Darren Andrew Fielding | Street Photographer Based In China
“learning is a lifelong process and that mistakes lead to masterpieces”
Darren, a South African street photographer, embarked on a visual symphony after moving to China in 2016 with his wife, just a week into his marriage. Despite a background in music education, he found a new rhythm through the lens of his camera. Darren's images tell the stories of bustling Chinese streets, harmonising his South African roots with the vibrant tapestry of his adopted home. Through the universal language of photography, he captures the pulse of diverse cultures, creating visual melodies that bridge the gap between his music background and the dynamic present on the streets of China. He also creates content on his YouTube channel, focusing mainly on film photography.
© Darren Godsson Fielding
JLH: Hi Darren! How did you become interested in street photography? What drew you to this genre?
DGF: I’ve always had a fascination for people, I’m intrigued by the unique individual lives that surround me. When I first picked up a camera I was led to believe every capture should be a ‘banger’ but once I bought Saul Leiter’s ‘Unseen’ photobook, I realized what photography really is and pursued storytelling on the streets with more intentionality.
JLH: Can you describe your first experience shooting on the streets? What challenges did you face, and how did it shape your approach to street photography?
DGF: I found a photographer who lived in Hangzhou, the same city as I did at the time and I DMed him to ask if I could join him on his next photo walk. So I went along and tried to just make photos in the same kind of general area as him, but I didn’t have much confidence and I was taking a lot of advice from the other photographers that were with us. The main challenge I can see now looking back, is that I was letting others shape my photography and tell me what stories to tell. Once I realized that I had my own voice and that my perspective had value, I began making the photographs that tugged at me.
JLH: 3. How has street photography influenced your perspective on the world and your surroundings?
DGF: Street Photography has shown me that while we all have very unique experiences in life, that we are more closely alike and tied to one another than we would ever dare to think. Everything is a story being told around you and we have a responsibility to respect that but I also feel a very overwhelming gratitude towards being given the opportunity to have my own story to weave into the great tapestry of life.
© Darren Godsson Fielding
© Darren Godsson Fielding
JLH: How do you choose your subjects while shooting on the streets? Is there a particular type of scene or person that captures your attention?
DGF: It’s actually very simple for me now, although it is definitely something I’ve had to slog away at learning. I make photos of anything that gives me a feeling. If I have a narrative that plays out in my head saying ‘Make this photo’, then I make the photo. Later in post I can then further see if it still tugs at me. With film, I follow the same principle even though it's exceptionally costly to buy so much film.
JLH: Are there any photographers, whether famous or local, who have influenced your style or inspired your work in street photography?
DGF: So many, I am inspired by everyone in the UPC community, truly. I am a massive fan of Benito Mpangi, Jovis Howieson, Court Richards, Ella Kowalska, Ryan Blackburn and so many others in UPC. I think within the famous photographer realm, Saul Leiter is my greatest inspiration. I love his work and his humility and philosophy for photography. I really am inspired by a great many photographers & creatives.
JLH: Do you prefer to shoot in a planned or spontaneous manner? How much do you prepare before heading out with your camera?
DGF: Planned shoots somehow just don't really work for me. When I ‘plan’ a shoot or the specific shots I want to get, I end up stifling the shots that are actually in front of me or I just abandon my plan and make the images that play out in front of me and tug at me. I wish it was as easy as making the photos I planned on making.
JLH: Can you share a memorable or interesting story from one of your street photography sessions?
DGF: I have had a few occasions where I’ve been making photos within a public space and I’ve had people shy away from the camera all the while they’re trying to take videos of me to share on their Social Media. It’s a very weird juxtaposition here where they have no qualms photographing me and literally getting into my space with a camera, but if I am the one behind the camera then they shy away. I do tend to stick out being a foreigner here but that juxtaposition of thought processes still blows my mind. I’d say it's the most difficult thing for me living here, sometimes I feel like I’m a zoo animal on display for others. It’s more an interesting narrative then a story I guess and the negative side of the coin.
JLH: How do you handle challenging or unexpected situations that may arise while shooting on the streets?
DGF: I try be as respectful as possible in every situation as I can be, I am friendly, and I smile and compliment people who seem a bit taken aback by my photographing them. I’m very fortunate that I haven’t had any heavily awkward situations arise yet, and I think that's because of me being a foreigner, which is the flip side of the coin I was referring to earlier. People are less likely to speak to me here in awkward moments because they are shy about their English ability, even though I am able to speak conversational putonghua, and also, I have not made photos that are incendiary of anyone.
© Darren Godsson Fielding
JLH: Do you have a favourite location or city for street photography?
DGF: Train Stations - They’re endlessly fascinating for me and are almost like a midway point for an endless dance of storylines and lives. When I shoot at train stations I’m constantly thinking of the stories playing out in front of me, People on their way to new homes & new lives. Lovers running away together or arriving at a place where they will meet their equal half. Older generations taking their last trip home and younger generations making their first trip to a new world.
JLH: Can you discuss the role of storytelling in your street photography? How do you convey a narrative or emotion through your images?
DGF: Storytelling is deeply engrained in my work although I feel very minimally involved in the process. I often just make images based on the feelings that stir within me and once I’ve made the photo I realize the story I’ve captured. I think, because I’m pressing the shutter based on my emotions, it naturally leads to the images having some sense of emotion to them.
JLH: What are your aspirations or goals as an amateur street photographer? Where do you see your photography evolving in the future?
DGF: My greatest aspiration with my photography is to bring others a deep sense of joy and relationship to the subjects I capture. I hope that by my work, people feel a little more tied to each other and responsible for one another and for our home; earth. I think my work will continue to grow and evolve as I continue to learn and practice, I can’t say how it would evolve or grow into. I just hope that I will continue to make photos that stir me and challenge me to do better as a husband and as a human.
© Darren Godsson Fielding
© Darren Godsson Fielding
JLH: How did you decide to start a YouTube channel focused on film photography? What motivated you to share your work and experiences online?
DGF: I’ve actually had my YouTube channel since I was 16 but I never really put anything into it, a few years ago I tried to do the YouTube Photography thing but I didn’t have anything to say really, because I was still immature in the way I made photos and why I made photos. However, when I started with film photography I really felt an opportunity to share the beauty and the process with a community and to try to encourage and inspire people all over the world. I very much am trying to be as open and honest about my progress and journey, and that’s the main vision for my channel now. To encourage mistakes and be inspired by them. I’m not so taken by the ‘bangers’ anymore, I’m here for the process, for the learning that happened along the way. That’s way more valuable to me, and that motivates me to try to share that same philosophy with the world
JLH: How do you balance the creative aspect of street photography with the demands of creating regular content for your channel?
DGF: Balance? What’s that? Ha ha. It’s so difficult to try and find balance for me currently, my wife and I are 3 months into a new job that is very difficult and emotionally taxing and our schedules are completely up in the air. So balance is a very foreign word for us. I try and take my camera with me everywhere I go and I record my videos on a GoPro at work when I have a free period. I do try and keep an organized document of what rolls I’ve shot, recorded the video for and shared to instagram & my other socials.
© Darren Godsson Fielding
JLH: Are there specific themes or topics that you enjoy exploring in your YouTube videos?
DGF: I would say the main theme is that ‘learning is a lifelong process and that mistakes lead to masterpieces’. I may have minor topics like tips, tutorials and my Photoetry and Let's Talk Photos playlists. Photoetry is a combination of my poetry and photography and Let’s Talk Photos is me sharing the where, what and why of images. I thoroughly enjoy highlighting other creators and I’d suppose that's also a large theme for my channel, trying to encourage creativity and inspire others.
Not that I don’t like light and shadow, black and white photography anymore, I still shoot that way all the time. But for a while, I felt my photos were boring, and I decided I wanted to change, I wanted to approach things from a different perspective.
JLH: Do you find that your YouTube channel has influenced or changed your approach to street photography? If so, in what ways?
DGF: Not really. I think my YouTube Channel as it is now is still very much in its infancy and is growing more as a side product of community. I think it could have a big influence on my Street Photography if the channel grows how I’m hoping it will.
© Darren Godsson Fielding
JLH: Are there any YouTube creators or filmmakers who inspire your approach to creating content about street photography?
DGF: Yes, Sean Tucker, The Photographic Eye, Jake Frew, Hayden Pedersen, Cody Mitchell, Paulie B, Grainydays, Tatiana Hopper, Danny Gevirtz and Peter McKinnon.
JLH: What has been the most rewarding aspect of sharing your street photography journey on YouTube, and are there any challenges you've encountered along the way?
DGF: The most rewarding part has been that I’ve inspired and brought a few moments of joy to people. So many challenges, with getting the filming done right, learning how to edit and figuring out the YouTube side of things. Trying to find the time and space to record, edit and do the necessary admin for the channel.
© Darren Godsson Fielding
JLH: Are there specific goals or milestones you hope to achieve with your YouTube channel in the future?
DGF: Yes! I have a few main goals I’d like to reach. I’d love for the channel to grow to a viable income source for my wife and I, so that it could be our main source of income and so that from the channel I could then invest and encourage other young creatives to pursue their passions by way of paid internships, scholarships and investing in their creative projects. I would love for the channel to be a hub of community and growth for myself and for every subscriber and viewer.
JLH: How do you approach collaborations or partnerships within the street photography and YouTube community?
DGF: I started a series with a friend called ‘Edit With Me’ where we’d both edit the same raw image and film that process and share it for the community to see how differently we all see the same scene. It was a rather unorganized process and more a collaboration between friends. I’d love to start it back up when I have more time and collaborate with a wider scope of photographers. I do have some other unique ideas as well. My main thing is to highlight the breadth and beauty of creativity and to highlight the creators as well.
© Darren Godsson Fielding
© Darren Godsson Fielding
JLH: What has been your experience with UPC?
DGF: How much time do you have? Ha ha. I could go on about UPC for hours. It’s been an absolutely incredible family that is helpful, kind, passionate and endlessly creative. It's the kind of community I’ve been yearning for within the creative space for years. We learn from each other and are inspired by each other; we celebrate one another's victories and provide support and encouragement in every moment. It’s a beautiful space to be in.