Ask the Street Photographer: Joanna Macintyre
This is the first in a new series of short interviews which put you in the hot seat. Today I ask Jonanna Macintyre, a keen street photographer from Glasgow, 10 questions . . .
How did you get started as a street photographer - and why?
I have always had an interest in photography in some. I always remember being taken on holiday as a child with a little Kodak film instant cameras and being fascinated by it. I have in the past tried out different type of photography like landscape and portrait but I first became aware of street as a genre through someone that I used to work with. It’s the one genre that still challenges me both as a photographer and a viewer.
What part does street photography play in your life today?
For me photography is what I like to describe as therapy for the soul. It’s my happy place, it’s the one thing that no matter how good or bad my day has been when I pick up my camera, my mind just switches off from the everyday life and I’m fully immersed in finding something on the street that interests me.
How would you describe your photographic style?
I’d honestly say that I believe I’m still trying to find my style, but I do navigate to trying to find small moments, and building projects around themes or locations to make a larger cohesive piece of work. I find it hard to photograph on the streets without a specific purpose for the day.
What’s the worst experience you’ve had on the streets?
I have been really lucky that so far I’ve not had any bad experiences, it might be that I mostly shoot in my home town of Glasgow around the city centre & Westend and people are too busy to pay too much attention. The worse thing that’s ever happened is someone staring at me for a moment too long but no one has ever asked what I am taking pictures of etc. I am sure that time will come at some point, but I have managed to avoid it. I have wondered if people give me more of a pass because I am female, small and I’m always smiling.
What single thing would improve your street photography?
For me 100% would be consistency in having a regular day in the week/month that was set aside for street work. It’s a hard balance when working full time, juggling family etc. I’d like see me improve on dedicating more time for this. This is also why I like the structure of a workshop because it means it’s in the diary, it’s happening. I ‘d also like to see more progress with street portraits for myself, but I did ask someone for the fist time for a portrait a couple of months ago and they actually said yes. A step in the right direction but I’d like build on this.
What are your views on analogue / film photography? Do you shoot film - or do you plan to? If not, why not?
I have in the past shot on film, when I was child we always had disposable cameras and then in the 1990’s whilst at College I had a film photography module and I really enjoyed this. I still have some pictures from that period. My partner bought me a Canon AE1 a few years ago and I’ve not got around to shooting any film on it yet. I have adapted the lens and used that though. I think it’s my own impatience and cost associated with film that has meant I’ve not shot with it yet. I should perhaps put that on a list of things to do soon.
If you could spend the day shooting with one photographer, dead or alive, who would it be?
That’s a difficult question, just one photographer. I would go for Matt Stuart, I’d love to shadow him for the day and learn to think and see the street the way he does.
Black & white or colour?
Usually I would say colour but I have to say looking back at my work this year I have unintentionally went with black and white more than colour, but last year I definitely shot more colour. I enjoy both black and white and colour. I always shoot or preview in black and white as I find this helps my eyes judge exposure better. I think you just know when something needs colour, like when there’s a lot of detail in a shot or complimentary colours.
What gear do you use - and why?
I have streamlined my street photography kit, I am now using the Fujifilm XE4, with the 18mm f1.4, 27mm 2.8 & 50mm f2. I use this set up for street as I like how small and compact the kit is. I enjoy the flexibility I have with it. There are days where I don’t want to sit at the computer to process my images and on those days I really enjoy the fuji simulations and have played with some recipes and had good results from those too. Most people don’t look twice at my camera on the street which is a bonus.
What does the next 12 months hold for you?
I would like to wrap up my Glasgow underground project that I’ve been working on since 2021, but I keep navigating back to it. I think one of the reasons for this is since I’m in Glasgow and when the weather is particularly bad the underground project can keep me out with my camera. I have a few ideas for adding to the project, I’m going to shot at different times of the day and want to get some night shots of the weekend activity of people going on the famous subway pub crawl. I feel like I would like to exhibit the project at the end in some way, it feels like a waste to just pop the images on social media.
Joanna’s website - https://streetbletherphotos.com
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/street_blether_photos/
