Street Photography at The Citadel in Charleston, SC

T J Fischer, Bravo Company Commander, talks with some of his staff during a light moment when Knobs are checking in at The Citadel on the first day.

From Wikipedia: Street photography is a type of documentary photography that features subjects in candid situations within public places such as streets, parks, beaches, malls, political conventions and other settings.

Street photography uses the techniques of straight photography in that it shows a pure vision of something, like holding up a mirror to society. Street photography often tends to be ironic and can be distanced from its subject matter, and often concentrates on a single human moment, caught at a decisive or poignant moment. On the other hand, much street photography takes the opposite approach and provides a very literal and extremely personal rendering of the subject matter, giving the audience a more visceral experience of walks of life they might only be passingly familiar with.

The "Red Sash" is what the Cadre wear at the Citadel.  Cadre members are cadets who train the incoming fourth-class cadets and are considered to be in high standing academically and militarily.

I love "Street Photography" because you are just capturing those moments when people are so caught up in doing life they forget about you. The best photos I find is when people are with their closest friends and family.

One of the places I have enjoyed shooting the most has been The Citadel these past four years.  Our son graduated in May, but we were vacationing nearby in Isle of Palms and went by for Matriculation Day. Dorie, my wife, enjoys volunteering. 

Alpha parents wait with their Knobs things as they check in with the Cadre.  The light blue shirt is for those Citadel parents who are volunteering.  Their cadets have already been through their Knob year.

The volunteers are parents of current and former cadets at The Citadel. They remember so well dropping their sons and daughters off for that first time. The Knobs, what the call the freshmen at The Citadel, will go through right away what they call "Hell Week."  As compared to the other service academies The Citadel "fourth class system" is longer than all the others. 

Sue Reigerix talks with her daughter Rachelle Reigerix, Athletic Cadre Commander, on Matriculation Day 2011 at The Citadel.

Now with a graduate I can see much better with my 20/20 hindsight. I believe that the higher the commitment of anything a person does, the more involved their friends and family become with them in their endeavor. 

We are now into the next stage of being the family of a military officer. Already I am seeing how families all bond in ways that graduates that go into civilian life just don't experience in the same way.

Knob is checking in for the first time.  I love seeing the eyes look around.  He will soon learn to do this using peripheral vision.

While street photography for me is fun the photos reveal more about folks than I ever thought possible.  I think in these few photos you see a bit of life in just a few frames.

My favorite thing is also sharing these moments with those in the photos.

Remember to get these "Street Photography" images, you have to have your camera with you. The photo that got away is the time you don't have your camera.