I'm not motivated to do street photography

At one point in the past, after years of doing nature close ups on colour slide film, I got tired of that genre and moved on to something else. There's no harm or shame in that. Move on. Find something that does inspire you, even if that thing is outside of photography! You can go back to street shooting if ever you want. No need to burn bridges.
 
HCB in one documentary once said "if you want it, it won't happen".

Don't push yourself into it.

Just walk with your eyes open, and your camera not too far (maybe in a bag or backpack).

When you see something interesting - snap.

I don't push it. I sometimes have one film in the camera for a few months. But the images from that roll are worth it. More keepers than if I force myself to finish the film in a week.
 
Someone said it earlier - photography to some extent reflects life - there is something within you that is not being expressed and served anymore, and so you are bored with what you are seeing, because you are bored with what you think about what you are seeing. I too tired of street shooting for a while, but now that I have four kids a whole new world of understanding about life has opened to me, and I actually see things much differently. It's all about what you bring into the images. Any chimp can snap pictures on the street - it's sorting through the mess and building meaning and finding the gems that makes it Art.

I think most beginning street shooters think street work is just about framing strangers in the middle of walking, or the tired old homeless guy shuffling down the street kind of stuff. Nothing wrong with that, but there is so much more to the world, and it's all out there in the street, and further, inside the buildings on the street. Don't forget working out in the "real world" (not pre-planning your images) doesn't only have to occur on the street - maybe try working inside for a while?

I would also do some serious introspection and ask yourself "what am I trying to say?" with street photography. If you don't have an answer, it may be that you will find that you have just been doing it because you think that's what you're suppsoed to do with a rangefinder - so it's just been emulation for you. Again, nothing wrong with that, but maybe your passion lies elsewhere in photography, or more likely, maybe you are just burned out and need a break. This is what it's about though. The process - it's a struggle - and it is largely thankless, but a better way to spend your life than just doing your part for the National Economy and paying taxes. I recommend picking up a copy of "The Artist's Way," by Julia Cameron. I know many artists who have found it a lifesaver in removing creative blocks for them. Approach it with an open mind (it can seem a bit silly at first glance) and see if it helps.

http://www.amazon.com/Artists-Way-S...d_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1206447856&sr=8-2
 
just a thought...

just a thought...

It is the artless art after all!

I know this "what's the point" feeling! But I think it takes quite a bit of patience and over the years you can build a nice little collection of personal photographs about your city.

I always think they might look a bit boring now but in 10 years time they might be quite unique documents.

E.g. the old busses in London have now all but disapeared and the same might happen soon to the old cabs.

See for yourself whether its worth it:
www.volkerb.co.uk
 
I haven't got much motivation for it either. I'm just sort of waiting for the festival season in Milwaukee to start. I'm looking forward to taking street type photos then when people congregate, and it's a lot easier.
 
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Some wonderful advice all around, I really appreciate it.

This is probably the first time I have felt a sort of connection to fellow photographers, so I'm glad that I joined this forum... I say that because to me photography is a creative process. the technical part of it is just the initial barrier which one easily surpasses, its afterwords when one starts to play with ideas and themes and form that it gets incredibly frustrating... and unfortunately the old masters are of no help. for example if you study HCB suddenly you get to dislike your own pictures because the composition is not perfect, if you study Robert frank you start to look for sadness in your images and if you start shooting like Winogrand you bascially waste a lot of film.

I will follow the advice in this thread, I will try them all and hope for the best.
 
Nh3 said:
Some wonderful advice all around, I really appreciate it.

This is probably the first time I have felt a sort of connection to fellow photographers, so I'm glad that I joined this forum... I say that because to me photography is a creative process. the technical part of it is just the initial barrier which one easily surpasses, its afterwords when one starts to play with ideas and themes and form that it gets incredibly frustrating... and unfortunately the old masters are of no help. for example if you study HCB suddenly you get to dislike your own pictures because the composition is not perfect, if you study Robert frank you start to look for sadness in your images and if you start shooting like Winogrand you bascially waste a lot of film.

I will follow the advice in this thread, I will try them all and hope for the best.
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You're so right about that - but a large part of artistic development is assimilating other styles - all artists do it. After all, it was people like Frank who made it okay to hold the camera with one hand and make grainy images that aren't level etc. -- I definately assimilated that into my work. My mentor showed me new ways to think about arranging my photos - these are all things we learn through association with other people - nothing wrong with it. But one thing is for sure, it isn't an intellectual pursuit - in the end if you're not shooting you won't progress, no matter how much other work you assimilate, because the knowledge must be processed through your own sense of self, your personal vision and hard work.
 
Take a look at more street photographers work. Winogrand/HCB etc are great but there are alternatives to that kind of approach. Winogrand said that one of the problems he found most difficult was "to make a photograph more theatrical than the subjects own theatricality". I think that means, not just photographing a crazy clown, but finding the clown in some kind of interesting context. That's interesting, but there are alternatives. Look at Alex Webb for example. The subjects in many of his photos are used simply as part of a kind of collage. The subject is often not really as important as the overall "chaotic order" of his photos. One way I think he does it is to often divide the frame in some way. With a wall, or a sign post etc. He's always inspirational to me and has found a really unique approach to street/documentary photos. His book on Istanbul is really interesting. Alex Webb:

http://www.magnumphotos.com/Archive...herDetail_VPage&pid=2K7O3R1V0OB0&nm=Alex Webb

Good luck!
 
feenej said:
I haven't got much motivation for it either. I'm just sort of waiting for the festival season in Milwaukee to start. I'm looking forward to taking street type photos then when people congregate, and it's a lot easier.
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I agree this is a great way to work - at public events people are used to seeing photographers - I just had a very productive day last weekend at the St. Patty's Day parade here in Pittsburgh - I made a number of images that had nothing to do with the parade, but people were just much less apprehensive about my photographing them because A., they were hammered drunk, and B. I was one of many many photographers roaming about.
 
leicasniper said:
Honestly, and not trying to sound flippant, I think many "top" street photographers are able to do it so long because they are more interested in the process than the results.
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I think this is an important point to remember when considering what you want to do. Without the desire for the process, the results will be worthless.
 
Street was a photography genre I never considered until I joined RFF. I should mention I’m an amateur; I photograph because I enjoy it. I don’t like street at all, not the process, nor my results, except possibly one or two photos. It doesn’t suit my personality in any way. I also live in Toronto, and it seemed to me that when I tried it, to push myself, I got shots of people going to work, going home, or buying ice cream on warm weekends. What a thrill. The best I get is when I’m trying to do non-street and someone coincidentally walks into the frame and makes it more interesting. That’s luck, not street, & I’m now trying to figure out what to shoot in the city. I broke my left leg almost two weeks ago slipping on ice on Queen St., so I have lots of time to think, read, write, and look at what other photographers put on flickr. With a non weight-bearing cast, I can’t even drive my standard transmission car, so I’m housebound.
There is a GTA get together planned, more or less, for the 1st or 2nd weekend in May, though I’d now prefer the 2nd weekend, as it’s more certain I’ll be in a walking cast by then. Click on Forums, scroll down to Canadian RFF club, then go to “Spring GTA gathering”. The latest post is 3 weeks ago. You’ll get more helpful advice from the other guys than you will from me, and we tend to have a good time. I have the impression that the GTA club is more active than most.
 
williams473 said:
I agree this is a great way to work - at public events people are used to seeing photographers - I just had a very productive day last weekend at the St. Patty's Day parade here in Pittsburgh - I made a number of images that had nothing to do with the parade, but people were just much less apprehensive about my photographing them because A., they were hammered drunk, and B. I was one of many many photographers roaming about.
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I missed our parade, but got to spend some time hanging out in front of a local Irish pub in Milwaukee. There were two buddies hanging out in front. One was trying to direct his friend on how to behave, but when an attractive woman walked by, both of them lost completely lost their interest in the conversation at hand, and all four eyes zoomed in on something MUCH more interesting!

original.jpg
 
marke said:
I can't agree more. If you want to grow and get beyond your present plateau, it will take some work. It will be frustrating. Of course, if the passion has been lost, as might be the case with the OP, then it might be best just to move on to something else.

Whatever the case, this is a great thread, hearing the different ways we all approach this common problem.
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Yes, this is fun to bat ideas around.

Grainhound,

Sorry you broke your leg, but that sounds like a challenge to me! How about really pushing your vision and doing a small portfolio of images about being laid up in your house? It would be good practice if nothing else. It's a trap to think there is nothing apparently going on - EDITORS like stories about far-off exotic locales because they sell, but people are out living very real lives in Toronto, and you can make very good images there if you want. And since you don't like street work, this could be done at your leisure - it could be a series of "housescapes" or a study of your wallpaper - anything!

I love Toronto by the way - only been there once but it was great. Maybe instead of "street" shooting you might enjoy some documentary work, which is more focused on a story. When your leg mends, how about a piece on the hockey culture up there - like maybe the adult professionals who play at the local rinks - or the women who play? Or something none of us foreigners would know about Toronto? Or if you're dead set on exotic international subject matter, how about looking at the large immigrant communities in Toronto - there must be a story there somewhere... just some ideas to maybe help you out...
 
the best advice has been given many times over already, shoot something else, flowers, portraits, buildings, etc.

buy photobooks, look in magazines, live your life, the drive will return eventually.

good luck,
Todd
 
Is street realy the type of photography you want to do? I've grown tired of shooting on the street aswell. I still like to look at the work of other street photographers, but honestly, most of the stuff I've seen on internet is quite boring to me. Now I have this great urge to shoot portraits and still life's.

Try other types of photography. You may find the passion for something else.
 
There have been some very good suggestions made so far. I tend to agree with those who are suggesting that you think about what you want to convey through your street photography. In case you are interested, HERE is a thread that I started while going through a similar process of reflection on my street photography.
 
I've felt that it's very hard for me to do anything that feels original on the street. Picturesque garbage cans? Been done. Woman walking ten dogs? Done. Late afternoon shadows across a crumbling old building? Done.

I'm not saying that other people can't do original work. I was just not happy with what I was shooting.

I've been shooting portraits lately, both in a studio and in situ, including on the street. I'm finding it challenging and rewarding. The human face has inifinite variety and capturing the many aspects of someone's personality in a single black and white frame taxes both my technical and personal skills.
 
Thanks for the suggestions, Matt. I now live a block from little India. When I first moved here, I took quite a few shots there, and eventually that played a role in the realisation I wasn’t going anywhere with street. Obviously, I have lots of time to reflect on what’s next. Maybe a still life or two, though I’d probably bring out the Mamiya TLR gear for that.
 
Pherdinand: Sorry for the belated reply. You said you wanted to see a photograph of the young woman who thought she was too ugly to be worthy of a photograph.

"Thick Hair," in My Photos, Page 4.
 
thank you for asking this question. it's caused a lot of soul searching in a lot of people
i started to compose a lengthy reply about what i find beautiful and how i find meaning in the pictures i take, and then the whole point of this forum hit me: i take the pictures that excite me... and they might not really excite you. or anyone else.

but i think what everyone is saying is do what you find meaningful. otherwise there's no point. and there's no reason for you to feel guilty about doing things differently than the prevailing winds.
 
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