You can ‘shoot’ from anywhere
View(s):- Founder of Streets of Colombo Photographic Collective Johann Latiff talks of exciting plans for their growing community
By Arrenga Nadaraja
Pic by Fonny de Fonseka
“We live in an age where everything can be documented to some extent, even with a basic cellphone. You can practise street photography while travelling in the bus, you can shoot out of the window, you can shoot within the bus, you get the guy that comes with the rabana…..”
So says Johann Latiff, who, with a shared passion of street photography founded the Streets of Colombo Photographic Collective with a group of friends in May 2018.
A graphic designer and advertising agency veteran, Johann says he and his friends would come together and explore the Pettah area. “It was quite natural for us as our office was nearby.”
Since then they have established a presence and welcomed international photographers such as Alfredo D’ Amato and Tavepong Pratoomwong for exhibitions. Well-known local photographers such as Dominic Sansoni, Luxshmanan Nadaraja, Panduka de Silva and Menika Van Der Poorten have helped shape the society to what it is today. “Now it is a little community,” Johann says, adding that street photography always fascinated him because it was challenging.
Johann Latiff
Johann’s aim is to take the group to great heights, continuing their photo walks around Colombo, keeping a well selected members’ group, hosting training programmes and “gearing up” for assignment-based work – to eventually make their mark as a brand.
As a group, they have visited several spots including Negombo, Pettah, Dematagoda, Borella, Narahenpita, Nugegoda, Ratmalana, Galle and Moratuwa.
Speaking of the city, its beauty and how when you step out into the street there are so many opportunities, Johann says, “You don’t know what you would get when you go out in the streets. It is a different experience when you explore the city and country on foot.” Johann and his group aspire to explore the island’s nooks and crannies, meet new people all the while documenting the profound stories of the old as well as contemporary vistas.
Street photography is still emerging as a genre and the biggest challenges they face is getting permission to photograph historical landmarks – Fort Railway Station and Viharamahadevi Park are just a few. Sometimes security personnel have had issues with cameras such as DSLRs but if you have a mobile phone or are a tourist taking photographs and videos it is usually not a problem.
“We capture life, it is an art form. We are also documenting bits of human activity that are fast disappearing,” says Johann mentioning places like the Rio Cinema. They have also been documenting Vesak pandals, drummers at festivals, the St. Anthony’s feast and local festivals.
In the future, Streets of Colombo would like to host more events collaborating with other photographers worldwide and conducting tours to explore more of the country.
Sri Lanka is a fabulous place for street photography, everyone is so welcoming and friendly, Johann adds, urging even those not usually inclined to take photographs to give it a shot.
 Pic by Bjorn Moerman |  Pic by Harini Perthes |
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