p.1 #1 · Does a [street] photographers background matter? > Phil Penman
As users and enthusiasts of Leica, it is hard to miss the brand's prominent featuring of Phil Penman as a thought-leader, teacher, and S-tier street photographer. While I have a great deal of respect for anyone reaching success at that level, I wonder why no one seems to factor in his background.
If I understand his trajectory correctly, Phil spent the first 15–20 years of his career as a paparazzi, aggressively chasing celebrities by bicycle and car, "hunting" celebs with long zoom-lenses. I know this industry is driven by societal supply and demand, but I still find it difficult to condone that line of work as a legitimate foundation for artistic humanism.
For the last 7–8 years, Phil has been recast as a Leica black-and-white storyteller and philosopher, heavily backed by Wetzlar’s marketing engine. I recently watched a Leica interview where he pontificated on the pseudo-spiritual service he provides to the public. A particularly stark moment was when he related a story about a stranger approaching him after being photographed to say, 'Thank you for noticing me.' Personally, I found that hard to believe.
While I don't want to derail this into a generic debate on the definition of street photography, it feels rich that someone with a long background as a commercial celebrity-hunter is now a leading corporate voice and educator on the ethics and soul of the street.
p.1 #2 · Does a [street] photographers background matter? > Phil Penman
In Italy "Thank You" is the most common response, other than no response, I get when people catch me taking their picture while I am street shooting. The Italians seem genuinely flattered that you would take their picture. Yes, there is the occasional person that objects but it is relatively rare here. The immigrant community being the ones who object the most often.
p.1 #3 · Does a [street] photographers background matter? > Phil Penman
I guess this fits the line "Follow the money, and you always get your answer". Possible that he made the career change when selling celebrity photos to be published in paper journals weren't paying the bills anymore. Leica instead might pay some of their influencers well....
p.1 #5 · Does a [street] photographers background matter? > Phil Penman
I like what I’ve seen of his street work, though it sometimes looks unreal to the point of having me wonder if it’s actually real.
About paparazzi work, I think it depends on the actual nature of that work. A lot of what we call paparazzi style is actually a celebrity’s agent getting the word out where that celebrity will be at a certain time, so that he/she can be “secretly” photographed. It’s just a play to stay in the limelight.
It’s sad that in our society you can make ton of money taking such meaningless images, but that’s a whole other story.
