photographer about “Bruising the Scene” when getting too close to affect the subject. Some new street photographers these days get too close and it just seems disrespectful of others space. You can still capture life on the streets without gettin within arms distance from them. I wish more street photographers documented street life in a wider context.

I never thought about it this way... the close photo is like a "trophy"... I have been feeling this lately, as street photography has become more of a thing. So many photos are more of a game of chicken than telling an actual story. Im thankful for you sharing your thoughtful approach to photography here, because I think you can inspire people to up their game, not only through your beautiful and thoughtful photos, but through your astute and articulate observations on the genre.

I find getting close in street photography really difficult, mostly for the reason you said, the subject is aware of it and they get anxious and paranoid. Coming from a place of empathy it's not something I'm comfortable doing, especially if people already feel insecure in their lives. Loved this video, overall very inspiring! Thank you for sharing!

Very well said, I think what you’re developing is a “ social conscience “, you are aware that not everyone is comfortable having a stranger stick a camera in their face, you are respecting others and that can only be a good thing, as with many things in life, there is a time and a place, great vid !

Loved this man! So interesting to see all of us youtube bros going through the same phases😂 I also stopped going close for the sake of going close. The images at the end were awesome👍🏻 You can really see how you developed as a photographer. Going close emotionally is where it's at😎

I love how many layers you added to the question of getting close. I found myself in the rut of thinking I can only be good in street photography when getting close - but this video helped to take a step back (literally) and rethink that whole concept. Thanks for the inspiration and thanks for making me add Hong Kong to my list of places I need to visit one day.

I did a four year degree studying photography in college. I wish your videos were around then. They would have provided so much value and context to these isolated concepts. I think a lot of your ideas very much identify that fundamental difference between knowledge and wisdom. I'm so grateful that you put these out there for free for anyone to access.

A very thoughtful and considered perspective. I appreciate you sharing this. There’s an intimacy to getting up close that I enjoy but more importantly, it allows me to briefly share a space with someone else, hopefully for the better. I think about a lot of the things you’ve mentioned and I also wonder am I a better human if I’m capturing unnoticed. There’s no right or wrong tbh, but it is fascinating to have these conversations.

I think some people think getting close is ALL you need for a nice photo. The closeup shots of characters doing random stuff gets boring fast. I much preferred your layered photos of Hong Kong over the close ones. I'm more in favor of showing a scene and making the viewer feel immersed.

Hello, I am Sunny from Hong Kong. And I started crying near at the end of your video. Thank you very much for your great work and I feel the love of you to this City and People. Hey! We still love you. You will not be alone. Thanks a lot Ivan! You have woken me up.

It's exactly the same with wildlife photography. At first, you want to be the closer with the animal you want to photography. Because it means your hide was good, you were enough patient, you were lucky... But now I prefer to have my subject in a more "wide" scene. The more I practice street photography, the more I find a lot of similiraties between the two practice (wildlife and street). As usual your video is a masterpiece :)

How we were just talking about this today and the end result, how the photo will be used.. will someone want to hang up a picture of someone weird super close up or is it more zine/book material? The question always was made clear in the end, the photo itself can actually be appreciated more if faces aren't the main subject. The entire frame needs to be appreciated equally. I can't tell you how timely this is for me. How did you know this video was what I needed to hear? What a time man. And I wanna say some people aren't appreciating your photos as much as the video. What made this video to me most is the photos and how well they convey what you said. Let's keep working brother.

Ivan, I think you are a very talented filmmaker. I like the pace of your videos, the colourgrading, the music and editing. The scripts and narration are so well thought! Most of RU-vidrs try to make fast-paced contetend to grab attention. Your videos remind me of Tarkovsky movies. I appreciate that a lot. You say: «When I’m out shooting, I always feel as if I’m collecting scenes for my movie» - and that’s exactly how it feels when I see your work!

Great video. I am shy, and don't feel comfortable about getting too close. And you can't blame people for worrying where you will show the photo in these digital times.

great video ivan, and a topic that isn't talked about enough. getting close isn't always the best idea, often it's better to back up and help build the story by including more of the environment. I find some of greg girard's street/documentary stuff to be a great example, a lot of his street stuff isn't that close but gives you such a good sense of space that you wouldn't get if he was close!

The effort you put into this is incredible and the outcome is beautiful!

Another absolutely beautiful piece of cinematography and story telling! Thanks so much for sharing your feelings and personal experiences with us! I have definitely gone through some of these experiences when shooting. I find often times where I’m shooting in the world, time of day, crowdedness, or even my mood, can all influence how close I’m getting to the subject. I think it’s a very natural adaptation the more you shoot. The situation in HK is very unique though and it’s incredibly thoughtful and selfless of you to have such consideration for your subjects. ❤

This spoke to me. Thank you. I think the Webb version makes sense. I think of it as “never sacrifice emotional connection merely for physical proximity.” Sometimes the feeling you are trying to evoke is loneliness, isolation, despair, emptiness, and closeness may work in some cases but hurt in others. You said it very well. From the other side of the Earth, thank you my photography brother!

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. It touched me. I am sorry that things have changed in Hong Kong. I was there many years ago and loved the city

Your videos always come out at the right time, at least when I need them or I'm confused. It's like the inner voice of the subconscious that guides me. Thanks. Perfect as always.

10:51 “The need for privacy is more important than ever…” Subscribed right there!

Thanks Ivan. . I followed a street photography group that went through a phase of really getting in peoples faces. Almost egging each other on with with the Like system of social media and jokes about people obviously not happy about having their picture taken. A lot of the pictures weren't even that good; at least showed little background or foreground composition. I don't like to think of there being a victim of my art, or lack of art as the case may be. Photography is just a hobby for me and yeah I could go and shoot in peoples faces. I'm a 6' 5" shipbuilder and don't generally worry about possible clashes but what for? A handful of Likes on social media; a picture that someone who doesn't have any artistic knowledge won't even know why they like. I'm a middle aged master tradesman and am not looking to start a new career in photography. I'd kind of decided to not follow my photography peers anyway and your video has firmed my opinion. One doesn't always have to be physically close to resonate with the subject. Different people view closeness differently too. As an introvert, 70-200 is close enough 😄

thank you for sharing valuable stories and not just bombarding us with fluff and "content"....

One of the most beautiful and touching videos on youtube that I have ever seen! Thank you.

Me too. I’m a foreign living in South Korea. It’s a offense here if you take someone’s picture without permission or consent. So close up shots have become impossible for me here in Korea. My friends were so surprised when I was taking pictures of people with their faces shown at first, they told to mosaic it lol …

You are correct. I've spent years doing a 'Bruce Gilden' for all of my street and events work. However, after following Steve McCurry for years, I came to realise recently that his work is so powerful because he always includes mulitiple layers or stories within one image. I've always shot a 1.4 wide angle so the face of my subject is sharp, but the background was always blurry - but I was missing out on telling a bigger story. Now I've changed lenses and perspective and the rest and I'm seeing a change to the better in my images. Thanks for taking the time to tell your story.

This approach of photography as movie (having different types of shot instead of always being close) is quite interesting. I don’t think it’s too hard to tell whether you should get close or not, as your immediate feeling after pressing the shutter will answer you.

Thank you! Well said. I like how you introduced the concept of your subject's discomfort. Earlier you said, that in the past, getting close meant getting out of your own comfort zone. True. But if the price is impinging on the subject's comfort zone, some thinking should go on. If it becomes a power play between photographer and subject, some thinking should go on. "I can do this, and you can do nothing about it." The word "trophy" should ring a bell. The excuse "I am doing a service for history" rarely rings true if the subject is condemned to suffer, to whatever degree. Of course, there will be different circumstances which make for a much more mutually appreciated situation. Those opportunities will be precious. Thank you again. This was important.

Very moving. Something I needed to hear. I had been beating myself up for not always getting close. Thank you.

Still, those pictures with faces have more impact and more interesting, no matter they re taken before or after your 'awakening'.

Absolutely nailed it. Get close is only half of the good advice. Step back is the other half. As much as getting in close to a subject makes a portrait better, stepping back makes a scene better. When you can use both to find options, or balance between subject and context, then you have good advice. Randos shot close with a mess of a background, made black and white to not be distracting isn't the same as when you actually consider the scene and work it for the best of both worlds. The decisive moment is worthless to story if you aren't in the right place to capture the world it happened in.

Excellent production Ivan! There are two rules in Denmark protecting privacy in relation to photography: you can't take a photo in public that clearly identifies a person without their consent; and you can't publish that photo without their consent. So it's a good challenge to work within these constraints. You might take a step back like you do; or document activities on the streets with a group that have already given their consent; or ask to take portraits; or create more abstract street photography like Saul Leiter, Trent Parke or Siegfried Hansen for example, etc.

Hi Ivan, this video is on point on so many levels. Getting close is not always a great thing. I think the new and younger photographers need to understand this before listening to bad advice. You are absolutely correct, a variety of wisely chosen frames, wide, medium, and close up give the audience a broader spectrum of the story you are telling.

‘Learn wisely, trust yourself and know when to block out the noice’. Wisdom of great tenderness and age beyond years. Advice that might be attended to by us all in light of these revealing times that we are collectively living through🦋 Thank you Ivan for the most perfect presentation...yourself, and your work, is a delight to behold.

Fantastic Video ... Mr Ivan , you spoke through the mind of most of us * the photographers in terms of street photography!!

I’m one of those who is not comfortable getting close and sits back feeling slightly uneasy with the whole thing! Great video again. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and pictures.

Incredible video! It was shot beautifully and the editing was amazing! I love how the photography got better as you stepped back a little. I think it gave you room to be more creative!

Thank you for making this video. Beautiful photographs, wonderful story, and having respect for those that are the focus of our art resonates within the art- and makes it stronger still.

I enjoy being in a sweet spot where I’m close enough but not so close that my presence is affecting - if not ruining - a moment that I’m trying to capture. I also like my photos having the feeling of observing and not necessarily being involved in the moment as this reflects how I feel I see the world

Thank you for such a personal and honest video. This is the one of the best videos about street photography i ever seen.

This is so brilliant for the soul! I struggle with getting close and the fear of getting confronted! Thanks for sharing 👍

one of the best videos on street photography i have viewed for a long while . it is an inspirational experience when you express your emotional feelings about your images . thank you .

Thank you for sharing this point of view ! It's refreshing to hear that. I think you're spot on when you say : "a photo up close can also be a trophy for many street photographers", or "I just don't want to make people feel uncomfortable", and "if I do [get close] it needs to be a moment that I think is worth documenting". I'm gonna be very blunt, but I don't really like what people call "street photography" nowadays. I'm not even gonna address Bruce Gilden who, as another famous photographer said, is just a bully. But most of the time, what people call street photography is simply a slightly blurry close up snapshot of an annoyed / angry person with a random city landscape in the background, or a snapshot of someone walking in a ray of light between two buildings. There is no sense of composition or framing, the moment is completely boring and random, and it cannot even be used as some form of journalism because it lacks any form of context. It's simply getting into people's faces for the sake of it. We're far from what Leiter, Meyerowitz, Bresson or Erwitt would have produced - of course, we're not all as talented as them, but we should be inspired by their talent. So anyway. I think your approach is a much better one :) So again, thanks for sharing.

Another great Video ! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings about this famous quote.

Thank you for this video. This wasn’t a topic that was already on my mind, but I appreciate you speaking on this because it allows me to ponder how and why I shoot photos the way I do. Keep up the great work.

one of the most scenic shot in HK, glad to see a fellow HK/Canadian here. wish I started photography when I was in HK but never hurts to start now being in Toronto. Hope to see you around someda. Keep up the amazing content.

This is one of the best videos I’ve found on RU-vid. Only some of us that indeed try to do street photography understand your feelings about shooting close. For me this video has a double importance: I’m moving to HK soon and appreciate the tips and advice of shooting there. I’m following your channel now. Can’t wait to see more. Thank you so much 🙏

Best video I have seen this year. Thanks for sharing your thoughts🙏🏾

I really enjoyed this video. Thanks for a new perspective. And your editing skills are insane, just wow.

This was a very well done video. I love the colors, most of the pictures with high contrast, the soft melody and your calm voice… but most of all the message you send. I’ve never been a kind of street photographer as I am much to shy to get close to people. But on a vacation to New York I asked some people for permission to shot a close up photo… this is not street photography I know, but these are some of my most beloved pictures of people I didn’t know but had a conversation about the shots I took. And every time I look at these pictures I remember the situation and the people and these make the pictures very worthy to me. Thanks for sharing your thoughts in such a wonderful video.

Yet another beautiful film, Ivan, like a poem. And your film and photos proves you are completely right about closeness or the lack of it. It isn’t about meters or feet. ❤

A very moving video. The perspective shifts from photo advice to personal story to awareness of others and the Hong Kong social issues are lovely storytelling. Thank you.

As an street photographer myself I can say this video has been really inspiring

The photograph taken under the overpass is beautiful!

One of the best videos about street photography that I saw in long time, really good advice and thoughts about your own process

Amazing take on this. Thanks for sharing

you're such an inspiration to me man, your videos are always on point! Also, glad to have you back in HK

I've been feeling this lately too, maybe the pandemic had some play in this, but there really needs to be a clear and objective intent for getting close to a subject. I find stepping back and complementing a given subject with some context adds depth, and as a result evokes more emotion and intimacy for viewers. You're right, getting close doesn't always mean feeling close.

I totally agree with, understand, and support your reasons to respect people’s personal space when shooting. I’m enjoying your channel-keep shining!

It's a dance. Giving space, taking space. Your presence makes you visible or invisible no matter the focal length/distance.

Just discovered you and your channel and it's all fantastic, seeing so many familiar places in HK with your photos is a real treat. Cheers mate, all the very best, Jay.

Love this topic. Love hearing someone else voice the very debate that silently happens in my mind. And as usual, beautiful visual odes to this magical city. Thank you.

Thank you for this thoughtful video. What a joy to find it. You included some photographs from right in front of where I used to live.

Keep them coming!!! I feel the same way sometimes when I'm out. Its a struggle! With both people moods and my mood clash.. its not always a good time.

I got the sense of where you were going with this thesis from the photos you shared at the beginning. Too many people giving you looks, not enough relaxed natural poses. Very well made video!

There is nothing wrong with getting close. It’s totally valid to shoot from a distance. What matters is how good are the pictures?

I understand, Ivan. I too am from and in Hong Kong. Take care.

Your cinematography keeps amazing me with every upload

The message you provide in this video is one that needs to be heard more often. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. The “get closer” rule is one which needs to be exposed as not a rule at all.

This is a brilliant piece of work, I keep watching this over and over again, love the way you tell your story, the engaging way and anticipation, just brilliant! I wish I could make a video like this!

I think you made a beautiful video. I love your perspective on “getting close”. Very respectful of other people. ❤

What a piece of art of a video 🙏🏼

冇錯，欣賞你嘅勇氣，街客真係要夠勇氣，踏出第一步去試

It looks like you're in Hong Kong again. Welcome back! Beautiful video and photography. I can relate entirely to your story. Keep up the good work

I'm at a point in my art and photography where I've been really trying to figure out my subject. Something that's always held me back from street photography or taking photos of people is my fear of being judged or even worse confronted for it. I've always struggled with this for as long as I've been taking photos. The thought that I don't really need to "get close" and still be appreciated is a comforting one. I want to take more photos that move me creatively and this video really helped me look at things from a different perspective. Thank you

Hey man. This is the second video of yours that I watch. And i gotta admit, I'm in love. You're amazing at this. I felt like I was watching a more than AAA quality documentary. This should be played in a museum of photography. I look up to you with so much respect. I get those rare conflicting feelings where on one side I feel extremely attracted to the content and want to consume it all. But on the other, I want to take it very slow so I can enjoy it more and avoid that feeling I get when I finish something I love like a book, a great movie, or documentary (or series). Thank you for bringing this to me (and us the public).

I believe "capturing the moment" "connecting with it" and "able to tell a story around it" are essential aspects of a street image. To achieve an image output that we ourselves feel good about, if we need to bend certain well-settled advices I would do it by all means. End of the day although I share my images with rest of the world to appreciate, but primarily I take an image to satisfy my own inner artist.

Very well said! This is something I’ve been thinking a lot about over the past few years. As HCB said in the decisive moment “the profession depends so much upon the relations the photographer established with the people he’s photographing, that a false relationship, a wrong word or attitude, can ruin everything. When the subject is in any way uneasy, the personality goes away where the camera can’t reach it.” We should strive to be more empathetic!

Telling a story creates better photos than just a close up of a person.

This video was exactly what I needed right now. I've been shooting weddings for the past few years and my whole style has been based around getting in close to get the feeling that you were there when viewing the photos. I'm now transitioning into shooting more street and real life documentary photography and feel like finding scenes is more beneficial in telling the stories I want to tell. There is definitely a lot to be said for getting close, but there is also more than one way to tell a story and the contrast between those such as Bruce Gilden and Saul Leiter is a good example of that.

I always maintain my distance to the subject as it could be very intimidating to the subject. Great video, thank you.

thank you for making this video, the are so well built and artistic \ movie documentary type. I love them and refreshing!

Thank you for the effort and sharing. Thoughtful insights. Lovely images. BIG thumbs up.

These visuals are straight out of a nostalgic movie. I'm speechless

I genuinely love the photos you've shared. For me, I took close shots but found increasingly that if I am to portray the place I live and love, it should be through building relationships of a sort. I take photos to show how people move around and interact. Those don't necessarily need to be close up. I have nothing against close candid shots, but when I do it, I feel as though I'm taking more than I'm giving. When I do move close I converse and ask, and try where possible to portray people as they want or closer to how they see themselves. Thanks for sharing. Subbed.

It’s true that close up is nice. However, sometimes I feel the need to fill the frame with some background so I can tell a story. Love your work as always Ivan! Keep them coming

You’re a great storyteller! So well narrated! I love your videos.

It's a beautiful piece you've made here, and it's brought me peace. Thank you.

A thoughtful reflection, I am so bored with all of the same old street photography videos, shooting street images (and terrible pov's) without any meaning or narrative. Great work and storytelling Ivan - you are clearly a very accomplished photographer with something interesting to say - respect.

Likely the best video on RU-vid today on street photography. I too have been doing this type of work for the best part of 40 years (I’m 55 now) and my motto was always 'get in close'. But now I’m not as keen. Being from England, it is somewhat similar here in terms of CCTV surveillance and as I get older, I’m far more aware of the need for privacy. You’re absolutely right. Getting in close now, is more about a connection with empathy than it is with just putting a subject in a frame to make something to be amused by. Thank you for making this important point as well as film.

Your filmmaking made me teary towards the end. Wonderful storytelling about our city. Really appreciate you dealing with this topic

Same in Morocco for example, you have to be respectful of other cultures.

Brilliantly done. Educational. Wonderful watch. Thanks, Ivan. I'm just a new photographer who shoots mainly sports, action and wildlife. However, this week, for my first experience, I watched a video on Saul Leiter (and recognized his influence on you in just the first few minutes -yellows/reds, frame in frame). My first years were focused on exposure, composition, and physical proximity. This year, my focus has "evolved" to include "emotional proximity", and I'm finding this a very challenging task. Appreciate you sharing your own challenges in a moving and motivational way. Many thanks.

Excellent video, thanks... I find your work (both physically and emotionally close shots) better than much of the street photos I see online, but I will say that as good as your opening montage of shots here, with all those closer range shots, I instantly felt the soul of the latter montage when you start talking about Alex Webb's response to Capa... your shots there I could just see the soul of them, photographically they feel a-kin to the late, great Fan Ho... with your mid-range, wider angle images, you establish the scene but still manage to retain the energy of people moving around in the scene... the other points you mention in the second half of the video I agree with as well.

pure artist...felt in dzen, thank you Ivan

Thank you very much for your thoughts.

This is a very important video to me because you ask yourself important questions about street photography. Thank you.

beautiful video Ivan! you have an interesting perspective and it's one I think more photographers should listen to.