People often say my photograph have an authenticity to them, which I appreciate that compliment. What I find I do is I look for those moments which aren’t perfect, and press the shutter then. For example, this photo I asked them not to smile for me, but to just be themselves. This is what happened... Continue Reading →

I was out walking the streets of New York City making, what else, street photographs and thought about how I look for characters to see what they are doing, hoping to find someone interesting and I photograph them to tell their story. I’m a longtime photojournalist so my interest is in documenting people stories. But... Continue Reading →

I look around at my friends sitting with me in their living room, and the folks at the local coffee shop and everybody is either staring at a phone or a laptop, including me. And I think about how it looks like an addiction. Like we are all trapped by these devices that constantly send... Continue Reading →

With that art fair happening downtown, the crowds were out and it was easier than ever to find subjects to approach for street portraits. Of course I had to go back out, though I ended up going twice. Once around noon, and it was rainy in Boulder, so I left and returned at 5:00pm when... Continue Reading →

Here are some things I’ve noticed when I go out to make street portraits with a Rolleiflex camera. My approach is always the same–I hold up the camera and my phone opened to my Rolleiflexers gallery and say, “Hi, I make portraits with this vintage camera and they look like this. May I make your... Continue Reading →

Here are the latest cast of characters in my Street Portraits project from a visit to Lyons Colorado on a sweltering summer Sunday afternoon. [Rolleiflex 3.5F, Ilford HP5] The question is, “Where will my camera take me next? And who will I meet?”

When I delivered framed photographs last week to people who I had photographed for my Street Portraits project, one thanked me while holding the photograph and said, “This is special.” I wonder what has changed since 2000 when digital cameras really took off (they had been around since 1995). And then again in 2007 when... Continue Reading →

It was a warm Saturday evening in downtown Boulder with the Rolleiflex and one roll of 120 film to say some hellos, meet some beautiful faces and make some new Street Portraits. Here’s who I found out in the good light. [Rolleiflex 3.5F & Ilford HP5.] Now, it’s a constant question I ask myself: Who... Continue Reading →

A note to remind you to print your photographs. Unprinted, they’re just files. Or negatives. Or slides. Potentials. These folks requested prints from my Rolleiflex street portrait gallery [Rolleiflexers.com/kenneth-wajda]–I offer a print at no cost to everyone I photograph–and it’s a treat to live with portraits of family and friends in our homes as part... Continue Reading →

Hopefully you are enjoying seeing all the new ‘friends’ I’m meeting on the street. Each day, when I go out with the camera and a single roll of film, I have the same thought: “I wonder who I will meet today.” Here are the beautiful faces I was able to photograph today. Rolleiflex 3.5F, Ilford... Continue Reading →

The muse exists but she has to find you working. This is testament to that. When I arrived at North Boulder’s First Friday Art Walk at 5:30p.m., I realized it didn’t start until 6:00pm. Oh, well, I’d wait for a bit but thought this might be a bust since, as I was walking around the... Continue Reading →

I was headed to an ASMP (American Society of Media Photographers) gathering last week in the Sunnyside neighborhood of Denver, and since it sits so close to the Highlands, I went early to 32nd and Lowell looking for some Street Portraits. It’s always good to have a fresh new destination to work in. Had some... Continue Reading →

Some photographic projects we come up with, and others just take us. This Street Portraits project with a Rolleiflex is one that has taken me. Every time I go out with a single roll of film, and each time at the start I am unsure I’ll find enough people to finish the twelve frames, but... Continue Reading →

I’ve often thought about times when I was on stage crew during high school play productions, and compared that experience to other times when I was on stage as a musician in a rock band. The first one I had to wear black to be able to change set pieces between scenes in the dark.... Continue Reading →