photoelegance

When going out to take photos, Meyerowitz experienced the scene instead of looking for a “capture” moment. It helped him how to better capture emotion and focus on that to have a more of an understanding.

Joel Meyerowitz moved from a handheld 35mm camera to a large-format view camera. This shift changed his photographic technique by introducing a slower, meditative approach to his work. The combination of the two (color and large format) allowed him to adjust his eye to the changing light and the surroundings. Joel uses a combination of design techniques throughout his work like working with patterns, shapes of figures, negative spaces, gazing directions, and echoing shapes. Meyerowitz likes to also look around before he starts shooting and analyzes what is happening at that moment. It helps him to see and get a feeling of something that out of the blue might happen and he wants tp be able to get that moment and experience it. Being observant is the biggest key that Joel Meyerowitz brings up especially working in street photography. He suggests that the act of photography is simply the act of looking at all the world has to offer, but ultimately seeing only the parts of it that make you feel most connected.

While shooting, Meyerowitz does not spend his time looking for a moment that he needs to capture right away but rather capture a moment that not only himself but others can experience by looking at his work.

Leica M, Leica M10, and the Leica S, which is a larger-format Leica. Meyerowitz uses a 35mm lens because of the similar perspective it gave him to what his eyes saw. With the slow ISO color film available at the time, he was forced to be slower and take in more of the scene when shooting. This helped lead him to a desire to capture more of an “experience” than a “decisive moment” in his work.  When he went digital, he switched to a medium format Leica S2 and digital Leica M’s for his 35mm work. 

“You fill up the frame with feelings, energy, discovery, and risk, and leave room enough for someone else to get in there.”

Joel Meyerowitz