I Don’t Photograph People, Usually
April 12, 2023
One genre of photography I rarely participate in is street photography—or any kind of photography of people. My late friend Janet, with whom I went on many photo outings, had a special talent for taking photographs of people. She knew how to make them comfortable in front of a camera. I don’t. Between November 2001 and today, I’ve only taken 17 photographs of people that are shareworthy. All but two are of people who didn’t know I was taking their photograph. And I’m not sure about one of those. You may have seen some of these photos over the 12 years of this blog.
1 Sarasota, Florida 2008: For many years Janet and I would mingle with the people attending the annual motorcycle rally in Sarasota known as Thunder by the Bay. Many participants wandered around with cameras, so we didn’t stick out all that much. 
2 Sarasota, Florida 2009: This biker definitely saw me.
3 Sarasota, Florida 2008: I can’t remember if the guy on the right ever shook the other man’s hand.
4 Tokyo, Japan 2005
5 Sarasota, Florida 2006
6 Sarasota, Florida 2004
7 Sarasota, Florida 2004: A construction worker cleans up in the early morning light.
8 Sarasota, Florida 2006
9 Madison, Wisconsin 2008
10 Sarasota, Florida 2006: I was photographing the shadows and other shapes in this alley when this woman came along and ruined my composition. No, wait. She didn’t.
11 Longboat Key, Florida 2006
12 Sarasota, Florida 2006
13 Sarasota, Florida 2006
14 Denver, Colorado 2004
15 Sarasota, Florida 2008
16 St. Armands Key, Florida 2012
17 Henrietta Township, Ohio 2009
Romancing Reality 
Not usually maybe, but these are wonderful spectacular amazing beautiful
Mary Ellyn
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April 12, 2023 at 11:37 PM
Thank you, Mary Ellyn. After I gathered together these photographs, I noticed that most of them were taken in Sarasota. I think photographing people may be easier where there are more people around. Living where I do in Ohio, there usually aren’t a lot of people around. An exception is Oberlin College graduation weekend, which is coming up. Maybe I’ll hang around with the camera then.
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April 13, 2023 at 5:02 PM
Seriously? I think these are all fine shots and you are much better with people than I for sure, Linda. Geez, that biker didn’t look at all pleased, did he? The pedestrian who “ruined” your composition is perfectly placed ( nice choice of a “decisive moment”). The lounger with all those shadows is a great shot and all the kid pictures are swell as well.
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April 13, 2023 at 4:59 AM
I’ll take your compliments, Steve (thanks) even as I notice that 17 good people photos in 22 years averages out to less than one photo a year. And the distribution is weird. The earliest ones are from 2004 (three photos). There’s one photo from 2005, six from 2006, four from 2008, two from 2009, and one from 2012. None since 2012. Hard to say I’m good with people, but I’m pretty happy with these, and I’m glad you enjoyed them.
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April 13, 2023 at 7:41 PM
I can only judge by what I see. 🙂 I’ll have to take your word. People are not easy to photograph.
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April 14, 2023 at 5:51 AM
What a change of pace. The word that comes to mind for your Tokyo picture is “busy.” I noticed the painted woman well before the real one. In #9, it’s easy to see why you were drawn to those sets of parallel lines at different angles. We have to wonder what the woman in #11 was looking for or at. The final photo offers a funny juxtaposition between two “bottoms.”
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April 13, 2023 at 7:02 AM
Yes, a change of pace, and one I don’t indulge often. It was fun to put all these people pictures in one place. Thanks for writing, Steve.
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April 13, 2023 at 7:45 PM
Perhaps you should take more pictures of people? It’s a marvelous collection and shows off many of your talents. You are a very, very good photographer! Thank you for sharing.
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April 13, 2023 at 8:11 AM
Thanks, Kathy. As I said to Mary Ellyn, I don’t live where there are very large concentrations of people. This means that there are fewer people to photograph and that I can’t get lost in the crowd and photograph inconspicuously. Having had the enjoyment of seeing these photos again, though, maybe I will be more aware of possible opportunities.
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April 13, 2023 at 7:52 PM
You definitely have a gift for people photos, Linda. The two little girls (ballerinas?) and the couple holding hands are priceless. Nice work.
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April 13, 2023 at 10:37 AM
Thank you, Ken. I have to argue about having a gift for people photos, however, since I take them so rarely. I just don’t usually have the eye for them. Yes, the two little girls are ballerinas participating in the same outdoor event as the dancer applying lipstick. The couple holding hands appealed to me because they were older. I don’t think we old folks hold hands all that much. Pity.
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April 13, 2023 at 7:57 PM
True.
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April 13, 2023 at 8:17 PM
What a fascinating, varied collection. Food for the eye and food for the soul. Thanks.
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April 13, 2023 at 4:13 PM
You’re welcome, Leslie. Thanks. Happy to be your server.
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April 13, 2023 at 8:01 PM
Could I be any later? I took a quick look at this and really liked it but wanted to comment when I had more time – and that was weeks ago. So goes spring. For someone who doesn’t photograph people often these are awfully good! So much variety, too. The first one is great, the second is really amusing. I have to wonder if you saw the tiny person in the head of the reflected guy in #6 – wow, perfect. The construction worker looks like a shadow but isn’t – that’s a wonderful image. I saw your striped daughter before, didn’t I? That is one classically great photograph. I like what you wrote under #10. 🙂 The last six, starting with the two girls, flow together seamlessly. I’m glad you put this post together.
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May 2, 2023 at 1:46 PM