All images by Jonny Baker. Used with permission.
“Initially the impact fashion magazines had on me created my desire to develop my career and pick up the camera,” says Tel Aviv based photographer Jonny Baker about why he wanted to get into the Street Fashion genre of photography. “Bill Cunningham was a big inspiration to me. I today move around my city capturing the fashion conscious and the natural facial expressions which Bill gave to the world. The street is the worlds best catwalk and I have the best view point moving around the streets photographing it’s people.” Jonny equates his need for his camera being on the same level of people needing coffee to start their day. He thrives off of knowing that he can capture any moment at any time of the day.
Jonny states that through his entire life, he’s always been in love with colors, textures, light, and what he believes to be the essence of life. Perhaps this is what drove him to get a Fashion Management degree at the University in Manchester, England. In fact, he credits that to cementing his path towards photographing street style. Jonny also draws influence from Tommy Ton and Peter Lindbergh.
Here are some more words from Jonny:
My walking for hours at a time on the street dictates to some extent my equipment choice but at the same time I want to achieve a high quality image. My camera of choice is the Canon 6D ([amazon_link asins=’B00RKNMFLM’ template=’PriceLink’ store=’thephobl-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’70f0b0ed-d9c7-11e6-99e3-c754c9a8d4f5′]), it’s lighter weight than other full frames is an advantage, I like it’s grip and button spacing and it has the all important Wifi capability for me. I walk with two 6D bodies, one with a Canon 24-70mm f2.8 Mark 2 ([amazon_link asins=’B0076BNK30′ template=’PriceLink’ store=’thephobl-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’7a6865a0-d9c7-11e6-a81a-fdf3e26ec784′]) attached and the other with a Canon 35mm f2 ([amazon_link asins=’B00A2BVBTG’ template=’PriceLink’ store=’thephobl-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’858083bc-d9c7-11e6-acd1-670019087917′]) attached. I am aware of the hot debate between the pro’s preferring a prime 50mm or alternatively a 35mm, my preference brought about by experience, is that the 35mm allows you the ability to capture a wider street scene and therefore tell a more detailed story with your image.
Travel for me is my best reference point. Visiting cities other than my own, such as London and Rome where I have photographed in the past year provides me as a photographer shooting street style with different perspectives, a variety of individual styles and mixed architectural backgrounds. Inspiration also comes from fellow photographers work, we are a community and inspiring one another to achieve greater things can only be good.