I've got it! A new, better name for "Street"!

[Nomad Z]

The term 'street photography' seems fine to me. It's just a way of referring to a style or genre, which allows us to distinguish that work from landscape, macro, portrait, wedding, etc, photography.

I think there is a fallacy in the rejection of the term 'street photographER', however. You are what you do. If I sit at my organ and play tunes, I'm a musician. If I operate my vehicle to travel somewhere, I'm a driver. If I take pictures of trees and mountains, I'm a landscape photographer. If I take candid pictures of people on the street, I'm a street photographer. The point being, we do many things, and we are many things. Calling yourself, or being called, a street photographer, doesn't mean you are nothing but a street photographer.

Regarding the forum, The Decisive Moment, I found the "we've missed you!" emails rather annoying. That aside, maybe most street photographers are also other-photographers, such that a small forum dedicated to one particular genre doesn't work as well. RFF is much more eclectic, and maybe that helps it to acheive critical mass.

 

[Tompas]

(...) I was walking on the street while taking pictures. Walked up to the local cemetery.

Dead-End Street Photography.

Yes. That's it.

 

[hlockwood]

I'm a little surprised that the forum started recently and dedicated to street photography hasn't really taken off.

It's pretty quiet over at 'Decisive Moment' from what I perceive.

Can you point me to where that is (unless it's a joke)?

Harry

 

[sepiareverb]

Sounds like terrorism to me.

 

[tomtofa]

http://thedecisivemoment.freeforums.org/index.php

Can you point me to where that is (unless it's a joke)?

Harry

 

[Pablito]

The problem with the term "street photography" is that it's simply not accurate. Unless, maybe, you're employed as a photographer by the Department of Public Works...

Most of those who carry out the activity that has become known as "street photography" actually take photos on the sidewalk, of other people who are also on the sidewalk.

Therefore, it should properly be known as "sidewalk photography."

 

[DNG]

I'm a little surprised that the forum started recently and dedicated to street photography hasn't really taken off.

It's pretty quiet over at 'Decisive Moment' from what I perceive.

Can you point me to where that is (unless it's a joke)?

Harry

Yes, it is too quiet 🙁, Alex is really trying to get a popular forum for "Street Photographers.. I know a lot of photographers spend a lot time here, but, "The Decisive Moment" could be pretty cool place with more daily activity... There are some great samples posted.

The Decisive Moment shameless plug 😉

 

[jim sparx]

There is another thread that asks if you consider yourself a 'street photographer' - I said no. Part of my response was this:

"As a former anthropologist, I prefer social documentary photography that takes place on streets, roads, alleys, buildings, homes in ghettos, barrios, hoods, slums, projects, quarters located in cities, towns, villages and roadside rest stops."

I like to think of myself as a social photographer, not to be confused with social worker. The running joke among anthropologists is, "Dogs have fleas, Indians have anthropologists."
I hope there is never a time when street people say, "Dogs have fleas, street people have street photographers."

I like to think of my self recording the social lives of ordinary people in their environment. I do not care for labels defining who I am, rather I think of myself as the people I photograph. I am more at home in a whore house than a church.

 

[noisycheese]

i think that disliking the term 'street' is pretentious.

what's next? saying that i paint in pastels is too 'gay'?

Agreed.

But since the term "street photography" seems to rub some folks the wrong way, how about if we change the official name of this genre to sidewalk photography?? 😀

After all, that's where 90% of it takes place - not in the street...