Huge pet Tegu lizards, pierced Goth lithographers and perky midwestern purveyors of bondage paraphernalia recently provided a macabre feast of street photography at Chicago’s aptly titled “Oddities Flea Market”. Their casual acceptance of the odd and unusual was a celebration of daring to be different.
It got me thinking about the supposed “oddity” of medium format street photography. It’s not infrequent to hear from street photographers who use full frame or APS-C cameras the size of an iPhone why anyone would use something as odd as a medium format camera for street photography.
Well, OK, medium format cameras are not small. They are not unobtrusive (although more on that in a later blog) and few people use them for street photography. But are they really so …odd?
Consider that some of the most famous street photographers used medium format cameras. Diane Arbus photos of off-center humanity were taken with Mamiyas and Rollei’s. Vivian Maier took thousands and thousands of acclaimed street photos using a TLR Rolleiflex. Elliott Erwitt also used a Rolleiflex to find humor and irony in everyday situations. Modern street photographers using medium format cameras include Stephen Leslie and Pei Ketron.
So if you want to brave a new level of street photography, realize that it’s really not so much of an oddity, and you would be in very good company. Once you come to Medium Street, you’ll see. And you may decide to stay.
Short Stories on Medium Street
Walk and watch. There are small plays all around you on Medium Street, if you learn to see like a street photographer.
Dark Shadows on Medium Street
What better holiday than Halloween to discuss dark photography. An evening dining al fresco. A rainy night stroll. A walk down a
Walking With Vivian
What is street photography? Depends on who you ask! It’s a metaphor, it’s a memory, it’s a frozen moment, it’s a document
Old Friends and a New Lens on Medium Street
Sweaters? Dark mornings? How did that happen!? Chicago is grudgingly surrendering its idyllic 2024 Summer. As the smell of pumpkin spice crowds
Just Breathe On Medium Street
Electric fusion of Mexican Latino rhythms, tacos, tiny magical alebrije dogs and frogs, carved from wood and whimsically painted. Families in flag
Artistic Skinship on Medium Street
Twice a year Chicago hosts the largest “Call to Arms” in the country. The Villain Arts Chicago Tattoo Festival fills a cavernous
Dog Days of Summer
Dogs, dogs, dogs. You meet many interesting people during photo walks and dogs are some of the most interesting “people” that you
A Multi-Cultural Medium
Chicago is a tapestry of cultures and every summer they celebrate in the street. Every weekend, festivals honor neighborhoods, foods, authentic dress,
The Museum Is the Medium
Street photography belongs in the museum, and not just in frames, hung on the walls. Museums are temples of art, color, geometry
