The fisherman approach

Spain

When it comes to street photography, I often find myself alternating between two approaches: the fisherman approach and the hunter approach. The hunter approach is about being proactive: constantly on the move, chasing fleeting moments as they happen in front of you. You do not stop moving because you are constantly focused on the next shot. The fisherman approach is the opposite. You find an interesting scene, frame your composition, and wait, because your composition is not complete. You’re missing one key element: a person entering the frame just right, or perhaps someone leaving it. Either way, you know that with patience, the image will come together. For this photo, I followed the fisherman approach. I was drawn to the composition of the izakaya’s wall, especially the window. I noticed that occasionally, the man working inside would turn to face the window while washing dishes. So I waited. For half an hour, he moved back and forth, always looking away. And then, finally, he turned and faced me. That’s when I took the shot.

I'm Alex, a 29 year old guy from Spain. I work as a software engineer, but in my free time I love being a photography nerd. I try to always carry a camera with me, either my trusty digital camera or my father's 35mm film camera. Photography has motivated me to go out, to travel, and to meet wonderful people. I hope it keeps on doing that indefinitely.