Street photography is a captivating genre that captures the essence of everyday life in public spaces. It’s a form of art that thrives on spontaneity, candidness, and the beauty of the mundane. The next YouTube video will be about this, but first this “Evening Blog Post from Berlin” explores the traditions of street photography, the evolution of colour photography, and the iconic Kodachrome colour palette that has left an indelible mark on the world of photography.

Morten Albek in the beautiful train station at Wittenbergplatz train station in Germany.
Leica M9, Summilux 50mm f1.5 ASPH

The Vibrant Street Photography Kodachrome style

The Traditions of Street Photography

Street photography has a rich history, with roots tracing back to the early days of photography. Pioneers like Eugène Atget, Henri Cartier-Bresson, and Vivian Maier have left an indelible mark on the genre, capturing timeless images that inspire photographers today, including me. I never try to copy anything, but just feel inspired when I see others’ work.

The essence of street photography lies in its ability to tell stories through the lens, offering a glimpse into the lives of people and the environment around them.

Street photography is more than just a genre; it’s a form of art that captures the raw, unfiltered moments of everyday life. It’s about documenting the world around us in its most candid form, revealing the beauty and complexity of human experiences

The very publicness of the setting enables the photographer to take candid pictures of strangers, often without their knowledge. This genre is celebrated for its aesthetic qualities, including composition, light, and timing.

The balloon.
Leica M9, Summilux 50mm f1.5 ASPH.

The Evolution of Color Photography

Colour photography has come a long way since its inception. The journey began with early experiments in the 1840s, where photographers sought to capture the colours of nature accurately

The first successful colour photograph was produced by Thomas Sutton in 1861, using the three-color method suggested by James Clerk Maxwell3. This method laid the foundation for all practical colour processes that followed.

The search for a cheap and simple process of colour photography was a long and difficult quest. Early methods included hand-colouring monochrome images, which, while beautiful, could not reproduce the colours of nature exactly

The breakthrough came with the development of colour film, which allowed photographers to capture and reproduce colours more accurately and efficiently.

Fasanenstraße in Berlin.
Leica M9, Summilux 50mm f1.5 ASPH.

The Kodachrome Color Palette

Kodachrome, introduced by Kodak in 1935, revolutionized colour photography. It was the first commercially successful colour film and became renowned for its rich, vibrant colours and fine grain. A colour exprtession that was well integrated with the Leica M9, so one should be a beast not shoot in colour if having this digital camera in the toolbox.

The Kodachrome colour palette is often described as elegant and poetic, capturing vibrant yet natural colours. Many photographers praised Kodachrome for its balanced richness and contrast. Unlike other films that could produce overly saturated or unnatural colours, Kodachrome offered a more subtle and sophisticated colour palette

Its ability to capture the nuances of light and shadow, along with its warm tones, made it a beloved choice for many photographers. In the digital world, the Leica M9 captures much of this without being fully able to push the blacks. Blacks stay blacks or they are crushed if one tries to push them in post-production.

Train station at Wittenbergplatz train station in Germany.
Leica M9, Summilux 50mm f1.5 ASPH

Berlin

I have used the colours much more lately than I used to. For a long period, I have dedicated my street photography to black-and-white but recently I fell in love with the colours. So I train my eye and brain to find the motives with colours more these days. It is a great pleasure to keep seeking development and getting better at doing what I love.
In Berlin I found some of these moments with repeating colours and balances I sought. When you begin looking for it, it suddenly appears in front of you.

Conclusion

Street photography and colour photography have both evolved significantly over the years, each contributing to the rich tapestry of visual storytelling. The traditions of street photography continue to inspire new generations of photographers, while the legacy of Kodachrome lives on in the vibrant images it helped create. Whether capturing the candid moments of urban life or the breathtaking hues of a sunset, these photographic traditions remind us of the beauty and complexity of the world around us.

Now I am heading home again, after some great and colourful days in Berlin. Be sure to experience a workshop with street photography. Sign up now and go to Rome, Copenhagen or Paris.

What aspects of street photography or colour photography do you find most fascinating?

Mauerpark, Berlin.
Leica M9, Summilux 50mm f1.5 ASPH