Street Photography Magazine

Bob Soltys, a photographer who discovered his love for photography while shelving books, talks about his journey from humble beginnings to capturing magic moments. He shares tips on presenting a portfolio effectively, emphasizes the importance of preparation and conciseness, and advises bringing supporting materials. Bob's website is not just a portfolio, but a creative journal of his personal story, charitable work, and his dogs.

Editor’s Note: The woman in the photo above next to Larry is Melissa, his cousin Camille’s daughter. They are at a 2018 book signing fo his book “BROOKLYN BEFORE.”  Melissa’s 1983 First Communion Photo is in the book and on the wall behind them. It’s another example of his family work coming full circle. Larry Racioppo is a New York photographer who has been capturing captivating images for over half a century. Hailing from a simple Italian-American, Catholic family in Brooklyn, art wasn’t a frequent part of his upbringing. Nevertheless, Larry fell in love with photography accidentally while volunteering for an anti-poverty program in California. Ever since 1969, Larry discovered his passion and developed a unique photographic style that reflects his roots and personal evolution. His diverse body of work, which examines the vibrant religious cultures of different ethnic groups in the city and showcases intimate portraits of loved ones, exhibits a fascinating continuity. Despite a lack of formal training, this self-taught artist has published five books and is currently working on his next five. Don’t forget to check out Larry’s Street Photography Magazine article “Return Visit to NYC.” A selection of Larry’s photos Links from the show Larry’s Website Larry’s Books Instagram

Kenneth Wajda is a professional photographer and avid street photographer from Colorado. He has a unique approach to photography and a real passion for capturing those special moments that happen in our everyday lives. According to him, photography is a way to capture life as it is and to showcase the essence of people and places in their natural state. Currently he’s working on a project to capture the in-between moments of ordinary life in all 50 states, with the objective of capturing a truly authentic representation of the diversity of the United States. One thing that really stood out to me is Kenmeth’s approach to photographing people. Instead of staging or posing his subjects, he focuses on capturing people as they are, which really allows him to showcase their true essence. This approach results in portraits that are authentic and meaningful. My big takeaway from our conversation is that each photographer should be true to themselves and embrace their own unique style and vision. He encourages photographers to be authentic and not to conform to current trends or try to emulate others. This way, photographers can create truly meaningful and authentic work. Kenneth’s passion for photography shines through in every word, and his dedication to capturing the beauty of everyday life is really something special. A selection of Kenneth’s street photos Links from the show Kenneth’s Website Colorado Faces Instagram Youtube

Mark Gilvey is an artist and photographer in Northern Virginia near Washington, DC. He began his career documenting endurance sports car racing. He later became interested in multi-image production, designing art for panoramic presentations using multiple slide projectors. As technology evolved, Mark taught himself digital design and went on to work in pre-press, web design, and marketing. He eventually formed his own company, Mark Gilvey Creative, where he provides design services to small and medium-sized businesses. Mark has several personal photo book projects in the can and decided to use Blurb or other pint on demand services to make them a reality. However he discovered that it was difficult to make the end product, printed by someone else, match his creative vision. So Mark called upon his many years of printing and graphic design experience to create a process to prepare photos and files so that they look best when printed. Mark’s process is now available to anyone through his book Blurb for Photographers. Mark joined us for this special podcast episode to share some tips and techniques to make your photos look their best when printed on demand. Links from the show Blurb for Photographers Mark’s Fine Art Website Instagram Facebook

Meryl’s portrait by Laura June Kirsch One of the first lessons I learned from Meryl Meisler when we first met at the Miami Street Photography Festival a few years ago is “if you don’t promote your own work…nobody will.” That’s why I asked her to join us on the podcast this week…to explain how she promotes her own work and share tips on how we can do it too. During our conversation Meryl Meisler shares some great tips on how to promote your work effectively while protecting it from unauthorized use. Meisler suggests using social media and mass emails to your advantage, especially when you have a new project or exhibition. She recommends creating a mailing list of contacts who are interested in your work and sending out regular updates. Meisler also emphasizes the importance of giving credit to journalists who publish your work, as they can help increase your visibility and credibility. In addition, Meryl stresses that copyrighting your work is crucial to protect it from unauthorized use. She advises photographers to register their work with the U.S. Copyright Office to have legal proof of ownership. Meisler also recommends adding watermarks on digital images to deter unauthorized use. Meryl highlights the significance of consistency in your personal branding and online presence. She suggests using the same logo or profile picture across all social media platforms to create a cohesive look and reinforce brand recognition. She also recommends regularly updating your website and social media accounts to keep your audience engaged and informed about your work. Keep it fresh. A selection of Meryl’s photos from her Zillman Museum exhibits Links from the show Meryl’s website Instagram Zillman Art Musem Exhibits Meryl’s Gallery – CLAMPART

Paul Reid is a professional photographer from Carlisle in the north of England. For many years he specialized in wedding photography using only small cameras with prime lenses to capture fleeting moments that tell the story of the day’s events. This made it an easy transition when he became serious about street photography. Because of his preference for monochrome, Paul jumped in with both feet by purchasing a Leica Q2 Monochrom shortly after it was released. He quickly became attached to the device and over the years mastered its intricacies making stunning portraits and street images. Of course he shoots color too, but like many of us, monochrome is in his DNA. That’s why I call him “Mister Monochrome.” When he’s not doing paid photography work Paul also serves a mentor to other photographers guiding them to discover their personal vision and perfect their monochrome style. He encourages everyone to create personal ongoing and short-term projects to keep the creative juices flowing. And he practices what he preaches. Paul’s favorite personal project is his Time Traveler series which features a faceless man in a fedora cast in various scenes…in monochrome of course. Recently Paul has become a YouTube sensation using his infectious enthusiasm to share his joy of visual storytelling and deep dives into his personal projects. It’s obvious that his work comes from the heart. Learn more about Paul in the Street Photography Magazine article, “Monochrome Mad.” A selection of Paul’s street and project photos Links from the show Paul’s website Instagram YouTube LFI Gallery

Today we welcome back, Lauren Welles, someone with whom we’ve spoken with a number of times over the years. Lauren left a successful 16-year career as a corporate attorney to follow her passion for photography, which she has been doing professionally now for a little over a decade. She is primarily self-taught, and her photography has taught her even more about herself than the subjects she has photographed. She believes that, as human beings, we are much more alike than we are different; her passion for street, documentary and event photography reflects that.  Over the last few years, Lauren has spent more of her time teaching others what she’s learned, often revisiting the way she imparts information, attempting to simplify her language and instruction as much as possible.  In addition to being a Leica Akademie instructor, Lauren teaches photography to high school students from underserved communities at the NYC SALT program in New York City. In collaboration with Leica Akademie, this August Lauren will be giving a workshop about learning how to see, which she says is a skill that anyone can learn, regardless of how proficient one is with the technical aspects of their camera. A selection of Lauren’s street photos Links from the show Lauren’s Website Lauren’s Manhattan/Coney Island Workshop Instagram B&H Podcast interview with Jean Furth about her Little League book and project

We’re pleased to have Julia Dean back with us again. She’s a longtime photographer, educator, writer, founder of the Los Angeles Center of Photography and most recently the creator of The L.A. Project. Julia was the last apprentice to the pioneering photographer Bernice Abbott, which had a profound effect on her work and career. In the years that followed, she traveled the world, working on socially concerned projects by freelancing for relief groups and magazines. Eventually, life brought Julia to LA, where she began teaching full time and shooting street photography on the side. And these are just a few highlights of her photographic journey. She is passionate about collaborating on projects with with talented photographers. In the 1990s, she raised money to send six photographers around the world to document stories about child labor. This work resulted in two trips to the Capitol and a lot of press. Her current collaboration is through The L.A. Project, where she pulls together L.A. photographers — students, emerging and professionals — covering stories of the streets. Between all of this Julia makes time for her own photography projects, The Guardian of the Alley about Jose Hernandez, a well-respected homeless man who serves as the godfather of a portion of a homeless encampment in downtown L.A.> As an educator her teaching experience includes 40 years at various colleges, universities and educational institutions including the University of Nebraska, Los Angeles Valley College, Los Angeles Southwest College, Santa Monica College, the Santa Fe Workshops, the Maine Photographic Workshops, Oxford University, the Los Angeles Center of Photography, and the Leica Akademie. For two decades, Julia concentrated on street photography around the world. For the past 12 years, street shooting in downtown Los Angeles has been her primary focus. She created and directs a street collective called Street L.A., which consists of a group of serious photographers who shoot weekly. Julia's work has been published in many magazines, blogs, and books. A selection of Julia’s street photos Links from the show The L.A. Project Julia’s Website Instagram The Guardian of the Alley

In this episode of the podcast, we revisit an old friend, Michael Ruggiero. Mike’s recent move southward put him within driving distance of Bob so the two met up to record a podcast episode – this time in person! Mike has always been a prolific street and documentary photographer, thanks mostly to a successful career as a chef that provided him with the time and money to travel and buy plenty of film. In this episode, Bob and Mike talked about how he used his calling to fund his passion and how being a professional chef influenced his photography. The two also dove into several of Mike’s long term projects, many of which revolve around slices of Americana that are steadily disappearing. One of Mike’s current projects is particularly fascinating. Recently, he’s been visiting small town churches and shooting tiny congregations of just a dozen congregants or so inside their places of worship during church services. He gave Bob the skinny on how he gets permission to be present as a photographer and shoot such intimate moments. But there’s lots more to this conversation that you won’t want to miss. Listen in to find out how Mike, a lifetime film photographer, adjusted to digital when he was deprived of his darkroom during his recent move, learn about his attempts to become a Magnum photographer, and find out how he met (and was duped by) a very old and feisty Henri Cartier-Bresson. Mike has plenty of stories to tell. A Selection of Mike’s Street Photos From Mike’s Trucker Series Portrait of an “Asphalt Cowboy” Mission Beach Park – San Diego, CA 1981 Voyeur – Vienna, Austria 1989 St. Luke’s Church – Charlottesville, Virginia 2022 Worship 10 AM – Palmyra, Virginia 2023 Read Mike’s feature interview in Street Photography Magazine here. Links from the Show Mike’s Website Instagram

The title of this article is really a misnomer because Marcia Bricker Halperin knew all along that the archive she built over 40-years contains gold. But she waited until she retired from teaching to create a book from her life’s work. On a winder day in 1975 Marcia ducked into Dubrow’s Cafeteria on Kings Highway in her native Brooklyn to escape the cold. Over the next three years she returned regularly, camera in hand, to record the life and culture among the regulars in this local landmark unique to New York. It was a happy accident that proves you never know where a photo project will lead. Nothing will happen until you take the first step and do the work. During the podcast conversation Marcia tells the story of how she created her book, Kibbitz and Nosh: When We All Met at Dubrow’s Cafeteria , by mining her archive, making difficult selections, scanning negatives, and finding a publisher that believes in her vision and finally making it a reality. Early in her career Marcia was employed by the CETA Artist’s Project under the auspices of the Cultural Council Foundation. Her assignments included photographing the Soviet refugees and their introduction to American culture in Brighton Beach and photographing housing issues in Hell’s Kitchen. In the late 1970s, she was active in the Photographers Forum, an organization that was a continuation of the 1940s Photo League. She assisted with organizing their meetings and panels held at the New School, which featured photographers such as W. Eugene Smith and Roy DeCarava. Marcia’s personal story of how she leverages her archives to publish her book is an inspiration to any photographer who dreams of exposing their own work to the world. Marcia’s portrait by Phil O’Brien Exhibitions and book events Exhibition: Edward Hopper House Museum & Study Center Through June 25, 202382 N Broadway, Nyack, NY 10960Link: https://www.edwardhopperhouse.org/kibbitz.htmlArtist Talk: Sunday, June 11, 2-3:00 at the Nyack Library, 82 N Broadway, Nyack, NY 10960Followed by a tour of the exhibition at Edward Hopper House Artist Talk: Sunday, June 11, 2-3:00 at the Nyack Library, 82 N Broadway, Nyack, NY 10960Followed by a tour of the exhibition at Edward Hopper House Exhibition: Garment District Arts AllianceKaufman Arcade132 West 36th Street, NYCMay 15 – August 25, 2023  Garment District Tour and exhibit viewing Monday, June 5th – 10:30 amMeet at the Giant Needle and Yellow ButtonWest 39th Street and 7th AvenueEmail Marcia at mmhalp@gmail.com to reserve a spot A selection of Marcia’s photos Taxi from Kibbitz and Nosh Man with Bowtie from Kibbitz and Nosh Pencil Moustache from Kibbitz and Nosh 47th Street Boys from Marcia’s CETA Artist’s Project Hell’s Kitchen series Links from the show Marcia’s Website Kibbitz and Nosh: When We All Met at Dubrow’s Cafeteria on Amazon Instagram Facebook