Is street shooting easy?

[GSNfan]

Street photography by extension is people photography, because in the end of the day if your pictures does not evoke some sense of empathy and says something about human condition, then you might as well go and photograph manhole covers, and street lines, and other boring and nonsensical stuff just because they make neat form and geometry.

Humans are social animals and their emotions are hardwired to respond to other humans, either positively or negatively. The good street photographer plays in that relationship and evokes a sense of humanity with the pictures.

 

[jsrockit]

then you might as well go and photograph manhole covers, and street lines, and other boring and nonsensical stuff just because they make neat form and geometry...

Nothing wrong with this type of photography either... as long as... as always, it is done well.

 

[rbsinto]

To repeat the Mantra:
Street Photography is easy. Anyone with a camera can do it, especially today with Auto-focus, Matrix-metered cameras.
But doing it well is a completely different story. And the proof of that, can be found all over the Internet, where one finds mountains of artless, pointless, mindless, badly done Dreck masquerading as Street Photography.

 

[JohnL]

I remember in an interview HCB said something like I didn't do any of my best photographs: they all were made by the good luck that came those times...

Well, the guy was lucky quite a few times!

Cheers,

Juan

There was a famous golf pro back in the 50s or thereabouts - might have been Ken Venturi but ICBW - who said in a discussion along much these same lines ... "the more I practise, the luckier I get".

 

[Nikkor AIS]

Nikkor 8 mm 2.8 AIS on Nikon D3



Nikkor 300 4.5 IF-ED AIS on Nikon D3




Nikkor 80-200 2.8 ED AIS on Nikon D3



Nikkor 28 1.4 AF-D on Nikon D3





Nikkor 35 1.4 AIS on Nikon D3



Nikkor 28 1.4 AF-D on Nikon D3


I would like to make a couple of comments. First off, just because you take the odd manhole cover or power-line shot doesn't mean your street photography is without weight. I also shoot brick walls that I find visually interesting when I am walking around taking pictures.

Sometimes I see the world a little wider than some.








Nikkor 28 1.4 AF-D on Nikon D3

The truth of it is having a camera and the willingness to raise it and shoot strangers, or to be ridiculed for photographing weird stuff out in public is not easy.
And it's sad that many second-guess themselves and don't take the shot because they are paralyzed by what others think.

I say, make your own photos and be true to your own vision.

Don't let others decide what is and what is not important.
Find your own vision. Notice and be aware of the things around you.

See it new, even though you walk by it all the time.

Anticipate and pre-visualize the final image before you release the shutter.

Perfect practice makes perfect.

There are no rules to street photography.

 

[Mcary]

<>

The way I look at it street photography is like running a 10K in that with a little effort pretty much anyone can do it. Now being good at is a more like running a sub 30min 10K a whole lot harder 🙂

 

[jsrockit]

Well said Nikkor AIS.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

There are no rules to street photography.

Maybe just one: doing street photography, and not photographs of streets... (I'm not talking about you or your shots)

Cheers,

Juan

 

[yanidel]

it's 3% talent, 17% technique, 40% time/effort/routine and 40% luck. 🙂

Yet luck is 100% correlated with time/effort/routine. So really, it is 80% time/effort/routine. 😉

 

[Tim McGraw]

Is this street shooting ?

 

[Tim McGraw]

or this

[http://www.flickr.com/photos/tims_view/3484547586/]

 

[Nikkor AIS]

Thanks JS, I appreciate your kind words.

So Juan, no rules means no rules. I don't see why shots of streets are not part of street photography.
Everyone has to draw their own lines. And make their own choices.

One of the nice things about street photography is that no one is there to tell you how to do it. There is no right or wrong.
I am not the authority and neither are you.

Street photography is the Wild West 😛.

And who are you or I, or anyone one else to say what a suitable subject matter is? Or what equipment to use? Or what setting to use on the camera? Film or digital. B+W or colour.
And to me, that is the great thing.
Everyone has their own take on it.
Thank God for individuals.

I enjoy looking at other people's work that is different from mine.

As far as being easy, I would say it's not easy. Not in the least.
I am working with some beginning photographers about getting them to overcome their inability to photograph strangers in a spontaneous candid setting on the street without suffering major anxiety attacks.

And that ability to "point and shoot" is a major link in the image chain of street photography.

One thing I strongly feel is that focusing on the light and composition and shutter speed and aperture and decisive moment is a "good" way to trick the mind into not feeling so anxious about making images on the street.

To become a successful street photographer, you have to get over the feeling that you are doing something wrong.
Besides, being out there and feeling like you're doing something wrong sends out a bad vibe which I think can draw unpleasant energy onto yourself. And that can be dangerous.

Being open and confident is a good head space to be in when street shooting. Being natural and calm is the key. And never be too proud to run when you have a premonition of danger 😱.

Remember to breathe 🙂. Even though I hold my breath at the moment of exposure, breathing is critical to controlling fear and keeping the brain ticking. So we can keep on clicking 😉.

And at the heart of it, fear is the emotion that stops many us from taking that perfect shot.

This one was one of my first street shots. And I still remember my heart pounding in my chest when taking the photo.

I still get a rush when I go street shooting, but I will never forget that first hit 😎.






Nikkor 24 2.8 FM2 on Tri-X

 

[le vrai rdu]

Hi,


Today I was thinking I have very few street shooting images I consider really good... And after some experience in other fields I was thinking perhaps street/people is the photographic field I'd describe as the toughest one for getting outstanding results, both because you can't repeat and make your images better as you have almost no time to act, and also because when your main subject is what briefly happens to people around you, you don't depend on your abilities exclusively, but on situations you can't -in lots of different ways- control, prepare or predict...


Have you ever felt street shooting is a hard, complex and slow game? Or do you feel it's easy and get great results all the time?


Cheers,


Juan

it is hard slow, sometimes rewarding, very often waiting for nothing, needs a lot of time

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

So Juan, No rules means no rules. I don't why see why shots of streets are not part of street photography.?

Just names... That's called urban landscape.

Street photography is related to people (or feelings: animals...) Of course street photography can be done everywhere, not only in the streets... No laws for me either, just the names this world decided before I was born. Would I feel happy about changing those names? Nah.

Cheers,

Juan

 

[Nikkor AIS]

Juan, I am not sure where you're going with this. And who are you referring to as "the world?"

I remember other discussions on this topic with you involved on the RFF and to keep the thread on the rails, I think it's best to agree to disagree. I am not changing my mind any time soon. I have been a "street photographer" for over 25 years.
I don't think of myself as an urban landscaper 😱.

On the street, I worry about getting great images, which is hard enough without thinking about your definitions, which I don't agree with and never will.

Like I said, you are not calling the shots on what is and what is not a street photo. Call your own photos whatever you like. I get to name mine. If that's okay? Some things won't fit into your little box. The fact you keep bringing this up must mean it really bothers you?

Who cares? And what does it contribute to the topic at hand. I think it's better to move on. Especially since if you choose to drop it, I have the last word on the subject 😛.

No seriously, I really feel that these definitions are barriers to taking great images.

On the street, there is often so little time to get the image. And when it's gone, and you (or I) missed it, there is a profound sense of loss I can't even describe. All I know is that the best images are yet to be taken.
I look forward to some other members' showing their images of "street photography," and reading their thoughts on the subject at hand.



Nikkor 24 2.8 AIS on F2AS Tri-X







Nikkor 16 mm 2.8 AIS on F2AS





Taken with the 35 mm Rollei with 40 mm lens on Tri-X




Nikkor 85 2.0 AIS on F2AS on Tri-X





Nikkor 135 2.0 AIS on F2AS


Getting back to the topic at hand, I really feel that it's important to get "in the zone" when street shooting in order to reach the highest level that one is capable of achieving.

I am sure it's different for everyone but for me, it's a relaxed concentration and heightened sense of awareness.

There is a sense of being connected to everything and yet being able to single out what is important and yet keep the big picture in mind at the same time. And all the while, getting the decisive moment, proper exposure, composition ...OO.




Nikkor 8 mm 2.8 AIS on F2AS

For me, this shot was a pivotal moment in my journey as a street photographer as I moved in and got behind Rick Hansen. The press photographers were yelling at me to get the hell out of their picture (being a street photographer, I didn't care :angel🙂.

 

[gekopaca]

I look forward to some other member's images showing there " Street photography".

You're right! Before showing I repost my opinion :

Street photography it's 33% talent, 33% anticipation of people's behavior and 33% guts.

No technique or luck here!

You must to be very close to your subject, very quick, and able to affront difficult situations.
For me it's a political act because you're showing some people in the real life and dynamic action.
No esthetic here, only meanings.

 

[migtex]

"The London Street Photography Festival defines Street Photography as:
“candid, un-staged photography which captures, explores or questions contemporary society and the relationships between individuals and their surroundings.”
Street photography is perhaps more easily defined as a method than a genre. The results can fit into documentary, portraiture and other genres, but the key elements of spontaneity, careful observation and an open mind ready to capture whatever appears in the viewfinder are essential. "

Still, I go with SimonSawSunlight formula.

Finepix F11

Finepix F11

D70/24-120

Bessa R2S/CV 21

Nikon Coolpix 990

Finepix F11

Nikon D2H

Finepix F11

Nikon S2 /CV 21

Bessa R2S/CV 21

 

[jky]

a few of mine

a few of mine

With the above, I was trying play with various aspects like light, spatial arrangements and obviously some humor. These are all things I've really enjoyed viewing when reviewing other people's work, which I try and apply when I go out and take some snaps. I think over time, it becomes *a little* "easier" in that you're a little more aware of the things you want to include/exclude, how you want to space things out, etc... however, these aspects don't always come together when you want them to, which I guess is the "hard" part....

 

[le vrai rdu]

is this being a streetphoto gallery ?
I doubt it, anybody can post it's pictures, but I don't think it will improve the quality of this thread

people who speak here are supposed to have made streetphoto, we don't need to prove it showing each others pictures

 

[jky]

I don't think the intention of the photos posted is to "prove" anything other than to show perhaps different methods, styles, etc... and this *may* improve things.
As often is the case with these types of threads, the responses miraculously transform into methodology, subject matter and sometimes *for petes sake!* gear.