justcooltom Posted November 13, 2003 Share Posted November 13, 2003 SO far in my quest into the land of photography I have tried street phtotgraphy once or twice. I guess I picked bad times becuase there just didnt seem to be much for me to take pictures of. Or is it me? I am not sure what I am looking for when im out like that. SO waht makes good street photography? Are there certain poses or trypes of pictures I should look for? SHould I be so aware of asking each single person that in thei world seems to scared to talk to a stranger let alone take pictures. I tend to not ask many people but try taking pictures fomr far back but close. I don't like to feel I am intruding on them when Im out there but at times I cant help but to. Any advice on it? Cuz so far its come out pretty crappy. But I still keep on until I get where I want to with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephen hazelton Posted November 13, 2003 Share Posted November 13, 2003 It's easy to find an appealing scene, photograph it, and discover that the photo lacks the appeal of the original. But it doesn't often work the other way- you'll seldom take a shot of an uninteresting scene and get an interesting picture. If you don't see any reason to take a picture of a scene or of a person, then don't. I doubt many people take a stroll around the block and come back with rolls of great pictures. What to look for: Interesting (visually interesting) people, faces, places, patterns. Interaction between people. Emotion. Lighting. Humor. Contrast (in subjects, not lighting). Action. Suspense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim schwaiger Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 Part of it is knowing which street to walk down. Some places simply have more activity and more interesting people. Parks, downtown, and public gathering places are fairly obvious, but interesting people hang out arounn local barber shops, gas stations, fast food places, and such too. Point the camera at the right place at the right time and click the shutter. Conversly, if it isn't the right place or right time, save your film (or megabytes). I haven't ventured into street photography for several reasons, but my gut tells me that getting one good shot out of a roll of film is probably average. Getting a great shot is a little lucky, and getting a perfect shot is pretty unlikely in your lifetime. If you enjoy the challenge, go for it, otherwise find something you do enjoy shooting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grant_. Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 theres no such thing. theres only what grabs you, and what makes you shoot. thats all you need to know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jay_de_fehr Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 Hi Tom. I am in no position to give advice, but what I do personally, is find a street I like, then try to discerne what it is about the street that I like, and how I can communicate that to an objective viewer. I should clarify that by street I mean any public place. I find I like laundromats, and quickie marts, coffee shops and bus stops because those are the places I find themes and patterns, and the light is always great in a laundromat. I don't know if any of the above makes sense, but it works for me. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim h1664876971 Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 Keep your camera in your pocket at ALL times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricM Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 Jim, is that a lens in your pocket, or are you... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
________1 Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 Go to www.google.com type in "street photography" look at street photographs and find ones you like. There�s info on the web about how other street photographers work. If you don't actually like being on the street or feel comfortable pointing your camera at strangers you're probably barking up the wrong tree. No shame in that�there�s no lack of other subjects, and ways to photograph them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bacsa Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 It takes a good street. But that's still not enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doug_harhai Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 Tom, I am not qualified to mention what makes good street photography, but I have to mention that I saw an episode of the Sunday Morning Show with Tom Osgood a few weeks ago. They were either doing a special on the "America, 24/7" book or the new book put out by National Geographic (each was featured within a week or two of the other). They showed a PJ on the street, decked out in a vest, PJ bag and a camera (rangefinder/slr, I don't know), and his technique was very impressive. He would match the footsteps of the subject, walk next to it, get in close (within a few feet) and would snap the shot within a second, while continuing to walk alongside the oblivious 'model'. As soon as he snapped the shutter, he walked off to the side, expressionless, quickly and professionally. Note that he did not run away like he had just snatched a purse. I think that the subject was too surprised to say anything, or even realize what had happened until the guy was 10 steps away. Maybe the fact that he obviously looked like a professional photographer, and not a stalker, helped. They only showed the guy for a few seconds. To the occasional point-n-shooter, this event probably seemed like nothing special. But to somebody that has some experience in trying to capture street photos (mostly in vain), it was pretty inspiring as well as educational. It really opened my eyes as to how the pros shoot ( at least one of them). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spearhead Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 I said this on another thread...<p> Good street shooting takes a lot of practice, ... but, more than that, a love of being on the street and a feel for the rhythm. It's sometimes pointed out that great nature shots come from people who love and know nature, and the same thing happens on the street. You have to be comfortable working on the street, even (to get a little zen), to become one with the street. Then the photos will happen. Music and Portraits Blog: Life in Portugal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex_Es Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 Tom, Most importantly, you need to understand people and to develop a philosophy of life. The reason for understanding people should be obvious. The necessity for a philosophy of life may not be so obvious. A philosophy of life need not be formal or revealed to world. It might be totally aesthetic and private. It might be political. It might be something else. But it has got to somehow provide you with a vision that will give you a structure and moral basis for your work--and, besides that, the courage to go on. My favorite painter, Paul Cezanne, developed a symbiotic relationship between his art and nature. He never really talked about it until the painter and critic Maurice Denis stayed with him and pumped him for his ideas. Then Cezanne began to talk about cylanders, spheres and cones, which are not readily apparent in his paintings. Anyway, the real need for the courage to go on will not come from lack of recognition or foul criticism but from the understanding that what you are doing is weird. It is absolutely weird to walk around and take pictures of people you do not know. It is weird unless there is an overwhelming rational reason for doing what you are doing. I came to street photography by way of literature. My inspirations are Chekhov, James Joyce, William Carlos Williams and Raymond Carver who saw profundities in ordinary life. I love Aget, HCB, Klein and quite a few other photographers but it is to literature that I go to renew myself. To confess: I see street photography as being close to fiction. It is an act of the imagination and presumption. You presume to see something. You photograph it. The camera always shows you more than you thought you saw in the first place--but that's another story. On the practical side you do need to be out on the street as much as is possible. You need to keep in shape, so to speak. The choice of camera or cameras is quite open. I favor Leica rangefinders because they are small and fairly quiet. SLRs are fine too if you feel comfortable with them. I started with SLRs and zooms (which I very seldom use these days). So what makes good street photography? Invariably it is photography you believe in. Street photography covers everything that you can possibly find on a street. There are things you'll see into and be moved that most people are indifferent to. That's when the real fun begins. When I said that you need to develop a philosophy of life I should have added that it is something that should come from your involvement with photography and not something that comes to you prepackaged. You do not need to ask people permission to photograph them in public--and I stress in public--unless you will use their images for commercial purposes. Your best bet for avoiding problems is to develop your own ethic. There are situations and people you would not want to photograph for ethical reasons. I won't photograph severly physically disabled people, for example, unless there is a compelling reason to be so. I also do not chase famous people and stick my camera into their private lives. And finally. Don't worry if you are turning out "crappy" pictures at present. Put them behind you, ask Raymond Carver might say, and take more pictures. And I hope you pardon the typos here. It is very late here in Japan, way past my bedtime. Good luck. Alex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seth_prince Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 luckily for me, I live in NYC, so if I feel like I've "...picked bad times..." then it IS me. I guess your results may vary if you live in Couer D'laine, Idaho. go to places where large amounts of people congregate and are distracted by something more important than you and your camera. 1. farmer's market 2. mutant bicycle festival (google chunk 666, black label bike club, hard times bike club or bicycle jousting) 3. popular shopping area (SOHO on a saturday) I wouldn't shoot in a mall. They are private property and it's a HIGHLY controlled environment I've found that if I try to chase after a shot I'm usually disappointed. My best shots were of events/scenes I didn't even realize were in the viewfinder when I pressed the button: 1. old man bent over, tying his shoe 2. attractive young woman leaning against a wall 3. two boys in a starbucks window drinking their first cup of coffee what I didn't realize was there was: 1a. a 'sandwich board" sign with a funny message blocking the man's head 2a. 3 teenagers walking by, laughing hysterically (not a me or the woman, just something amongst themselves) 3a. 2 aged mobsters, hanging around outside surveying their nieghborhood I think it's called serendipity. I won't ask people's permission any more. I have only ended up with a stilted looking portrait and I NEVER EVER EVER EVER take posed photographs. There isn't enough money in the universe to make me do it. "What makes good street photography?" beats the crap out of me. There are two books called The Tao of Photography. Get the one that has a black cover with a demon statue on the cover. Technical issues: I use a 35mm lens 85%, 50mm 14%, 24mm 1%. I shoot color because I'm setting up a digital darkroom and I can turn them into b&w if I want. If you live anywhere near NYC, there is a gallery in the east village on East 9th street (?). I don't remember the name. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jay_de_fehr Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 We have streets with people in Idaho too, but if you find yourself in Cour'da Lene Idaho, you'll probably be too awestruck by it's natural beauty to notice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_cook1 Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 Sometimes you can learn a lot by studying the work of a master. One such man has some work on display on this site, Tony Dummett. Take a look at http://www.photo.net/photo/147795 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_cook1 Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 Let me add: check out his entire folder at: http://www.photo.net/photodb/member-photos?include=all&photo_id=147795 And don't miss his lengthy commentaries on some of the work. Especially the portraits of his now deceased father and mother. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silent1 Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 <i>luckily for me, I live in NYC, so if I feel like I've "...picked bad times..." then it IS me. I guess your results may vary if you live in Couer D'laine, Idaho.<p> We have streets with people in Idaho too, but if you find yourself in Cour'da Lene Idaho, you'll probably be too awestruck by it's natural beauty to notice.</i><p> I grew up in Idaho -- and the first time I visited Coeur d'Alene (and BTW, this is the correct spelling) I thought it was a big, gritty city with an awful lot of bad neighborhoods. Must have had something do with the fact that the biggest town I lived in before I was 10 was around 2000 people, and I hadn't spent any time anywhere bigger than about 15000 until I was living on my own. Yes, there are street shots to be had in Cd'A, and in Boise, or Missoula, MT, or Fargo, ND, or Renton, WA. There aren't any in Winchester, WA, though -- the place hasn't got any streets, just the highway passing through between the tavern, the grocery store/gas station, and the Post Office -- and yet you could get some good shots there, too, because there are people there (about 200 of 'em, last time I checked). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jay_de_fehr Posted November 15, 2003 Share Posted November 15, 2003 Mr. Cook, I looked at Mr. Dummett's portfolio, and it's very impressive. There's a warmth in his work that illustrates his obvious love of humanity. Thanks for directing me to his portfolio. Mr. Quallis, Thanks for correcting my spelling, that name has always confounded me. How are you adjusting to life in the big city? I was born in central Ca., Steinbeck country, but grew up all over the west coast, mostly in small towns. I've been in Idaho for 13 years, and it feels like home to me. I have many friends who've ended up in NY, but I've never been for a visit. Sometimes I envy those of you who live as close to the center of the universe as anyone. Someday I'll make it out there, but until then, Idaho is a very comfortable place to live. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
._._z Posted November 15, 2003 Share Posted November 15, 2003 <i>Keep your camera in your pocket at ALL times.</i><p> No. Keep it in your hands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim h1664876971 Posted November 15, 2003 Share Posted November 15, 2003 >No. Keep it in your hands.< No. Keep it pressed to your eyeball. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevenbarall Posted November 15, 2003 Share Posted November 15, 2003 The things that make a good street photo are the same things that make a good painting or a good poem or a good play and you have to take the time to learn what those things are. Photographers are people who take. Once you are comfortable with that you will be fine. You never owe your subjects anything. The streets of your town are just as much yours as anyone elses and you have a right to be there. All artists are selfish because creation is selfish and also exclusionary. This sounds harsh but the point is that you have to be comfortable operating in your own skin, in your own world. It is the only way to see clearly out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hugo_solo Posted November 15, 2003 Share Posted November 15, 2003 streetphotography http://the-look-of-love.my-expressions.com/index.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
._._z Posted November 15, 2003 Share Posted November 15, 2003 Pressed to your eyeball, Jim? That's gotta' hurt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim h1664876971 Posted November 16, 2003 Share Posted November 16, 2003 Sometimes you gotta suffer for your art. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
._._z Posted November 16, 2003 Share Posted November 16, 2003 Jim, if that's how you shoot street photos, thank God you weren't giving sex tips! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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