Street Photography Magazine

Photo by Larry Racioppo John Rossi, a retired school teacher from the New York City school system, has a deep passion for capturing moments through his lens. Although he currently lives on Staten Island, his heart remains in his native Brooklyn. Larry Racioppio, a fellow photographer, friend of John’s and contributor to Street Photography Magazine, introduced me to John’s timeless photographs of Little Italy. And after seeing his photographs, I understood why and immediately invited him to share his personal story with you on the podcast. Street Photography Magazine subscribers can see his work in his article Memories of Little Italy. John’s journey in photography began when he got his hands on an old camera with his girlfriend. They experimented with different settings and discovered the joy of capturing images. From that point on, John always had a camera by his side, documenting any event that caught his eye. John stressed the significance of photography books in his development. He mentioned influential photographers like Walker Evans and Robert Frank, whose work shaped his understanding of photography. With the advent of smartphones, everyone can now take pictures anytime, but John emphasized the importance of slowing down to capture meaningful moments, rather than just snapping away without purpose. We also discussed John’s deep connection to his Italian roots and his passion for photographing the Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy. He explained how his family had a store in the neighborhood, and how he was influenced by the atmosphere of the feast. His photographs from those times capture not only the events but also the culture and spirit of the people of the neighborhood. As you will hear in our conversation, John is a funny and entertaining storyteller. He shared stories of encounters with fellow photographers and even brushes with famous actors like Robert De Niro. It was a pleasure to have John Rossi on the podcast, and I encourage you to explore his body of work. Links from the show John’s Facebook

Sam Huggin, a production assistant in Richmond, Virginia, discusses the importance of film and photography in storytelling and the beauty of capturing the essence of subjects without exploiting them. He emphasizes the significance of composition and lighting in street photography and shares his favorite films with great photography, including Shawshank Redemption. Sam also touches on the ethical considerations of photographing people in difficult situations.

Lisa Cates and Doug Miller of the New Orleans Photo Alliance join the podcast to talk about the upcoming PhotoNOLA Festival. They discuss the festival's events, exhibition opportunities, and portfolio review. They also highlight the festival's commitment to fostering the exchange of art and ideas and making photography accessible to the local community.

Joe Jasper, passionate street photographer, discusses capturing the unnoticed moments of everyday life. Topics include favorite shooting locations, photography tips for travel, capturing the essence of a place, exploring different lenses for street photography, and the influence of social media on urban exploring.

Richard Morgan, a professional photographer from London, discusses his passion for street photography and his recent article on capturing everyday life in wartime Ukraine. He shares his experiences working with clients, the challenges of portraiture, and techniques for capturing genuine expressions. The podcast also explores his experiences in Russia and Ukraine, the value of revisiting locations in street photography, and the importance of staying in one place for deeper photography.

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