Best EI for street photography?

[Ansel]

There is no such thing as "street photography".

 

[Richard G]

There is no such thing as "street photography".

Oh. So not 400 then?

 

[Rodchenko]

400. Fast enough, but getting the detail. I normally shoot colour which I change to mono for most shots after scanning.

 

[Michiel Fokkema]

I mostly shoot 400 film @ 200 and pull develop. Just to get a little less contrast, scans better.

 

[Sid836]

EI 400 works fine for me. It offers me the best trade in terms of grain and speed.

 

[Coopersounds]

i like 200. but 400 is good too. Probably habit more than anything really. 400 is probably more suited in truth

 

[ChrisPlatt]

On sunny days at EI 400 I often find myself bumping up against my fastest shutter speed
and/or using an aperture smaller than I'd like.

Chris

 

[anjoca76]

400.

Tmax 400 would be my desert island choice. It is lovely pushed to 1600, and with an ND filter I can shoot it at 100 in direct sun. But I like it best at 320.

 

[Hsg]

I only shoot at ISO 100. If I can't shoot at ISO 100, I go home.

 

[mfogiel]

In my book, an f 8.0 and 1/1000-1/2000th of a sec is ideal for zone shooting, this translates to an EI 500 on a sunny day, this is why I voted for EI 800, as conditions are sometimes less than ideal. A good solution is to use Tri X with Diafine at EI 500, as it covers you easily between EI 250 and 1000 for extra flexibility. The problem actually, is that film Leicas stop at 1/1000th, so sometimes you have to stop down to f11.

 

[Bingley]

I voted for 800, which is what I use for Tri-X in Diafine, but I meter at 400 b/c I use a yellow filter. Works like a charm.

 

[ChrisLivsey]

There is no such thing as "street photography".

Shame, write to the publishers then.

 

[ChrisLivsey]

Voted for 400 iso. Shooting sunny sixteen with a street shutter speed 400 translates easily and flexibly across the f stop range, note this is UK weather 😉
The wide availability of 400 stock means I'm never short of a film to shoot or try, the stock is flexible in developers as well.

 

[Ansel]

Shame, write to the publishers then.


There was definitely no such thing as street photography when that photo was taken! The term is a recent invention and is void of an real meaning. If you had asked any of its so-called inventors about it they would have laughed.

 

[Chris101]

I voted 3200.

Typically I do all of my street work at night, so I need the speed. I also stick with f/2 through 3.5.

 

[ChrisLivsey]

Shame, write to the publishers then.


There was definitely no such thing as street photography when that photo was taken! The term is a recent invention and is void of an real meaning. If you had asked any of its so-called inventors about it they would have laughed.

Unfortunately for that argument the pre-existence of a category is not necessary for a work to be later assigned into it. Photo-realisim and Cubism for example were invented terms and categories after some of the original works had been produced.

You are correct that this "street" term is a relatively recent, and somewhat vague term to draw together photographs that would be difficult to otherwise categorise, and don't humans love to put things into categories.
In my opinion, and if you had prefaced your original remark with those words there would be no discussion, this is a case of where Art (note capital) and photography diverge, much as many would prefer a convergence, the equivalent in Art is probably work such as that of Banksy and indeed the production of the work physically on the street would encompass the usual "street photography" nicely but then the architectural photographers would perhaps be upset although I would be inclined to place some of Atget's studies that are purely architectural in our vague "street" slot.
It is a term that many find useful for titling books and exhibitions and whilst we can disagree where "urban landscape" stops; or does that not exist either; and "street' begins, its general acceptance and use surely precludes your all encompassing remark that there is no such thing?

 

[Ansel]

I can only repeat my assertion there is no such thing as street photography. It is a term devoid of meaning, beyond the mere descriptive "photos taken on the street".

As to the correct EI for taking a photograph. It entirely depends on the light available and the subject. There is no magic bullet. I don't see how anyone can vote!

 

[shortstop]

I can only repeat my assertion there is no such thing as street photography. It is a term devoid of meaning, beyond the mere descriptive "photos taken on the street". As to the correct EI for taking a photograph. It entirely depends on the light available and the subject. There is no magic bullet. I don't see how anyone can vote!

any definition is approximate and has limits. if there is not street photography, then there is not even landscape photography or portraiture etc. Just use common sense in using such definition. And if doesn't exist street photography, Vivian Maier photos doesn't exist... Or Doisneau...

 

[rbsinto]

There is no such thing as "street photography".

Thanks for the heads up.
Now that you've enlightened me, I'll stop wasting my time.

 

[rbsinto]

My favorite exposure index (film speed) for daytime street shooting is 100 ISO, all on colour slide stocks.
Works well for me most of the time.
If I'm photographing in the early evening or at night, I'll use 400 usually pushed one or even two stops.