Street Story : Eric Kim or the happiness through the moment

Street photographer Eric Kim is a regular in photo expeditions in several major cities around the world. During a recent group outing, he had the experience of seeing one of his students give a picture taken with an instant camera. A simple way to get to know him and not to violate people's privacy. Here is what he tells us about this experience:

"During my street photography workshop this weekend, I experienced something that touched my heart. Peter Zhang, one of my students, had met a woman in San Francisco. When I approached them, he had already engaged conversion with her.

What he did then surprised me, he took a portrait of this woman with the camera and gave her a picture as a gift. The woman was delighted."

Peter then told me that the woman had recently discovered that she had cancer, and that her gift had touched him a lot. I think it's a good idea to do something like that, that is, give and not just take. This way of doing things is excellent in my opinion, especially for people who do not have an email address where we could send them their photos.

Another of my students, proceeds in almost the same way, but via Wi-Fi he prints his photos in the street with a portable printer. Impressions can be smaller and fit inside a wallet. I personally have already taken about 300 photos. It is a more conscious use of a camera, and that allows to "share".

At the end of the day, and having traveled kilometers in the streets of his city, knowing that your photographs can be a gift, fills you with joy, I can only agree with that. The encounters I made were always much more meaningful than my photos. Sharing and exchange being the very essence of art. A street photographer should know that. His work would be even more profitable for him from a human point of view.

Crédits photos : Eric Kim

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