I have stopped doing street photography

Hi Nh3, you joined RFF in March. I’ve been reading a lot of your posts here at RFF and I’m wondering if you are using this forum for research for a paper of some kind. You started threads dealing with self consciousness, then moved to a ‘street photography manifesto’, followed by an ethics discussion. Your last thread leads off with the conclusion that you’re not interested in street photography, now its landscapes.

In three weeks you’ve gone all the way from ‘A Personal Street Photography Manifesto’ to ‘I'm not motivated to do street photography’.

All this time you have shown no one a single image of yours nor posted images into the RFF gallery nor put a link to a gallery of your work. For someone who has such a passion for photograpy there’s a dearth of your work provided for the forum itself.

In my opinion now’s the time to put some work “on the table” if this isn’t all just a research paper.

March 10th
How I overcome self-consciousness
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=55846
The first day I picked up my camera and went for street photography, I was petrified.

Four weeks ago
A Personal Street Photography Manifesto
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57636
This post is a by-product of my struggle with "street photography burn-out" and the contents should not be taken seriously by those who’re not serious about street photography.


Four weeks ago
The ethics of digital to B&W conversion
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57409
The ethics of digital to B&W conversion
Here is a scenario:
A photographer using a DSLR shoots RAW, processes the files in photoshop CS3. He makes large prints of his work and goes to a museum curator.

March 25th
I'm not motivated to do street photography
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56706
Yes, it pains me to say it but I'm bored of street photography. I have pretty much done everything that I could on the street and now I just don't feel motivated at all to do street photography... I don't find it creatively stimulating.
 
NH3, I think it is possible to take profound street photographs, yet I know what you mean. I think it all comes down to what type of work, satisfies you personally. When I think of street photography that captures my interest, I tend to think of Gary Winogrand, HCB, Eugene Richards, Alex Webb--who has a serious documentary and narrative commentary. Most his photographs are single images, which are narrative in nature, and as a collection of images, have a common theme, or social discourse. So I think it is possible.

When I have time to do street photography, I find structural elements that visually excite me, and then I wait for people or some sort of action to walk into my frame. I might use a whole roll of film on this one scene just to capture that one magical moment, where everything comes together. Sometimes I will return to the same, scene, and sometimes, it might be all about the light--this is one of my favorite (http://unguided-tour.blogspot.com/search/label/Pork), and I was up most of the night anyway, walking around, I saw him, and waited. I think it is possible. Also Stephen shore, but overall photograph things that you are passionate about.

I wish you well!
 
Nevermind if your pictures are any good. Do you enjoy the process of taking those pictures? If yes then continue and if not then do something else.
 
Amazing how many folks seem to equate street photography with some sort of candid portraiture. A good street photo very often is totally not about people, despite being composed from them.
 
My 2Cents is that photographing people or street scenes 'because you could' was never going to be fulfilling. I love street photography but only click the shutter when I have an emotional response to what I am seeing. I have met fascinating people, taken photos by stealth, asked and been turned down, asked and been granted. It just depends. But most of all, I have to feel something otherwise what is the point? I would suggest that instead of walking the street and 'pursuing photography' just walk..keep walking, and abserve people, things, animals, abstracts. You will know when to photograph because something will spark inside and you will then go into action. I have been moderately successful in the west and less so here in kabul, but i still go out and do it. Often I come back with nothing. Often I visit the same places, but every time I see something different. I have seen wonderful things too, but most of all I love getting out there. Taking the picture is surely trying to bottle the essence of something that has somehow moved you. But you have to be moved first. One of the most wonderful moments in my entire lifew was meeting a man called Charlie in NY City. I had an incredible conversation in which he ran rings around me in our chat about the meaning of everything...then i realised he had an exceptional talent for talking absolute rubbish but with the air of an accomplished academic. Yes, he was drunk, but my goodness he could dance and sing...and talk. I got some wonderful photographs, but more importantly they will forever be associated with one of the most remarkable conversations I have ever had. Two complete strangers, enthralled, perplexed and in the end walking in the opposite direction with deep smiles on their faces.

Enjoy being out there. Maybe sometimes you are looking to see certain things or want to go to certain areas. Sometimes you just want to get out of the house and let everything go.

A book which talks about this a lot is the Tao of Photography, which although I was suspicious of it, I enjoyed a lot. Street photography really has little to do with photography apart from "click".
 
I like good street photography and we have some excellent examples in our gallery from time to time ... 'Tatiana She' comes to mind and there are others who frequently catch my attention.

I like photographing people but not randomly ... I prefer to photograph them in some sort of context otherwise for me it's a little meaningless ... others seem to be able to do it and do it well but I get little satisfaction from it. There is almost a type of peer pressure to take street shots when you join this forum ... there is a focus on the genre that exceeds it's value IMHO.

Poor landscapes are as miserable to look at as poor street shots but when I see a well composed well photographed landscape that has a lot of thought put into it I'm at least as impressed as I am by a fine street pic ... I didn't feel this way a short while ago though!
 
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I really find it mind boggling that some people have no life and spend their time on the forums cross-referencing one thread against another, especially when all they had to do was read my original post in this thread where i specifically addressed those other threads.

I'm not here for research or any other purpose, this is a free forum and i joined. Its no one is freaking business why I'm here and what I post as long as I don't break any forum rule... So, I'd really appreciate it if I'm not stalked and my threads are not cross referenced, its really creepy. I have just posted something which i was thinking about, its not like i'm asking for money...

One expects such behavior in forums frequented by teenagers.


As far as the other posters are concerned, I'm really enjoying reading your replies and all of us who're passionate about photography go through stages which we surly need fellow like-minded photographers to discuss ideas with. Thanks.
 
eugenechua said:
it might not be that the person thought he was crappy, but others telling him that he shoots crap. i guess alittle bit of encouragement and positive c&c should be given!
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I'm sorry for having sounded this way, which wasn't my intent.
I said "generally speaking" which meant cooking, photographing, writing, biking...
 
There are very few "street photographers" who are actually currently accomplishing anything of interest For Today. In my opinion, successful street photography relies on one of two components: showing the world in a unique way; showing an 'exotic' area of interest; creating a historical reference.

"Edmo"/Ed Leveckis is a current person, who shot NYC streets a few years ago, with a Hexar AF and i found his results to be startling. I believe i live not too far from him, and yet his vision of the same city was always new.

I've seen very interesting street photography of places i'm not likely to visit. "A Glimpse of the World" on Flickr has fantastic street scenes in China, captured with an old Rolleiflex. They may be 'ordinary' scenes if one lives in those provinces, but to me, they're exotic. It also helps that the photographer is skilled and has a tasteful eye.

Lastly, one may be disappointed by the banality of current street photography, but in 25 years or more, those same images will have greater significance. Either to us, as we remember a world we had forgotten, or to new, younger viewers who will never see the world in that way. It seems like it takes 25 years for time to make a significant mark on imagery in that way, but that's just me. More time, equals more interest. I visit a site called shorpy.com every day, and i love looking at the images from 1900-1930 or so. A lot of the work done by FSA photographers is probably very similar to what's being done now. Except, those images have the backing of 70+ years of historical change. They are grander now than they were then. Of course, there were still some fantastic photographers making those images, and they absolutely stood up on their own even back then. My point is that an 'ordinary,' but well-composed photograph on the streets made today may have infinitely more impact in 50 years than it does now. So, the question becomes, can you find interest in making photographs As An Investment of sorts?
 
Nh3, as you pointed out, this is a public forum. Photographs and posts are equally subjects of criticism, however expressed. Jan’s post looked at your verbal output in a thorough manner, by taking an overview of the only work you have posted on this forum. I would guess that had you posted any photos for criticism, you would not have found comments based on a thorough examination of all your work “creepy”. Crying about a critical comment with respect to your post is amusing when you couple it with a declaration on the subject of teenage behaviour.

You may notice I have no photos in the gallery. The reason is that at this time, I have no photos I’m willing to put up in a public forum. When I produce something I’m happy with, I’ll put it up. I will also expect someone who thinks it’s bad to tell me that, and hopefully why, and look again at the photo from that perspective to see if what’s been said is something I can work on. I would not tell the critic to shut up.

RFF is a free forum, but don’t expect a free ride.
 
grainhound said:
Nh3, as you pointed out, this is a public forum. Photographs and posts are equally subjects of criticism, however expressed. Jan’s post looked at your verbal output in a thorough manner, by taking an overview of the only work you have posted on this forum. I would guess that had you posted any photos for criticism, you would not have found comments based on a thorough examination of all your work “creepy”. Crying about a critical comment with respect to your post is amusing when you couple it with a declaration on the subject of teenage behaviour.

You may notice I have no photos in the gallery. The reason is that at this time, I have no photos I’m willing to put up in a public forum. When I produce something I’m happy with, I’ll put it up. I will also expect someone who thinks it’s bad to tell me that, and hopefully why, and look again at the photo from that perspective to see if what’s been said is something I can work on. I would not tell the critic to shut up.

RFF is a free forum, but don’t expect a free ride.
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Are you an admin, or a moderator? If not then please mind your own business and try not to crap on a thread which so far has got some greats posts.

I'm not going to reply anymore to silly posts such the one above, so don't waste your time.
 
NB23 said:
Generally speaking, How can someone enjoy being crappy?
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That is a very interesting comment... But to know a good picture from a crappy one is not that easily learned.

If amateur photographers knew whats a good picture and whats a bad picture, we wouldn't be inundated with so many mediocre pictures, especially with street photography.

... And also the trouble starts when one starts to like one's own pictures because of the fake praise on the internet.
 
Nh3 said:
Trust me, the body language of the person and their facial expressions will tell you if they're giving you genuine praise or simply being polite.
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I doubt that.
Not everyone can be astute as you seem to be when it comes to reading body language.
During a "gallery opening" you'd be surprised how many people offer smiles, congratulations and general "job well done" back slapping that go completely unnoticed as being either genuine or phony.

That said, if one was to assume that every single bit of praise (regardless if it was for someone's photos, art, or fashion sense) was, indeed, disingenuous, that's a pretty insecure and sad way to live imho.

Dave
 
dcsang said:
I doubt that.
Not everyone can be astute as you seem to be when it comes to reading body language.
During a "gallery opening" you'd be surprised how many people offer smiles, congratulations and general "job well done" back slapping that go completely unnoticed as being either genuine or phony.

That said, if one was to assume that every single bit of praise (regardless if it was for someone's photos, art, or fashion sense) was, indeed, disingenuous, that's a pretty insecure and sad way to live imho.

Dave
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This is not about social acceptance, or a psychological need to be genuinely praised, its about finding out what sort of feedback one's photos generates.

I show my photos to non-photographers because they cannot praise my work based on technical stuff and simply either like what they see or they don't.
 
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