People - Amateur

Be Yourself

Jim Lustenader
USA

Nominee

"Be Yourself"
A barista in Ravenna, Italy, warms the morning with a radiant, generous smile; 2019

Biography: Street photography has a special cinematic character, combining elements of photojournalism, documentary and pure surprise to catch unguarded moments. Spontaneity, immediacy, serendipity, empathy: each plays a role in a successful shot. But to me the thing that makes a street photo memorable is an element of visual tension, whether between subjects or between a subject and their surroundings. Tension gives a photo intimacy and depth within a social context, allowing the viewer to pause and decipher possible meanings. It encourages imagination and raises a question or two.

< back