The Midnight Diner
The Stories
Each episode focuses on one or two customers. The owner tells us that everyone has a story, and we get a glimpse of the stories, the struggles, and the private lives of the diner’s patrons. We can identify with these stories. They play on universal themes and portray the challenges we all face daily. The stories expose our petty jealousy and selfishness yet also show genuine emotion. These universal themes bind us together in the vast pool of humanity.
Remember, we only glimpse the patrons’ lives and cannot go deeper than the tale in each episode.
Stories on The Street
Street photography is a strange genre of photography. Many photographers create artistic, almost abstract images of the people and scenes they photograph. This approach is acceptable if this is your goal. I don’t mind making abstract black-and-white images every so often. However, it does not always work for me.
I prefer to engage with the people I meet on the street. It is not always possible to talk with everyone, but sometimes when you do so, the interaction gives you great insight. Sometimes you sit and watch people. Your photography may become meaningful if you pay attention to how they interact. Your work may have significance only for you; this is also perfect.
Remember one key point: you are privileged only to glimpse into their lives. You will not gain access to every secret they have. Neither should you expect to have anything more than a tiny peek into their lives. If you respect this, you may appreciate they have stories, prejudices, dreams, and hopes, like the rest of us.
The thread of our common humanity binds us. “Cut me, and I bleed,” said Shylock. We are all the same under the skin.
