Learning to See People
Joy doesn’t pose. It just shows up.
Using Street Photography to Prepare My Eye
The reason I went on this photo walk was simple: I want to get better at telling people’s stories.
So often, I find myself behind grand landscapes, intentionally or not, avoiding people. Part of that is being an introvert. Part of it is comfort. But with my trip to Chiapas, Mexico coming up in January, I know that won’t work anymore.
Life keeps moving, whether I’m ready or not. I’m learning to keep up.
My role on this trip is to document the journey for the organization, Broken Rib Coffee, and the interns who will be going — but just as important, to tell the story of the coffee farmers of Chiapas. To dignify their existence. To help others see them not as an idea or a cause, but as people.
“I didn’t go out today to take great photos.
I went out today to highlight great people.”
Street photography forces me to confront my introversion. It asks me to be bold — to step into real lives and tell stories most people will never see. To remind myself that these are people just like me. Children of God. People who work, struggle, laugh, stress, and hope the same way I do.
Up to this point, I’ve spent years polishing the technical side of photography. This feels like the next step — applying those skills to storytelling.
Passing through doesn’t mean insignificant.
The interesting thing is that I didn’t talk to anyone today. I was able to move quietly. To shoot from the hip. To observe without interrupting. Most people never knew I was there.
My hope is that these same skills will help me transcend the language barrier in Mexico. This was a first step. As I sharpen this way of seeing, I hope it also gives me the confidence to be more bold — to eventually step into conversations, not just moments.
Some stories only last a few steps.
“This wasn’t about getting keepers.
It was about getting ready.”
