For New York-based photographer, Suzanne Stein, street and documentary photography is all about stark realism. The idea of framing a moment exactly as she saw it, regardless of how hard it is to look at, is what drives her art. Here, she discusses taking the FUJIFILM X-Pro3 to New York City to work on a project called City.

 

“City is a reflection of a complex place – it’s part street, part documentary,” Suzanne tells us. “I shoot moments that I feel form narratives and sometimes these little stories are hard to look at. Sometimes we all walk past and sometimes that’s not right.

 

“I also shoot people I meet on the street periodically, whenever I run into them over long periods. They change each time. They grow up, they blossom, and sometimes they deteriorate. That’s the city I see every day.”

 

Suzanne aims to offer a genuine window into life on the streets, using different techniques to illustrate the harshness, chaos, warmth, and beauty of the urban environment. “I shoot everyone and believe that absolutely nothing should be left out of street photography image creation, no matter how hard to look at or understand,” reveals Suzanne. “City is a harsh place, but also a warm place depending on who’s occupying a patch of pavement at any given moment. I use various ideas, techniques, and visual storytelling methods, sometimes it’s lighthearted and sometimes it’s bittersweet. Whatever it may be, it’s all part of the mosaic.”

Suzanne’s style means she needs to move quickly when out on the streets and X-Pro3 kept up with her perfectly. “X-Pro3 was a superfast companion that became an extension of my mind and vision. It enabled me to catch what’s going on at light speed and was flexible enough to allow me to get creative on a whim,” she says.

 

One of the ways Suzanne likes to get creative is by using multiple exposures – a feature of X-Pro3 that she particularly enjoyed. “Although concrete day-to-day realism is what I find to be most compelling, I also have fun with some more abstract techniques and multiple exposure is a great way to capture all the minutiae of the city,” she says. This was the technique behind the below double exposure on 34th Street, which is one of her favorite images from the set.

 

“This was a striking young woman working outside a clothing store,” Suzanne tells us. “I love the multiple exposure feature on X-Pro3, which allows me to layer images. I was able to incorporate the profile portrait of the subject with another image layered to showcase her environment. With X-Pro3, I can experiment with layering ideas, without commitment, until I hit on the one that feels right. No other camera I’ve used allows me this freedom.”

 

In fact, this was Suzanne’s favorite feature of the camera, closely followed by the fast and precise autofocus. “Superior autofocus capability is an absolute must for me on the street. This autofocus, paired with speedy camera operation and ease of maneuverability, sets X-Pro3 apart,” she reveals. “Everything about the camera’s ease of use and functional capability is great for artists who need a tool that enables flexibility and encourages various creative approaches to image making.”

Despite such prolific creativity, inspiration doesn’t always come easily for Suzanne. “Sometimes you must walk and walk and walk with camera in hand, ploughing through the tough times in your own life to find that inspiration. But I absolutely never give up and find that some of my worst days have produced my best images,” she explains. “I feel that having a camera in hand allows me the freedom and privilege to work toward creating compelling visual narratives, presenting images that are hopefully able to showcase the daily irony, mayhem, beauty, and heat that I see all around me every day.”

 

Suzanne believes this idea of truthful storytelling is the most important thing when creating an image that will stand the test of time, especially in the constantly evolving digital age we live in. “As technology begins to truly separate those who have and those who don’t, more and more people are being left behind,” she says. “As we all become immersed in the world of our smartphones, we are becoming less aware of serious social issues. Photography must always seek to speak truthfully, realistically, forcefully, and at times harshly. It must never exclude or leave anyone or anything out of the picture.

 

“I feel it is my responsibility to seek to photograph honestly, even though it may not always be subject matter that is easy to look at,” she concludes, adding that X-Pro3 is well-suited to her style.

 

X-Pro3 is very capable and the operating speed is superb. This really makes a huge difference in working on the street,” says Suzanne. “For me, speed and adaptability are critical, and this camera has great capabilities.”

 

X-Pro3 is now available to buy across the USA. Read the full specifications here, or contact your nearest FUJIFILM Authorized Dealer.

I can experiment with layering ideas, without commitment, until I hit on the one that feels right. No other camera I’ve used allows me this freedom.

About The Photographer


Suzanne Stein is a street and documentary photographer, currently based in New York. She considers herself a social realist and strongly believes in providing a truthful perspective with her images, specifically through her long-term project focusing on the Skid Row neighborhood of Los Angeles.

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