Peter_Jones
Well-known
Enjoy your photography, try a different (longer?) lens, or even a compact. Set yourself a project, not necessarily "street" but some sort of theme or topic,
Most of all, keep shooting and enjoying your photography.
Most of all, keep shooting and enjoying your photography.
braver
Well-known
Editing is a huge part of street photography. Forget that you might get 'one keeper a roll'. Get one or two keepers a year and go from there. All the big street photogs shoot a number of rolls a day but are usually known for very few really good shots. Bruce Gilden once remarked that street is so hard he figured he got about 25 really good ones after being at it for over 40 years. I don't think that all shots in Winogrand's Figments from the real world are all at the same level either, but he's still my favourite photographer.
Another thing that might help is to not look at it picture by picture. Try to find stories or themes, things that interest you. Build a portfolio around that theme, if all images work together they don't all have to be 100% ace to tell the story. Take a look at Twirl/Run from Mermelstein for instance: most are forgettable but all of them put together it's very strong. I'm hoping that ten years from now, when I look through my negative sheets I'll find similar themes that may proof interesting. For now I think I've amassed three keepers
That and 'get closer'
Another thing that might help is to not look at it picture by picture. Try to find stories or themes, things that interest you. Build a portfolio around that theme, if all images work together they don't all have to be 100% ace to tell the story. Take a look at Twirl/Run from Mermelstein for instance: most are forgettable but all of them put together it's very strong. I'm hoping that ten years from now, when I look through my negative sheets I'll find similar themes that may proof interesting. For now I think I've amassed three keepers
That and 'get closer'
John Elder
Well-known
Braver has it right. Getting a good street photograph is one of the toughest things to do in photography. Gianni Berengo Gardin, not well known is the USA, but one of the best if not the best street photographer, say a street photographer iw doing well to shoot 2 great shots a year. You can check out my street pics on facebook: facebook.com/JOHNELDER.PHOTOGRAPHER I try very hard to edit my work without mercy and to post only my best work
spencewine
Member
99.999% of all street photos suck, so I wouldn't feel too bad. No one just picks up a camera and immediately starts making good street photos. I've been shooting for 3 years pretty consistently (2-3 X a week at least at about 5-10 rolls a week) and I still haven't got a shot that I'm completely satisfied yet. Here's some pretty good advice that I found and try to follow :
http://streetreverbmagazine.com/2010/11/28/words-of-advice-1/
I just keep at it and constantly challenge myself.
http://streetreverbmagazine.com/2010/11/28/words-of-advice-1/
I just keep at it and constantly challenge myself.
spencewine
Member
I'll add that you're in the right frame of mind if you can criticize your own work as you have. I believe that being honest with yourself and being able to recognize a good street photograph (made by someone else) is an important step towards making better street photos yourself.