What Do You Do For Living?
Written by Jinwoo An
2026. 1. 13
Making economic benefit is necessary for everyone: especially for members of the capitalist society. This black & white street photography series <What Do You Do For Living?> is a dedication for people who chose street as their field of economic activities. Street is the place of living for everyone: people preparing for better days, people blooming their talent under those basis, and even people taking rest. The series re-affirms how our world works by showing various human images.
1_Preparation
Early morning, now softly covers the world, seems as it's attempting to bother people's day. But the street goes on, and everything starts from preparation. His back with a blower determines everyone's day on the street. His hidden dedication for everyone was shining silently, and his back with responsibility represented the hidden figures.
2_Providing Food
'Street' and 'food' has extremely close relationship. South Korea's significant street, Myeongdong, is also one of the best examples explaining the relationship of street and food. Everyone provides different foods with different flavors. This diversity is also what makes street charming. Of course, individuals inside diversity are all making their most effort as possible.
3_Attention
Times Square at New York is probably the most renowned street in the entire world. As it is, performing at Times Square automatically draws a large audience. Furthermore, performing at a large square surrounded by massive screens is significant! The tension of the performer, excited crowd, and massive screens expressed the whole situation of the intriguing performance.
4_No Attention: Loneliness
Same New York, performing professional skills, but audience are different. Besides massive concrete jungle, this saxophonist is making dreams. The audience is not the factor determining his performance. This contrast is what captured my sight. Of course bringing audiences is economically important, but he has something more important: internal happiness.
5_Non-Professional
His performance was slightly different from other street performers. Usually, street is the field for performing their best, but his violin is such a mess: the fretboard is full of rosin, and the towel sustaining his chin is strained. This expresses his non-professionalism, and suffrage fills the street. However, enthusiasm contrasts his non-professionalism.
6_So What I'm Talking About Is...
Street is for everyone: people preparing, selling foods, performing: and obviously, a specific role is not necessary. Still for the majority, street is a meeting place and countless words are spoken. These two in the frame are also speaking emotionally, probably the white shirt man giving advice to the other man. This is charm of the street; anyone, everyone make stories.
7_Cigarette Time
Street goes on fast and hectic. However, controlling the pace of work is essential, since rest is necessary. Since street is open against everyone based to its characteristics, it allows anyone to rest on it. This man is taking a short rest on its motorcycle, probably for work, with his piece of cigarette. His tired face and exhale represents rest and suffrage.
8_Arrangement
Everything is going to sleep from the night street, except him and his busy legs. Cleaning up the street starts after the main events of the street all comes to an end. The panning shot represents his high speed making contrast to the slow, soundless background.
ⓒ 2024-2026. Jinwoo An All rights reserved.