Look, look, look in street photography, and you will see more

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

I have been involved in street photography for several years now. Usually in my home city of Rotterdam. Regularly in other cities in the Netherlands too, abroad or much further afield.

Rotterdam is a wonderfully photogenic city. There is something for every photographer. Beautiful architecture for the architectural photographer. Tall buildings, attractive façades and modern design.

Visit the new central station, for example.
Take a look at the bridges over the Maas.

Tourists are well catered for too. There is plenty to see in Rotterdam. The Euromast offers a view of the endless city. The many museums, including of course the national photography museum.

Well worth a visit for every photographer. A lovely city centre with the Koopgoot and its many shops, along with the Markthal. Do go there and have a look.

For the harbour photographer, there is of course the enormous wealth of water. The inner harbours, sometimes with old ships still there, and the Maas, which runs all the way to Hoek van Holland.

As a photographer, it is great fun to take a trip on a Spido boat. A visit to the enormous Maasvlakte, with its seagoing ships and many containers, is more than worthwhile. Wonderful to photograph.

Of course, there is something to do or experience for every photographer. But then I become a sort of tourist information office, and that is not really the point either. Although I am happy to be an ambassador for promoting that fantastic city of Rotterdam.

Why street photography

Look, look, look

Another photo of children in a bicycle box. Why are they sitting here? What are they looking at? Where are their parents? Tell your story?

The next photo shows something of the surroundings. Which buildings do you see, and do you recognise the city?

Then there is the man in the red shirt wearing a face mask. Who is he? What is he doing here? Who does he belong with?

The full photo tells you the whole story. You see the complete context. By looking carefully at your street photograph, you see more. Pay particular attention to details.

The great thing is that everyone can create their own story around the photo. My story is different from yours. That is what makes street photography so much fun.

At the same time, you are writing history. When you look back at a street photograph later, you can see how people were dressed. What the city looked like. Which things existed. That is another thing that makes street photography so much fun.

Take a look at photos by other street photographers, for example those by Vivian Maier. In that respect, she was far ahead of her time and wrote history.

If you have looked at the photo above, I would love to hear your story. Tell us in the comments below what you see and what the photo does to you.

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