The Story Behind “Be You”

“Just be you!” I said. 

I was walking along Adams Street in downtown Chicago with my Press credentials dangling from my neck on my way to shoot some B roll for an assignment. 

I saw these two casually leaning against a wall pretty much as you see them now. When I am out specifically to shoot street I usually have either a small digital compact or film compact. You can be discreet and shoot street all day. The set up I had with me, there was no being discreet. But I wanted to create a moment here.

I walked up to them and said, “You two exude cool, may I take a few photos?” The man said, “Hi Press,” (referring to my Press Badge), “what do you want?”

“Just go back to doing what you were doing. Be you.”

He continued smoking his blunt and she enjoyed her beverage. 

Eric Kim, a friend and an internationally known street photographer and visual artist, likes to say, “Once you know the rules, then you can break them.” The final crop here is not clean. For me, I wanted a glimpse of the texture of his pants and her purse and I wanted a slight hero angle. It worked…for me. And sometimes, that is all that matters. Sometimes we create for ourselves and not the world. 

I have an Insta account, when I post on social media I am not there for the likes or hoping to win my next client. I am there to share a piece of me. I told them to be you. Sometimes I listen to my own suggestions. 

How can you be more you in work and in play?