Dante Sisofo’s approach to street photography is heavily influenced by the mindset of documentary photography. This method involves spending extended periods in a location and building relationships with the community, contrasting with the typical “fly on the wall” style often associated with street photography oai_citation:5,Street photography with a documentary approach – DANTE SISOFO.
In this approach, Dante emphasizes the importance of emotional closeness, not just physical proximity, when photographing people. By engaging with his subjects and making his presence known, he believes that photographers can capture more intimate and meaningful moments. For example, Dante recalls his time photographing in Jericho, where he built trust by returning to the community and living among its people. Through these relationships, he gained access to moments that resulted in deeper, more compelling images oai_citation:4,Street photography with a documentary approach – DANTE SISOFO.
Dante advises carrying an instant camera (like an Instax) as a way to break the ice and offer prints to the people he photographs, helping to build rapport and trust. Once this trust is established, it allows for more natural and candid moments to unfold oai_citation:3,Street photography with a documentary approach – DANTE SISOFO.
While Dante blends street and documentary techniques, he stresses that the core of his process is interaction. By treating photography as a means of exploration and connection, Dante believes photographers can go beyond merely capturing moments to tell richer, more engaging visual stories oai_citation:2,Why you should ask for permission in street photography – DANTE SISOFO oai_citation:1,Street photography with a documentary approach – DANTE SISOFO.