Street Chronicles: A Windsor Photographer’s Candid Glimpses of Urban Life

Whenever he gets the chance, Ryan Seguin searches for photographs throughout the streets of downtown Windsor.

Armed with his camera, the 37-year-old explores the avenues seeking captivating moments and individuals.

The pictures provide a snapshot of life in Windsor: individuals commuting, applying lipstick, repairing their vehicle, or utilizing a payphone.

“It occurs in the moment,” he remarked.

“Typically, that’s how most pictures are, you observe something, experience something, you click the shutter.”

Having ventured into street photography a little over a year ago, Seguin has captured some striking images of individuals in the city — although if you were to inquire, he might provide a different perspective.

“I still believe I haven’t taken a great photograph yet,” he stated. “However, I sense that I am improving.”

For Seguin, being in the precise moment is crucial, but so is merging into his surroundings to catch an authentic image. He aspires for his photographs to possess depth, stir emotions, and keep viewers curious.

‘Need to master the art of disappearing’

Nancy Barr is the James Pearson Duffy Curator of Photography and supervises the prints, drawings, and photographs division at the Detroit Institute of Arts.

She indicates that street photography can be challenging to embark upon. This artistic approach had its heyday from the 1920s to the 1980s, before declining significantly.

Barr explains that this is due to people in public places becoming increasingly guarded against unexpectedly having their picture taken and more wary of cameras.

“Venturing out onto the streets with a camera is quite tough. You must either master the art of becoming invisible or know how to engage people very effectively,” she elaborated.

She also mentions an ethical dilemma regarding capturing images of individuals without their awareness and subsequently presenting those photos as a commentary on a specific city or culture.

Regardless of the difficulties, Barr asserts it is an extremely significant artistic expression.

“I believe it allows you to experience a glimpse of a location that you might not be familiar with and gain insight into the appearance of the streets… the behaviors of the people on those streets,” she noted.

“Capturing mundane activities that often go unnoticed enables you to comprehend the broader human experiences that define a culture,” she added.

She contends that effective street photography can provide a distinct “essence of a city” that one has never visited. Moreover, upon reflection, photographs can serve as a documentation of what a location resembled or felt like during a particular era.

Reflecting on the images he has taken, Seguin expresses that he has noticed significant despair in downtown Windsor.

“The majority of individuals you encounter here seem dissatisfied, they appear unhappy, and many of them are facing homelessness,” he observed.

“That is what truly stands out — we require assistance.”