What makes street photography work?

[grant_l]

One more...

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[michael_darnton1]

Charles, perhaps a more concrete definition of street photography is

needed? Is it really just any photography that happens on the street?

Both of the photos you mention would be, for me, straight journalism,

which is, for me, something different.

[michael_darnton1]

And in the same vein:

 

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http://digitaljournalist.org/issue0205/nutsandbolts.htm

[glenn_travis]

As I read all these responses, I'm convinced that you're all goal

orientated. You all seem to want the journey to end before it's

really began. Is that the only reason to photograph? Doesn't the

Journey also have validity? One thing struck me about Ian's

portfolio, they're all thirty year old photo's. Doesn't he have

anything recent? It's as if Ian reached his destination thirty years

ago and stopped. HCB reached his destination twenty years ago, put

the camera away, and turned to sketching. I hope the journey never

ends for me. So Grant, keep on truck'ng Man! And I will look at your

photos as the Journey they respresent. Right now, I see your

in "Legsville." Hey Man, I can dig it.

[Spearhead]

<i> I see shots taken looking down at feet and lower legs...

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Manuel Alvarez Bravo:<p>

 

<a href="http://www.geh.org/taschen/m197806370014.jpg">

[Spearhead]

Whoops.<p>

 

Manuel Alvarez Bravo:<p>

 

<img src="http://www.geh.org/taschen/m197806370014.jpg">

[roberto_watson_garc_a]

for me street photography is just like any other kind of photography,

it has to do with feelings, but out in the street, and here is Don

Manuel, but he´s not out in the street, but in the presentation of

his book "Mucho Sol", in Bellas Artes in Mexico City, 1989 I guess.

 

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<img src="http://www.photo.net/photodb/image-display?

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[Spearhead]

I agree with r. He makes a good point there.

[Rob F.]

Often, I feel too self-conscious to phtograph people I don't know

from the front. I'll use a 28mm, though, and work them in on one

side, so it doesn't look like the camera is pointing at them. I

actually have gotten two or three decent shots from behind.

[noah]

One or more people have raised the question; is a photograph

considered "street photography" merely because it was shot in a

street. Of course not. Maybe the very term "street photography" is

flawed, but I'm sure it's here to stay.

 

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If I had to define it, I'd say street photography is an unposed way

of working. It often, but certainly not always, takes place in public

areas such as sidewalks, cafes, metros, etc. Glenn mentioned

the "journey" of photography. That was a great point. For me,

street photography involves a different journey than straight

journalism or documentary work.

 

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When I work on a documentary project, there is a great amount

of work and research done before I shoot the first frame. If I have

a story idea, I try to learn as much about it as possible. I then

make contacts and begin the process of gaining access to the

people involved in the story. I get to know my subjects and most

likely, work with them for some time.

 

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Often the street photographer's technique is to simply wander

around an area with no specific goals in mind. That does not,

however,mean that he or she is only interested in capturing

moments without interacting with the subject in some real way.

When I'm doing what I consider street photography, I'll often see

a situation and work it for a while, waiting for nice light or a nice

moment. Street photography can be intimate. It doesn't have to

be the kind of blurry, frenetic, randomly-framed work that is often

classified as street photography these days. Good street

photography can be extremely difficult. Getting over your

self-consciousness is probably the biggest hurdle for most

people. Once you do that, you can move beyond the quick grab

shots.

 

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I also agree with François, I wouldn't consider Grant's work to be

street photography. I find this work to be more about the process

than content. Of course that isn't why I don't like the body of work.

I'm drawn to work that straddles the line between interpretive art

and documentary photography. The Manuel Alvarez Bravo

photograph is a great example. It certainly has mystery, which

only adds another layer of interest.

 

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Grant, your portraits are very telling. They are honest and quite

beautiful. Again, I agree with Glenn that you shouldn't let critiques

of your work stop you. Learn from the critiques if you want, or

ignore them. You have to do work that you care about and that

lets you express yourself in your own way.

 

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One other point. Something I learned in school and from

countless editors, is to ONLY show your best work. Grant, I bet if

you went through your work and picked out 5-10 images, it would

be a much stronger body of work. If you have trouble editing your

own work, get help from people you trust and whose work you

admire. Putting someting on the web is showing it to the world. I

don't know about you, but I only want the world to see my best

work.

[roberto_watson_garc_a]

A lot I to learn from you this morning Noah, hope you could see my

street photography.

 

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Found your words very apropiate and apreciative, thank´s

[Jim_Tardio]

I found this thread after looking at the current photo net "Photo of

the Week" photographers work.

 

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I think Paulo's stuff is a great example of

street/documentary/photojournalism style. Little if any black &

white, but wonderful nevertheless.

 

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Go <a href="http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?

folder_id=184069">Here</a> to see it.

[kristian dowling]

Firstly, I thin k that Glenn tarvisis one of the best street

photographers we have on this forum, so his advice and pictures

are always first rate. Secondly I believe that good street

photography comes in two forms.

 

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Firstly, you need to be able to get the shot exactly how you want

in naturally, without interuption. HCB and Eugene Smith did this

extremly well.

 

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Secondly, you need to be able to build repore with subjects you

wish to photograph for portraits. Mary Ellen Mark and Steve Mc

Curry come to mind.

 

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Anything in between, including some hip shooting is neither here

or there. I can usually spot these sorts of pictures a mile away

because they are not interesting and usually come from my

camera!!! I need a lot of practise myself. Sowmthing I am

working on, when I find time to get off the net and take some

pics.

 

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good luck and great post

[grant2]

nobody 'needs' to do anything.....

[pete_su]

ultimately i think the answer to the question "what's a good street

photo" is the same as the answer to the question "what is a good

photograph".

 

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people will give you different answers to this question, depending on

what they like.

[lux]

WHo are you shooting for? For yourself or for others? Who gives a

rat's ass what others think if what you think is right for you

esthetically?

 

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How do you convey your moods and feelings via pictures and please

everyone at the same time? IMPOSSIBLE!

[nesrani]

"Who gives a rat's ass what others think if what you think is right

for you esthetically? "

 

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Well, if you don't care whether what you do is any good, then

obviously that's a coherent attitude. If you're trying to do good

photography, then what other people think is important. Obviously we

all have our abilities and interests, but there is such a thing as

good and bad in photography.

[glenn_travis]

"Those who are swayed by the diluting passions, are bound to the

duality of opposites, and chained to comparison and criticism

forever." Release your mind from bondage, and let go.