Photographer Spotlight: Steven Sosa

A street photographer who believes in the journey, trusts the spontaneous moment, and just acquired a Leica M10P.

Steven Sosa is a street photographer driven by one simple idea. Keep shooting no matter what. His work focuses on the places and moments that exist briefly and then disappear, the ephemeral texture of city life that most people walk past without registering. People are his favorite subject though he will be the first to tell you that getting them to agree is hit and miss. His black and white work developed the way the best photographic styles always do. Not through planning but through years of practice and the gradual discovery of things he did not know he was capable of.

He rotates between a Fujifilm X-Pro 2, X100V, Ricoh GR3, and a Leica M10P he just acquired and is clearly having a very good time with. He cites the late Stanley Kubrick's New York street work from the 1940s and 1950s as a key influence, a reminder that some of the most significant photography comes from people the world later knew for something else entirely. We asked him about the journey.

Here is our interview:

There's always a moment that pulls someone into photography for good. What was yours?

For me it’s the desire to keep looking for something new and exciting. In addition, always looking to improve my art. It can be hard at times. Especially when looking for motivation. However, I think that’s where practice and persistence comes in. Keep shooting no matter what.

What subjects are the focus of your work and why?

Pretty much anything related to street photography. Places that are here one day and gone the next. Although People are the best subjects in my opinion.

Your black and white work has a particular feeling to it. How did you arrive at that? Was it deliberate or did it emerge over time?

It took a lot of time and practice. So it wasn’t really deliberate. I think that’s the cool thing about photography. You start to discover things you weren’t doing before with time and practice. It’s all about the journey.

Tell us the story behind one of your favorite photographs.

That’s a hard one. I like a lot of my photos. However, I guess one that comes to mind is a black and white photo I took while visiting my hometown of New York City last summer. Basically I was standing on the Subway platform waiting for the train to pull in and I snapped a photo with my Ricoh GR3. What made it special to me was I photographed the station name and while the train was pulling in, I slowed the shutter speed down. So it was a nice blur effect.

What is one thing that you are working to improve in your photography and how are you going about it?

I guess photographing more people as the main subjects in my photos. However, it’s hit and miss since some don’t like the photo being taken.

How much do you plan vs. shoot spontaneously?

A little of both. Sometimes I walk by somewhere and I think it’ll make a good photo, so I’ll go at a certain time of day and snap away. While other times, it’s spontaneous. Those are the best I think. It’s like the stars align.

What gear do you bring when you go out to shoot?

Well my set up is pretty much geared towards street photography. I kind of rotate between my Fujifilm X-Pro 2, X100V, GR3, and I just acquired a Leica M10P. So I’ll having fun with that.

What does your editing process look like? What tools do you use and how do you approach it?

I love to edit the raw files. Editing, like my photography, is something I’ve practiced a lot throughout the years and I always edit in Lightroom.

Who are some photographers or artists that have influenced your style and why?

I like all the contemporary photographers out there currently. I also enjoy the street photography work of the late Stanley Kubrick. The way he captured NYC in the late 1940s and 1950s before he became a famous director was incredible.

What would you tell yourself when you started in photography? The thing nobody said to you that would have changed how you photographed?

I would have told myself that it’s a journey so be patient. I guess the think nobody said to me that would have changed how I photograph in the early days, probably learned how to zone focus.

If you would like to see more of Stevens work you can find him on foto @mr.sosa