The Mirror in the Lens
I recently had the opportunity to showcase some photos on social media in collaboration with my photo club. It was a small group, but that wasn’t why I said yes. I did it because someone felt I had something worth sharing, and that was enough to push me past my hesitation.
Like so many others, I am my own worst critic. I’ve always felt my work was a bit "all over the place." I shoot macro flowers, I dabble in landscapes, but my real passion—the thing that makes my heart beat faster—is street photography. I spend hours poring through books by Saul Leiter, Ernst Haas, and Henri Cartier-Bresson, soaking in their use of light, framing, and motion.
Finding the Thread As I prepared for the showcase, I decided to present my work in themes. One day focused on window reflections; another on the "decisive moment"; another on "shooting from the hip" from the vantage point of a sidewalk cafe.
As I looked over these clusters, I realized something surprising: I had unconsciously adopted so much from the greats I study.
I’ll admit—and it’s a little embarrassing—that using AI actually helped me see this. While organizing the images, I used Gemini to help describe what I was seeing. It pointed out facets of my work I hadn’t fully recognized, like how I was incorporating Saul Leiter’s technique of shooting through natural frames. It saw the Ernst Haas influence in my reflections and the Elliott Erwitt spirit in my photos of dogs.
More Than Just Pixels What started as a way to inspire others ended up inspiring me. It made me want to get out and shoot more.
I recently heard someone speak about the importance of "real" photography—not just relying on AI to make an image perfect, but living the experience. Those real-world moments attach memories to the images, making them meaningful. As people commented on my photos during the showcase, I was able to share the stories behind them. That narrative gives a photo a depth you just can’t get from a screen alone.
The Takeaway Don’t be afraid to put your work out there. Whether you’re getting feedback from a friend or a digital assistant like Gemini or ChatGPT, listen to what the work is telling you. You just might discover that you’re much better than you think.