Harvey Stein specializes in long term projects. He believes in accumulating work on a variety of themes over the course of several years and then piecing them together to create a project. His long term projects generally culminate in a photobook. Some themes he’s published books on are twins, death and life in Mexico, movement on Italian streets, Harlem street portraits, and the list goes on. His newest book is called Coney Island People: 50 Years, 1970–2020 and you can preorder it here.

In this episode of the podcast, we talked about Harvey’s 50 years shooting Coney Island and the resulting photo book, how to stay organized when you have projects that take years or even decades to complete, and how to keep finding points of interest when you go back to the same places time and time again. If you are working on a project or planning one, Harvey’s words will no doubt give you some good food for thought as you build your body of work.

In addition to being a photographer and author, Harvey is also a teacher, lecturer, and curator so you can be sure there is much to learn from him. And not only is he knowledgeable, he’s a down-to-earth guy who is easy to talk (and listen) to. We know you’re going to enjoy this interview.

Street Photography Magazine subscribers be sure to see Virginia Hines’ article about Harvey’s 50 Years shooting Coney Island here the article about Harvey’s new book.

A Few of Harvey’s Coney Island Photos

Copyright © 2011 Harvey Stein

Links form the Show

• Harvey’s New Book – Coney Island People 50 Years
• Harvey’s Website

We’ll be publishing more images from Harvey’s new photo book along with an amazing essay by Virginia Hines in this month’s issue of Street Photography Magazine. Keep an eye out for it this Sunday!

Michele Zousmer, the featured photographer in the March 2025 issue of Street Photography Magazine is a San Diego-based humanitarian photographer, has dedicated her photographic work to illuminating overlooked communities and challenging societal perceptions. Starting as a sports photographer capturing her son’s basketball games, Michele’s path led her to document stories ranging from women in prison to homeless choir members, ultimately finding her most profound work among Ireland’s Traveller community.

For the past seven years, Michele has immersed herself in the Traveller culture, gaining unprecedented access through an approach that prioritizes human connection over technical perfection. “I literally talk to them. It’s almost like a game,” she explains. “What mascara are you wearing? I’m not kidding. We just like talking makeup on the side of the road.”

This seemingly casual approach belies a deeper purpose. Through her recently published book “Mis[s]understood,” she reveals the complex realities of a marginalized community facing widespread discrimination. Her photographs capture both the vibrancy of Traveller culture and the challenges they face, particularly in education and housing.

“The more I got to know them, I came back many times,” Michele reflects. “I actually thought that they have a lot of traditions that we’ve lost in America. They are so family oriented. Everything is family. They live together as family. All the generations live together.”

Her work with the Voices of Our City Choir in San Diego demonstrates similar depth of connection. What began as documenting a homeless choir led to an intimate film project when choir member Steven Reed asked her to document his final months battling liver cancer. Despite initial hesitation due to her own experience with loss, Michele agreed, creating “Sounds of the Sidewalk: A Journey of Goodbye.” The resulting film not only honored Reed’s story but helped change perceptions of homelessness.

“I really feel that way, and I see the world that way,” she says of her approach to humanitarian photography. “I think vulnerability is so important, and I’m always very open and vulnerable. I could be vulnerable with my people that I’m relating to, but I do think you have to be careful who you share it with.”

This philosophy has earned her the trust of communities often wary of outsiders, resulting in intimate portraits that challenge viewers to see beyond stereotypes and recognize our shared humanity.

This is only part of Michele’s story, so please be sure to listen to our conversation. You won’t regret it.

Links from the show

• Michele’s Website
• Michele’s Instagram
• Joseph Bevillard Instagram
• Voices of our City Choir – San Diego
• Michele’s film: Sounds of the Sidewalk: A Journey of Goodbye

What makes a street photograph truly stand out? Is it the decisive moment, the composition, or the story it tells? In today’s episode, our guest David Herman and I explore these questions and more. David brings a unique perspective shaped by his background as a former professional photographer and his instinctive understanding of human interaction.

David shares insights on how he finds connections in everyday scenes. As a top-level competitive tennis player, he reflexively anticipates moments before they happen to create powerful, storytelling images.

David is drawn to street photography by the uniqueness of each shot. “Every picture I take, nobody else is ever going to take that picture,” he says. Unlike landscapes, where countless photographers capture similar scenes, street photography offers the thrill of capturing a truly original moment.

He embraces the unpredictable nature of wandering the streets, free from the linear, rational structure of his professional life as an investment banker. This freedom allows him to see and capture the unexpected interactions that make street photography so compelling.

David describes his signature style as capturing “linkage” between subjects and their surroundings. He seeks to connect seemingly unrelated elements within a single frame. This could be the interaction between two people, or the relationship between a subject and a billboard or background element.

He’s not interested in simple portraits. Instead, he prefers the complex interplay of elements that create a story within the image. It’s about those fleeting moments of connection that most of us overlook.

Despite David’s claim of not knowing what he’s going to shoot, his work reveals a disciplined approach. He explains that his experience as a tennis player has honed his ability to anticipate. In tennis, you have to anticipate your opponent’s moves. You have to predict where the ball will go and prepare your response in a split second. This translates directly to street photography.

He sets his camera to a simple point-and-shoot mode (F8 at 1/500th of a second with auto ISO). This way, he doesn’t have to think about the technical aspects. He is ready to capture the action before it unfolds. “Just before the hug, just before the kiss, just before something is, is when I want to shoot,” he explains. He trusts his instincts and hopes the “photo gods” will align the shot.

David acknowledges that luck plays a significant role in street photography. “The photo gods need to help you,” he says. Often, just as he’s about to capture a perfect moment, someone walks into the frame, or something unexpected ruins the shot.

Despite careful anticipation and preparation, the success rate in street photography remains low. Capturing something meaningful requires the world to cooperate. It requires a combination of skill, anticipation, and a healthy dose of luck.

David cites several photographers who have inspired his work, with Sam Abell as his primary influence. He admires Abell’s photography, teaching style, and overall philosophy. He even maintains a friendship with Abell. He values his insights on both photography and life.

David discusses two distinct qualities in photographs: “striking power” and “staying power.” A striking photograph immediately grabs your attention. But a photograph with staying power has a deeper story. It has some suggestiveness or mystery that keeps you thinking about it long after you’ve seen it.

He strives to combine both qualities in his work. He wants to create images that are not only visually compelling but also leave a lasting impression on the viewer.

There is a lot more to unpack from my conversation with David about his approach to street photography that we can all learn from. So, take some quiet time to enjoy my conversation with David Herman

Links from the show

• David’s Website
• Sam Abell

Houses

Copyright Niko J. Kallianiotis

Most photographers I know have a need to be recognized for their work. And the most frequent question I hear is “how do I publish a book?”

Our guest today is Niko J. Kallianiotis, a native of Greece, who has lived and worked in Scranton, Pennsylvania for many years. This week he will be releasing his first book, a monograph, titled America in a Trance. It chronicles the people and places throughout the state of Pennsylvania.

This subject is near and dear to my heart because I grew up in the hills Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio near the potteries, Coal fields and steel mills. And during my lifetime I witnessed the decline of the steel industry leaving behind empty houses, unemployment and opioid addiction.

But people who remain are still hard-working proud and extremely hospitable whether you share their political beliefs, football passion for skin color.

The mountains and rivers and hiking trails throughout this rugged state are beautiful. But the towns that lie between them can often be viewed as sad and depressing to those passing through. Many of these towns are far from beautiful but they offer the some interesting photographic opportunities to the photographer who is willing to spend the time and get to know the people.

One such Explorer is Niko. Although he has lived in eastern Pennsylvania for many years, as a Greek immigrant, he still feels like an outsider.

When I learned of his new book, I wondered if this “foreigner” would understand and accurately capture the soul of this unusual and unique part of our country. After seeing his photos, I can say he certainly did. And I encourage you to see it for yourself.

A Selection of Photos from America in a Trance

Braddock
Copyright Niko J. Kallianiotis

Supply
Copyright Niko J. Kallianiotis

Copyright Niko J. Kallianiotis

Circus
Copyright Niko J. Kallianiotis

Niko’s Links

Book: America in a Trance
Niko’s Website
Facebook
Instagram

Do you often feel stuck in a rut with your photography? After spending a day shooting do you come back at photos look the same as all the others that you’ve done in the past? Are you looking for a way to improve your photography to find your vision? Often times the answer is using a different part of your brain.

Photographer Ed Walker, who was featured in the October 2016 issue of Street Photography Magazine, tells us he turned the corner by writing about his work. That’s because the act of writing helps us crystalize our thoughts and filters out the less important information. This cause us to identify and focus on what’s most important. Here’s a link to Ed’s blog to see an example of how he does it: http://www.edwalkerphotography.com/blog/.

The big question most people have is, “how do I do this?” Ashley and I created a simple photography writing framework that you can use to guide you in writing about your own work.

Photography Writing Framework

Take a group of five recent photos or a collection of photos from a project and write one paragraph that answers each of the questions below. Take your time. Put it away for a day or two, then sit down and revise it.

1. What are you doing?
2. Why are you doing it?
3. What were your expectations at the beginning?
4. What obstacles did you face (or are you facing)?
5. How did you overcome them (if at all)?
6. What was the end result (if you’re finished)
7. How do you feel about it?
8. What have you learned from the experience?
9. What was your biggest surprise?
10. What are you going to do new as a result?
11. What will you stop doing or will change as a result?

If you like the results of your writing then submit the copy and photos to Street Photography Magazine to be considered for publication. Send the text and images(1024px on the long side) to [email protected].

Links From the Show

Miami Street Photography Festival Schedule

Ed Walker Photography Blog

SPM Podcast Interveiw with Glenn Capers

Glenn Capers on Behance

Glenn Capers on 500px