The Magic of Capturing Moments on the Street

La Magia de Capturar Momentos en la Calle

Since I started photographing the streets of Hong Kong in 2013, I haven't stopped doing it. According to my archives, I have more than 30,000 photographs. Most of them, I must admit, are bad. They've only served to help me improve, practice, and train. But in the end, more than 30,000 photos is a lot of photos!

I've photographed almost everything: street moments, sad scenes, humorous ones. I've also captured light and created projects like Ladies & Gentlemen, Ping Pong, The Animals, Tempus, Self-Portraits, TETRIX, TAXI, and a few more. But I must say that the photos I remember and talk about the before, during, and after the shot are the ones where I've captured scenes.

I remember the before and after, whether I looked through the viewfinder or shot from the hip. I remember where I took these photos. Isn't that extraordinary? However, there are other curious photos I've taken that, due to their composition, light, geometry, technique, have turned out quite well, but I don't remember when I took them, the moment of the shot, or where I was.

This opens up a very interesting debate. As you know, the word photography means "painting with light," and there are many photographers who are artists, capable of capturing good moments and adjusting the light in such a way that it becomes a work of art. But, will they remember tomorrow where they took the photo? Will they remember the moment before and after pressing the shutter button? I would say no, especially if they have dozens of photos.

Now let's go with the meaning of photography in Japanese: Shashin, which means "to reflect reality." Capturing these moments, even if the photo isn't good, makes (or at least to me) you remember the moment you pressed the button, what you noticed to do it, when you looked, and the moment after the photograph. And this is amazing. Not only do you keep the memory on paper (photo), but you have it in your memory. This is why I like photographing moments. This is why I like the Japanese description, "to reflect reality," instead of "painting with light."

Because, as I've already told you, even though I have good photos having made good use of light, I don't remember taking any of them.

My First Street Photo

This was the first street photo I took, and it was in Cebu, Philippines, during my honeymoon trip. As we can see, there are two boys playing. The one on the left is about to throw a slipper at some Coca-Cola cans that are out of the frame, and the one on the right is waiting for him to throw the slipper, looking at those Coca-Cola cans. I must say the photo isn't good at all, but I have a lot of affection for it because it made me realize that photographing scenes will be etched in your memory forever.

Nobody can take it away from me. Every time I see this photo, I clearly remember where I was, the moment before shooting, when I pressed the button, and the moment after. This memory is so vivid that I feel like I'm back in that place, reliving that scene. The photo may not be technically perfect, but for me, it holds a story and an unforgettable memory that I will always carry with me.

Conclusion

Over the years, I've come to value more the photographs that capture authentic moments and transport me back to the moment they were taken. I prefer scenes that, although not technically perfect, make me clearly remember the before, during, and after the shot. These images have an incalculable emotional value and are etched in my memory in a way that no perfectly composed photograph can achieve. Ultimately, the magic of photography lies in its ability to preserve and evoke memories, beyond mere aesthetics.

Miguelitor