WNYC Street Shots: Joe Wigfall

[mp4podcastDOTcom]

A lot of old school photographers used to shot like him with out looking at the view finder. It takes a lot of skill to be able to pull it off.

[ustavobarr25g]

This video went viral on Doha

[kirkbutler12]

Your video is a favorite on Lebanon

[jnpict]

Nice! Very nice!

[melotone]

What I love about his attitude is that his is not approaching shooting from a place of anger, confrontation, or grim determination. Wigfall, keep rocking it!

[drheaddamage]

As for some criticism: Seems a bit like lomography to me. Just shoot hundreds of pictures and pick out a good one. Anyone can do that.

As for his "black and white is art"-line... well, a good picture is a good picture, regardless whether you put it in black and white or let it remain in color.

Some of the post-edits are also quite heavy, too heavy vignetting to my taste, f.ex.

Ah well, best of luck to him.

[strickmans]

great pics

[ancientalkebulan]

great technique and great attitude and most of all .....love taking pictures....

[bjwal6]

That is the best verbalisation of how I feel about photography, and specifically street photography I have seen or even thought of myself.

I want to do it. It satisfies something deep inside, but it doesn't pay any bills. So? JUst do it, keep doing it, one day it might, that's not important, it's art!

Thank you for an amazing interview WNYC, and for being an inspirational dude Joe Wigfall!

[dark222s]

this is absolutely amazing technique for doing street photography !!!! absolutely inspiring !!!

[alainiala]

I love this video. I keep coming back to it every few months to re-inspire myself to shoot more.

[McCDub]

what a sound guy.

[82mccord]

This dude is inspiring. Keep up the good work my friend. 

[mikeburton92385]

well said.

[Andycas9991]

I like hipshooting. Its good style for candid shots. If you need portraits, you ask people and then ofcourse, frame and calculate. But for candids, that's the best style. Also - you get nice low angle shots.

[izvarzone]

When I was filming on a street (in suburbs), two women said they will call cops. Hahahah.

[manunu1]

How could you give this a thumbs down? There is no real reason to hate on it.

[damens]

@manunu1 Jealousy ... oh, and he wasn't using a Leica ... ;P

[thestig123]

Thank's for the inspiration. Have a great day shooting.

[roblarosa]

2:09 and onward. Great philosophy and well said.

[breadicus66]

Hey man great video, very inspiring keep it up.

[nightster369]

i love what you have to say about your work great pictures

[wilkbor]

Joe: Well stated and happy shooting. I look forward to your work on Flickr and additional videos like this one.

[Rui372]

Hi again, do you have a blog or a site with your work?

if you do i´d love to see your work.

Tks again

Rui

[JusticeProduction]

refreshing view on street photography :D

[writerman242]

You are terrific Good on you and i wish you well...so inspiring...and GOOD pics!

[qqstar999]

What's the link to his flickr page?

[Rui372]

i enjoyed your sincerity about being a artist even wen we can´t make a living as a photographer tks it help me to keep going doing what makes me alive.

Rui From Portugal

[Joswigfall]

@Rui372 That's the best part of doing this--all you really have is your talent to work with and it's up to you to use it.

[Joswigfall]

@Rui372 : Rui, That's the best part of doing this--all you really have is your talent to work with and it's up to you to develop and use it which we both continue to do.

[donttrustany1]

Awesome!

[benjhouston]

Very inspiring. Time to get off my butt and take pictures!!

Whiteloupe

[prettylady2102]

AMEN!!!!!

[illustriousimagery]

Great work and attitude Joe.

[f3xpgm]

That's pretty much what i do! It's awesome! Check my photostream at Flickr: f3lixlovesyou

;)

[Brainstrain]

He looks tremendously good for 50. Maybe it's his sense of style.

Anyway, I'm gonna try shooting with my hands. I've always loved digital because of volume. You get a lot more tries a lot faster than film.

[jonkers2007]

Just starting in street photography and found this. INSPIRING... not just technique but the philosophy too. Thanks Joe :)

[bigflickrfeed]

I just love the positive vibe people get from making photos. Photogs seem to pay more attention to the beauty that surrounds them. (and then they want to take it home and put it on the web to share the beauty they captured with others ;-)

[marcomarcucci]

@bigflickrfeed I totally agree with you and noticed it with myself...

[okodorifuto]

I love the fact that he is so down to earth.

[Yarbols]

mad respect. it makes me sad that you have no negatives. personally I've yet to see a pigment print that doesn't look dead. for me it's all about the silver... and about consuming images on a screen... well forget that. that's for those who don't know.

Still your take and your process is right there. imagery is tight. just love to see you loose the monitor.

[PowellVisuals]

@Yarbols that's a very short-sighted way of looking at it. Photography has always been about using whatever the latest technology is to make a picture. Digital (and of course everyone using digital, including Joe) are carrying on that tradition.

[TheSubwaysurfer]

...You DONT "Kill a part of yourself" Just because you "cant make a living at it" Dude, that is THE quote that SHOULD be an ARTIST MANTRA. Y#SSSSSSSSS! I am applauding that statement on the inside and started to do MY art so many years ago doing caricature street art etc. I KNOW how obsessive capturing life on film can be!! LOL! my wife is ALWAYS on my why I have ALLLLL these pictures of these strangers!!!! LOL!!

[snakekiller110]

street photography of this kind isnt possible in my country...people would look away, yell at me or sue me.. crap.

[bonscottlives]

Joe is a hero. Best street photographer working today.

[djamorpheus]

continuous shooting and not looking through the viewfinder.... anyone could do that.

[b4rn1k4]

@djamorpheus anyone can do anything. post a video about your street shots, let's see how they turn out!

[thestig123]

Thanks for your inspiration. I'm going out tomorrow.

[bbtel]

Sneaky - good. Me sneaky too especially with a 16mm on my D200. Must learn to "see with my hands" better. Thanks

[blackclassics]

Hey Brother. I love you work. Those shots. There is nothing like unrehearsed non-posey photos. They maybe stills but they are quite 'moving'. Stay up and keep doing yo thing.

[loco039]

I like your style, wonderful.

[givemeantlers]

LOVE it!

[mark123luck]

The thing about street photography is it's unpredictabilty, you have know idea what might happen in the next 30 seconds. So if your working in the streets you need to be quick on your feet darting in and out of the crowds waiting to capture that unique moment.

[Kingsnake1]

i think it'd be impossible not to take great photos in new york..

[djkross123]

look at Jake Dobkin's stuff. that'll show you that it's possible.

[bwworld]

Great work, although I believe Joe's reasoning behind doing hip shots is due to the limitations of an SLR. A rangefinder would not blind you in the way an SLR does. OTOH, a Leica M9 is verrrrry expensive! ;-)

[ozakiyuyu]

really agree with his attitude and enjoy his photos

[stef11488]

I agree with drix01 way better than Gilden, Wigfall is very non abrasive in his shooting style and I think It makes for more candid photographs.

[drix01]

your shooting from the hip my friend ) keep up the good work liking your images a lot more than magnum photographer Bruce Gilden

[rglev]

i'm really enjoying your photos and your approach. makes me want to try this kind of thing. makes me want to branch out and try all sorts of new ideas. makes the "regular" seem somehow exciting.

[Carterofmars]

I shot during lunch also... maybe once every two weeks or so... I use a P&S Fuji. Got a few interesting shots. I work on Broadway in midtown. Let me know if you want to take a lunch and get some photos.

[Carterofmars]

The interest just isn't there right now. Winogrand said it in his interviews; I'm just a still photographer. If the interest is high in photography as an art form, especially street/documentary work then you'll have your moment. Some of your shots rival Winogrand.

[lukeramun]

excellent work, the photos tell a story unlike bruce gilden who jumps in peoples faces with a flash...

[ddknyc]

Sorry to say but what a joke! A good example of affirmative action, otherwise I don't see how he belongs in this group...

[oldproji]

Joe, great images and a great attitude. Street is about attitude; stepping out of the ordinary and looking back in to see what's going on. Instinct is a gift, a talent if you like, difficult acquire, but not impossible with commitment. You have it man, so don't lose sight of your goals.

[gli72]

Taking pictures is not getting something you don't know; if not you can teach you dog taking pictures....then back home you can make a choice!!!

Look at Garry Winogrand or Jeff Mermelstein.

He's a nice guy but not an artist nor a photographer to me.

[Quex01]

are you a zionist or something?:D

[speedgraphic]

Wow, this is the most inspiring video I have seen in a very long time.

It all seems like he's just spamming the shutter button until you see his shots... simply beautiful, capturing decisive moments like Winogrand or Cartier-Bresson.

I have to admit, it's also nice seeing someone with empathy shooting street for once (I'm looking at you, Gilden!).

[swanseamale47]

Great work Joe, and a great attitude to life as well. Wayne (UK)

[regionalsaint]

Due to his technique his framing is terrible.

[AsphaltAstronaut]

Have you viewed Joe's work on Flickr? I think if you had you would make a more informed statement. I teach photography at a college in Santa Monica and I use his technique as a teaching tool. You should try it and perhaps you'll learn something new.

[malayneum]

i dont care about the technique. as long as he is happy doing it and we enjoy looking at the results.

[fodera6]

I like his outlook but as far as his technique, it seems he's relying on the camera's autofocus and at the very least, automatic exposure to do much of the heavy lifting. I cringed at the amount of chimping he does where he said he starts with 150 and ends up with 20. That's one of the reasons I shoot film. You can't just click away and hope to get the one you want. You have to get it right the first time.

[chowmonkey2002]

So?? What's your point??

[bkftcf]

Great work of a very sympathetic person!

[N2CBiohazard]

Very nice indeed.

[wth1980]

Nice!

[ChillpointNews]

00:16 - really really nice.

[image3030]

Nice work Joe, i like your attitude towards photography.

[mrdre1019]

brilliant

[thebirdman19]

how does he focus?

[norubit76]

f11 + auto focus and pray!!!

[markzen582]

Lol :)

[ckat609]

@norubit76

Awesome comment!

[therealjacegrones]

He probably uses the Sunny 16 rule, and prefocuses with a small aperture. This is why older lenses have the distance scale from a certain ft/meters to infinity. Honestly, hip shots are lame. This has little to do with instinct and more to do with luck. Why not just compose and get exactly what you want?

[iodine333]

Photo Journalists have a saying ... "f8 and be there" I doubt about sunny 16. He's almost always in the shadows of the buildings. I bet he shoots with an aperture priority at f8 with a possible auto ISO.

[585balla]

man he is good. i shoot street as well but i usually put the camera up because if i shoot from the chest/hip i never get the pic right. i'm not skilled enough yet. everyone just needs to know that when you are shooting street, be confident, always be on the look as there is always something to shoot, smile after/during your pic, and walk away. trust me, i'm 16 so i get weird looks all the time. but hey, it's what i love to do :P go out and shoot!

[Kaneblind]

im 18 and people allso give me that weird look,but you just gotta be fast and people wont notice you,ya know once a guy was almost gonna punch me for taking a picture of him and his girlfriend,strange fella indeed

[jgquicho]

I'm inspired. Joe you're awesome!

[Bolo1981]

It's inspired me. I'm going out right now to shoot! Thank you!

[Joswigfall]

@Bolo1981 : Good. I'm glad. That's exactly what it's supposed to do.

[louisludwig]

@ tnm 12: the song is "Water Get No Enemy" by Fela Kuti

[tnm12]

thanks bro!

[Heavok]

Simply great shots...luv it

[tnm12]

some body know name song at the first secounds of film??

[arvangsson]

Love your work and and your attitude!

[robm1969]

YOu go JOe!

[Kaneblind]

love your work

[heckenpenner69]

As long as it´s not only just one person on the picture I think it´s legal and just to shoot streetphotos.

[ronnyminhtike]

Hi, how about the people on the road privacy and thier faces and who they don't even know they have been foto taken by someone?

[wangogh22]

I think all the haters that talk about your work are jealous. I sse passion and art on your work and a different point of view of the streets. Congratulations. Keep up with the hard work. Wagner AZ

[Fnoalle]

Extremely average photos. Another proof that "photography" needs to be decimated drastically. Also, the pictures would be a lot better if he had had the wits to look in the viewfinder. The photos that we see in the video is obviously a selection of the pictures that happened to come out OK. And "OK" is the best you can say about them.

[fdama]

Obviously you know nothing about photography. Those photos are not average. Every one has an interesting story about them, which you obviously don't appreciate. I'd like to see you go out there and take some shots. Now those would be average shots. You need some skill and appreciation to do this which you obviously don't, or wouldn't be needing to post this comment.

[byfleetsurrey]

wow,you have given me the need to get in to the street and take photoes,many many thanks

[AlsoChosen1]

same here

[luncheonechelon]

does anyone know what camera he was holding towards the end?

[sergioalexandro]

It looks like a Ricoh GX200

[Wingsofwolf]

i think that's a GRD or a GRD2

[artmakesmesmile]

You inspire me as a true artist... the way you talk about your passion is so catchy. I bet you could earn a great living inspiring others too... am off to check out your Flickr site now as I'm a flickr colleague too!

[wadeharris65]

Joe is one of my contacts on Flickr, and one of my photographic influences. Street photography is NOT easy; you have to have the utmost confidence in your work and your ability to see a potential image. I try this style of photography off and on, and the best of my work pales in comparison to even an average shot of Joe's.

Keep up the great work, Joe; I anxiously await your next classic shot!

[Jazzman21c]

Awesome. This whole series is really helpful to us people who are just getting into street photography - and finally, some encouragement for shooting from the waist.

[4Star918]

I concur sir.

[bigohm]

Right On, Bro!

[royalsteven]

Beautiful poetic shots. And nice approach of photographing. But wouldn't it be easier if he just bend his knees a bit? hehe

[erainey007]

i love black guys with great personalities. Some Great images too.

[fdama]

Some people always have to put race into everything. Why cant you just say "i love people with great personalities"

[erainey007]

because they have more charisma, more personality. thats why, so yea its a race thing but not a racist one.

some people are so narrow minded that once any mention of race comes to the table they think negative.

you are one of those people.

[Hajdareviic]

great attitude.

[ZigZagMjod]

Great photos. I love his work.

Keep on the good work

[thanatosmegadeth]

great!!! great porfolio on flikr!!! greatings

[gumanow]

Great video Joe. Congrats. Glad to see that you've mastered seeing with your hands. Most people can't do it. You are a pro at it. Keep up the great work.

[moliniano]

stef63kal comment is so unnesesary. I bet that stef63kal doesnt know Mr Wigfall. I know him and he knows a lot...he knows what he's doing. I hate peolple that talks without knowing. Mr. Wigfall is one of the best photographer I ever met...he knows and he teach in a very clear and simple way.

[framundus]

Hi Joe!  chaospress here.. Very cool! Loving the intro/ending music too

[stef63kal]

Yeah, right

I suppose that to do something like this you don't need any skills

just buy an digital camera, a PC and a enhancing application and there you are

Congratulations you became an artist!!!

Does this guy know how a camera works?

Does the acronym OOF sound like somebody lifting a heavy load?

Oh sorry, I forgot

to be art, it has to be B/W (that is Black & White)

[brenz89]

The shot at 2:04 is amazing, good job Joe! I'm gunna see if its on your flickr now

[mrbriggs360]

Starting at about 2:10, he speaks some serious truth.. words to live by

[drinkstoforget]

I'm not one to critique street photography, but I agree with his philosophy when I'm people watching.

[babandidi]

I love these street shots videos, keep them coming.