Guest Gallery: Ludmilla Morais, Los Angeles, California

Brazil-born Ludmilla Morais started taking photographs in August 2005 when she received a camera as a birthday present. She hasn’t stopped since. She lives and work in Los Angeles, California.

How did you get started in street photography?

Street photography entered my life during the time I was being courted by an Italian street photographer named Andrea. I caught his eye while engrossed in making self-portraits. As our relationship flourished, he suggested I turn the camera on people other than myself. Following his suggestion, I braved the streets. From then on, I couldn’t stop. I fell in love with street photography. Self-portraits began to give way to my new passion.

What are some things you look for when shooting on the street?

I rarely leave home with something in mind when it comes to street photography. I initially tried to follow models and projects, but my concept of what street photography is has become quite broad. So basically, I shoot what I feel like in the places where I wander. I try to capture whatever makes my heart skip a beat, even if the result does not always turn out as I had envisioned. I can’t say that I look for people, because in some of my photographs all you can see is their absence.

Describe the story behind the most meaningful street photograph you have ever taken.

It is hard to pinpoint a single photograph and describe the story behind it. I would have to go with one of my most popular recent photos. I was walking around downtown Los Angeles, waiting for the golden hour. The light was harsh and I was about to cave in and go home. But as I turned onto Broadway, I saw a Hispanic man running one of those table games with three bottle caps and one ball. He’d shuffle the caps and the person would have to guess which the tiny ball was under—in most cases, it was none of them! It is an old con game. As I approached the small mob of people on the sidewalk, he saw my camera and shouted insults and crude jokes at me, unaware that I spoke his language. I replied promptly, and as I did, he told me that photographing his game was illegal. I asked him to define illegal activity. In the end, we both laughed it off and carried on. Most of my stories are about conflicts, and all of my photographs are meaningful to me—even the ones that don’t get to see daylight.

What do you think makes a great street photograph?

The passion and sensibility of whoever is taking the shot. A perfectly balanced, but soulless photograph doesn’t do anything for me.

What advice would you give aspiring street photographers?

Shoot! Always have a camera with you. Educate yourself without turning into a copycat. Be aggressive, but know when to back down and respect other people on the street. Conflicts will always happen and altercations will come by the dozen. Know yourself. Know your rights and hold your ground. Shoot more, then edit, edit, edit, edit. Learn how to educate your eye, create your own pace, and be true and passionate about what you do.

To see more of Ludmilla’s work, visit ludmillamorais.com.