The Color of Street Photography

Periodically I will receive an email telling me that “Someone filled out your contact form”, and that’s where today’s episode starts. Let me explain…

You may have seen the episode I did with Erin Holmstead titled “Light Up Your Images” (a show that had a few ‘Ah Ha’ moments for me). During that episode I mentioned that I knew I had to have Erin on Behind the Shot as soon as she had shown me a few of her business cards the day we met. Once Pia Parolin saw that show she emailed me asking if I could show the “magical business card which started this all”.

Whenever I get an email through the contact form I have a natural curiosity about who sent it. What kind of photographer are they? Are they a hobbyist or a pro? I feed that curiosity by checking out their work, and as luck had it Pia had a website based on her name, piaparolin.com. Almost immediately I knew I wanted to chat with Pia about her work, just as I did with Erin but for different reasons.

Pia’s use of bright colors, shadow, and movement bring something unique to Street Photography. Yes, even her black and white street photos feel different to me. There is a punch of contrast in those that, just like the color shots, seems to leap off of the screen.

Her journey into and through photography is an interesting one. It reminds me of my friend Matthias Hombauer, who is an amazing live music photographer that I had on the show some time ago, and who is a PhD in Molecular Biology. Pia is a biologist, with a PhD in Ecology. She was born and raised in Italy, and then studied in Germany and Brazil. Living in Nice, on the French Riviera, has provided her with the color palette with which she creates her images.

She is Vice Secretary of Antibes Photo Club, Member of Collectif Photon Nice and of the Association La Créative de Biot, and a Jury Member of the Federation Photographique de France. Her first photography project and exhibition was “Promenade Moments” in 2017, a project that saw her capture the colourful moments of relaxation and dynamics on the Promenade des Anglais in her home of Nice, and the subject of this episode.

Join photographer Pia Parolin and me as we chat about her image The Orange Cap, and discuss how to add color, contrast, and motion to your street photography on this episode of Behind the Shot.

Connect with Pia

Website: piaparolin.com
Instagram: @piaparolinphoto
Facebook: @piaparolinphoto
Twitter: @piaparolinphoto
YouTube: Pia Parolin Photography

Pia’s Recommended Photographer

Jean-Christophe Béchet: jcbechet.com