The loss of intimacy in street photography

Faceless and distant silhouettes, dark unknown phantoms standing in shafts of light, crowds of people with their backs turned, super-high-density colors with microscopic resolution – but no soul, no universal gesture, no human connection. That’s what we generally see being displayed today on any number of online street photography threads. Something has changed since the days of street photographers like Helen Levitt, who captured the pure essence of human experience. Street photography in the recent past had an intimacy lacking in today’s work. It seems as if technology has replaced the soul that was once the core of street photography. I’m not sure what exactly this all means, but it sure gives me something to think about. If art at some level is a measure of cultural well-being, I think we may be in trouble. Please consider sharing this blog post on your social media accounts. It’s a great way to support my efforts at no cost to you. Thanks! 

A few random examples of what I see dominating street photography groups today

[Show slideshow]