Obsessed with Light, Driven by Passion: Tamas Dragon on the Thrill and Truth of Street Photography
An exclusive interview with Pure Street Photography, where he shares the lessons he has learned, his dedication, and how photography reignited his creative passion.
Interview by Dimpy Bhalotia and Kamal Kumaar Rao
23/02/2025
(c) Tamas Dragon
(c) Tamas Dragon
We would love to know more about you! Who you are and where you're from? When did you start street photography?
I am Tamas Dragon from Hungary. I started photography with my father's Vera camera, an East German rangefinder film camera. Our home's kitchen was the temporary dark room. Then, there was a huge hiatus before I restarted photography. First, I worked as a commercial photographer for designers, architects, and various papers, and then I started street photography a bit more than a year ago.
What inspired you to become a street photographer?
I was not happy with my commercial work at the time, I thought it was lacking creative opportunities. And one day, street photography just clicked, I fell in love with it, and since I started, I never had a dull day on the streets. Street photography reignited my creative passion.
How would you describe your work in terms of style and/or approach?
I'm an obsessed light chaser. Love geometry, abstraction, scale, contrast. It is not intentional for me, my brain reacts to these things, I constantly find scenes almost everywhere. I often see the final picture in my head even before pressing the shutter.
(c) Tamas Dragon
(c) Tamas Dragon
What is your photography routine like? Do you photograph every day?
I would like to, but sadly don't have time for that. I'm a photographer and an audio engineer, working in both fields. I try to go out as often as possible. When I have time, I go out daily, and try not to miss more than 3 or 4 days. I always have my camera with me. Even if I just go out shopping or go on an assignment, I have it on me and searching for shots.
What camera or mobile device do you use for photography? Do you shoot digitally, on film, or a mix of both?
For street photography I use the Leica Q3. That's my favourite camera. For years, I tried different brands and models; this is the first one that seems to be the perfect companion. It feels like an extension of me, not a technical gadget. I only shoot digital these days. Film prices are too high for me, I think I'd need a fortune to use film on the streets.
What challenges do you face when photographing on the street?
Probably the biggest one is that I live in Eastern Europe, where people seem to be hyper-aware of the camera, they hate to be photographed. Other than this, the biggest challenge is not screwing up the moment I try to capture.
Do you ever wonder what happens to the people in your photos?
Yes. It's a little mind game for me. I often wonder how they ended up being in the right place for me, what did they do before, what would they think if they could see the final picture. And sometimes life just gives the best reflection. I took a shot in the underground about a year ago, a nice young couple were kissing each other, they stood out from the tired crowd, I took the shot and posted on social media. After a month, the girl somehow found out I was the photographer and asked if she could use the picture and print it, because it is a nice memory for her.
(c) Tamas Dragon
(c) Tamas Dragon
(c) Tamas Dragon
In your opinion, what is the biggest misconception people have about street photography?
Two things. The first is: we are just like paparazzi. We're hiding somewhere and exposing people. Of course it couldn't be further from the truth. The second is: street photography is easy, you just need a camera, go out and press the button. In my opinion, this is a very hard genre, with a very low success rate.
What are your favourite elements to capture in a street photograph? (light, colour, composition, human interaction, etc.)
I'm naturally drawn to geometric shapes, to texture and great light. These days I mainly shoot in black & white, somehow many scenes seem to work better this way, but if there are strong, vivid colours, I leave it in colour. I love to capture the human element in the vast built environment.
What is your take on social media influence on street photography?
A blessing and curse at the same time. I hate that it forces us to become "content creators", but it's an immense help to be seen, to connect with like-minded photographers. It's easy to fall into the trap of like hunting, copying successful people, but if we can use it wisely, it can be great for us.
Are your prints available for purchase? If so, where can art buyers and collectors contact you to purchase them?
Yes, I sell prints directly through my website: https://www.tamasdragon.photography
I'm in the process of proofing even more prints, so worth checking back there from time to time.
(c) Tamas Dragon
What advice would you give to aspiring photographers?
The only advice is, learn to accept failure. When I started, I heard that probably 99% of the shots would end up being deleted, because they are just not good for anything. But experiencing it is sometimes hard, very hard. You start to question your abilities, your motivation, everything. Don't do that, just keep on taking pictures. Once you accepted failure, you can freely enjoy the process.
A huge thank you to Tamas Dragon for sharing his incredible journey.
In Frame : Tamas Dragon