The role of authenticity in an overly staged online world
This article is part of my December 2020 Gratitude series that help me end this year on a more positive and inspiring note.
Photography was never a conscious choice for me. I bought myself a camera as a graduation gift, just so I could document my architecture studies and the occasional trip with friends. That was eight years ago, and somehow along the way, I got my first paid gig. Which, I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed.
I didn’t even consider my photos a hobby. When I got into marketing, it felt natural to start creating content, so I’d say I’m more of a content creator than a photographer. The term is often associated with influencers, but that’s a misjudgment.
As we all know, social media isn’t a reflection of reality. Whether it’s bikini shots, sunsets, food, workspaces, or cooking, people adjust almost everything they photograph. And I guess that’s okay. But when I started photographing people, I realised I preferred images that weren’t staged. I began craving that sense of realness. I loved making people feel good about themselves when they saw their photos, but I also wanted to capture authenticity.
The answer was street photography.
Observing people in their natural environments, I would wait for random moments. Without moving or adjusting anything. People serving food, taking a break, or playing board games on the curb. Just capturing things as they are. Not great, not terrible. Just real.
There’s so much more I’d like to say about this, but for now, here’s a small selection of photos that reflect what I love most about photography: documenting authenticity and playing with colour to express how I felt in the moment. It’s a vulnerable thing for me to share, as I’ve never shown most of these photos before. I’m truly grateful for my journey with photography, and I can’t wait to see where it takes me next.
And one of my favourites: an elderly couple in winter Budapest captured on film.
