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batmobile · 10/10/06, 08:27 PM

What constitutes street photography surely does not matter? It is just a term that people use to categorise shots of humans and their environment generally taken outdoors and not personal to the taker. Photography is hugley variable and categories of photography are arbitrary lines drawn. I agree that street can include inanimate things which I guess means that the decisive moment can in some cases last quite a while. in which case it is not the actual moment as much as the precise relationships between things which tell a whole story. A spatial relationship or one related to the moment which captures the essence.

I feel that the decisive moment is akin to humour. Computers may be good at chess but they are bad at jokes. They would have the same trouble explaining the subtleties that can morph an ordinary scene into something incredibly insightful, poingniant or just plain curiosity arousing. Therefore it is probably better described by the response to it than analysis of it per se.

I would stop caring what is what if i were you. I just dont hink it matters. I went thru a phase where I got very frustrated. now I do what I do and could not care less. My photography has improved and become more enoyable as I have become more instinitve and more 'me' rather than trying to make my images fit into someone elses boxes. The most destructive thing a photographer can do IMO is to emulate. Even if this is not in your mind, your post suggests (and please dont be offended) that this is influencing you. Screw what HCB did and what it was called. Do what you do and if it becomes something else altogether it will probably all the better for it. I have prob gone too far and may have missed the mark. Equally, I have been down a similar road and it leads nowhere.

By the way, one of the best photo books I have read in years is "Tao of photography". Some may not like it, but I am a screwed up individual to start with and live a somewhat unorthodox existance so it seemed quite normal to me. It really nails the indentity/originality theme.

Best of luck,

Tom

10/10/06, 08:27 PM	#34 (permalink)
batmobile Benutzer Join Date: 10/02/06 Posts: 69	Re: Decisive Moment / Street Photography What constitutes street photography surely does not matter? It is just a term that people use to categorise shots of humans and their environment generally taken outdoors and not personal to the taker. Photography is hugley variable and categories of photography are arbitrary lines drawn. I agree that street can include inanimate things which I guess means that the decisive moment can in some cases last quite a while. in which case it is not the actual moment as much as the precise relationships between things which tell a whole story. A spatial relationship or one related to the moment which captures the essence. I feel that the decisive moment is akin to humour. Computers may be good at chess but they are bad at jokes. They would have the same trouble explaining the subtleties that can morph an ordinary scene into something incredibly insightful, poingniant or just plain curiosity arousing. Therefore it is probably better described by the response to it than analysis of it per se. I would stop caring what is what if i were you. I just dont hink it matters. I went thru a phase where I got very frustrated. now I do what I do and could not care less. My photography has improved and become more enoyable as I have become more instinitve and more 'me' rather than trying to make my images fit into someone elses boxes. The most destructive thing a photographer can do IMO is to emulate. Even if this is not in your mind, your post suggests (and please dont be offended) that this is influencing you. Screw what HCB did and what it was called. Do what you do and if it becomes something else altogether it will probably all the better for it. I have prob gone too far and may have missed the mark. Equally, I have been down a similar road and it leads nowhere. By the way, one of the best photo books I have read in years is "Tao of photography". Some may not like it, but I am a screwed up individual to start with and live a somewhat unorthodox existance so it seemed quite normal to me. It really nails the indentity/originality theme. Best of luck, Tom Last edited by batmobile : 10/10/06 at 08:36 PM.