In the words of former Photojournalist and Magnum photographer, Alex Webb, ” When I reluctantly use the term “street photography,” I’m using it in the most fluid and expansive way. For me, it suggests an emphasis on exploration and discovery with the camera, with little preconception. A street photographer wanders and responds spontaneously to what he or she finds, rather than consciously searching for specific things, letting the world—and one’s unconscious—lead one where it will.”

For me, street photography or street portraiture is a way for me to meet and talk to new people. From Cowboys to park goers, everyone has a story. Although it can’t be all encapsulated in one photography, you come pretty close. Photography gives a narrative weaved by the photographer. From angle to crop to positioning, the photographer controls more than a viewer might think, but why not let it be shaped by its subject?

When I ask someone for their photo, the most common questions I’m are how do you want me to stand? Where do I look? What do I do with my hands? I simply say, “Do whatever makes you feel comfortable.” Obviously, this has led to some awkward photos, but it has also led to photos better than the ones I imagined in my head.

As a photographer, I am there to capture the moment. I am a bug on a wall or a bird in the sky. My camera is an extension of your hand. It’s not a tool for me to wield in pursuit of power. It merely documents what its front of it.