My photo project is a collection of candid moments in California urban settings. The moments are fleeting, inconsequential, and appear to be hardly real. They would have been gone instantly, like a dream that vanishes soon after waking, had it not been for me and my camera.
My many years as a street mime have strongly influenced my photographic voice. I learned how to anticipate and respond to human behavior to make people laugh. So it’s no surprise that many of my street photos are decisive and quirky.
As a street photographer, I hunt for candid moments without preconceived notions or project plans. Instincts and subconsciousness are my guide. My photos were varied when I started as a street photographer. Over time, my photographic voice has become more defined, consistent, distinct, and recognizable.
The meditative process of street photography and being present have been, and continue to be, the most attractive things for me. I try not to worry about how people will judge my work or how many good photos I get at the end of a shooting day. There are several shooting days when I don’t even get a good photo. That’s fine with me as long as I learned, had fun, and exercised.
I want my photos to inspire people to pay more attention when they’re out and about. To be present without wanting to be somewhere else, without being in their head or lost in thought. That’s when life is more real.
They're Grrreat! © Eric Davidove
Chinatown © Eric Davidove
Blowing Cape © Eric Davidove
America, the Beautiful © Eric Davidove
I am a junkie, and my drug is street photography. Since 2014, I have been walking thousands of miles in urban centers, documenting how I see the world. The many years working as a street mime have strongly influenced his photographic voice. I am trained to anticipate and respond to human behavior to make people laugh. So it’s no surprise that many of my street photos are quirky, funny, and satirical.
Why make photos like this? I see many people walking around urban centers without paying too much attention to what’s happening around them. Most people stare at their phones, make phone calls, or listen to music. They’re not present or living in the moment. I hope my photos are a wake-up call. I want people to look at my photos and think, “Maybe I should spend less time on my phone and more time observing life around me.”
Look at the award winners and finalists of well-known and respected national and international street photography competitions, and you will likely see some of my photos. Moreover, my photos have been widely published in magazines and books. More details are available in the Awards, Publications, and Group Shows sections.
What’s next for me? I hope to publish a book (or zine), develop photo projects, participate in more gallery exhibitions, and secure more commercial work where street photography is the desired style. I recently joined the Candid City Street Photography Collective, whose members are all based in the San Francisco Bay Area.
edovephotos.myportfolio.com
@edovephotos
All about Eric Davidove
Newport Beach © Eric Davidove
