A question for you Street Photographers out there...

Carterofmars

Carterofmars

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[FONT=&quot]As a photographer, I want to translate to film the emotions and expressions seen when people are swirling together, elbow to elbow, in very close proximity to other strangers. I want to communicate to people, who don't/haven't experienced the power of a Manhattan, or any other bustling metropolis, the energy and power masses of humanity can create. You can feel it, like an electrical current there on the street. A photograph may communicate the visual part of that energy. It cannot communicate all the energy of the experience... just the visual.

[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Now the questions:

I think that if a person who hasn't often/ever visited a big city does so, then goes to view street photographs, they would bring that experience with them; and have a greater appreciation/understanding for the images. They will experience those pictures differently.

[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Does anyone agree?

[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]I've been a bit philosophical as of late; and street photography isn't appreciated as much as it used to be. That's too bad. What is the reason for that you think?
[/FONT]
 
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One way, as I'm not sure what the question is, is to use a wide angle lens. It is not RF but I have a 20mm on a SLR which I find to be great for getting lots on action, if there is any, in the shot. Also getting close to one person really singles them out but also includes all that action.

Not being a street photographer, maybe I'm all wet.
 
Please re-read the original post. I've edited. Just wondering if experiencing the bustle of a packed city street would/can change how someone will view/appreciate street photography images.

And, any thoughts about the reasons for decline of the popularity of Street Photography. If in fact it has declined in the forum's opinion.
 
i think that society's loss of innocence has had the most impact on street shooting. no more pics of kids, no shots near government buildings etc.
people think we are pervs...

i think that a series of images can, in fact, impart a sense of place to others. but it's not easy, not easy at all.
 
Your question is a tomato tomatoes type question. Putting it plainly, some dudes like brunettes, others prefer blondes. Some people like st photography, others don't. Its really not complicated, in my mind at least.
 
Short answer is yes. Personally, I hope that each and every photo outing is going to help change me and how I see things and look at photography. When i shot in NYC, it took me a while to zero in on what to shoot. There's so much going on...it was difficult to find a starting point. Too much stimuli. Similar to viewing a restaurant menu that has 15 pages of options. I loved every minute of that experience, though.
 
How many people dream of having a little house in the country and why? Could it be the pressures of city life? And if it is why would they want to look at street photography? To remind themselves of what they wanted to get away from?
Now I'm not saying everyone wants to get away from the city cos plenty don't, but those that live there don't need pictures to live it and those that don't probably aren't interested.
And maybe the passing of HCB signified the passing of an era. And video media is so freely available that the need for stills to document is greatly reduced.
 
Carterofmars said:
snip> [FONT=&quot]I think that if a person who hasn't often, or ever, visited a big city, then go back to viewing street photographs, they would bring that experience with them; and have a greater appreciation/understanding for the images. They will experience those pictures differently.

[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Does anyone agree? <snip> [/FONT]
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Implicit in your question is the assumption that people in big cities are fundamentally different that small towns. I don't buy it. I find the differences only superficial. People are basically people no matter what size community they live in. The basic tenets of photographing them or viewing photographs of them are the same.
 
In the city you find the whole panorama of humanity compressed into a relatively small space. And it's visible (it's on the street!) So I guess that provides the optimal environment for capturing what we're all about. Suburbs and small towns may have drama, but you would have to go digging.

I don't have evidence as to whether people on the whole are more or less interested in photography as an art, but I suspect the answer is "less". Just like they are less interested in other types of expression ranging from literature to serious music. Basically anything that requires concentration or depth of feeling seems antiquated.

That will all change when the masses lose their opiates.

Randy
 
zauhar said:
That will all change when the masses lose their opiates.
Click to expand...

But the new opiate is the web where we all spend too much time.
Now that there are so many diversions for people to follow each one has less support than before. They all become niches.
 
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Perhaps street photography isn't appreciated as much as it was in the past because there is so much of it out there. Legions of "street photographers" are out there making mostly uninteresting and unremarkable photographs then posting them online. The sheer volume of those bad digital images dilute the body of work one might consider street photography. Those photographs seem to be devoid of any meaning for the viewers, and most likely, for the photographers themselves. I am not a street photographer but I do appreciate photos that transport me into a scene and give me an experience that provokes thoughts or emotions.
 
ironhorse said:
Perhaps street photography isn't appreciated as much as it was in the past because there is so much of it out there. Legions of "street photographers" are out there making mostly uninteresting and unremarkable photographs then posting them online. The sheer volume of those bad digital images dilute the body of work one might consider street photography. Those photographs seem to be devoid of any meaning for the viewers, and most likely, for the photographers themselves. I am not a street photographer but I do appreciate photos that transport me into a scene and give me an experience that provokes thoughts or emotions.
Click to expand...

are you saying that the only bad shots are digital?
 
Humanity compressed into a small space ....

Humanity compressed into a small space ....

Another place where this occurs is at parades, festivals, and fairs. The difference being folks are in a recreational mood and setting.

Example from a recent fair:

http://www.eloquentimaging.com/Street-Scenes/SFRF-2011/16597459_FDE93#1250641394_BJarw

Joe


zauhar said:
In the city you find the whole panorama of humanity compressed into a relatively small space. And it's visible (it's on the street!) So I guess that provides the optimal environment for capturing what we're all about. Suburbs and small towns may have drama, but you would have to go digging.


Randy
Click to expand...
 
'Personal space'...'identity'...'security' etc... all recent inventions in scare mongered countries -you pick 'em. My advice...travel! There are many countries on this planet where you will not have to deal with these issues.
 
Excellent street photo IMHO. http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=85308&page=13 post 306, last shot. I beleive if you were able to show this picture to someone who was at the beach that day it would take them back in time and they would enjoy it all over again. All of it. The energy, smell, sights, sounds. Gosh I wasn't even there and I appreacite this picture and it's thousand words.
 
Ranger Copy said:
Excellent street photo IMHO. http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=85308&page=13 post 306, last shot. I beleive if you were able to show this picture to someone who was at the beach that day it would take them back in time and they would enjoy it all over again. All of it. The energy, smell, sights, sounds. Gosh I wasn't even there and I appreacite this picture and it's thousand words.
Click to expand...

Wow, that is a fantastic photo. Having been to the beach, I can really appreciate how beautiful it must have been to be at that one. How deafening those waves must have been. The taste of salt on a girls lips there. The the smell of the sea. Yes having been to a beach really gives me an empirical understanding of the energy that sea must have had that day.

If I've never been to a beach, I may feel a little differently while viewing.

But dude have you seen post #311 pic number two http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1546044&postcount=311

Yours is a great reference shot, without a doubt masterful... but 311 photo number two this one gets my vote.
 
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