The clue is in the name. Street photography takes place on the street. Usually it depicts it too. Normally, we like wide lenses so we can get close to the action and still capture context.
The first photo in this series is like that, with two subjects echoing one another.
But sometimes you just want to take a photo of a disembodied hand.
I think that’s what I like about hands. You don’t need a lot of context. They say a lot about their owners.
You only need one peek at the mitts above and below to know they’re attached to interesting people.
I’m also quite partial to a hand at work, as with this NSW Transport worker giving an Opal Card machine a reacharound (or whatever it is he is doing).
Hands at rest are also good. I like the way this man sleeping in a Cabramatta doorway tucks his thumbs. It’s almost meditative.
This Chiang Mai tuk tuk driver is a little more active. His manicured fingers are at rest, but seem ready to spring into action and grip the handlebars. (I also like the neon reflection on his chrome dome).
You don’t even need to be human to get in on the action. Mannequin hands are handy (ha!) because they don’t make sudden movements and ruin your shot, and their owners don’t complain about weirdos with cameras. Bonus points if the mannequins are as generously proportioned as the dummies in the window of this Surry Hills lingerie shop.
And that’s the end of my hand collection (for now). Let me know if you have a favourite. And as always, email back if you’d like a print or need a photographer for events, portraits or anything else. Whatever the job, I can hand-le it.
OK, goodbye now.