Capturing Childhood: Street Photography Tips

I dedicate all the time I have left to my “children.” I always dedicated to them whatever time I had at my disposal. Truth be told, I’ve only ever created one “Great Photographic Essay” in my life—the one of my “Children in Silver.” And sometimes, when I allowed myself a break, I worked on “Other Essays.”

Children are a natural wellspring of inspiration. You must be open and attentive enough to get it. They are also a source of wonder. This is something every photographer must cultivate. This is the fuel that drives me to keep creating.

Keep creating while practicing “Street Photography”? Isn’t that supposed to be about simply “being attentive”?Well… yes and no. Yes: You must be alert to the surprises life offers as you move through it. At the same time, you must keep creating in your mind. Imagine scenes and moments that the Universe will, in its own time, manifest. Then, when you arrive at the right place, you are prepared. At the right moment, capture them with your camera.

“My Children” portrays me as an abandoned truck cab by the side of the road. It can be “useful” for having fun. Ciénaga de Zapata, Cuba, 1999.

I work better with children using a rangefinder camera (in my case, my Leica M6)… I’m not exactly sure why. I think they see that small—but powerful—camera and feel at ease. A reflex camera is usually more intimidating. The goal is to stay unnoticed until the exact moment when you’re at the distance. That is the distance where “you see the photo in your mind” and lift the camera.

In these cases of extreme speed, the precise moment is crucial. The focusing tab installed on many Leica M lenses is a big help. For children, I also prefer to use the 28 mm. You’re close enough… but not too close.

Well… sometimes there isn’t time to focus, and you just lift the camera and press the shutter. I envisioned this photo of the children on the Malecón a little differently. The image in my mind wasn’t better but different from the one I actually captured.

I saw the kids enjoying the waves. I ran to “get into position.” Still, the reef was covered with water. I didn’t see a gap. When I stepped, I lost my balance—and my reaction was simply to press the shutter.

Children lying on dry wood in the Ciénaga de Zapata, Cuba, 1999… shot using infrared film.

Well… as I write these words, I look at my photos of the “Niños en Plata”. I feel tempted to load a roll of film into my camera. Then I want to head out into the streets. I’ll leave you with this image that has always intrigued me: children playing with their pet… a small crocodile! (In Pinar del Río, Cuba, 1998)