This week’s Member Moment features work by Joseph Braverman, who often captures engaging street scenes. Scroll down to see his pictures and to read the interview!

PL: What got you interested in photography?

JB: After living in the shame of owning a decent digital camera without ever learning enough to take it off of auto, I finally found the time to take an "Intro to Digital Photography" class in my senior year of college. Not only did I learn about how to take good photos in manual mode, but I also found myself greatly enjoying the artistic and creative aspects of photography. I thrive when learning new skills and relish any opportunity to experiment with a new method of shooting or type of photographic medium.

PL: What type of camera do you shoot with?

JB: The camera that got me into photography was a Canon EOS R50, which I enjoy for casual shooting, but film has been the more recent interest. I started shooting with my mom's old Pentax K1000, but have experimented with a few other SLRs and even some point and shoot cameras.

PL: When taking pictures, what are some objects or elements or feelings within a scene that inspire you to take a photo?

JB: It's hard for me to pinpoint exactly what makes me take a photo at a given time. Some times I may go out looking for interesting action or movement, other times I may be trying to convey a certain mood. It really depends on what the focus of the day's shoot happens to be, which tends to wildly vary.

Again, I love to learn and try new things, so any opportunity to experiment is amazing for me. Long exposures, unique film stocks, challenging or unique lighting situations, different equipment. I love to see what kinds of effects come out of these tests, occasionally returning to the same subject under different conditions just to see how the photograph changes in the new situation.

PL: Of the pictures you submitted, can you share an interesting story about one?

JB: The photograph of the two cyclists in front of the school entrance was initially just going to be a picture of that, a boring school entrance. They just happened to bike into frame right as I took the photo, a very happy accident!

The cyclist in front who is holding up his beer to the camera actually shouted back "Send me that photo!" as they rode away, which of course I had no way of doing. If anyone happens to recognize these guys, feel free to send it their way!

PL: What do you enjoy most about digital/film photography and what is challenging about it?

JB: If I haven't already stated it enough, I most enjoy experimenting and learning new things about photography. Something else I enjoy about photography is it is one of the best creative outlets for people who want to keep moving. As a hoarder of various hobbies that often keep me hunched over a worktable, I relish the ability to express my creativity in a multitude of settings through photography.

PL: Do you have any goals or ideas of how you want to grow this collection of photographs?

JB: I want to keep improving on my technical skills and "artistic eye" as it is, always keeping the fundamentals in mind, while also continuing to try new methods and techniques to find the most enjoyable and interesting form of photography for me at that moment.

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Member Moment: Joseph Braverman