dear friend,
to begin, i want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for following/visiting my blog this year. it’s nice to know that people other than myself are actually taking the time to look at my photos. i am extremely humbled and privileged that you take the time out of your busy schedule to actually visit this and my other sites. it means a lot.
i’m not a professional street photographer. i don’t do workshops. i don’t sell prints. i don’t troll facebook. i don’t post youtube videos or have my friends create “biographies” of me. i do this here because i love doing it. even if no one read or visited this blog from today on, i would still be doing street photographs.
and that leads to the one thing they don’t say enough of on those “how to” street photography blogs about the “secrets” to street photography. you have to love it. that’s where it begins, because more than the camera, more than the lenses, more than the technique, more than the top ten lists, more than the flickrbation, is your heart. follow it first before you start wondering how to market yourself.
and in that regard, share share share your heart and passion with others. if you take lots of photographs, then share them, but with the understanding, first and foremost, that you take those photographs for yourself. if that concept is hard to understand, shoot a couple of weddings or for a client then you’ll know exactly what i mean.
it’s hard for me to figure out why some out there insist on “only showing your best” because you only have “ten or twenty” photos in your lifetime that are “good.” maybe so, but that’s living a photographic life in fear and with a hyper consciousness that you have a place in history. just let the chips fall where they fall. sure, self-edit but never self-censor your photographic expression. when you get your solo exhibit at the MOMA, then spend the time trying to figure out your place in history. but i imagine by that point, you’ll have someone who’ll do that for you.
have a happy 2012. and make every moment count, because life is one fickle ass bitch.
blessings,
eli a/k/a rufus
e v e r y d a y aperture 
Rufus.
To start, I enjoy your vision. I am in Philly so our terrain is similar. Streetshooters shar a few common denominators. A passion for life, a passion for photography ect. The lucky ones are the ones that are aware of the fact that we work for each other. We are the visual poets of society.
So what is important is to always realize that you and your work is being checked out by other streetshooters. Some just read and look at images, some post words and or images but we all work for each other and thus support each others efforts.
Never feel lonely on the street because we are all together out there….
Good stuff Rufus…..
Don
Hello! I love your pictures! Check out my cousin and I’s photos at http://www.blisstwelve.com. Were going to start selling photos in about a week. Were also trying to get the most views we have ever got tomorrow (jan. 1st) Please go to our website tomorrow and pass this message on. Thanks!
-BlissTwelvePhotography
A nice read. Thanks for sharing. And happy 2012. Blessings.
yup life sure is fickle….keep the photos coming and even if they are not in your view your best, they’re better than most and they still speak loud and clear. Happy New Year….onwards and upwards…
well said rufus.
Well said and with you every click of the way!