Matt Weber (Street photography), Kids & Teens

Untitled 2013

playground-nyc-matt-weberI spend thousands of dollars I don’t have on film. I take many of the same pictures over and over again. It does seem pointless at times, but then when you least expect it, you strike gold. I know this isn’t an important image, but it satisfies me on a few important levels, and that is good enough for me. I looked at the negative through my loupe and I immediately knew this one would print like a dream. She isn’t my kid, but she was as cute as Shirley Temple…

Switching hats: “What’s that? You want two 16x20s? Very good! Yes shipping will be via Fedex and I can have them ready in just a few days…Thank you so much for your order sir!”

I think for lack of a better option, Italics should be mandatory when being sarcastic, as there are too many people who lack a decent sense of humor…

©Matt Weber

Matt Weber (Street photography), Women of New York

Candid 2013

women-are-still-beautifulI’m guilty of photographing New Yorkers all day long as they are, and rarely have asked for permission. Recently a woman in San Francisco visited the new Garry Winogrand exhibit and was left feeling that Garry had crossed “many lines” and was in need of a reprimand 29 years after his untimely death. A fairly well known photo critic agreed with her and would like street photographers to explain themselves and that’s fine. If one likes portraits, then by all means, explain away. The truth is that I occasionally operate too aggressively, and come off poorly when out and about with my camera. I have been yelled at and threatened too many times to count and I understand both sides of this argument better than most. I don’t need to bring up how important “Street Photography” is to the history books in terms of recording modern life, which is constantly in flux. Many others have already belabored this point. It really comes down to how important is art, and is it worth pissing someone off to achieve it on a very rare basis. Everyone who practices or even enjoys street photography knows that 99% of it is not going to qualify as a total success. That a really great picture is so hard (Almost impossible) to achieve, is what makes the art of street photography such a challenge, and also so rewarding.

I have upset way too many people to totally disregard the arguments for more civility and better manners. I just find portraits boring 90% of the time. I don’t own any books by Richard Avedon, while I own every single book published of Garry’s work…

To each his own.