“Think about the photo before and after, never during. The secret is to take your time. You mustn’t go too fast. The subject must forget about you. Then, however, you must be very quick.” – Henri Cartier-Bresson
This week I returned to Niagara Falls for a trade convention. I took just one hour out of my schedule to capture some street photography. This is my favourite location to capture folks enjoying the magnificent grandeur of The Falls.
Street photography is a genre of photography that captures everyday life in public spaces, in this case Niagara Falls. It typically involves candidly capturing people, objects, architecture, and events within urban environments. The Falls is not the core subject here, the people are the focus. Street photographers often seek to document the essence of a place, the interactions of people, and the small details that make up the fabric of daily life.
Unlike traditional portrait or landscape photography, street photography does not usually involve staged scenes or controlled environments. Instead, it relies on the photographer’s ability to observe and react quickly to fleeting moments, often using techniques such as framing, composition, and timing to create visually compelling images.
Street photography can vary greatly in style and approach, from black and white documentary-style shots to vibrant and colorful urban scenes. Some photographers focus on capturing the juxtaposition of elements within a frame, while others may emphasize the emotional or narrative aspects of their subjects.
Overall, street photography offers a unique perspective on the world, providing glimpses into the diverse and dynamic nature of urban life.
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About the Author:
Michael Martin is the Vice President of Technology with Metercor Inc., a Smart Meter, IoT, and Smart City systems integrator based in Canada. He has more than 40 years of experience in systems design for applications that use broadband networks, optical fibre, wireless, and digital communications technologies. He is a business and technology consultant. He was a senior executive consultant for 15 years with IBM, where he worked in the GBS Global Center of Competency for Energy and Utilities and the GTS Global Center of Excellence for Energy and Utilities. He is a founding partner and President of MICAN Communications and before that was President of Comlink Systems Limited and Ensat Broadcast Services, Inc., both divisions of Cygnal Technologies Corporation (CYN: TSX). Martin served on the Board of Directors for TeraGo Inc (TGO: TSX) and on the Board of Directors for Avante Logixx Inc. (XX: TSX.V). He has served as a Member, SCC ISO-IEC JTC 1/SC-41 – Internet of Things and related technologies, ISO – International Organization for Standardization, and as a member of the NIST SP 500-325 Fog Computing Conceptual Model, National Institute of Standards and Technology. He served on the Board of Governors of the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) [now OntarioTech University] and on the Board of Advisers of five different Colleges in Ontario. For 16 years he served on the Board of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), Toronto Section. He holds three master’s degrees, in business (MBA), communication (MA), and education (MEd). As well, he has three undergraduate diplomas and five certifications in business, computer programming, internetworking, project management, media, photography, and communication technology. He has completed over 30 next generation MOOC continuous education in IoT, Cloud, AI and Cognitive systems, Blockchain, Agile, Big Data, Design Thinking, Security, Indigenous Canada awareness, and more.