With his camera hanging unobtrusively around his neck and his thumb positioned over his cameraB次元官网网址檚 shutter button, Don Peterson goes looking for beauty and art in lifeB次元官网网址檚 everyday moments.

As he walked the streets of New York City last fall, he snapped raw and timeless black-and-white shots that documented people in simple yet powerful moments.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 the power of the street photographer,B次元官网网址� said Peterson. B次元官网网址淵ou capture people as they are.B次元官网网址�

This documentary-style street photography will be the focus of a workshop he is teaching on March 21 through the Victoria Camera Club. The club, which has about 150 novice to master members, hosts regular meetings, workshops, field trips and competitions for people to improve their skills.

Some shutter bugs have made street photography their lifeB次元官网网址檚 work, specializing in snaping moments in which their subjects donB次元官网网址檛 realize someone is there with camera in hand.

B次元官网网址淭he photographer doesnB次元官网网址檛 manipulate the subject,B次元官网网址� said Peterson.

B次元官网网址淲ith street photography, itB次元官网网址檚 a completely different mindset. You get out there and keep your mind completely open without preconceived ideas.B次元官网网址�

Subjects arenB次元官网网址檛 asked to pose and artificial lighting isnB次元官网网址檛 used. As a result, the pictures reveal a compelling snippet at B次元官网网址渢he decisive moment.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淵ou press the shutter at a moment that tells the story about society or the human condition or something about ourselves,B次元官网网址� said Peterson, adding that the photo can also reveal surprises.

B次元官网网址淵ou find something else in the photo that just makes it,B次元官网网址� he said.

To capture these moments, he uses a Panasonic Lumix point-and-shoot camera, but many street photographers today prefer the 35-millimetre Leica. The invention of the first-ever portable, quiet rangefinder camera in 1929 is said to have revolutionized popular photography, and helped birth street photography.

But even young people today, with their smartphone cameras at the ready, may be engaging in this type of photography but donB次元官网网址檛 realize thereB次元官网网址檚 a name for it.

B次元官网网址淎 younger audience could be fascinated with street photography,B次元官网网址� Peterson noted.

The workshop is March 21, followed by two field trips on March 22 and 26, and a presentation in April. The session is open to members of the Victoria Camera Club, but new members are welcome. Yearly memberships are $65 for individuals or $85 for families.

For more information, please visit www.victoriacameraclub.org or e-mail president@victoriacameraclub.org.

emccracken@vicnews.com