Street Photography: Feelings

It is said that street photography is not just a profession, it is a way of life witnessed through the lens, a language of those who want to tell stories without words. However, with the explosion of technology and the popularity of smartphones with high-quality cameras, today, the street photography profession has faced a great challenge. Once a symbol of creativity and art, can this profession overcome the competition to survive?

Behind every photo is sincere emotion with every line of the frame

“Would you like to take a picture, sis? The pictures are guaranteed to be beautiful and high quality. Would you like to take a picture, sis? Take a few pictures as souvenirs!”. Those were the sincere, continuous invitations of a street photographer in the flower garden area in Anh Sang Hamlet, Da Lat. However, the response to those invitations was only head shakes and thanks, leaving the street photographer disappointed and sad… Standing here inviting guests for more than 2 hours, groups of tourists from Nha Trang to Vung Tau, from Ninh Thuan to Ho Chi Minh City, the street photographer kept inviting, waiting, hoping but in the end received only head shakes. Tired and somewhat frustrated, sitting on a chair near the flower garden to watch groups of tourists taking pictures with their smartphones, in the eyes of that photographer there was an unnamed sadness... "It's so boring, there are many tourists and visitors but they don't take pictures because everyone has their own phones. Sometimes they can't take a single picture all day. The elderly might be lucky enough to take a picture if they go alone. If I invite these people, they may support me, but almost no young people take pictures. This profession is no longer what it used to be." A street photographer in Da Lat City confided.

Da Lat is a famous tourist city. Every year, this place welcomes millions of domestic and foreign tourists to visit and relax. The profession of street photography used to be the pride of the previous photographers. They traveled from the inner city to the suburbs, famous tourist destinations to take photos for individual customers and groups. As a person who has been involved in the street photography profession for more than 10 years, Mr. Sy Nguyen, living in Da Lat, once considered street photography as his "salvation" because at that time, street photography was a "money-making" profession. "Back then, street photography was very enjoyable. I often took photos at Than Tho Lake. After deducting expenses, film processing, and photo development, earning 700,000 - 800,000 VND a day was normal. At that time, when going out or traveling, few people brought cameras with them. Technology in the past was not like today...", Mr. Sy Nguyen interrupted the conversation with me with a sigh full of emotion.

Despite his love and passion for photography, Sy Nguyen could not hold on and stick with the street photography profession for long. His strength was beyond his control, cameras were not as convenient as smartphones, so even though he loved his job, Sy Nguyen had to stay home and do other jobs. So he had to put aside his passion and his life as a street photographer. The lenses and camera bodies with brands like Canon and Sony were put in the closet by their owners. Having quit the profession for more than 3 years now, every time he missed his job and his trips, Sy Nguyen would take out his camera, clean it, and then put it away again. For Sy Nguyen, street photography is now a profession that only remains in his memories.

One of the biggest challenges that street photography is facing is competition from technology. Smartphones are increasingly equipped with high-quality cameras, making it easy for people to take photos anytime, anywhere without the help of a professional photographer. Photo editing applications are also becoming more and more popular, helping users create beautiful photos without requiring too much technical skill. Nowadays, we can easily take photos and share them on social networks in just a few seconds. This takes away the uniqueness and value of photos created by street photographers.

In the first days of the new year, Da Lat is bustling with spring atmosphere. The weather is beautiful, Tet is very close. In the distance, photographers are walking around Xuan Huong Lake. Holding cameras, occasionally some people stop to admire and record moments, the beauty of nature so as not to miss their profession. From photography to serving tourists, photography to make a living, there are also people who switch to photography because of... passion. Despite facing significant challenges, the profession of street photography still retains some advantages and special values. In an era where everything becomes digital and automated, human ingenuity and creativity are still highly appreciated. Street photography is still an art, the ability to capture special moments, highlighting the beauty and meaning of a photo. Mr. Thanh Trung, a street photographer in Da Lat City, found a very interesting reason to talk about this profession: “Despite many changes and challenges, street photography still has its own meaning. Although the income is not as high as before, there are still people who like to take photos and send files. I don’t just take photos, I create stories, preserving important moments in other people’s lives. That is something that technology cannot replace.”

Street photography - a profession that has become "outdated and out of fashion" in the age of technology, but it still retains its inherent beauty and value. With a heart full of love and attachment to their art, street photographers are like true, genuine working artists in the picture of life. Each captured moment is a mark of passion, a journey of connection and attachment to the surrounding world . Behind each photo is a memory, a genuine interaction with the surrounding environment, and sincere emotions with every line of the frame.

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