10.10.11
Photos: Gary Cohen, Streetographer
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10.10.11: Interview: Gary Cohen
Margurite Avenue had a chance to have a chat & catch up with Gary Cohen, photographer, who lives in London, England. Lately, his work has been featured in the BBC's photos of the week, issue #21 of Street Photography Blog, and the Londonist "Extra, Extra" feature.
Marguerite Avenue: Tell us a little about the name of your blog.
Gary Cohen: I'm a street photographer, which means I take photos of strangers on the street with either the individual themselves or the act in which they are participating, all of which is interesting to me. So, streetographer == street photographer. :)
MA: So what was the motivation that got you taking pictures in the street?
GC: I'm interested in capturing people doing candid activities. I found that when I was reviewing old photos I was drawn to people doing something, rather than 'postcard' photos.
MA: How do you go about picking your subjects?
GC: If they look interesting to me, I snap them.
MA: What about the close-up work of people?
GC: I rarely ask for permission to take a photo of someone. It would defeat the chance of getting a candid shot.
MA: How much do you think you influence your pictures?
GC: I'd hope not much. It's not my intent to create the photo, rather capture it as it naturally happens.
MA: In terms of your work or approach -- what are you doing different now, than when you started doing what you’re doing?
GC: I used to shoot street photography primarily on an iPhone. It gave me a chance to get up close to a subject without them knowing I was taking their picture. Currently, I'm shooting with a Leica M9. It's different in that it looks like a camera, so after I take the shot the subject usually knows I took a photo of them. This can lead to conflict, but more often than not a smile from me and a 'thank you' is all that is needed to set things right.
MA: What is the most surprising thing(s) for you, working in the public environment?
GC: I've found a few things surprising. London is a city that has thousands of cameras aimed on its citizens, yet many people don't like having their photos taken by me. Additionally, there is a real resistance to taking photos of children on the street playing. I've been called a pedophile more than once by people on the street, for taking innocent photos of kids. I find this most bizarre. With their logic, taking photos of dogs on the street would make me a zoophile. But because of this, I tend to take a lot less photos of children in public places. Ironically, some of the most iconic street photos were of children, but it seems that this type of image will be relegated for history.
MA: Have you found anyone being superstitious about having their picture taken?
GC: Yes, but not in the UK (or the US). When I was in Mexico I had issues where people thought I was stealing their soul.
MA: Do you think camera designers design cameras that 'look' like cameras? To inform the subject that a picture will be taken?
GC: I don't know. I'm guessing camera designers design them to look like cameras so people buy them. I can't say for sure though. :)
MA: Of all your images, what is one picture that especially memorable for you & why?
GC: I can't say for sure, but in general moving to shooting with the Leica has changed the way I interact with people on the street. With the iPhone I was virtually invisible and I rarely spoke to someone I took a picture of. But with the Leica they know I'm taking a picture of them, so I usually have to interact with them. Just recently I took a photo of an old woman in the park and she yelled at me saying that it was illegal to take her picture. She was a nasty old woman, but I didn't back down and told her, that legally I could. She said she was going to get the police and have me arrested, to which I rebuked that I'd be more than happy to talk to the police, and if anything, she was wasting their time. Ironically, the photo I took of her wasn't very good!
MA: Where will you be shooting next?
GC: Who knows? :)
Marguerite Avenue: Tell us a little about the name of your blog.
Gary Cohen: I'm a street photographer, which means I take photos of strangers on the street with either the individual themselves or the act in which they are participating, all of which is interesting to me. So, streetographer == street photographer. :)
MA: So what was the motivation that got you taking pictures in the street?
GC: I'm interested in capturing people doing candid activities. I found that when I was reviewing old photos I was drawn to people doing something, rather than 'postcard' photos.
MA: How do you go about picking your subjects?
GC: If they look interesting to me, I snap them.
MA: What about the close-up work of people?
GC: I rarely ask for permission to take a photo of someone. It would defeat the chance of getting a candid shot.
MA: How much do you think you influence your pictures?
GC: I'd hope not much. It's not my intent to create the photo, rather capture it as it naturally happens.
MA: In terms of your work or approach -- what are you doing different now, than when you started doing what you’re doing?
GC: I used to shoot street photography primarily on an iPhone. It gave me a chance to get up close to a subject without them knowing I was taking their picture. Currently, I'm shooting with a Leica M9. It's different in that it looks like a camera, so after I take the shot the subject usually knows I took a photo of them. This can lead to conflict, but more often than not a smile from me and a 'thank you' is all that is needed to set things right.
MA: What is the most surprising thing(s) for you, working in the public environment?
GC: I've found a few things surprising. London is a city that has thousands of cameras aimed on its citizens, yet many people don't like having their photos taken by me. Additionally, there is a real resistance to taking photos of children on the street playing. I've been called a pedophile more than once by people on the street, for taking innocent photos of kids. I find this most bizarre. With their logic, taking photos of dogs on the street would make me a zoophile. But because of this, I tend to take a lot less photos of children in public places. Ironically, some of the most iconic street photos were of children, but it seems that this type of image will be relegated for history.
MA: Have you found anyone being superstitious about having their picture taken?
GC: Yes, but not in the UK (or the US). When I was in Mexico I had issues where people thought I was stealing their soul.
MA: Do you think camera designers design cameras that 'look' like cameras? To inform the subject that a picture will be taken?
GC: I don't know. I'm guessing camera designers design them to look like cameras so people buy them. I can't say for sure though. :)
MA: Of all your images, what is one picture that especially memorable for you & why?
GC: I can't say for sure, but in general moving to shooting with the Leica has changed the way I interact with people on the street. With the iPhone I was virtually invisible and I rarely spoke to someone I took a picture of. But with the Leica they know I'm taking a picture of them, so I usually have to interact with them. Just recently I took a photo of an old woman in the park and she yelled at me saying that it was illegal to take her picture. She was a nasty old woman, but I didn't back down and told her, that legally I could. She said she was going to get the police and have me arrested, to which I rebuked that I'd be more than happy to talk to the police, and if anything, she was wasting their time. Ironically, the photo I took of her wasn't very good!
MA: Where will you be shooting next?
GC: Who knows? :)
About the Author:
Gary Cohen is a London-based street photographer. Find more of his work at http://streetographer.com
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