THE STREETS - Issue Three Preview

the streets

Issue Three Fall 2016

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TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S EDITOR'S LETTER

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PHOTOGRAPHER PERSPECTIVES

8 Xin Wang - New York City 18 Benoit Auguste - Paris 30 Kofie Obeng - New York City 38 Meredith M Howard - New York City INTERSECTIONS 58 Just a Pinch of South 64 Refugees Welcome 72 Home

80 Moreland Mural Project 96 Black Cat Tips

Cover photo by Benoit Auguste Editor and Creative Director: Meredith M Howard Creative and Digital Assistant: Eva Howard Special thanks to Jim Meadows and Anne Meadows Contributors: Xin Wang Benoit Auguste Kofie Obeng Elizabeth Bloodworth

Cameron Harrington Randy Lovelace Lauren Pallotta Stumberg Andrei Fedianov

Contact THE STREETS: info@thestreetsmag.com Follow us on Instagram @thestreetsmagazine All work is copyrighted to the photographer, artist or author. No part of this magazine may be used without permission of THE STREETS.

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Editor's letter

"I must admit that I am not a member of the ugly school. I have a great regard for certain notions of beauty...Some photographers think that by taking pictures of human misery they are addressing a serious problem. I do not think that misery is more profound than happiness." - Saul Leiter (photographer) In 2011, fashion bloggers gave me permission to take pictures of the people I had been eyeing for years. For me, it wasn't photography as much as it was documenting clothes. I was dabbling in this new hobby when two things happened (seemingly by coincidence) that made me want to dive in further. During a trip to New York, I journeyed to Lincoln Center where I had heard the fashion shows were being held. As I walked up the stairs to the courtyard and saw the crowds of stylish people, I got chills. I had found my people - and they were standing around just waiting to be photographed. It was heaven.

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2011

Editor's letter

That same year, I wandered into an exhibit of photographs by Henri Cartier-Bresson. I looked around and thought, "What is this?" I was totally unaware of the whole genre of street photography. I was inspired by the life and emotion as well as artistic form that he captured in his photographs. Up until then I had been taking posed shots. All of a sudden, the

candid moment became everything.

2011 I share Saul Leiter's attraction to beauty - "certain notions of beauty." (If you look at his photographs, you will notice his idea of beauty was always layered.) Henri Cartier-Bresson's photographs are beautiful as well, but they often depict the misery that Leiter eschewed. Some of his most memorable photos were taken during war. Can we enjoy photos of misery? On the other hand, can we enjoy photos of beauty while misery exists?

(If this is getting too philosophical for you, feel free to skip to the pictures.)

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Editor's letter

"I believe there's such a thing as a search for beauty - a delight in the nice things in the world. And I don't think one should have to apologize for it...Some people, I think, are very attracted to what is not very attractive. What is miserable, what is wretched...I recently heard someone talk about the idea that happiness is an absurd ideal." - Saul Leiter Issue Three of THE STREETS contains photographs of both beauty and misery. Refugees are fleeing their countries at the same time that fashion shows are occurring in other parts of the globe. And I have noticed over the past five years as I have photographed people at New York Fashion Week, my thoughts have changed from - "I wonder where she bought those shoes"to - "I wonder what she's thinking". I see the whole gamut of emotions on their faces - anger, excitement, fear, stress, sadness - and it makes me wonder about their lives.

The flip side is true as well. You may notice that the refugees in the midst of their troubles are drawn to beauty - or are drawing beauty, as the case may be (page 69). And you may notice that even in the stories of the refugees, there is much beauty to be found.

Beauty in the photographs, beauty in the acts of kindness, and beauty in the hope that is offered from one human being to another.

Ideally, beauty is a representation of something deeper. And my hope is that a beautiful representation of suffering will build a bridge for the message without diminishing the reality of the raw emotions.

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Editor's letter

"It's quite possible that my work represents a search for the beauty in the most prosaic and ordinary places. One doesn't have to be in some faraway dreamland in order find beauty."

- Saul Leiter We conclude this issue with two artists who are particularly community minded in the way they approach their creative projects. By contributing their murals and mementos to the streets of Atlanta, they are bringing smiles to our faces and beauty to our day.

As always, we welcome your perspective on these or any other issues. Email us at info@thestreetsmag.com and let us know what is happening on your street.

Meredith

Editor and Creative Director

This is me photographing a model in New York.

(You can see how my photo turned out on Page 46) Photograph taken by Elizabeth Bloodworth.

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Xin Wang

I met Xin when we were both taking pictures outside of the one of the fashion shows in New York. In between shots, we talked about camera equipment and her life in China. Xin moved to New York from China one year ago. "New York suits me better, "she said.

When we were finished at that show, she tried to talk me into going with her to Pier 94 to find the Alexander Wang show. She didn't want to go alone (it was dark), but I wanted to eat dinner. So, she bravely set out on an adventure and I set out to eat pizza. I am glad we got to reconnect over the results of her photographic quests.

- Meredith A model from the Alexander Wang show

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What are some differences between the United States and China?

Xin Wang There are tons of differences between these two countries. First of all, people - they look different. Yeah, obviously. And here, people dress at their free will. If they want to be hippie, be it. Back in China, people judge a lot. There are even certain rules of not to show too much skin instructed by our parents...But the more time I have spent in the United States, I have gradually learned to just be myself, which is good.

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How did you get into photography?

Xin Wang

I learned some photography skill back in school when I was studying my advertising courses. Then in 2012, I got my first DSLR and from then on I started to take things more seriously. I've always loved to take pictures of beautiful everything - literally, everything. And pictures are the best way to save memories. But I'm still learning. Getting to know more people in this industry has helped a lot.

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What is your favorite street and why?

My favorite street in New York? Everyone of them is beautiful. Even though I have been living here for a year now, I still haven't gotten enough of it yet. Beautiful city!

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Xin Wang

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Xin Wang

Follow Xin Wang on Instagram @sinx1002 17

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Benoit Auguste

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How long have you lived in Paris and what are three words to describe the city?

I've lived in Paris for 13 years. So, in three words - the first I think of is Freedom, in all ways.

The other is Magical. In a sense that it's not all about reality. There is everything a little something more than just reality. And...Intense, because the city is older, bigger, and stronger than you; it pushes you in a very high rhythm.

Freedom

Intense

Magical 21

To see the rest of the magic in this magazine, go to www.thestreetsmag.com to purchase the secret code...

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