I don’t think I’m revealing anything too groundbreaking when I say that San Francisco likes its Instagram and its bicycling. That’s why when Vahe Hovhannisyan reached out to us thinking our readers would like his Instagram account of street photos of people on bikes in the city, I had to agree with him. Gosh, this city is full of cuties. I asked him to explain some of the thinking behind this cool project.
What inspired this series?
I found that some people have this deep attachment to their bicycles. They treat them like a best friend, a member of the family. They put all this thought and energy into a relationship that becomes an extension of themselves. You see this in their fashion, how they take care of their bikes. I call these people bikesters.
How long have you been taking street photos?
I’ve been messing around with cameras since I was a kid — but the bicycle photography didn’t start until early 2014, when I splurged on my first DLSR.
Are some of the photos candid and others posed?
They’re mostly candid. I love documenting bikesters in their natural state. My favorite kinds of photos are the ones that transport you into their world without having allowed the camera to interfere with their energy, mood, self-consciousness. I’ve also started doing one-off shoots, but those are special cases.
What’s your best experience that’s come from this project?
Connecting with people and sharing those connections. San Francisco is a small town. Recently, I met someone through a friend. I didn’t recognize her at the time, but as it turned out, I had photographed her at Critical Mass over a year ago. In fact, a lot of people end up identifying themselves or their friends on Instagram. Over 20 percent of the people I’ve shot have been identified now, which, to me, is really cool. We start out alone, separated. And over time, people have this tendency to come together.
Do you have any tips to share with people interested in street photography?
Street photography is less about technical knowledge and more an eye for the human. That also means being comfortable interacting with strangers in totally random situations. So a lot of it just comes down to experience and just doing it. You don’t need a fancy camera. An iPhone will do.
Are there other Bay Area Instagrammers you’d recommend following?
I love @__remmidemmi (but I’m not actually sure if it’s a Bay Area account). @thesamgraves, @johannafulache, @aubriepick, and @onekingslane are also worth checking out.
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