Erik Witsoe: Capturing Scenes of Intimacy Out in the Streets
By Joy Celine Asto
“I notice hands wherever I go,” Warsaw-based Erik Witsoe began in his intro for his street photography series, “Touching, Feeling and Grasping Intimacy.” He ties this fascination to his years as an artist and a cook, and the way each profession uses hands to create. Hands, he added, have stories to tell. “Pointing, grasping, emphasizing, eating, gesturing, holding, or working, hands convey urban anecdotes that are all their own.”
Copyright ⓒ Erik Witsoe
While not strictly a street photographer, Witsoe often finds himself drawn to capturing street scenes. Street photography, he said, came to him as a byproduct of sharing his life with his family after moving to Poland with his partner in 2011. From having no real understanding of what street photography really meant, it eventually helped keep his eyes and mind sharp. The unpredictable nature of street scenes helps keep him focused and ready should any interesting scene or situation happens.
“Often, there is no time for me to second guess what I am doing while on the streets. A moment arrives and it’s usually I got it or I didn’t, so I have learned to work very fast. I think as a street photographer when I work at weddings, or for businesses, as well as events. I am always searching for a casual moment that is only a split second long.“
Copyright ⓒ Erik Witsoe
Indeed, it’s easy to see how he needs to be both fast and perceptive to document what he did for his “Intimacy” series. A split second could mean missing a meaningful gesture. A knack for observation also proved handy when anticipating an eye-catching subject or poignant moment. But without the affinity for capturing life as it unfolds day to day in the city, Witsoe would probably be oblivious to these scenes of everyday intimacy.
But instead of getting the idea for this series on the fly, Witsoe was simply guided by his gravitation towards nostalgic and sentimental scenes. People naturally grab his attention as he moves through the city, be it a motion-filled area or a quiet corner with a lone subject walking in. “I collect moments, all kinds of moments that make up a constantly evolving ‘personal cinema’ in my mind and heart.”
Copyright ⓒ Erik Witsoe
Much of Witsoe’s personal work is also inspired by his struggles as an American living in Poland, mainly feelings of loneliness and isolation. Despite the difficulty, moving to the country became the biggest creative catalyst for him, as it gave him the curiosity that is present in all his photos.
“Poland has a kind of permanent nostalgia and sentimentality to its culture, so this also allowed me to connect much deeper to my own sense of nostalgia, which also shows in the imagery. I am very confident that had I not moved to Poland, it would have taken me much longer to find a style that would connect me to these traits.”
Copyright ⓒ Erik Witsoe
Witsoe also noted that the scenes he captured for his “Intimacy” series became a part of his subconscious need to cope with his situation. In a way, the series also communicates his desire for acceptance, especially in the photos with gestures like outstretched hands, people holding or shaking hands, and friends making fist bumps.
Still, he counts the photo of a woman’s fingers touching the door of a train as his favorite in the series. It was one of the many interesting scenes that led to his love for trains and trams. The story behind it is also a preview of his typical thought process when something picture-worthy captures his attention.
Copyright ⓒ Erik Witsoe
“I was returning home from traveling to a nearby city for work by train in the late afternoon. The train was fairly crowded, and people were already gathering in the aisle to prepare for exit. I always set my camera ahead for a just-in-case moment and in this case, I am very happy that I had. I wasn’t specifically looking for anything but had noticed the light and shadows near the door and loved how the light was centered on the door itself. I spotted this lady raising her hand to grasp the door to steady herself for exit. I snapped the shot, and then it was my turn to leave.”
Stay updated on Erik Witsoe and his photography through his website, Behance, and Instagram.
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