Curated Photos | August 15, 2016 | Amy Jasek

Sometimes, when I curate an open-themed week, I find that the work submitted aligns itself in a certain way.  This time around, however, that was not the case, so I present to you here the photographs that spoke to me the loudest, arranged for your Monday by my Sunday afternoon mind.

Next week Ruby Falls will be curating the theme of Friendship. Share a photo of a friend who has touched your life, a moment of friendship, or one that captures the essence of what friendship means to you.  Submit your work here .

Amy Jasek

Photography is a family tradition. I was raised in the darkroom, and on the fine art work of photographers like Edward Weston, Diane Arbus, and Ansel Adams. My father took me photographing with him regularly and taught me how to look at light. He gave me my first camera (an Olympus RC); I made my first black and white print (standing on a stool!) at the age of 7. There are some gaps in the timeline of my photographic journey, enforced upon it by life in general, but film and cameras are one of the few things that have remained constant every step of the way. For me, photography is all about moments and truth. I like to work in black and white so that I can highlight those two things. The truth, form, and simplicity of the moment is presented; I feel that removing the color from the scene brings these things out. I believe street photography is a little window into the heart and soul of a place, a time, and the people in it. These days I tend more toward street portraits and interaction with my subjects, but my drive for capturing the candid moment remains the same.