Street, what motivates you?

[cyr_smith]

<p>Oh hey, it's the money, ya just tons and tons of money in street photography.........well maybe not. I believe it's the light. It surprises and it amazes me time and time again. <b>URL signature deleted. Not allowed on photo.net.</b></p>

[cyr_smith]

<p>"error"</p>

[tonmestrom]

<p>Fred, don't worry. You'll always be welcome in any thread I start.</p>

[sd_woods]

<p>It provides an excuse to walk up to strangers.</p>

[Norma Desmond]

<p>SD-- Cool addition. Actually, I was out on the streets today with my camera, and it provided an excuse for several strangers to walk up to me and start conversations. As a matter of fact, in one instance, I thought I was going to get a date out of it. Now there's a motivation I can live by!</p>

[vktr]

<p>DS Meador, your point is clearly expressed, and is very much common sense to me. Everyone needs their own motivation, it differs from person to person, from experience to experience. Don't let yourself down because of other people's opinions. Cheers.</p>

[fate_faith_change_chains]

<p>

<blockquote>

<p>Petula Clark once sang:<br>

<em>"just listen to the music of the traffic in the city,</em> <br /><em>linger on the sidewalk where the neon signs are pretty,</em> <br /><em>how can you lose? the lights are much brighter there,</em> <br /><em>you can forget all your troubles, forget all your care,</em> <br /><em>so go downtown, things will be great when you're downtown</em> <br /><em>no finer place for sure"<br /></em><br>

maybe a bit corny, but still. What keeps you drawing out there time and again?</p>

</blockquote>

</p>

<p>Just to make sure things aren't balancing over too much to one side of the corny'ness : ) :</p>

<p>Jim Morrison once sang :<br>

People are strange when you're a stranger<br />Faces look ugly when you're alone<br />Women seem wicked when you're unwanted<br />Streets are uneven when you're down<br />When you're strange<br />Faces come out of the rain<br />When you're strange<br />No one remembers your name</p>

 

[ds_meador]

<p>Thanks Viktor!</p>

[edgar_vargas]

<p>I go out into the street because I want to see and capture what people aren't saying to each other and the stories that they obviously want to tell but can't find an audience for. </p>

<p>This may also sound corny, but it's the truth.</p>

 

[tonmestrom]

<p>Fred, I kept it short yesterday because for one I had visit and on the other I think it sometimes is a good thing to think things over before replying.</p>

<p>You said to Brad I had modified my position but that I didn't do. I said I can understand why someone would describe that as more genuine. Nowhere have I said that the one is in fact more genuine as the other. Those are two different things. Just to clarify.</p>

<p>Then the point about influencing. It is in fact a interesting point to discuss. I don't think it's as black and white as you've put it. While people may react to my presence and for sure sometimes do (and I even gladly make use of that on occasion) I don't alter anything. The photo I made above is a fine example of that. To some it may look set-up but in fact it wasn't and while they were aware of my presence they were too preoccupied with what they were doing themselves. There for me lies the difference.We don't alter the scene as such but we do alter in fact reality by taking a single frame out of it. That's the most profound influence there is and a great tool to distinguish ourselves as photographers.</p>

<p>I was also intrigued by Jeffs point about having staged photos. I'm not sure but if by that he meant going back and shooting a similar scene as what he saw first time around than I have tried that too only to find out that it doesn't work, at least not for me. I have never gotten a good photo out of it.</p>

<p>A lot of people call me very lucky in getting some of my photos and I think that's true. But what is a photographer without luck? Furthermore, though arrogant it may seem, I think most photographers to some extent create their own luck in the sense that if you aren't open to what's in front of you, you miss out on a whole lot. Seeing and having a feel for what's out there is all the fun after all. Serendipity is part of what we do and there is no controlling that but how we deal with it and make use of it is often the decisive factor in what photos we end up with.</p>

<p>Fred, you were spot-on about the motivation to go to events and such and while by definition there is a lot of artifice for sure there is not a lot of difference from how I do my other streetwork, at least I like to believe there's not. The biggest difference is that people often will start to pose but essentially that's not what I'm after. On the other hand you can still make use of that in another way (example attached).</p>

<p>Three weeks ago I went to the Amsterdam Pride. Thanks to the advice of Ronald Broeshart, another regular here, I knew were they were supposed to start and since the preparation is more fun than the actual parade I went there. Through a coincidence however I ended up two blocks too far. At that particular canal two large boats were anchored while the people themselves were still preparing inside private housing. As it happens one of the owners was born in Maastricht, spoke the same dialect and I got in and was able to get some photos that I normally would never have ended up with. Didn't take too many there though but had a hell of a good time. When they all went outside to go on their boat I made some more. One of the guys had a leather mask and I shot him with the deck as background. It wasn't posed as such but it was a great reminder, I think it's important to say that here, that some photos we don't simply take but are given to us (second example attached).</p>

<p>The boat next to that of those leather boys was manned by the so called Robin Hood's and as it turned out they won the first prize in the large boat category. Another one that went close by was the "Violence=4 pussies" boat that got the first in the small boats category. Needless to say I got some very good photos of both. Later on when the Canal Parade had started it was way too crowded alongside the Canals to get a decent shot. How's all that for luck ;-)))</p>

<p>I already hinted at my personal motivation to keep on going out there but maybe Berenice Abbot said it best:</p>

<blockquote>

<p>"Some people are still unaware that reality contains unparalled beauties. The fantastic and unexpected, the everchanging and renewing is nowhere so exemplified as in real life itself"</p>

</blockquote>

<p> </p><div></div>

[tonmestrom]

<p> </p><div></div>

[Norma Desmond]

<p>Ton--</p>

<p>Just want you to know I've read and appreciate your response. But I've decided to keep quiet on the matter. I have nothing more useful to say.</p>

[tonmestrom]

<p>Fred,<br>

the first I can respect, the second I very much doubt. Thanks anyway for providing some usefull food for thought.</p>

<p>Because if nothing else, we have to come to terms with the fact that a lot of what we shoot out there doesn't amount to much. Out there you create a whole lot of misses while only on occasion getting a good photo out of it. It's in the nature of things. I find that to be a humbling experience and as such of practical value.</p>

[idl]

<p>I personally feel that street photography is a way of documenting moments in life of a variety of people and how they live, exist, struggle and enjoy each day that comes along. And photography may contribute to enlightenment and maybe something good. If nothing else but a smile or a laughter or concern. Here's an extract of a poem of mine that examplifies what I mean with street photography;</p>

<h3 >I’ve taken her to</h3>

<p >many parts of this world</p>

<p >By strolling around</p>

<p >There’s much to be found </p>

<p >And we see </p>

<p >all walks of life.</p>

<p > </p>

<p >Maybe some day</p>

<p >An image will catch </p>

<p >a glimpse or a scene</p>

<p >of something emotionally right</p>

<p >to a whole lot of people</p>

<p >which means.</p>

<p > </p>

<p >That an image might</p>

<p >be able to do</p>

<p >if not change the world</p>

<p >that’s hard to perceive,</p>

<p >but hopefully make a difference somehow,</p>

<p >to you.</p>

<p > </p>

<p >And to people who care</p>

<p >and are willing to fight </p>

<p >for those </p>

<p >who’s never been treated right.</p>

<p > </p>

<p >So there we are, walking about</p>

<p >Amongst people in darkness and light</p>

<p >through angles and different perspectives</p>

<p >we freeze every moment in sight.</p>

<p > </p>

<p >And finally one day</p>

<p >We might, - be able to say,</p>

<p >that we’ve tried to do something good.</p>

<p > </p>

<p >It’s a great task to take on</p>

<p >But surely </p>

<p >it cannot be wrong</p>

<p >to think in those terms.</p>

<p > </p>

<p >But along the line</p>

<p >We’re feeling so fine</p>

<p >Loving immensely</p>

<p >What we do.</p>

<p > </p>

<p >So can gladness appear</p>

<p >And remove every fear</p>

<p >Of different races </p>

<p >and the unknown.</p>

<p > </p>

<p >Then we have accomplished one of our goals</p>

<p >By means and by help of our souls, </p>

<p >together,</p>

<p >me and my camera</p>

<p >my “Goddess of light”.</p>

[steven_sherwin]

<p>what motivates me is the thrill of capturing a fleeting moment whether it be a look, an emotion or whatever. Something that is there once and then gone forever...</p>

[ned1]

<p>It's the thrill of the hunt, much like a wildlife photographer, except the wild animal is Man.</p><div></div>

[john_lovelace]

<p>Man is the animal but Man is also the Gentle Lion. Depends on part on "the street where you live," to borrow from yet another popular song.<br>

Evidence? These three little girls sharing an umbrella on a damp morning along the main walkway into Chautauqua Instition in upstate New York.</p><div></div>

[spanky]

<p>I'd rather not know; it might spoil it for me.</p>

[fi_rondo1]

<p>Among the motivations is to slow time down</p>

[cm1]

<p><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/9656034-lg.jpg" alt="" width="850" height="850" /></p>

<p>Possible answers:<br>

1: It's the money that you get for street photography.<br>

2: I like to run into trouble with strangers.<br>

3: That camera must be good for something.<br>

4: It's the shot.... good reply, eh?<br>

<img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/9656072-lg.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="800" /><br>

For me and many others it's the good feeling that you get after the click when you know you have captured something that goes beyond your photographic style and habits.</p>

[newbie1]

<p>Last Friday night I needed to get away from PEOPLE, work, myself. I grabbed my camera, jumped in my car and drove. I actually went east from the San Francisco Bay Area to the Sierra Mountains to Bode and Mono Lake; took the less traveled roads. I wanted to spend some time shooting the ghost town of Bode, the lake, the sunrise at Mono Lake, anything but people as this is where I started when I picked up the camera again in March of 2008. I spent Saturday shooting and decided that THE STREET, THE TENDERLOIN, THE PEOPLE, THE TOURISTS the unknown, the natural expressions, movements is where I belonged. I am not putting down all of the other shots to take; I am just stating that "I" feel at home on the street and with shooting the street, the people on the street, tourists, locals, homeless, aged, young.<br>

I left the sierras Sunday am and went home to the "city"; I felt much better. I pulled out my camera and breathed a sigh and smiled. I was back where I belonged.</p>

 

[kskelton]

<p>Moments<img src="http://images.us.viewbook.com/0557c6b21912dd45a742123c8b7943ae_large.jpg" alt="" /></p>

[rob_duyser]

<p>I think you answered the question yourself Ton..... here's what I wrote before I read the above:</p>

 

 

<p>it's like surfing..... you have to go with the flow, be part of the action, immerse yourself and understand the things happening all around you, right there, right then, you have to keep in step with its rhythm, as space time unravelels an infintite number of moments expressing true life and raw energy just appear right in front of your eyes.... feel it, breath it, shoot it ;)</p>

 

<p><img src="http://www.duyser.net/imgs/3.jpg" alt="" /></p>

 

 

[Alex_Es]

<p>What motivates me to take pictures of people I do not know? It's an outgrowth of my other life as a writer. Writers are interested in people and are curious and intrusive. Once I discovered to pleasures of photography it was an easy step to get into SP. I look for epiphanies in mundane daily things. Just to live one's life is heroic. I write about that and try to capture it in pictures. I tend to fall into in photographic projects, long and short.</p>

<p>Recently, in Vancouver at a cafeteria I became interested in people carrying food and drinks. There is something heroic in that. I mean getting to your table amid the crowd without dropping your stuff all over the place. In some places this is a life or death deal. Anyway, I shot away with my Leica and got a series. See it here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexes/sets/72157622107280238/</p>

<p>What motivated me to do that instead doing something normal people do when they eat? I was fascinated and wanted to preserve the passing moments I saw.</p>

<p>As a street photographer my role is that of a historian of the passing moment.</p><div></div>

[pjmcgivney]

<p>The street is interesting. What other reason do you need?</p>