Urbanist and photographer Chuck Wolfe offers a guide on using your camera to change your city Behind the Lens looks at architectural photographers both professional and amateur, examining how they got their start, stories from their portfolios, and tricks to capturing great design. Have a lensman in mind" Send links to portfolios (no photo files) to [email protected].
In an era where we?re taking more photos of our cities than ever, populating ever more social media feeds, Chuck Wolfe believes we can use them for a greater purpose. There?s nothing wrong with a great Instagram post, but the lawyer, writer, urbanist, and photographer believes that with the right focus, citizens can help shape their cities by the simple acts of documentation and observation. In his new book Seeing the Better City, Wolfe outlines different techniques and philosophies, such as urban diaries, that can be used to create portraits and records of shifting urban neighborhoods, which can then be used for constructive dialogue and engagement. Touching on historical examples, from Berenice Abbott?s Changing New York series from the ?30s, to neighborhood debates of today?s changing modern metropolis, Wolfe outlines a philosophy that reflects his multihyphenate nature, blending the artistic approach of a photographer with the rigor of a lawyer. Curbed spoke with Wolfe about his new book and the expressive and practical sides of urban photography.
How did you get started in photography" ...