This series, photographed throughout the 1970s to the 1990s, reflects the foundations of my work as a street photographer—rooted in close, unscripted observation of everyday life. Working without staging or interference, I sought to capture people in public spaces absorbed in their routines, relationships, or moments of solitude. I relied on intuition, timing, and empathy to record spontaneous human behavior though I also occasionally photographed directed portraits, engaging with subjects in a more deliberate, collaborative way.
Rather than documenting a single event or issue, these images form a visual archive of how we once moved through and inhabited public space—how we interacted with one another, and how small, seemingly ordinary gestures revealed something deeper. I’m drawn to fleeting expressions, absurdities, and moments that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Looking back on this work now, I’m struck by how much has changed—styles, technologies, the pace of city life—but also by how much remains the same. People’s emotions, postures, and moments of connection or disconnection echo across decades. This body of work offers not only a record of a particular time, but a reflection on the enduring rhythms of human presence in public space. Though made long ago, the images still speak to what drives my work today: looking closely, photographing honestly, and finding meaning in the everyday.
Bio:
Charles Ford, raised in Houston, Texas, earned a BBA from The University of Texas at Austin. During his junior year, Charles seized the opportunity to travel to Bolivia, photographing the work of a student medical group. Post-graduation, based on the strength of his work in Bolivia, he was accepted to ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California where he earned a BFA. Charles moved to Dallas, Texas in 1980 where he shot fashion and portrait photography. In 1981, he was invited to teach photography at The University of Texas at Austin. Following two semesters of teaching at UT, he relocated to New York City, where he continued shooting editorial fashion and portrait photography for magazines such as Vogue, GQ, New York Times Magazine, NewsWeek and Rolling Stone. With his Leica in hand, Charles also passionately explored street photography, a pursuit he continues today.
After over a decade in New York City, Charles returned to Texas in 1992 where he continued shooting fashion and portraits. In 2023 Charles revisited the contact sheets of his street work from the 80’s and early 90’s, rediscovering images that had been stored away for years. He began printing and sharing these captures of the past on his website, Instagram and exhibitions.
His passion lies in finding often unrecognized moments of everyday life, from the mundane to the humorous. He’s fascinated by human interactions and how they relate to their surroundings. “These visual narratives of amusement, occasional alarm, and poignant reflection, are everywhere, happening continuously. I seek to capture those fleeting moments of humanity, moments that exist and then fade away.”
Contact info:
Email: charles@charlesford.com Instagram: @charlesfordphoto
