msbarnes
Well-known
Do you just take pictures of things you like?
Or is your approach more tailored into the subject or into the geometry? Do you care mostly about the people in the scene or how the people are arranged? Ofcourse you care about everything, usually, but what is it that you think when you take a picture? How do you think?
I'm just interested in exploring the psychology of a street photographer, so that it can help me begin to understand this genre.
I can understand how portraiture, landscape, and photography like that works where things are a bit more controlled but street photography seems incredibly unpredictable, mostly observational.
Or is your approach more tailored into the subject or into the geometry? Do you care mostly about the people in the scene or how the people are arranged? Ofcourse you care about everything, usually, but what is it that you think when you take a picture? How do you think?
I'm just interested in exploring the psychology of a street photographer, so that it can help me begin to understand this genre.
I can understand how portraiture, landscape, and photography like that works where things are a bit more controlled but street photography seems incredibly unpredictable, mostly observational.
cosmonaut
Well-known
Well I am not any good a street photography but I try and look for someone who kind of stands out, if they are somewhere that has interest, something out of place where you wouldn't expect it to be.
As far as my landscape work I just shoot what I like and am not to concerned if anyone likes it but me.
As far as my landscape work I just shoot what I like and am not to concerned if anyone likes it but me.
rbelyell
Well-known
like most things in life, this is very subjective. i started many years ago like you, enjoying taking pictures of my family. but i was bored even then with 'posed' scenes and captures (though they have their place). so i started just trying to be as unobtrusive as possible and just take candid shots. this task has gotten much easier with the advent of small digicams. it has gotten especially easier if one adds an articulating externally added vf. looking 'down' is much more discreet than looking 'at' a subject.
so obviously, this desire for and enjoyment of 'candids' morphed into my particular type of street work. i view it as a 'slice of life' and as such i dont 'interact' with the scene, and am less concerned with formalistic and formulaic criteria and more concerned that i capture an interesting moment or scene. i typically have my settings to some kind of 'continuous' mode so i can snap off several quick captures in an effort to get that 'critical' moment.
sometimes i will come across a scene that is missing a person etc, and, if its good enough, i'll wait for the right one to 'come along', but thats as close as i get to 'organizing' a scene.
as for FL, i prefer wider, them cropping later to enhance the scene. my favorite FL is 40, but i often shoot 24, 28, 36 or recently 75-100, just to keep fresh and get different perspectives. i recently took out my cv color heliar 75/2.5, equal to 112mm on my gxr, and the change in persective was exhilirating, as was most of the results. its fun to experiment, amd different lenses have different characteristics, and different FLs challenge us to find different ways to use them.
best advice, do what you enjoy, have an open mind, experiment, and have a good time!
tony
so obviously, this desire for and enjoyment of 'candids' morphed into my particular type of street work. i view it as a 'slice of life' and as such i dont 'interact' with the scene, and am less concerned with formalistic and formulaic criteria and more concerned that i capture an interesting moment or scene. i typically have my settings to some kind of 'continuous' mode so i can snap off several quick captures in an effort to get that 'critical' moment.
sometimes i will come across a scene that is missing a person etc, and, if its good enough, i'll wait for the right one to 'come along', but thats as close as i get to 'organizing' a scene.
as for FL, i prefer wider, them cropping later to enhance the scene. my favorite FL is 40, but i often shoot 24, 28, 36 or recently 75-100, just to keep fresh and get different perspectives. i recently took out my cv color heliar 75/2.5, equal to 112mm on my gxr, and the change in persective was exhilirating, as was most of the results. its fun to experiment, amd different lenses have different characteristics, and different FLs challenge us to find different ways to use them.
best advice, do what you enjoy, have an open mind, experiment, and have a good time!
tony
Sparrow
Veteran
On the train to Manchester mostly ... then just stand around and take photos
Exdsc
Well-known
Speaking for myself, I was simply trying to unconsciously recreate the photos that I have seen of some photographers that I admire. That was pretty much my approach and I could not change it even if I tried.
I had/have no idea of what I want from street photography and this has been a major reason why the novelty of street photography has worn out for me.
I found street photography not fulfilling and an enjoyable type of photography, perhaps due to my own limited skill, but the blatant truth for me was that I did not enjoy looking at the photos I took on the street, this made it feel like a torture to edit and process those images and hence my backlog increased to a point that I simply lost interest.
I had/have no idea of what I want from street photography and this has been a major reason why the novelty of street photography has worn out for me.
I found street photography not fulfilling and an enjoyable type of photography, perhaps due to my own limited skill, but the blatant truth for me was that I did not enjoy looking at the photos I took on the street, this made it feel like a torture to edit and process those images and hence my backlog increased to a point that I simply lost interest.
bonatto
looking out
Usually it draws out from a personal curiosity towards something on the street. I try to pick out a subject first.
Most of the time its something general. Like, people in suits - for example. Then I go about looking for these things on the street, doing interesting things or I'll try a different composition, or both.
Once in a while a randomly interesting scene catches your eye, then it can become an interesting photo.
I've found that setting "assignments" for myself on the street usually helps me come back with usable pictures the end of the day.
Most of the time its something general. Like, people in suits - for example. Then I go about looking for these things on the street, doing interesting things or I'll try a different composition, or both.
Once in a while a randomly interesting scene catches your eye, then it can become an interesting photo.
I've found that setting "assignments" for myself on the street usually helps me come back with usable pictures the end of the day.
nikon_sam
Shooter of Film...
I just go out and see what I see...what ever happens to catch my eye and if I'm able to actually record what I've seen the way I've seen it...
Most of my street shooting happens in downtown Los Angeles...so I walk my route or areas I like to visit and look for great lighting, patterns, people, buildings or cars...
I'm open to anything when street shooting...
Most of my street shooting happens in downtown Los Angeles...so I walk my route or areas I like to visit and look for great lighting, patterns, people, buildings or cars...
I'm open to anything when street shooting...
CaptZoom
Established
Great question. The answers are all subjective, and have been insightful both in terms if what people consider street photography and how try approach it.
Excepting music, I find art about the mundane appealing, entertaining, and insightful. Almost all of my non paid photography is photographing people going about their daily routines. Trying to capture that, or trying to make the mundane some how visually interesting is what I try to do. And often the results end up fitting what most would consider street photography, though I do not specifically try to engage in street photography (and I'm not making a value judgement for or against street photography). Almost all of my personal work is bw, and I tend to stay close to normal focal lengths, 50mm. When I used to use a dSLR (I use a rangefinder now), I almost exclusively used 85mm. Composition-wise, I actively look for activity; and live by the mantra that each photograph should tell a story (all other considerations are secondary). Lastly, I refuse to be limited by a manufacturers given aspect ratio- every frame gets a ratio best suited to the composition. I don't know why manufacturers do not switch to a square format for the sensor that maximized the image circle!
That's my two cents; I'm looking forward to reading everyone else's remarks.
Excepting music, I find art about the mundane appealing, entertaining, and insightful. Almost all of my non paid photography is photographing people going about their daily routines. Trying to capture that, or trying to make the mundane some how visually interesting is what I try to do. And often the results end up fitting what most would consider street photography, though I do not specifically try to engage in street photography (and I'm not making a value judgement for or against street photography). Almost all of my personal work is bw, and I tend to stay close to normal focal lengths, 50mm. When I used to use a dSLR (I use a rangefinder now), I almost exclusively used 85mm. Composition-wise, I actively look for activity; and live by the mantra that each photograph should tell a story (all other considerations are secondary). Lastly, I refuse to be limited by a manufacturers given aspect ratio- every frame gets a ratio best suited to the composition. I don't know why manufacturers do not switch to a square format for the sensor that maximized the image circle!
That's my two cents; I'm looking forward to reading everyone else's remarks.
parasko
Established
Street photography is like any other type of photography- it is still all about light. If the light is good, then shoot!!!
Jamie Pillers
Skeptic
Not that I'm any good at it, but I think I approach it in an 'Elliot Erwit' kind of way. That is, with a sense of humor or satire, and maybe with a dash of commentary about the 'fashion of the day' seen on our U.S. urban streets.
DNG
Film Friendly
I just started my hand at Street Photography (Hereafter "SP"). after looking at many different wed-sites on SP, and a few forums, I am trying have a more of a classical look or feel. Looking for the energy and story and capturing it. It does take practice and perseverance. I use wide, my 2 favorites, A 24mm on my SLR, and a 14mm (28 fov) on my OMD-E-M5. I preset my 24mm for 5-feet to INF, with Tri-X, and similar settings for m4/3 set up in M-Focus, OR, I use the Touch Screen/AF/Trigger.
Look ahead as you walk, and look for potential "Moments" and be ready when you get closer to "Stop/Snap/Smile/Move-On"
You may want spend some time this FB Group and read the SP discussions on a wide of topics.
Alex Coghe is the owner, and is a Professional Photography Journalist in Mexico, Who loves SP in his spare time..
On FB >> Worldwide Street Photographers
His SP Blog > Alex Coghe, Photographer Hover over the RED BAND on the right to have the menu slide out.
Candid: Monument Circle: Indianapolis, IN 9-1-2012 by Peter Arbib, on Flickr
Taking care of business by Peter Arbib, on Flickr
Look ahead as you walk, and look for potential "Moments" and be ready when you get closer to "Stop/Snap/Smile/Move-On"
You may want spend some time this FB Group and read the SP discussions on a wide of topics.
Alex Coghe is the owner, and is a Professional Photography Journalist in Mexico, Who loves SP in his spare time..
On FB >> Worldwide Street Photographers
His SP Blog > Alex Coghe, Photographer Hover over the RED BAND on the right to have the menu slide out.
Candid: Monument Circle: Indianapolis, IN 9-1-2012 by Peter Arbib, on Flickr
Taking care of business by Peter Arbib, on Flickr
MIXPIX
Newbie
I just wait for the shot to find me....
I just wait for the shot to find me....
I wait for the shot to find me. It usually does by presenting itself at an angle not before seen.
I just wait for the shot to find me....
I wait for the shot to find me. It usually does by presenting itself at an angle not before seen.
Gabriel M.A.
My Red Dot Glows For You
I approach it with caution: some people are very corrosive when it comes to their spirit being sucked into a dark chamber without proper and prior bartering.
MIXPIX
Newbie
Caution?
Caution?
Do you throw caution to the winds when the shot is immediate?
Caution?
Do you throw caution to the winds when the shot is immediate?
KM-25
Well-known
I wait until no cars are coming then prey upon gum and manhole covers...
Gabriel M.A.
My Red Dot Glows For You
I take caution from the ether and invest it in impressionable phlogiston.
paulfish4570
Veteran
with trepidation ...
Bingley
Veteran
I love street photography because it pushes me outside my comfort zone. I've taken a more classical approach to date, I suppose, although I'm trying more these days to think of the entire composition, geometry, etc. I tend to look for interesting gestures, juxtapositions, incongruities, as well as decisive moments. There are some very good street photographers on RFF who post in the gallery. One whose style I partcularly admire is Tuna, but there are many others who are doing terrific work.
Out to Lunch
Ventor
Locate an interesting area. Get ready with the camera in hand and walk around, not aimlessly but with the intent of taking photographs. For me, anything goes, except the Bruce Gilden approach...i.e. firing a big flashgun in peoples' faces.
Damaso
Photojournalist
I'm pretty sure everyone has a different approach. Sometimes my approach will differ depending on my mood the time of day or even the weather. I think street photography is challenging because it doesn't have a specific goal. Just about anything can be a street photograph so the photographer has to work even harder....
