WNYC Street Shots: Joe Wigfall

Joe Wigfall can see with his hands. Never lifting his camera to his eye, he shoots hundreds of photos during his lunch hour or walking to the train after work. A true artist, Joe brings a bit of himself into each of his photographs. He's the winner of WNYC's Street Shots Challenge.
Produced by Benjamen Walker and Andrea Silenzi for WNYC Culture
More videos:
www.wnyc.org/st...

[@EATB80]

I keep going back to everything from 2:10 to the end. Really just perfectly, PERFECTLY said. How many times have I tried to justify the time to photograph when I guiltily think I can't afford that time (family, jobs, etc.). One needs to make time for art simply because the desire and NEED is too great. There is no need to deny yourself the pleasure of making art just because you also want to be the best father, mother, or partner. And as Joe says, you do it for them too. I want my children to know there is more to me than my fatherly responsibilities. They need to see my heartfelt passions, too. Anyway, I haven't seen many street photographer videos from quite this perspective, and I needed to thank Joe for saying so much of what I needed to hear. Thanks, Joe.

[@buckwang5039]

11 years later and I think every amateur photographer should see this

[@manunu1]

How could you give this a thumbs down? There is no real reason to hate on it.

[@WillGuthrieUK]

Man I'd like to sit down and have a conversation with this dude; he's got a way of vocalising exactly how I feel about my own photography at times and is just so right about being an artist and living in the moment, revelling in the creative process, without fear or any preconceived notions about having to 'make a living at this' in order to be recognised or somehow validated as a result, not allowing part of your inner self die at the same time: powerful stuff indeed. Struck a chord with me and made my day at least. Very motivational and inspirational at the same time. Nice one fella: just the reality check I needed at the moment so you have my thanks. Peace brother!

[@melotone6017]

What I love about his attitude is that his is not approaching shooting from a place of anger, confrontation, or grim determination. Wigfall, keep rocking it!

[@bjwal6]

That is the best verbalisation of how I feel about photography, and specifically street photography I have seen or even thought of myself. I want to do it. It satisfies something deep inside, but it doesn't pay any bills. So? JUst do it, keep doing it, one day it might, that's not important, it's art! Thank you for an amazing interview WNYC, and for being an inspirational dude Joe Wigfall!

[@thestig123]

Thank's for the inspiration. Have a great day shooting.

[@andresalvarez8794]

One of the first videos on photography that I saw 10yrs ago after learning about Henri Cartier Bresson and the phrase “street photography.” He hit so many relatable points on the pursuit of a photograph, photography career, and its effect on our personal lives. Still go back to this video from time to time for encouragement. The Bruce Gilden video also has the same impact. Thank you for creating these videos.

[@AlanLau23]

I love this video. I keep coming back to it every few months to re-inspire myself to shoot more.

[@speedgraphic]

Wow, this is the most inspiring video I have seen in a very long time. It all seems like he's just spamming the shutter button until you see his shots... simply beautiful, capturing decisive moments like Winogrand or Cartier-Bresson. I have to admit, it's also nice seeing someone with empathy shooting street for once (I'm looking at you, Gilden!).

[@cj2623]

The empathy is what makes his work meaningful.

[@jonkers2007]

Just starting in street photography and found this. INSPIRING... not just technique but the philosophy too. Thanks Joe :)

[@wadeharris65]

Joe is one of my contacts on Flickr, and one of my photographic influences. Street photography is NOT easy; you have to have the utmost confidence in your work and your ability to see a potential image. I try this style of photography off and on, and the best of my work pales in comparison to even an average shot of Joe's. Keep up the great work, Joe; I anxiously await your next classic shot!

[@gumanow]

Great video Joe. Congrats. Glad to see that you've mastered seeing with your hands. Most people can't do it. You are a pro at it. Keep up the great work.

[@aleofin]

fantastic! love street photography

[@wangogh22]

I think all the haters that talk about your work are jealous. I sse passion and art on your work and a different point of view of the streets. Congratulations. Keep up with the hard work. Wagner AZ

[@oldproji]

Joe, great images and a great attitude. Street is about attitude; stepping out of the ordinary and looking back in to see what's going on. Instinct is a gift, a talent if you like, difficult acquire, but not impossible with commitment. You have it man, so don't lose sight of your goals.

[@PandaFromTheNorth]

Great photos. I love his work. Keep on the good work

[@byfleetsurrey]

wow,you have given me the need to get in to the street and take photoes,many many thanks

[@jeff6660]

Joe...you are one of the Good Guys...keep going and never give up.

[@myoung48281]

I love ya man, your energy, happiness, and i can plug my feelings into so much of what you say.

[@sachiokun]

I love your stuff man!! I try to do the same here in BA. Keep up the good work! Greetings from Argentina.

[@dark222s]

this is absolutely amazing technique for doing street photography !!!! absolutely inspiring !!!

[@dalhadop]

Love the enthusiasm Joe.A couple of things you said resinate with me. Normally i do street photography in the U.K.,but last November i had a beautiful time in New York doing street photography.

[@michaelgilligan7567]

Great shots! Big Heart!!

[@swanseamale47]

Great work Joe, and a great attitude to life as well. Wayne (UK)

[@vladyavorov3605]

you will get there, thanks for sharing this!

[@mp4podcastDOTcom]

A lot of old school photographers used to shot like him with out looking at the view finder. It takes a lot of skill to be able to pull it off.

[@illustriousimagery]

Great work and attitude Joe.

[@johnb9919]

I need your anthusiam great job and beutifal pictures. Keep doing what makes YOU happy.

[@82mccord]

This dude is inspiring. Keep up the good work my friend.

[@xperience-media7396]

The creative drive is powerful

[@JusticeProduction]

refreshing view on street photography :D

[@wilkbor]

Joe: Well stated and happy shooting. I look forward to your work on Flickr and additional videos like this one.

[@nightster369]

i love what you have to say about your work great pictures

[@davidryan4053]

Great story and great images. Really enjoyed this video. Dave in Ireland :-)

[@rglev]

i'm really enjoying your photos and your approach. makes me want to try this kind of thing. makes me want to branch out and try all sorts of new ideas. makes the "regular" seem somehow exciting.

[@Joswigfall]

@Rui372 : Rui, That's the best part of doing this--all you really have is your talent to work with and it's up to you to develop and use it which we both continue to do.

[@michaels8597]

I used to shoot by pointing more often,yet now i just move my feet and change directions more often.Joe is one of those rare guys who understands that places like NYC are an endless canvas,so it's whatever we choose it to be.Point being,people do THINK you have to make a million dollars if you have gear,yet that's never been the point.There's history and art to be made,so when i am outside,my camera is ready.I am not changing lenses,taking the lens cap off,and fumbling around,trying to be so technical.Joe has some great work,and if we cross paths that should be interesting shooting...

[@Bolo1981]

It's inspired me. I'm going out right now to shoot! Thank you!

[@miguelneiva7417]

Your video made my day!!!!! I'm also a wannabe full time photographer who has to be happy with part-time photography :)

[@wgsmcw2012]

I am a artist thats who I am! Love your video!

[@breadicus66]

Hey man great video, very inspiring keep it up.

[@BuffordTJustic3]

What a great attitude Joe has. Too bad his pictures aren't great.

[@BjarteKFrnsdal]

Great work of a very sympathetic person!

[@strickmans]

great pics

[@Gibson1976uk]

I use the same method :) and some of my best pics have been captured like this :) I do look through camera as well etc. but I believe there is no right or wrong! I get very annoyed with some of the so called top photographers who have even had a nerve to make digs at how others do things!! I am very much into capturing the scene!! all natural! using the light around you etc. where some photographers will be snobs and say they create the scene! and walk about with a team of people carrying lamps, reflectors etc. and use some stunning model they hired to go pose in place of everyday people :) fashion photography is fine but don't know street photography :)

[@myoung48281]

great stuff, I love it.

[@thestig123]

Thanks for your inspiration. I'm going out tomorrow.

[@izvarzone]

When I was filming on a street (in suburbs), two women said they will call cops. Hahahah.

[@TheSubwaysurfer]

...You DONT "Kill a part of yourself" Just because you "cant make a living at it" Dude, that is THE quote that SHOULD be an ARTIST MANTRA. Y#SSSSSSSSS! I am applauding that statement on the inside and started to do MY art so many years ago doing caricature street art etc. I KNOW how obsessive capturing life on film can be!! LOL! my wife is ALWAYS on my why I have ALLLLL these pictures of these strangers!!!! LOL!!

[@carlharrison3637]

very good video. Im off out tomorrow to have a go!

[@HoLeeChit11]

Carl Harrison how did you do dude 😂?

[@Yarbols]

mad respect. it makes me sad that you have no negatives. personally I've yet to see a pigment print that doesn't look dead. for me it's all about the silver... and about consuming images on a screen... well forget that. that's for those who don't know. Still your take and your process is right there. imagery is tight. just love to see you loose the monitor.

[@Dirgean]

Good inspiration! Great guy

[@loco039]

I like your style, wonderful.

[@emptyboxesandrooms]

I like this.

[@howardtowler14]

Hi great video ,good luck and follow the dream

[@quatie]

I wish I could go out on my lunch taking photos

[@Andycas9991]

I like hipshooting. Its good style for candid shots. If you need portraits, you ask people and then ofcourse, frame and calculate. But for candids, that's the best style. Also - you get nice low angle shots.

[@147andymc]

Andycas9991 unless you working with film, can't waste one pic

[@rajakbar1]

i want to know which lens and cam he was using ???? i mean when he was capturing the photos in a random manner without putting the cam to the eyes ...

[@kevinvandenpanhuyzen9127]

raj akbar I don't know what camera, some kind of a crop sensor Canon.. I'm pretty sure he was using the good old and cheap Canon 35mm f2.. I'd look for something wider if you want to shoot without putting you eye to the viewfinder.. :)

[@lukeramun]

excellent work, the photos tell a story unlike bruce gilden who jumps in peoples faces with a flash...

[@moner02]

everyone has his/her unique point about street photography, interesting!

[@mrbriggs360]

Starting at about 2:10, he speaks some serious truth.. words to live by

[@tnm12]

some body know name song at the first secounds of film??

[@alonzo2k]

Great words Joe

[@Joswigfall]

@Rui372 That's the best part of doing this--all you really have is your talent to work with and it's up to you to use it.

[@diegoa.vignon4587]

Its really interesting see so many white photographers doing really similar things and making a loooot of money and see this really cool guy struggling with his life! We need more black people in photography and art! This guy should be promote to be exhibit on any of the best galleries around the world! Good job men!!!

[@ronnyminhtike]

Hi, how about the people on the road privacy and thier faces and who they don't even know they have been foto taken by someone?

[@Brainstrain]

He looks tremendously good for 50. Maybe it's his sense of style. Anyway, I'm gonna try shooting with my hands. I've always loved digital because of volume. You get a lot more tries a lot faster than film.

[@bwworld]

Great work, although I believe Joe's reasoning behind doing hip shots is due to the limitations of an SLR. A rangefinder would not blind you in the way an SLR does. OTOH, a Leica M9 is verrrrry expensive! ;-)

[@4Star918]

I concur sir.

[@tnm12]

thanks bro!

[@Carterofmars]

I shot during lunch also... maybe once every two weeks or so... I use a P&S Fuji. Got a few interesting shots. I work on Broadway in midtown. Let me know if you want to take a lunch and get some photos.

[@mikeburton92385]

well said.

[@dg-hughes]

Everyone looks better in black & white and slow motion.

[@RodrigoVzq]

Genius

[@birdcage6288]

i hope he is still doing well

[@elissamariers]

What is the song

[@louisgolaz1885]

+Elissa Rascon Steinmetz Fela Kuti-Water no get enemy

[@Joswigfall]

@Bolo1981 : Good. I'm glad. That's exactly what it's supposed to do.

[@TheseWigfallKids]

Nice!

[@Gibson1976uk]

Also, don't be afraid to try everything :) I've been seen getting down on the ground or getting up on higher ground :) just have fun. I can't stand the photographers that walk about like their so important!! and stick by their rules! and think those are the only rules

[@AlekseyVolchek]

Photo Journalists have a saying ... "f8 and be there" I doubt about sunny 16. He's almost always in the shadows of the buildings. I bet he shoots with an aperture priority at f8 with a possible auto ISO.

[@Carterofmars]

The interest just isn't there right now. Winogrand said it in his interviews; I'm just a still photographer. If the interest is high in photography as an art form, especially street/documentary work then you'll have your moment. Some of your shots rival Winogrand.

[@robm1969]

YOu go JOe!

[@djamorpheus]

continuous shooting and not looking through the viewfinder.... anyone could do that.

[@heckenpenner69]

As long as it´s not only just one person on the picture I think it´s legal and just to shoot streetphotos.

[@bbtel]

Sneaky - good. Me sneaky too especially with a 16mm on my D200. Must learn to "see with my hands" better. Thanks

[@andrewcaddell2670]

❤

[@epistades1]

good guy, bad pics

[@kevinvandenpanhuyzen9127]

***** Yep. Great opening quote though, but I agree.

[@jeff6660]

You are half right...good guy and Great pix.

[@drheaddamage]

As for some criticism: Seems a bit like lomography to me. Just shoot hundreds of pictures and pick out a good one. Anyone can do that. As for his "black and white is art"-line... well, a good picture is a good picture, regardless whether you put it in black and white or let it remain in color. Some of the post-edits are also quite heavy, too heavy vignetting to my taste, f.ex. Ah well, best of luck to him.

[@chowmonkey2002]

So?? What's your point??

[@marcomarcucci]

@bigflickrfeed I totally agree with you and noticed it with myself...

[@AlsoChosen1]

same here

[@fdama]

Some people always have to put race into everything. Why cant you just say "i love people with great personalities"

[@damens]

@manunu1 Jealousy ... oh, and he wasn't using a Leica ... ;P

[@ckat609]

@norubit76 Awesome comment!

[@guess777]

it calls snap shot and it has nothing to do with photography

[@jeff6660]

guess what 777 you don't know what you are talking about. You are probably one of those people who think if the photo isn't of a barn or your pet cat it isn't art.

[@snakekiller110]

street photography of this kind isnt possible in my country...people would look away, yell at me or sue me.. crap.

[@stef11488]

I agree with drix01 way better than Gilden, Wigfall is very non abrasive in his shooting style and I think It makes for more candid photographs.

[@minutes2midnite]

i just took a look through his flickr and can already tell some of the ones shot from the hip. he might be good at it but i just dont think its a good thing to advocate. it's sneaky, inaccurate, and dishonest. ive been in deeper shit on the streets being sneaky than being upfront. my comment concerning framing still stands. some work but most dont in my opinion. no offense to the guy but im not a fan. im sure people think the same about my work. just an opinion nothing more.