Manyar Sabrangan

I consider myself very lucky having the chance in the past 20 years to travel a lot and get in contact with different people and different cultures. Indonesia is where I have part of my family and a pay a visit on a regular base.

My Indonesian life is not exactly what most people would imagine. Far from touristic places, beautiful sand, crystal clear water, I spend most of my time in the neighborhood of Manyar Sabrangan where apparently life never stops, 24/7. In this narrow long street is where probably street photography crosses the thin line and becomes reportage or journalism, it is not anymore snapping candid moments or awkward situation, or hiding behind a corner or a tree to freeze the right moment without being seen. Here everything changes, the interaction takes place, I am curious about people’s life and they are curious about my life as well, or more precisely, they are curious about probably the only western face in the area walking around with a camera. For every single shot taken, I have received back a smile.

As a street photographer, shooting in that place is probably the most rewarding experience so far. Not only from a pure “productive” point of view, coming back home with hundreds of colorful shots of daily life images, but mainly because it leaves you something inside, an emotion, a feeling.

 

“You fill up the frame with feelings, energy, discovery, and risk, and leave room enough for someone else to get in there. – Joel Meyerowitz”