influencers - Eric Mencher
Street photography has long been considered one of the most daunting genres to undertake. Conspicuous by the camera at their eye photographers remain vulnerable as they encroach the privacy of unsuspecting subjects, the subjects themselves reticent of such unsanctioned and perhaps unwelcomed attention.
Becoming somewhat of a street chameleon, one artist is able to maneuver his streets with greater freedom, producing images that both astound and inspire.
About the Artist
Eric Mencher is a multi-award winning documentary photographer, now concentrating on long term projects and everyday street photography. Formerly a photojournalist with The Philadelphia Inquirer, Mencher covered assignments like the post-apartheid era in South Africa, the aftermath of genocide in Rwanda, and the civil war in Chechnya.
Opting to discard de facto tools of his trade in favor of an iPhone may make Mencher unique in the world of acclaimed photographers but for street photography this makes sense in so many ways, readily accessible and allowing the photographer to become yet another body in the crowd.
But it is not the lack of DSLR in hand that makes Mencher stand out, it is the quality of the images he creates on such a basic device - images expertly crafted, providing an entry and inspiration to any budding photographer.
Mencher describes the iPhone as “a poor man’s Leica” following up “it takes me to the same mindset that the Leica did, the same ability. I’m framing something in my mind and the iPhone is just a tool to capture what I’m seeing in my mind”, adding that he finds the device “quick and intuitive”.
When questioned on shooting style Mencher indicates he searches for ‘visual opportunities’, and the need to dedicate time on to achieve success. This he describes as following “You need to be a flaneur. It’s a French word for people who walk at a leisurely pace and take in life all around them. When I see something, I pounce on it with my camera. It’s a simple act. I spend a lot of time walking. A lot time walking.”
Source of inspiration
I have long had an interest in street photography, but in all honesty have yet to capture anything meaningful. The ability of Mencher to mold works of art from everyday life encourages me to persevere. Without an expectation of ever reaching anywhere near his own level I feel confident that exposure to his work will lead me to elevating my own.
The idea of using an iPhone for street photography is a game changer for me. Not only does the quality of his work validate its selection, the absence of a traditional camera allows the photographer to blend into background and feel less vulnerable whilst photographing an unsuspecting audience.
Artist showcase
I will leave you with a sample of some of my very favorite Mencher images. Many more can be found on his website - http://www.ericmencher.com/
For more information I would highly recommend viewing the online interview with Mencher recorded in an episode by ‘The Photographic Eye’ - Insights into Eric Mencher's Award-winning Photography - YouTube . Here Mencher describes the evolvement of his work, his current shooting workflow and the reasons he shoots what he does.
