The Interview. (by @blucke)

@streetphoto_bw: What do you think about Street Photography?
@5_eleven: Street photography captures every day moments forever. Looking back at the photographs I take, I notice so many stories around my subject. I realized that when I take a photo, it does not only captures my subject, but the background tells a the story, emphasizes on the drama and gives me a sense of what is going on. Sometimes, the background is more important that the subject itself. When taking a picture, I either go deep with the background or focus on the silhouette. I like having my subject the silhouette of the shot. @thexpat and @sramyan are the ones who inspired me to join Instagram and the street photography movement.

@streetphoto_bw: What kind of impression do you want to give to your followers or anyone who visit your feed?
@5_eleven: The message I’m trying to show is the people with normal lives. The mother who thinks of her children when grocery shopping, the father who goes to work trying to make a better life for his children, the woman who is trying to make it on her own day by day, these are the people living the ordinary lives. Lives that do not consist of extravagant luxury, but taking things day by day.
I personally like to see the culture of the photographer, and that’s what I am trying to do. Photographers from China, France, or Spain show us different part of their cultures. Reflecting culture and places in Kuwait that others might not know of is what I am trying to do.

@streetphoto_bw: How do you try to explore the moments to photograph in your country and show on IG? Tell us about how it is walking through the markets and streets of your city, if I’m not mistaken you’re in Kuwait, right?
@5_eleven: Yes, I am from Kuwait and feel like there is so many things to show the world, lots of diversity and culture here. I feel that globalization has taken over Kuwait, so many malls and skyscrapers are being built, making Kuwait City seems tasteless and without a soul. What I love about the old markets, streets and older neighborhoods are the natural lights and shadows. They are built in a why to survive Kuwait’s hot climate and use only little electricity. Most people who are at the markets and cafes are from the older generation, 90% of them wearing the traditional clothes, men in “dishdasha” and women in “abaya”. Their similar clothing gives them a unique subject to photograph. The natural light, shadows, and wind makes traditional clothes movement more interesting to shoot.

@streetphoto_bw: Did you use DSLR or iPhone?
@5_eleven: For this particular photo, I used my iPhone 4S. When I first started using Instagram, I used both iPhone an DSLR. After a while, I have noticed iPhone is easier and faster to use on Instagram. I can take as many candid pictures as I want with my iPhone, while using DSLR ,it’s too obvious.

@streetphoto_bw: Which apps did you use in this pic and how did you edit?
@5_eleven: Took the picture with Camera+, then edited Snapseed to black & white, then finally square ready to make it fit into the Instagram frame. I personally like Camera+ application more than iPhone 4S default camera, it has a better focus for when I take a shot.

@streetphoto_bw: Tell us about how it was capture of this moment, how it was?
@5_eleven: Well, it was in a basement car park. As I was going up the stairs, I noticed how beautifully the sunlight coming through the windows. I stopped to wait for someone to pass by to see the full effect. While I was standing there, iPhone 4S at hand, debating whether I should wait, take a picture without a person or just leave, a man wearing black passed by. Didn’t wait for a second chance and captured the picture. I was in the right place at the right time.

@streetphoto_bw: Thanks for your time.
@5_eleven: It’s my pleasure!