First Impressions

Aug 21 2019

7 First Impressions of Cairo, Egypt
(From a Street Photography Perspective)

Cairo, Egypt came in as major city #60 on my Major City project and here I’ll share a few first impressions covering the city with my camera. Cairo had been on my project list since the start. It doesn’t get much bigger and historic than this ancient city turned chaotic metropolis. At 22 million people, this urban sprawl next to the famous pyramids is filled with activity and variety of life around every corner. While its sheer size and buzzing streets might not be everyone’s cup of tea, I quickly fell for Cairo’s one of a kind atmosphere. Personally, I do like big cities because of the variety of life and interest there is to explore, but it needs to set itself apart from the rest. And Cairo definitely does that. The history, the crumbling character, the chaos, the unique neighborhoods and the signature golden brown look all come together to make one of my favorite cities of the year for street photography. Yes, it’s not the cleanest, quietest city, and there are touts and hassle to endure, but it’s more than worth it in Cairo.

So here are my first impressions of Cairo, from a personal Street Photographer perspective…

Jul 14 2019

7 First Impressions of Skopje, North Macedonia
(From a Street Photography Perspective)

Skopje, North Macedonia came in as major city #58 on my Major City project and here I’ll share a few first impressions covering the city with my camera. While only a border away in Romania, I was surprised how many people hadn’t even heard of Skopje when I told them it was my next city. North Macedonia is rich with history and its capital Skopje is one of the largest cities in the Balkans. The Balkans are an interesting region to me, with Belgrade being one of the more memorable cities I’ve photographed, so I wanted to include a couple more cities here in my project. Skopje didn’t disappoint.

There’s an ancient feeling here mixed with a quirkiness that makes it interesting to explore. It’s laid-back and easy to get to know on foot, which makes it even better for street photography. Before I even knew much about Skopje, I knew about Shutka, the only majority Roma city in the world, which is located just 7 kilometers from Skopje’s center. Shutka’s unique gypsy atmosphere combined with Skopje’s own surprisingly enjoyable interest makes for a city that I’d recommend to anyone.

So here are my first impressions of Skopje, from my personal Street Photographer perspective…

Jun 05 2019

33 Street Photography Photos from Bucharest, Romania and Zagreb, Croatia

After Almaty came major cities #57 Bucharest, Romania and #59 Zagreb, Croatia on the Major City project. I’ll be discontinuing this 33 photos series on the blog very soon, but I’ll explain why along with exciting details on something new I have planned in an upcoming post. For now, though, I’ll share a last few additions of this long-time series here on Shooter Files.

So here’s 33 photos from my time covering Bucharest and Zagreb…

May 23 2019

7 First Impressions of Zagreb, Croatia
(From a Street Photography Perspective)

Zagreb, Croatia came in as major city #59 on my Major City project and here I’ll share a few first impressions covering the city with my camera. My project focuses on major cities, not tourist cities. Many times there’s some crossover there, but in Croatia, its coastline has blown-up recently when it comes to tourism, leaving in-land Zagreb off many lists. Zagreb still brings a decent amount of tourism with its historic upper town and attractions, but I included it because it’s Croatia’s capital and largest city. I wanted to see more than the beach tourism and Game of Thrones attraction. What I got was a city that won’t blow you away with unique interest, but has plenty of charm and enough variety to make for some enjoyable street photography. Zagreb has old character, activity, and a local atmosphere. While I wasn’t in love at first, I left being surprised at the interest and photos I came away with. If you’re coming to Croatia for the coast, I wouldn’t leave too quickly if you’re using Zagreb’s airport as a gateway, especially if you enjoy street photography.

So here are my first impressions of Zagreb, from my personal Street Photographer perspective…

Apr 25 2019

7 First Impressions of Bucharest, Romania
(From a Street Photography Perspective)

Bucharest, Romania comes in as major city #57 on my Major City project and here I’ll share a few first impressions covering the city with my camera. While it’s been called “The Paris of the East,” Bucharest can get a bad rap. While I don’t really see where the Paris comparisons came from, Bucharest does have character. You just have to look for it more than many capital cities. It’s not the prettiest city, with a feeling of neglect and communist past in its atmosphere and architecture, but there’s interest in its edge with some exploration. And beneath that rough exterior, you’ll also find a young, dynamic vibrance to the city mixed with history.

So here are my first impressions of Bucharest, from my personal Street Photographer perspective…

Feb 25 2019

7 First Impressions of Almaty, Kazakhstan
(From a Street Photography Perspective)

Almaty, Kazakhstan comes in as major city #56 on my Major City project and here I’ll share a few first impressions exploring the city with my camera. Central Asia mostly attracts the more adventurous travelers attracted to the region’s nature and off-the-beaten-path atmosphere, but Almaty provides the easiest introduction to the region with its mix of influences and interests. You get the beautiful nature and mountainous backdrop mixed with Russia meets Asia influences, but you also get the most cosmopolitan and European flavor in Central Asia. Traditional markets and parks next to trendy cafes and bars, Almaty is full of interest and quirks that make it one of the more memorable and unique places I’ve hit during my 5- year project. While it will be one of the major cities people are least familiar with, it’s also one of the most recommendable so far.

So here are my first impressions of Almaty, from a personal Street Photographer perspective…

Dec 27 2018

7 First Impressions of Riga, Latvia
(From a Street Photography Perspective)

After Seoul (and return stop in one of my favorite cities, Saint-Petersburg) it was time for major city #55 Riga, Latvia on the 100 City project. I might include other Baltic capitals in the future, but Riga was my first pick mainly because it’s the region’s largest. I wanted a city big enough to really explore in the Baltics, with more than the touristic areas. With Riga, I got even more than I’d hoped for. Most visitors spend their time in the old town, but Riga has so much more interest to offer, especially for street photography. Starting with the most Art Noveau architecture in the world, you can also find the unique Moscow district, providing an edgier atmosphere filled with character. There’s a mix of interest here and a relaxing vibe made for walking with your camera. I enjoy Eastern European cities for their authentic atmosphere, but Riga brings its own characteristics with it too. If you like some unique character in your photography, Riga is a great spot to visit.

So here are my first impressions of Riga, from my personal Street Photographer perspective…

Oct 15 2018

7 First Impressions of Seoul, South Korea
(From a Street Photography Perspective)

After a very short break from the project to stop back “home” in Ho Chi Minh City, I was back on the road in major city #54 Seoul, South Korea. Seoul is a massively sprawling metropolis mixing industry and urban atmosphere with old traditions and new trends. While some cities you can quickly explore, Seoul is just too big to truly explore all of in one visit. Luckily, though, it does have one of the more expansive and efficient metro systems around to help you fill your time with a variety of neighborhoods that not many cities could rival. While it receives comparisons to Tokyo, to the annoyance of many locals, Seoul brings a different culture and atmosphere the more you get a feel for it. It’s one of the most populated cities in the world, where you can find old markets and villages not far from trendy shopping streets and k-pop street performers. It’s a fun city to explore with your camera from day to night, and one that you’ll want to keep coming back to truly get to know.

So here are my first impressions of Seoul, from my personal Street Photographer perspective…

Sep 13 2018

7 First Impressions of Dhaka, Bangladesh
(From a Street Photography Perspective)

After finishing my last leg of India in Kolkata, I took a flight to major city #53 Dhaka on the project. At first sight, Dhaka is the densest, worst traffic, fastest growing city in the world. That can be an overwhelming first impression, but if you’re willing to explore underneath all that chaos, you’ll find one interesting city full of charm. While not the easiest city to just jump into as a traveler, the people are as friendly as you’ll find anywhere, and you’ll find them everywhere. No matter where you are in Dhaka, there’s something going on. Filled with chaotic streets, markets, old world atmosphere, history, spirituality, and energy, you can’t get bored in Dhaka. It also happened to have the most welcoming photography community I’ve ever met, which really made my first experience what it was.

So here are my first impressions of Dhaka, from my personal Street Photographer perspective…

Aug 16 2018

7 First Impressions of Kolkata, India
(From a Street Photography Perspective)

After finishing Delhi and Varanasi, I took another train down to major city #52 Kolkata to finish my second leg of India on the project. While new to my project, Kolkata isn’t a new first impression to me, but it was my first impression of the country many years ago. It was such a good first impression too that I knew I had to come back to include it in my 100 major cities. One of India’s largest cities, Kolkata doesn’t have the same big city atmosphere as Mumbai or Delhi. It feels a little more welcoming and easy to step out the door and start exploring away with your camera. It’s one of the most walk friendly cities you’ll find for its chaotic size, which makes it perfect for street photography. Kolkata has a special, old world atmosphere mixed into a highly populated urban city. The colonial-era architecture contrasting with urban slums, it’s also gained a reputation as the most friendly of India’s metropolises. While it might not be as known with the general traveler, it is known among the photography community. It’s made for bringing your camera and exploring away.

So here are my first impressions of Kolkata, from my personal Street Photographer perspective…