What do we photograph on the streets?

[stephan54]

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[Chimichurri]

On 9/24/2017 at 3:14 AM, colint544 said:

I think that finding interesting photographs on the street is pretty much the hardest type of photography.

 

On 9/24/2017 at 3:14 AM, colint544 said:

What does anyone else think/find?

Thanks for asking. I’ve been discussing this with some people who call themselves “street photographers” lately.

I think Kevin Carter taking photos of kids in the Sudan documenting the terrible famine there, images so terrible it drove him to suicide, that that’s probably the hardest… or getting shot at in a war zone.

Regarding the so called “street photography”…

Personally I can’t stand the term “street Photography”, it describes nothing. I find most photography described this way is all style over substance. And most of it is really bad. It’s very rare to find a good “street” photo.  

Most “street photography” I see is mediocre derivative work that is basically people just going out and looking to fit a style.

All photography is hard if done well. 

That’s what I think..

Landscape photography is the supreme test of the photographer - and often the supreme disappointment…

- Ansel Adams. 

Edited October 23, 2022 by Chimichurri

[erl]

Chimichurri,

I largely agree with you, but, (there is always a but) some, not a lot is excellent. Mostly though it all falls into what I describe as documentary. This also applies to other genres IMO also. Documentary is legitimate and often (not always) necessary. These days I think your 'focussed'  criticism can be applied to just about every genre. The mechanics of photography are so accessible these days that little or no talent is required to participate. Hence, a plethora of images flood over us and inuring us to finding anything half decent in the swamp. It is there, but wading through the dross can be exhausting.

A test i use wrt Street Photography is, "Is there a message"  in the image. That is not foolproof, but it helps IMO.

A lot of my photography falls, by my definition, into the documentary category. Mostly I won't post it. I try to find something artistic, shocking, creative, obscure etc. in my selected works. A mantra I have (one of many) is that I 'try to shoot what others won't or can't'. Some times I succeed.

[erl]

Chimichurri, I respect your right to a POV as expressed above, but you must also respect the POV of the acquaintance you spoke to who has a different POV. Both can be legitimate. I have spent untold years shooting many genres, including 'Street' and I fully appreciate the situation of having only a nano second to capture a fleeting moment. For years I specialized in controlled/organized situations, but I also spend a lot of time shooting spontaneously and effectively with worthwhile results. However, it is not for everyone. It requires a special talent and reflexes.

OTOH, I don't have the patience for Landscape work, but I admire those who are good at it. Ansel Adams' landscape work was the single catalyst that inspired me to take up photography, but I eventually found my forte elsewhere.

[Ken Abrahams]

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Edited October 24, 2022 by PeterGA

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[Ken Abrahams]

7 hours ago, Chimichurri said:

I sort of just shoot whatever calls to me. I don’t bother putting it into a category. 
 

Largely, speaking of contemporary current people posting things, it’s this walk around and spray at anything that moves and mostly shooting for a style. Looking for the “street shot”.
 

The shadowy person in the light.

The leading line to nowhere (preferably with someone walking away or towards a camera usually looking at their cellphone) and if the person is a shadowy figure walking away even better 😀

The upside down puddle reflection.

The couple kissing.

The umbrella at the crosswalk.

The raindrops on the window with the street lights blurry in the back  

The guy smoking.

The guy drinking coffee shot through the front shop window.

people just walking around outside or standing by around  

Etc etc. 

I was having this conversation with a “street photographer” but I was getting nowhere so I usually leave this topic alone. 

He was saying “in the streets you don’t have time”. I said you have all the time in the world to make a shot instead of taking them. He said he disagreed. 

I said, take this photo for example 

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I said, do you think this photo was taken as you were shooting in this video? This manic spraying photos chasing people down the street? You think he didn’t have time to think? This was some sort of fleeting 1 second moment?

I’m not saying that fleeting moments can’t be captured. Of course they can. But I can’t remember any photo that meant anything that was ever taken where it was a hurried shot that wasn’t carefully considered. Done usually with an empty and open mind to just shoot whatever takes you. 

I told him if he stops walking around so much and chasing people around and he just observes more then he will have all the time in the world to capture those 1 second moments. You’ll see them coming a mile away. 

He disagreed. Okay. 🤷🏻‍♂️ I don’t think people really know where the term Street Photography even came from. The French word literally means to stand around, loiter, wonderer. Like people watching. But people don’t observe anymore they just look for the “street shots”.   

The French word is Flaneur, a pastime for those with time on their hands to wander aimlessly but observing life and people on the streets. One can't do this kind of activity with a preconceived outlook on life however to take it as it comes, to see humans doing human things, to capture that. I am sure someone is writing up a thesis on Street Photography. It means different things to different people. Some purists do not alter the image much in post processing while others use extreme and advanced techniques to create impactful images. Whatever the case it is a humanistic endeavour with seemingly no bounds.

Ken