Tips for Street Shooting

[john_boyle3]

Bill Pierce provides some interesting tips for street shooters in the

September issue of Digital Journalist:

http://digitaljournalist.org/issue0309/nutsandbolts.html

[stephen_w.]

Thanks for the update John. That page is on my favorite list.

[bob soltis]

Thanks John!

[Spearhead]

It's interesting, but I'm not sure I agree with it all. For example:

 

<p><i>Shoot in public places, especially where there are a lot of tourists</i><P>

 

results in lots of photos of tourists. When's the last time you picked up a book of good street photos filled with tourists?<p>

 

I think there's better advice on some of the threads on photo.net's People Forum.

[tcb.photo]

Hi Jeff

 

That's an interesting point of view. Could I ask you to elaborate a little more? No disrespect, I'm just very interested in expanding more into the "Street shooting" area.

 

Thanks for you help

 

Rob

[grant_.]

giving tips for anything usually requires an understanding of what level the 'student' is at.

<p>

the articles advice is probably good for the beginner that has never tried shoot anything but people they know, or trees and mountains.

<p>

the best teacher is experience, so going out and just doing it would most likely work best.

[Spearhead]

Pick up any good book on street shooting (such as Bystander, or a book of photos by Robert Frank or Alvarez Bravo) and look at the photos. What you see are photos of what interest us, and it's not tourists. Tourists are occasionally interesting in how out of place they look, but generally they're inert objects that sink a photo.

 

Good street shooting takes a lot of practice, as Grant points out, 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.

 

Unfortunately, too much time gets spent on equipment and all that, but until you've got that innate feel for what's going on, the equipment won't even be useful.

[ray .]

Tourists sink photos? What a bizarre statement. I guess if you have something against tourists...<div></div>

[travis1]

Japanese tourist looking for...<div></div>

[travis1]

a truckload of tourists...<div></div>

[henricus]

<p><i>"the best teacher is experience, so going out and just doing it would most likely work best."<P></i>

 

Grant,

<p>I don't disagree that this is a good way to learn. However, it is always better to instruct a student prior to any practicals. Like every endeavor, there are always things to know, cautions or shortcuts that can be shared prior to actually venturing out.<p>

<p> <p>

<p>Please don't take offense to this post, none is intended. I really enjoy your photography. I'm a fan, not a critic. :-)<p>

[ray .]

Travis, bad news. I could spot that tourist in your photo from a mile away!

[Allen Herbert]

Just take your photo, don't worry about it, they won't hang you.<div></div>

[Allen Herbert]

Better post a decent street shot, or Grant might come and get me. I'm going to call this.....<div></div>

[grant_.]

henry,

<p>

"giving tips for anything usually requires an understanding of what level the 'student' is at."

<p>

thats why i said that.....

[grant_.]

allen, get closer, intimacy is a good thing...

[Allen Herbert]

Grant, i was pretty close....but you know what couples are like, start loving each other again...hey, you know what i mean. Liked your recent stuff.

[mike dixon]

<i>However, it is always better to instruct a student prior to any

practicals. Like every endeavor, there are always things to know,

cautions or shortcuts that can be shared prior to actually

venturing out.</i><P>

If I followed the advice given in the initial article, I wouldn't have

gotten the vast majority of the street/candid shots in my portfolio.

The ways of approaching street photography are about as

numerous as the people practicing it--one person's "good

advice" might be completely counterproductive for someone

else's approach.

[Allen Herbert]

Again, i agree with Mike. Starting to feel like a groupie. However looking at things in a different way helps.

[Allen Herbert]

Grant, i was pretty close...but i get the thought.

[kevin m.]

"What you see are photos of what interest us, and it's not tourists."

<p>

<i>US?</i> Who are you speaking for, other than yourself?

<p>

Grant shot one of my favorite street pics and it was nothing <i>but</i> tourists hanging out on museum steps. A photo is either attention-worthy or it isn't; does the subject really matter?

[douglas k.]

One thing from the article that I agree with: only print a photo if you'd be comfortable giving it to the subject. Following that rule might at least spare us all of the "street shots" of peoples' backs.

[grant_.]

whats wrong with peoples backs?

[cd thacker]

One particularly great thing about shooting among tourists (and there are several great things): you are taken for one of them. In an area frequented by tourists, people are often less camera shy, because there are so many cameras. (This doesn't hold, however, in areas frequented by both tourists and <i>touts</i>.)<p>

 

Ray, I really love that shot. Travis, your stuff is getting better and better. Allen, that first shot is a winner. You were close enough, apparently.

[henricus]

Grant,

<p>Fair enough! :-)<p>