Press
Szeroki Kadr
"Inspiracje" 12 photos featured. To see each of the images in full size or to view the full gallery, please visit the Polish photography site here: https://www.szerokikadr.pl/inspiracje/paul-kessel
Szeroki Kadr
"Inspiracje" 12 photos featured. To see each of the images in full size or to view the full gallery, please visit the Polish photography site here: https://www.szerokikadr.pl/inspiracje/paul-kessel
The Pictorial List
"Q Train" featured in book, to pre-order visit: https://www.thepictorial-list.com/product-page/the-pictorial-list-volume-one-new-york
THE PICTORIAL LIST: VOLUME ONE - NEW YORK
A Visual Journey Through New York
The Pictorial List is excited to announce the release of its premier publication. This 276 page, hardcover volume offers a fresh perspective on contemporary photography by merging the artistic legacy of historical Pictorialism with the vibrant energy of modern visual storytelling.
This publication invites readers to experience New York through the lens of its most innovative photographers.
Founded in January 2020, The Pictorial List was created to celebrate and support a global community of photographers. Our mission is to provide a creative platform for unique artistic expressions and to explore the complexities of contemporary photography.
This first volume exemplifies our commitment by showcasing how photographers interpet New York. VOLUME ONE - NEW YORK features a meticulously curated selection of works from prominent photographers. Highlights include an exclusive behind-the-scenes look into the darkroom of Meryl Meisler, a showcase of Arlene Gottfried's archives, and an interview with Alicia Hanson, Founder and CEO of NYC SALT. The book also features the work of Andrew Kung, Barbara Peacock, Bill Lacey, Carl Rubino, Daniel Martinez, Elizabeth J. Holmes, Elle Clark, Hazel Hankin, Juan Sostre, Robert Sherman, Syndi Pilar and The Blue Hour Photo Collaborative, Each image captures the dynamic energy of New York City and the serene beauty of the state's varied landscapes, reflecting creative visions deeply rooted in New York's artistic heritage.
Additionally, the publication includes a Community Section spotlighting 50 more visual storytellers, presenting a broad and nuanced vision of New York. This section underscores The Pictorial List's dedication to showcasing diverse perspectives and enhancing the exploration of New York's photographic landscape.
Designed, edited and authored by Melanie Meggs and Karen Ghostlaw Pomarico, featuring a personal foreward by Meryl Meisler.
Bored Panda: Streets of New York City
Interview with Artist
Paul Kessel, a citizen of New York City, registered for a beginners class at the International Center of Photography in NYC and since then, his love for street photography began.
Way before joining the class, Paul was a clinical psychologist; however, he wrote that his "psychology background and how it impacts the photography" he does "is vague". Either way, Paul's new interest has caught the eyes of people and earned him acknowledgment in the photography world. Paul was a finalist in several street photography events, including Winner of the Miami Street Photography Festival in 2020, as well as 3rd place in Lens Culture Street in 2020, and today we gladly are sharing his works with you.
More info: paulkessel.com | Instagram
To learn more about Paul, Bored Panda reached out to the photographer, who kindly answered our questions.First of all, Paul shared that he compares photography to sport. We asked him to explain how this comparison affects the way he takes photos.“The sports analogy is strictly in my head. I played competitive golf at a high level for many years and I feel that street photography is a substitute for my engagement in golf (all pre-Trump!). The analogy includes rarely but occasionally getting into a zone where shots flow without effort, analyzing conditions and setting the camera appropriately, many mediocre or 'OK' shots and every now and then something more exceptional, and much more, including competition in contests,” wrote Paul.
Paul’s photos often show people interacting and moving. We asked him to share how he manages to capture these dynamic moments.
Paul responded: “I am by no means a Zen Buddhist, but I often feel that the photos find me if I can remain open-minded and alert enough to let it happen. At times, I run into an interesting scene or interaction. Other times, I find a good spot., imagine it as a stage, and wait for the actors to enter. This is what all street photographers do. I always use a wide-angle prime lens. For a long time, it was a 35mm lens until I switched to 28mm. I hope to see gestures, expressions, or anything a bit out of the ordinary in ordinary everyday situations.”
We were wondering how winning the Miami Street Photography Festival in 2020 and other awards affected Paul’s career. He shared: “Winning Miami was a big surprise. I was happy to be a finalist and never dreamed of winning. I suppose I suffer somewhat from imposter syndrome and believe that luck played a major role, I was in the right place at the right time. Skill and technique were secondary. Fortunately, I have won a few other events with various photos so I am sane enough to recognize that I must have some ability.
I was offered quite a few opportunities after winning Miami. However, it was at the height of the pandemic, and I turned them down. I also found it interesting that I received loads of negative criticism about the photo that won. It affected my career in two ways; a boost in confidence and a tendency to reject my own photos much more because they were merely adequate.”
Furthermore, we wanted to know what Paul hopes his audience takes away from his photos.
“I hope that people take the time to linger on some of my better photos and that there is sufficient room or mystery so that if they do linger, they can create their own story about the photo. I rarely attempt to convey a message,” wrote Paul.
Lastly, Paul added: “I do believe that street photography must be a full-time engagement. If there is a chance of getting a few exceptional photos, the camera must always be with you every day and all day. The odds are always against you so unless street photography is a passion and an addiction, it will rarely be worthwhile. That is true for me. One thing that my career in psychology has taught me is that there are great individual differences in how people optimally function. Thank you for including me in your publication.”
To see all 41 images selected by BoredPanda.com, please visit: https://www.boredpanda.com/new-york-city-street-photography-paul-kessel/
Street Photography Magazine
Cover
Colgate Magazine
Read the full article online here: https://news.colgate.edu/magazine/2024/05/07/the-secret-of-street-photography/
ProgresFestival Magazine
Read the full article online here: https://www.progresfestival.com/solitary
ProgresFestival Magazine
See all of the photos featured and read the full article online here: https://www.progresfestival.com/virtual-guests/subway-by-paul-kessel
“I am more interested in how the photograph will look than I am in the people being photographed. For me, people I see on the street are primarily visual elements for a photograph. I observe their appearance, gestures and how they interact with the background and the quality of light. Some photographers snap away constantly and take over a thousand shots in a day. Others wait for special moments and press the shutter relatively infrequently. I fall into the latter category. I do not search for ‘emotional moments’. I believe that photographers are not capable of seeing ‘emotions’. The best we can do is catch expressions and gestures which may or may not reflect an emotional state or elicit emotion in the viewer. Admittedly, sometimes the composition is largely contingent on luck more than my perceptual ability.”
The cover image has sparked controversy on social media. Kessel always strives to create a layered street scene with multiple elements and activities. What is striking about his images is their complexity. The composition perfectly harmonizes the chaos. In an interview some time ago he recalled something that could explain his style: "As I reflect on my preferences, I realize that there might be some history to this. Although I have had no art education and have almost never been exposed to art due to my family dynamics, I remember having two posters of paintings hanging in my room as a child. One by Bosch and the other by Dali. Both were complex and full of stuff throughout the frame. I have a hunch that this might have influenced my photographic preferences."
ThePhoblographer
See the full article online here: https://www.thephoblographer.com/2024/03/28/greatest-street-photographers-alive/
Coming soon to Youtube, photographers can watch the film Fill the Frame for free on April 6th. The film, which came out in 2021, profiles the work of several street photographers. The list includes some of the greatest street photographers alive such as Dimitri Mellos, Jonathan Higbee, Julia Gillard, Lauren Welles, Mathias Wasik, Melissa Breyer, Melissa O’Shaughnessy, Richard Sandler, and Paul Kessel. and on that date, you’ll get to watch them in action. In our 15 years as a publication, we’ve featured five of those photographers. So we’re revisiting their work and sharing their insights.
All images used with permission from the photographers in our interviews. Lead image by Paul Kessel. For more, check out Fill the Frame on April 6th.
INSIGHTS FROM 5 OF THE GREATEST STREET PHOTOGRAPHERS ALIVE
Fill the Frame is a film that we think every photographer who is looking for inspiration should check out as there aren’t really many that delve into the minds. It seems instead that there’s so much emphasis on gear — which gets montonous. The one that does it really well is Paulie G’s Walkie Talkie. He’s talking to some of the greatest street photographers around right now along with those you really should be paying attention to. But if you want more then please check out Fill the Frame and check out insights from the photographers below.
Dodho
New York; From my window by Paul Kessel
Link to view full story: https://www.dodho.com/new-york-from-my-window-by-paul-kessel/
To read the rest of the story and see more of his From My Windows photos, please visit: https://www.dodho.com/new-york-from-my-window-by-paul-kessel/
FIELD OF VIEW
by Patrick Witty
In the winter of 1938, Walker Evans tucked his painted-black Contax discreetly under his overcoat and descended into the New York City subway, searching for something real, hunting for what he called “true portraiture.”1
Evans had grown angry, “irritated by the icy, alluring commercial portraits of Cecil Beaton, Yousuf Karsh, and Edward Steichen,”2 and decided to secretly photograph unsuspecting subway riders. “The guard is down and the mask is off: even more than when in lone bedrooms (where there are mirrors), people’s faces are in naked repose down in the subway,” Evans famously wrote.3
Alongside his accomplice, Helen Levitt, Evans collected people with his eyes, making roughly 600 photos without ever peering into the viewfinder, triggering the shutter with a cable release snuck down his sleeve into his right hand.
Evans’ brilliant, unsentimental photo of a mother and child (above) is a direct reference to his inspiration for the series: Honoré Daumier’s painting, The Third-Class Carriage......
..... Consider this 1979 photo by Neal Boenzi, photographer for The New York Times. It’s an intriguing echo of Evans’ photo, from a vastly different era.
Unfortunately, I never had the opportunity to work with Boenzi, he’d retired long before I landed at the Times in 2004, but I was a fan of his work — newsy, wild and gritty, like the crazy photo he shot of a woman being attacked by a lion. Boenzi didn’t ask for permission to make that photo.
Likewise, Paul Kessel didn’t ask for permission when capturing this unguarded, lyrical moment of a mother and her children on the Q Train in 2019. A truly modern version of Evans’ photo.
Although Kessel’s Leica wasn’t hidden in his overcoat like Evans’ Contax, he wasn’t looking through the viewfinder either — it was resting in his lap when the woman and her kids fortuitously sat down across from him. “I looked up and there they were, in a perfect position,” Kessel explained to me. He guessed the distance and started shooting. “Somehow it came out ok,” he added.
The photo went viral and won several awards, eliciting both praise and criticism — largely because Kessel didn’t get her consent. But what if he’d taken the photo with his camera at his eye (something I’d label “implied consent”)? Or simply asked her for permission? It might have quelled some of the criticism but the magic would’ve been gone.
Despite its virality, the woman in the photo has never come forward or been identified. I asked Kessel what he’d say to her if given the chance. “I hope you like the photo,” he responded. “I would like to give you a framed print.”
The last photo in Many Are Called is an outlier, the only image that wasn’t taken from across a seated passenger. But it’s one of the most dynamic and speaks directly to this notion of consent....
For the full story, go to: www.patrickwitty.substack.com
AAP Magazine, 2023 Street Edition
Hardcopy magazine & online
"Marilyn" featured among the "Winners"
@pictorique
See the original post & full comments here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CyF-RQGg1N3/
CAPTION IN @PICTORIQUE POST:
"A composition masterclass in a single image.
Paul Kessel @streetskessel was raised in the bustling heart of New York City, he moved through careers in clinical psychology, psychoanalysis, and academia. However, in 2008, his attention turned to the world of photography.
Street photography became Paul’s muse. Similar to his days as a competitive amateur golfer, he approached it with a sportive spirit. Some days might start slow, necessitating a warm-up, but occasionally a pristine shot stands out from the rest. There are moments, reminiscent of being “in the zone,” where every click seems perfectly timed.
He got so good at this sport as to become into one of the most valuable players. This particular piece is a favorite at Pictorique. It’s worth delving into, as the image is a standalone masterclass in photography."
The Art of Seeing, A TDM Photo Awards Collection
by TDM Magazine
The book details can be found here: https://tdmawards.com/product/the-art-of-seeing-a-tdm-photo-awards-collection/
INTERVIEW EXTRACTED FROM BOOK
1- Thank you for asking me for the interview. I do not work in the photography industry. I am an amateur photographer but my involvement and immersion with photography is at the level of a full-time job (without responsibilities).
I began photography at a serious level at the age of seventy when I wandered into The International Center of Photography in NYC without a plan and stayed there for about ten years enrolling in as many courses as possible. After a few years focusing on portraits and studio lighting, I discovered street photography and realized that it was a perfect fit for me. As a child and quite some time thereafter, I was very shy and instead of being with others, I would walk around on the streets alone observing people. In a sense, I had begun street photography early in life but without a camera. I did have a camera and took a few pictures as early as age eight, but I never stuck with photography until over a half a century later. Once I began street photography about twelve years ago, I was totally addicted and have a constant urge to pursue it.
2- When I began street photography, I did street portraits with permission. That was followed by candid street portraits with context, and finally my style developed into street scenes with multiple people, interaction, and layers. I seem to be drawn to busy complex photos that fill the frame. I rarely achieve good complex photographs, but the quest is always there. It occurs to me that there is some history that may explain my attraction to “busy” photographs. I have no art education at all and have rarely been exposed to art (family dynamics accounts for this.) However, I arranged to have two posters of paintings hanging in my room as a child. One by Bosch and the other by Dali. Both were complex and full of stuff throughout the frame. I have a hunch that this informs my photographic preferences.
3- My greatest strength as a photographer is persistence. I believe that truly worthwhile photos are rare and the constant pursuit to achieve one is addictive. Street photography is mostly about failure and the possibility of a worthwhile photograph in the context of primarily failure, is a recipe for addiction. I prefer to call it “persistence”. Another strength is consideration of context. This “strength” may be a weakness as well because I sometimes get too involved with composition at the expense of content.
4- Choosing locations to photograph is simple for me as I rarely travel, and since the pandemic, I have not been anywhere except close to home in New York City. In Manhattan, where I live, I photograph in the usual haunts of street photographers. I believe that the subjects in my pictures find me, in a sense, rather than visa-versa. The more I actively search, the less I see things. I am a big believer in letting it happen.
5- Almost all my photos involve people. I love a good landscape or cityscape as much as anyone. However, I am constantly drawn to looking at people. I have always been fascinated by people, first as a child walking the streets and later in my profession as a clinical psychologist.
6- Somewhere along the way in my development as a street photographer, I started to lose interest in attending primarily to individuals and started to prefer broader scenes with multiple people involved. I believe that was always my primary interest, but I lacked the skill necessary to perceive multiple things at the same time. I believe doing so is a more complex perceptual act. Fortunately, the camera is a partner in achieving this sort of perception. I am constantly amazed at how frequently the camera “sees” things that I don’t see. To give myself a bit more credit, maybe my vision is largely unconscious (as opposed to attributing perceptual power to the camera). There may be a technical element that helps. I used a 35mm prime lens for many years. A few years ago, I started using a 28mm lens. The wider lens enhances the possibility of multiple people and layers in the photograph. Of course, altering vantage point can achieve the same thing.
7- Staying inspired and motivated to create new and unique images is built into the process. By this I mean that I am pulled along by the hope of creating an exceptional photograph and the possibility of a meaningful series. I will repeat what I said in a previous interview. (As with photos, writing tends to get repetitious).
In Ernest Hemmingway’s short novel, “The Old Man and The Sea”, the old fisherman says: “My big fish must be somewhere” and “It is silly not to hope”. I feel like the old man and the street. The hope of a worthwhile photograph around the corner keeps me going. The act of photographing may be a sufficient motivating force regardless of outcome. Looking and seeing something that perks my interest and the feel and sound of pressing the shutter are pleasant sensations and is an enjoyable activity in and of itself.
8- It is not for me to say what sets my work apart from other photographers. I often feel that I am merely one more street photographer creating photographic clutter. I do have a photograph of a family on the subway that has won lots of acclaim (“Q Train”, 2019). My subway series apparently is noteworthy too.
9- The biggest challenge I face is the tendency to take a variation of the same photo over and over. It is difficult to do something new and different. Another challenge which may be more unique, is that I began serious photography late in life and as I age further into the middle eighties, the physical aspects of photographing become more difficult. I can no longer chase after potential photos in the distance. Instead, I rely more on finding a spot with an interesting background and good light and waiting for the picture to emerge.
10- The photo “Soho” was chosen as a winning photograph by TDM in 2021. I try to title my work by location only so as not to plant ideas in the viewer. However, this image could have been titled, “Waiting for Kate Moss” The celebrity model was about to emerge from a hotel. Paparazzi gathered as their network revealed her location. I joined in but soon I realized that I couldn’t get close enough with my wide-angle lens among the long lenses of the hoard of photographers. I intuitively recalled that the great street photographer, Garry Winogrand, sometimes turned around to photograph in the opposite direction from the point of interest. I did that and pressed the shutter without more thought. The camera did the rest.
11- As I mentioned previously, candid street photography is primarily about failure. Achieving a handful of truly worthwhile photos in a year is the best that can be hoped for. I often compare street photography to a sport. In almost all sports, failure is more common than success even for world- class athletes. Slumps occur with the very best in their given sport. That is true for street photographers too. It is easy to get discouraged after a day of shooting results in zero photos worth showing. That is inherent to what we do though. What feels like a slump, is practicing street photography. Realizing that, enables me to go out with my camera day after day and that is essential for any kind of success.
I just used the word “success”. That can mean many things. So-called success can be enjoying being outside, enjoying the thrill of not knowing what may be seen at any minute, getting a good picture, the feeling of shooting, winning a contest, and not to be ignored, friendships made by belonging to a community of photographers.
ThePhoblographer
The blog post can be read in full here: https://www.thephoblographer.com/2023/08/08/a-look-at-how-famous-street-photographers-work/
EXTRACTED FROM FULL STORY:
It’s easy for photographers of a certain age to romanticize the ideals of those like Garry Winogrand or Bresson. Others instead might stray towards the questionably cult-like cliques formed by photographers like Eric Kim or Thorsten Overgaard. But famous street photographers know that this is a long game — and that it’s not just about making it on social media. They take this idea with them holistically through their journey onto the streets to capture their images worthy of being a blockbuster for their career.
All images in this article are used with permission by the photographers in our interviews.
Not every photographer goes out to shoot the most candid moments they can find. Street photography works in a very similar way to cinematic stories. The images are either character-driven or story-driven. You might have heard Bruce Gilden speak about characters while Joel Meyerowitz would try to tell a story instead. They’re two different approaches, and they formulate different stories.
INTENSE FOCUS AND THE HUNT
“Early on, I was often crippled by shyness when deciding whether to bring the camera to my eye,” says Melissa O’Shaughnessy to us in an interview. “As time went on, I overcame my fears by realizing that I wanted the picture more than I feared the consequences of taking it.” Conquering fear is a big part of being a street photographer. Finding a way to do it will often yield you some of the best photos, as she’s demonstrated. This mentality is prevalent with many street photographers. But Melissa also finds a way to do her subjects justice in the photos she takes. For example, the theme of the strong woman was big in her book Perfect Strangers.
Some photographers go out to shoot with a very specific thing in mind. But others, like photographer Dimpy Bhalotia, try to react as quickly as they can when they encounter a scene. In a previous interview with her, Dimpy told us that develop a sense of unconsciously moving with the subject. “You have to be very quick and invisible in the streets,” she told us. “To capture something natural, your subject shouldn’t know someone is watching them. You have to merge yourself in the crowd.” Dimpy likes capturing movement as it happens.
Looking at one of Dimpy’s images provided to us in our previous interview, we can notice several things. Firstly, she’s focusing on shooting only in black and white. This not only immediately draws the eyes to specific things in the scene, but it simplifies the photo to the human brain. Dimpy is also using natural light to figure out how shadows will affect a scene. As is evident in the scene above, she used reflections to tell a larger story within a small frame. All this, combined with specific framing and understanding of the culture around her, all work out well for her.
In fact, Dimpy tells us that she goes to a place and tries to understand the people and the culture before getting more into photographing what’s in front of her. This is a common tactic used by some of the best photojournalists as it helps people get used to the fact that a camera is in front of them. But Dimpy tries to more or less be a fly on the wall instead.
The idea of being the fly on the wall isn’t really a new one. If we analyze Paul Kessler’s “Q-Train” photo, which is the lead image of this article, we can notice many things that make it appealing across so many different fields of study. Just focusing on the idea of color theory, we can see various layers working in the scene. Steve McCurry tries to focus on three colors within a portrait to keep it simple. Though we can say that this is maybe more of a candid portrait, Kessel finds a way to make multiple layers of colors work and have them uniquely all stand out from one another.
More importantly than just the colors, there’s the candid moment. We are told multiple things about this portrait:
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Who: It’s about a mother being overwhelmed by her children
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What: The moment here is very relatable to several adults because they’ve either had children or they’ve had to endure hearing the results of someone else’s breeding.
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When: This is a relatively recent photo. But it’s something that can stand the test of time.
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Where: We’re in the NYC subway on public transportation. Many tourists and residents alike experience random moments on the subway.
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How: Paul simply took the photo when he noticed what was happening. Paul told us that he estimated the distance and got the shot.
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Why: This photo is so appealing to us because it’s holistically a beautiful moment around motherhood while also demonstrating strength within the chaos that is life and the NYC subway system.
Similar things can be said of many of Paul’s other pieces. His photos often show some sort of connection between people and work to tell a story within a larger frame. In cinema, it’s often said that New York can be a constant character in a movie. And clearly, we see that in many of Paul’s other images, such as the one above. Provided to us in our previous interview, the image shows how a family can find solace and peace while trying to get around public transportation. It’s a stark contrast to Paul’s other photo we previously discussed.
What’s evident in the work of both Dimpy and Paul is that they’re constantly looking around, gauging light, and being in tune with their environment. They’re probably both often taking breaks because it requires very deep concentration and understanding of what’s going on in front of them. More importantly, the photographer needs to connect their technical and artistic sides. Most photographers understand that this translation process can be very difficult.
Reclaim The Street: Street Photography's Moment
The book details can be found here: bit.ly/3qCQIzW
Image featured in book: Q Train
BOOK OVERVIEW
Featuring stunning imagery, this is a vibrant survey of the trends and talents fueling street photography today and a fresh take on what street photography can be.
A world tour of the very best street photography today, Reclaim the Street showcases work from more than one hundred contemporary photographers, from the established to the emerging, from all corners of the globe.
In Reclaim the Street, Stephen McLaren and Matt Stuart present a multilayered overview of street photography’s constantly evolving form. Together, they interweave individual photographer portfolios, in-depth case studies, and surveys of the hot spots where communities of street photographers are thriving today. Great photographic minds don’t think alike, nor are two streets identical: follow these photographers as they capture snapshots of people and places perpetually in flux.
Truly diverse in scope, Reclaim the Street pays long overdue attention to flourishing scenes beyond the West, including workby Indian photographer Swarat Ghosh, Thai photographer Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet (aka Poupay), and Brazilian photographer Gustavo Minas. The global, humanistic edge of Reclaim the Street is a love note to photography, as well as to the places and people captured through today’s sharpest lenses.
The book can be purchased here: bit.ly/3qCQIzW
The Highlands Currant
online version of the article can be read here:
https://highlandscurrent.org/2023/05/12/street-rules/
Garage Gallery, Solo Show Press Release & Website Listing
UP Collective Interview
WHO?
I began photography late in life. One day with little forethought, I wandered into the International Center of Photography in New York City and registered for the most basic photography course for beginners. I would turn 70 years old in a month and had been at a loss about how to spend my time after I stopped working as a psychologist and professor, coupled with my daughter now having her own apartment and no longer living with me. I had always owned a camera but, except for a few brief spurts of interest, rarely pursued photography. It never occurred to me that I would continue after this first course, but I never missed a semester of taking anywhere from one to three courses for the next ten years. The reason why I was so drawn to photography is multifaceted. When I first viewed a photo I took on a computer, I was amazed and excited about how the camera saw so much that was out of my awareness. It was a reflection, and I had never viewed a photo of a reflection before. My daughter was pursuing a career in photography, and that was another reason that spurred me on. Additionally, I suppose that there was always a latent interest.
After a few years focusing on portraits, I discovered street photography, and I almost immediately realized that it was a perfect fit for me. As a child and all the way up to my early 20’s, I was very shy. I spent a lot of time wandering the streets alone observing people. In a sense, I had begun street photography early in life, but without a camera. Once I began street photography about twelve years ago, I was totally hooked and have a constant urge to go out as much as possible to pursue it. A truly good street photograph is rare, and the constant pursuit to achieve one is addictive. Street photography is mostly about failure, and the possibility of a worthwhile photograph in the context of primarily failure is a recipe for addiction. Now at almost age 86, I have slowed down but there is never a time when I go out without a camera.
WHERE?
I have lived in New York City most of my life and almost all of my photographs were made there. During the CoVid-19 pandemic, a period of staying home was followed by a temporary move out of the city to a rural area. I like to tell myself that pictures emerge everywhere, and that location is not that important. However, without a busy city, my desire dissipates. I seem to need people to photograph. I consider that a shortcoming, but I accept that it is my need. Theoretically, I profess to believe that one can photograph anywhere at any time. Some street photographers are more conceptual and can make a photograph out of practically nothing. Others, like myself, require something outside of their head, to react to and take a picture. It is always a mixture of concepts and more intuitive immediate reactions with different photographers working more with one or the other.
In New York City, I photograph in the usual haunts of street photographers. Until the pandemic, I photographed in Frankfurt, Germany and Copenhagen, Denmark almost every year as well as Miami and San Francisco when I attended street photography festivals.
WHEN?
The short answer to “when” is “all the time”. I spend most of my waking hours (as well as frequent dreams) with street photography. Parenthetically, almost all my photography dreams are a variation of seeing unbelievably good scenes to shoot but the shutter will not engage. Please don’t bother interpreting this.
WHAT?
I will repeat what I said in a previous interview. In Ernest Hemingway’s short novel, “The Old Man and The Sea”, the old man says: “My big fish must be somewhere” and “It is silly not to hope”. I feel like the old man and the street. I am pulled along by the hope of finding my big picture. On a subway in 2019, I caught my “big fish”. The photo, “Q Train” has won many awards, much praise and criticism as well. It won events that I never dreamed of participating in, let alone, win. I suppose that I am sort of a “one-shot wonder”. I do have more photos and series that are good and others have liked, but none are in the same league.
When I began street photography, I initially did street portraits with consent. I moved on to candid portraits and then candid street scenes. My goal now is a layered street scene with multiple elements and activities going on. I almost never achieve it but again, the quest keeps me going. I seem to be after complex busy photos that fill the frame. It occurs to me that there is some history to this. I have had no art education at all and have almost never been exposed to art (family dynamics explain this). However, I arranged to have two posters of paintings hanging in my room as a child. One by Bosch and the other by Dali. Both were complex and full of stuff throughout the frame. I have a hunch that this informs my photographic preferences.
WHY?
It seems that for me, whenever I pursue something, I become totally involved and I am satisfied to do only that one thing. That is so with making candid photographs in public places. I do it because I have reached the point in life where that is what I do. The alluring goal of finding or making better pictures is all consuming. It is a sport that I play all the time. I long for those rare times that I get “in the zone” where I easily see potential pictures and get them, undistracted by worry and other matters. I am aware that this activity is one of an almost perpetual “slump” because achieving an exceptional picture is so rare. On a day that I do achieve what for me, is a good picture, I love the feeling.
External factors pull me along also. Being accepted into a meaningful exhibition and being accepted by competent photographers, as a viable player are significant motivating factors. It is only recently that I have become aware of the most important reason I photograph. Since I began in 2008, I have accumulated friends and relationships that mean much more than any photograph or success in a contest. Although perhaps I have gone as far as I can go with photography, the friendships continue.
To read the interview online, please visit: https://upphotographers.com/interviews/interview-with-paul-kessel/
Weser-Kurier, Germany, March 1, 2023
Weser-Report, Germany, February 26, 2023
MIX, Germany, March 2023
Bremer, Germany, March 2023
The Cyprus Photographic Society – Pafos Branch organizes the contest The Wall 2022 aiming to exhibit large pictures in an outdoor public space for an extended period of time. Through photographers’ contribution both in Cyprus and abroad, a wall in the city centre will be covered with 30 colour photos. The event is part of the programme of events of the Months of Photography Paphos (MoPP2022) photo festival. This is the 7th edition of the event.
The photo installation will remain in place for 11 months and it is expected to be visited by more than 50 000 people.
International Jury Committee
To see all photographs featured and the original article, please visit:
By invitation, Dodho Magazine, 2022
New York City is considered as one of the best places to practice street photography. It has a history of being the breeding grounds of many of the finest street photographers over the years.
If one is proficient with the fundamentals of photography and puts in the time, interesting photographs will emerge. Individual talent and style mean a lot but in addition to this, persistence and patience are necessary. The more one is out with a camera, the greater number of lucky circumstances will happen and result in a few photos worth keeping. The project, “Street Scenes” represents an effort to cull out some of the better photos.
About Paul Kessel
After a career in clinical psychology and university teaching, Paul Kessel began photography late in life (one month shy of his 70th Birthday). On a whim, he enrolled in an introductory class at The International Center of Photography in 2007. He continued taking classes there every semester for ten years. About twelve years ago he discovered street photography and became immersed in it. He never goes out without a camera.
He has been in about 140 group exhibitions. Additionally, he has had 4 solo shows in New York Galleries. Kessel has been a finalist in many street photography festivals worldwide. He has been the winner of a few of them. Perhaps his most prestigious award is winning the Miami Street Photography Festival (2020).
His photographs have been reproduced in a few books and he has self-published eighteen books. The books represent the culmination of various projects. Kessel has been featured in a full-length documentary film (“Fill the Frame”) and has been interviewed a number of times by various photography organizations including “Street Photography”.
Before he began the serious pursuit of photography in 2007, Kessel always owned a camera since about age twelve. However, it was usually kept in a drawer and rarely used. There were brief spurts of photographing, but it was never sustained. A latent interest was always present. He dabbled in street photography for a few weeks in the 1960’s (He was unaware it was called “street photography”). There are old photos of the original Woman’s March and even one of Gloria Steinem.
A good part of Kessel’s education in photography involved portrait photography. This included studio photography, flash photography, and self-portraits. His early work in street photography was primarily street portraits with permission. This evolved into candid street portraits, and later street scenes beyond focusing on one individual. He favors more complex scenes with layers and multiple people interacting. Such photos are more difficult to achieve but every now and then such a photo emerges. It is the quest and elusiveness of a truly good photograph with some complexity that keeps Kessel shooting even in his mid 80s.
To view the online story: https://www.dodho.com/new-york-city-street-scenes-by-paul-kessel/