I was wandering through Graffiti Alley when a woman stepped outside for a cigarette break. For reasons unknown to me, I happened to be shooting with a proper portrait lens, my Canon 85mm f/1.2 so how could I not ask if she’d pose for a shot or two? And, of course, the graffiti makes a great backdrop.
In a way, it’s harder to do street portraits of women. There are a couple of reasons for this. The first relates to the power dynamics between a photographer and the subject. If I approach a man like Scott and he doesn’t want to pose, he won’t hesitate to tell me where to shove my camera. But it isn’t necessarily the same when approaching a woman. I have to be sensitive about how I present myself. Do I come across as intimidating? Does she feel free enough to tell me to take a hike? The exchange should feel natural, comfortable. Otherwise it shouldn’t happen at all.
The other reason is more practical. There are far fewer women out and about. The people with the most time to spare for a street portrait are the homeless. But almost always they are men. I’m not sure why this is. Maybe it has something to do with the way social supports are administered, offering more protection to women and keeping them off the streets. Whatever the reason, my portraits of the homeless are almost invariably portraits of men.
