Sheesh ... Street Photography is HARD!

<p>Sheesh...I thought you know all, why do you need anyone else input?<br>

Call that contributions? You guys turn Laura D's original post into an excuse for self aggrandizment and self congratulation. Sheesh... is right, give me a break!</p>

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<p ><a href="../photodb/user?user_id=153336"><em>Brad -</em></a><em> </em><a href="../member-status-icons"><em><img title="Subscriber" src="http://static.photo.net/v3graphics/member-status-icons/sub10.gif" alt="" /><img title="Frequent poster" src="http://static.photo.net/v3graphics/member-status-icons/3rolls.gif" alt="" /></em></a><em>, Aug 26, 2009; 01:20 p.m.</em></p>

 

<p><em>>>> Read my bio. </em><br>

<em>I did. But saw nothing about shooting on the street that might suggest the advice you're offering is pertinent to someone starting out. Was nice you were around for Kent State, but still not getting how that connects.</em></p>

 

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<p>I can't make it any clearer than I already did, and I don't have the time to rephrase the post. All I can say is that situations can turn ugly in a heartbeat. Students who were going to and from class that day had no idea they'd never make it. They weren't looking for trouble, it found them. </p>

<p>As far as my bio. is concerned, it's a bio., not an all inclusive life story. At my age, you don't want that. ;-)</p>

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<p><em>And yet you dismiss my advice of going out shooting to have fun as being off-topic to this thread. Why?</em></p>

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<p>No need to explain, I retracted my comment here. Note the time stamp.</p>

<p ><a href="../photodb/user?user_id=2963495">William Palminteri</a> <a href="../member-status-icons"><img title="Frequent poster" src="http://static.photo.net/v3graphics/member-status-icons/1roll.gif" alt="" /></a>, Aug 25, 2009; 05:49 p.m. <br>

<a rel="nofollow" href="../photodb/user?user_id=153336"><em>Brad -</em></a><em> </em><a rel="nofollow" href="../member-status-icons"><em><img title="Subscriber" src="http://static.photo.net/v3graphics/member-status-icons/sub10.gif" alt="" /><img title="Frequent poster" src="http://static.photo.net/v3graphics/member-status-icons/3rolls.gif" alt="" /></em></a><em>, Aug 25, 2009; 11:39 a.m.</em><br>

<em>>>> I'm done here. This is pointless and off-topic. </em><br>

<em>Off-topic? Why? Seems squarely on-topic to me.</em><br>

<strong>Okay, let's say it's on-topic.</strong><br>

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Bill P.</p>

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<p>Sure, this topic started out innocently enough, the presumption being that Laura just wants to go out and photograph street scenes. Then the reality shifted, and the line got blurred, then disappeared.</p>

 

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<p>in other words, the thread was hijacked and you went along for the ride. i'm sorry, i dont mean to downplay your 60s/70s experience, i'm sure it meant a lot for anyone who was there, but bringing in Kent State? (<em>rolls eyes</em> ) how many times does that happen, in a lifetime?</p>

<p>sure, it's possible to be out street shooting and suddenly find yourself on the brink of history. but, realistically, that's not gonna happen every time you pack up your camera and head out the door. that's what i meant about the difference between combat photography and street photography. if you go out looking for trouble it will find you, but this thread wasnt about, "what's the best place to get shot in the leg while shooting street." i'm just saying...</p>

<p>i was actually pretty clear before your explanation. but thank you for sharing. :)</p>

<p>all Laura wanted was some pointers and encouragement. i dont recall her requesting some know-it-alls to pontificate for <em>days </em> on topics way outside of that realm. i think we can all respect your work and JC's as well. ok, your experience is immense and considerable. but let's keep it relevant, shall we?</p>

 

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<p>Seriously dude... thank you... not only was that my best laugh of the morning, but I projectile shot coffee all over the keyboard of my MB pro... which I guess means I have a reason to upgrade!</p>

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<p>no problem, Leigh. sometimes you have to have a sense of humor about these things.</p>

 

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<p>You have no idea of my capabilities.</p>

 

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<p>(ROTFLMFAO)</p>

<p>"you have offended me, and you have offended the Shaolin Temple" --Bruce Lee</p>

<p>Bruce Lee, now THAT was a man with capabilities. Don't think he would have worried when streetphotographing in a wicked neighbourhood.</p>

>>> Don't think he would have worried when streetphotographing in a wicked neighbourhood.<P>

 

 

For sure with Bruce. But sometimes I just need a little extra confidence when shooting in the bad areas. So I slip a

<a href= "http://www.blackbeltshop.com/starsknives.htm">half dozen of these</a> in my bag, and I'm good to go....

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<blockquote><a href="../photodb/user?user_id=3670956"><em>Eric Arnold</em></a><em> </em><a href="../member-status-icons"><em><img title="Frequent poster" src="http://static.photo.net/v3graphics/member-status-icons/3rolls.gif" alt="" /></em></a><em>, Aug 26, 2009; 02:46 p.m.</em></blockquote>

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<p><em>but bringing in Kent State? (rolls eyes ) how many times does that happen, in a </em><br>

<em>lifetime?</em></p>

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<p>In my area, more often than you think. I was working on a film, night set, not too bad a neighborhood, (Astoria, Queens, Socrates Park) gunshots in distance.<br>

I'd give you a few more examples, but you guys don't want to hear about that.</p>

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<p><em></em></p>

<em>

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<p>You have no idea of my capabilities.</p>

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<p>(ROTFLMFAO)</p>

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<p>I'm glad that amuses you, but really, you don't know me.<br>

You just think you do.....</p>

<p>Nothing more to say here, have fun whatever you do.....</p>

<p>Bill P.</p>

<p>I don't know, Bill , you sure have scared me.</p>

<p>Think i will hide under my bed tonight with my Teddy; i will be safe there.</p>

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<p>In my area, more often than you think. I was working on a film, night set, not too bad a neighborhood, (Astoria, Queens, Socrates Park) gunshots in distance.<br /> I'd give you a few more examples, but you guys don't want to hear about that.</p>

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<p>dude, i live in Oakland! ever been to a 'hood party on the 4th of July?</p>

<p>also, there's a difference between National Guardsmen firing on student demonstrators, which inspired a Neil Young song ("<em>four dead in O-hio...</em> ") and hearing shots "in the distance" in Queens, which may have inspired a 50 Cent or Mobb Deep song, or perhaps a Sopranos episode.</p>

 

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<p>but really, you don't know me.<br /> You just think you do.....</p>

 

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<p>jeepers! too bad your ninja stars can't be shipped to California, Brad. i have a feeling i may be getting a visit soon from the baddest street photographer on the planet--except for John Crosley, of course--who's planning to surreptitiously enter my home and bore me to death with his war stories and cliched yet constant references to the '60s.</p>

<p>Bill, in all seriousness, lighten up! i'm reasonably sure <em>u da man</em> . i'm okay with that, actually. are you?</p>

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<p>Did I mention "off topic" ??</p>

<p>Bill P.</p>

<p>Allen, Eric,</p>

<p><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:One_man_air_raid_shelter.jpg">you might try this</a> (yes Allen, there is room for your Teddy as well)</p>

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<p>Are you sure, Ton. My Teddy is a full size "Rupert the Bear Teddy" and likes a lot of space especially when he mates come round for tea.<br>

<br>

Bill, time to put your fingers on your lips, you are not doing yourself any favours or John. <br>

<br>

John's work stands on its own and he does not need to blow a trumpet in a brass band to publicize it.<br>

<br>

A degree of modesty, gentlemen, would not go amiss.</p>

 

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<p>Ton, sweeeet!!!</p>

<p>i need one. does it come in other colors, or just the black?</p>

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<p>Did I mention "off topic" ??</p>

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<p>Bill P.</p>

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<p>no, bill, you didn't. but if i'm answering your ramblings, then shouldnt you apply that statement to your own mountains 'o' text first? by now, you must have <em>some</em> ideas of my capabilities.</p><div></div>

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<p>i need one. does it come in other colors, or just the green?</p>

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<p><a href="http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/08/cart_and_shelte.php">here is a more versatile one</a> . Quite handy for street shooters as well.</p>

<p>speaking of off-topic, all along in this thread i've been posting pics showing how easy street photography actually can be. thanks Bill and JC for your, er, contributions, but you might have been better off by illustrating with a picture something which demonstrates street and speaks to the OP's questions/concerns than by going down the road y'all traveled. talk, as they say, is cheap.</p><div></div>

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<p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/08/cart_and_shelte.php" target="_blank">here is a more versatile one</a> . Quite handy for street shooters as well.</p>

 

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<p>LOL, Ton. only thing it needs is a sliding window so you can set up an urban version of a duck blind for worry-free street pics. of course you'd need a hot plate. and coffeemaker.</p>

<p>We've had almost a bingo for mansplaining, fear-mongering, and one upsmanship, plus "I don't like your tone." <br>

Even if you're in a bad neighborhood, the bad stuff mostly happens between bad guys. The chance of being shot if you're not a black male between the age of 15 and 25 in Philadelphia is vanishingly small, and close to nil if you're a white woman (I've checked crime stats for places I've lived in Philadelphia). In a city of 1,000,000, more people will be killed by cars than will be killed by the average serial killer, so the danger there is still trivial.<br>

I think Laura needs to hear about people's good experiences with street photography, which are considerable. <br>

The easiest shots are of street performers -- musicians, mimes, guerilla theatre people. Drop a dollar in the box afterward. The next easiest are of people doing stuff they're proud of. Third easiest is of exhibitionist sorts (let them pose, sometimes it's golden). Honor people's requests not to have things on line -- you're still going to learn something from the photographing.<br>

I think a smile and a shrug will go further than anything else. Also, twin lens reflexes tend to be very good street cameras.<br>

It's also possible to get fairly revealing shots of people who do know that they're being photographed.<br>

If you're finding street photography still nervous making, ask around an art school or a fashion program for people to pose for you in exchange for shots.<br>

Taking pictures of people is demanding because they're moving and they're human beings -- so getting the geometry and the expressions right is non-trivial. <br>

You have to figure out using your own judgment what to do if someone wants you to erase a shot, but mostly if you're out in public with other people around in the daylight, you're not going to be in danger, all the fear-mongering to the contrary. </p>

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<p>You shouldn't worry about people. There are three kinds of people in this world. People who love having their picture taken. People don't care. And people who hate having their picture taken. The third group is very very small and most of them will politely raise a hand over their face or give you a scowl. If you are worried about some big dude running up to you and yelling in your face... look, crazy people are everywhere. I had a guy throwing tree limbs at me and screaming at me one day as we passed on the sidewalk for no reason. I didn't look at him weird or say anything weird, or even have a camera on me, he was just crazy. It hasn't made me afraid to walk down the street, but I will certainly remember to stay away from THAT guy. ;)</p>

<p>totally off topic, (on account of my not giving a sh*t about the 60's, kent state, or old hippie photogs, after having fought Regan's covert central American wars in the 80s'), but Eric that middle shortie in your Ethiopia pic, he's got that look in his eye, it stops you cold.</p>

<p>it's that look right there that keeps me a confirmed liberal... how many die in south central, oakland, south east, or whatever hood, who really could'a been someone who changed the world, but were denied that because of the circumstances of their birth.</p>

<p>And the fire in that kid's eye, reveals the possibility of truths that he world will be sorry to never learn.</p>

<p>To the OP: capturing an image the speaks to someone like that, totally spontaneously, in the moment, I think it what street is about.</p>

<p>Jeez, cannot read this anymore, this is just going on and on... get a room guys, this has not gotten us anywhere new (for the past 30 posts or so) :)<br>

Rebecca's has the best recent post....</p>

<p>Laura, enjoy. I was downtown NYC today, I still have a lot of apprehension, but I am getting better. Practice makes perfect! And this guy did NOT beat me up.....</p>

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<p>Eric that middle shortie in your Ethiopia pic, he's got that look in his eye, it stops you cold.<br>

it's that look right there that keeps me a confirmed liberal... how many die in south central, oakland, south east, or whatever hood, who really could'a been someone who changed the world, but were denied that because of the circumstances of their birth.<br>

And the fire in that kid's eye, reveals the possibility of truths that he world will be sorry to never learn.</p>

 

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<p>thank you so much, leigh. couldn't have said it better myself!</p>

<p>you're absolutely right, those are the people most of the world never sees.</p>

<p>Sheesh..William you've convinced me..Allen...is there any more room under there? I have my own Woobie..</p>

<p>Laura, i liked your second shot from the first set a lot. google a video from Gary Winograd doing street photography. very ilustrating. i am very shy on the street also, but working with a rangefinder and a 28mm lens has been very helpful. my favorite street shot was taken when,for hardly a second, all people vanished from the scene only to come back right after the shutter closed. </p>

<p>Give it a rest, friends. It's only street photography, not life or death. These debates don't wear well.</p>

<p>I don't know Brian, according to some it is ;>}</p>