Overview
Moshe S Newhouse is a skilled photographer from Lakewood, NJ. His relationship with photography began when Moshe was curious about it and had a camera but didn't know how to operate outside of auto mode on my camera. To learn more about photography, Moshe S Newhouse enrolled at Montclair State University where the first class that met our eyes was offered by Profedia Bambino who introduced us to her passion for African-American culture in photographs. Right away his will changed. Not just learning how to use this new tool called "photography." The first week has been an adventure for Moshe, because he learned all these great skills like lighting and composition, experimenting with color theory and flash techniques.
Curiosity changed into a hobby, and the hobby became a passion. Eventually, it became Moshe S Newhouse full-time job - he's still at it today.
Services
Non-Fiction
Work experience
Newhouse Studio
Moshe S Newhouse is works out of his studio in Lakewood, NJ.
Projects
Photographing Children
The ethics of photographing children is a tricky one. Parents get very protective of their kids. In order to avoid getting into an altercation with an angry parent, Moshe S Newhouse recommends to get permission from them before photographing their children. This should be an absolute no-brainer.
If you see a great opportunity for an interesting photo that involves kids, Moshe S Newhouse suggests asking for permission from their parents/guardians, and giving them your contact information. Many parents will be grateful for the beautiful pictures of their children since they do not get to photograph them every day with professional equipment.
If you cannot see the parents or guardians around, my recommendation would be to conceal children’s faces in your composition.
“That’s what I sometimes do, although my preference is to always get approval first to avoid any potential conflict,” says Moshe S Newhouse.
“This past summer I was in Normandy, France. Now I do not speak any French. So when I noticed this young boy making a sandcastle, I motioned to the boy’s grandmother, pointed to my camera, and then to her grandson. She was so excited and nodded yes right away. Then she ran up to the boy. The next thing I knew she was posing with the child and I was photographing both of them! We all had a good laugh. I was lucky enough to capture this candid shot after the family portrait!,” shares Moshe S Newhouse.
Is All Street Photography Candid?
“Again, the sticklers out there will say “yes,” you must shoot street photography candidly. Still, I disagree. While some folks say that street portraits are another genre of photography, I lump them under the street photography umbrella,” says Moshe S Newhouse.
A street portrait requires you to interact with your subject. Interacting with a stranger may strike fear into those just starting. However, Moshe S Newhouse has met some fascinating people this way. He will talks more about getting over that fear in a bit.
Another type of non-candid street photography occurs when you make eye contact with your subject. Purists will say that eye contact takes away from the spontaneity of the moment, and thus alters the scene. Moshe S Newhouse makes it a rule never to initiate eye contact by hovering over a subject.
However, if my subject notices me and looks up just as Moshe S Newhouse snaps the shutter, Moshe S Newhouse doesn’t disregard the shot. These chance encounters often add a bit of humor to the image. And eye contact often makes an image more intimate.
What is Street Photography?
Moshe S Newhouse defines street photography as “photography conducted for art or enquiry that features unmediated chance encounters and random incidents.”
Typically, street photography is about candidly capturing life in public areas. And contrary to its name, street photography does not have to be done on the streets. You can do street photography anywhere.
“For example, when I lived in small-town Mississippi, I spent a lot of time at the beach. On rainy days, I often gravitate to museums, coffee shops or even the mall. One of my favorite places to shoot is on public transportation. You can always find great subjects on buses and trains,” says Moshe S Newhouse.
And, don’t discard rural areas. Even if you don’t live in a big city, that shouldn’t hold you back from starting your street photography adventures.
What Makes a Good Street Photograph?
Right now, social media is flooded with mediocre and subpar street photography. Just pointing your lens in the direction of a person on the street does not qualify as street photography. As in all photography, how you compose your image will make or break your photograph.
Moshe S Newhouse indicates that a good street photo needs a clearly defined subject. All the rules (and I use that word loosely) of composition, such as rule of thirds, leading lines, use of negative space, symmetry, frames, etc. still hold. Try and tell a story with your images. Create photographs where the viewer pauses and asks questions.
These are the signs of good street photography.
Do Street Photos Need People?
Moshe S Newhouse shares that whether or not street shots need people in them is up for debate. Sticklers say that all street photographs must contain people. However, I take a more laid-back approach. While I believe that street photographs do not need people, they do need the suggestion that someone was there.
For example, shadows can be used to capture thought-provoking shots, even if you can’t see the humans casting them. I also like to photograph things left behind by people. These images leave the viewer wondering what the story is behind the discarded objects.
