Photographer Isabelle M Coordes is the Edge of Humanity Magazine contributor of this photo essay. From the project ‘Street Reflections’. To see Isabelle’s body of work, click on any photograph.

When I started strolling through the streets about three years ago, taking photos here and there, I didn’t have a clue what I was doing. And even less did I know that there was a genre called Street Photography. What I knew was that I wanted to capture the fleeting moments out there: ordinary street life and all its oddities. The little coincidental incidents that make up our everyday life – the happy encounters, the tragic episodes – tiny events which hardly ever get noticed unless someone does and takes the picture. “Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still“, Dorothea Lange once said. And it’s true: photography gives meaning to the fleeting moment which would have been lost forever otherwise.

Ever since I started Street Photography, I was drawn to reflections within shop windows, mirrors or giant puddles. When I now think about it, I realize that I am fascinated by how what we perceive as reality is altered and modified through the breaking of light on the surface. Reflections to me are like a gateway, offering a new perspective on a subject, adding multiple layers to an apparently ordinary scene. Suddenly, there is magic! A special light effect, layers of colors, a mysterious silhouette, an added frame just fitting into the composition and adding a different meaning – discovering these hidden visual treasures really excites me. In an instant, a photograph can turn the ordinary moment into something really special. As Roald Dahl puts it: “And above all watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.“

Artist Statement:

I am a self-taught photographer from Münster, Germany. My way of seeing the world is strongly influenced by my passion for literature, poetry and music. As a child growing up, I immersed myself in fairy tales, novels, song lyrics and every other piece of writing I could get a hold of. I have been expressing my thoughts in written form ever since. Over time, my visual language became more and more dominant though and I still enjoy the process of learning, experimenting and improving my photographic skills every day. I am an active member of Progressive Street, an international group of photographers, and engaged in many photography collectives and projects. My work has been published by various magazines, online platforms and is shown in group exhibitions around the globe. 

Cameras: Lumix GX 80, Ricoh GR IIIx

All images and text © Isabelle Coordes