let us talk street...

If we can't really define "Street Photography" how do we define ourselves as Street Photographers? I know what I like and I see a lot of it here. That said, I go to some of the photography sites and select the Street catagory and inevitably someone will post a picture of a street. ??
 
Darthfeeble said:
If we can't really define "Street Photography" how do we define ourselves as Street Photographers? I know what I like and I see a lot of it here. That said, I go to some of the photography sites and select the Street category and inevitably someone will post a picture of a street. ??
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Everyone needs to define it on their own terms. I think it would be silly to try to come up with a definitive definition.
 
Darthfeeble said:
If we can't really define "Street Photography" how do we define ourselves as Street Photographers? I know what I like and I see a lot of it here. That said, I go to some of the photography sites and select the Street category and inevitably someone will post a picture of a street. ??
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I do it by working and not worrying about what little niche or label someone wants to put on it. It's the work that important but to many put the importance on the label.
 
Meyerowitz' usage of the word chaos within the "street" genre is somewhat wrong. But I won't argue the semantics of it. I like Meyerowitz, but am not a fanboy. Anyway, be it as it may, this thread isn't about him or this .... or that.
 
don't we label everything?
we have shoes...dress, business, casual, high heels, moccasins, snow, loafers...i think i could go on...
 
kbg32 said:
Everyone needs to define it on their own terms. I think it would be silly to try to come up with a definitive definition.
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I don't disagree with that.

My daily work is for the most part very controlled and not chaotic at all. Sketches, art directors, designers and controlled lighting in a lot of situations. The streets are free form for me. Not pre planned. Light seen but not manipulated and controlled by me or an assistant. Subjects moving in an uncontrolled and unplanned nature. Very chaotic when compared to a studio or on location with a studio type environment. I find that world outside that controlled world refreshing and free. Like a jazz musician. Just jamming. Hitting and missing but trying to make sense out of it all.
 
back alley said:
street shooting that is...

i wonder how many of us work under an illusion of sorts?
i consider myself to be primarily a street shooter...but i don't think many people see me as such.
my name never comes up when we talk street, no one refers to me as a street shooter...
i look at my images on flickr and my blog and see street photographs...not all or only street images but enough for folks to notice...at least i think so!
granted, i like street scenes that have no or few people in them (not all though) and i can see where that might lead to a disconnect of sorts...

what about you?
in the same boat?
how do you see yourselves?
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Joe, how do I find your flickr stream? You don't mention it on your blog.

I do some shooting reminiscent (to me) of the photography of Andre Kertesz, Robert Frank, et al, which I guess loosely defines "street photography" for me. But I don't call myself a street photographer.

My interest in making photographs is to express what I see, what I'm feeling, the life and things I see around me in their myriad interactions, and share those perceptions with others. Street photography is a subset of that which focuses on the interactions—or juxtapositions—of people and things in the shared public space.

Street photography should, in a sense, document people, their society, and culture as filtered by a camera's lens and photographer's eye. That's how I think of it.

G
 
back alley said:
don't we label everything?
we have shoes...dress, business, casual, high heels, moccasins, snow, loafers...i think i could go on...
Click to expand...

Yeah we do. And some things need labels but when labels wind up restricting creativity which happens a lot then there not good.

Like well that can't be good because it doesn't neatly fit into a preconceived idea of what it should be or it doesn't fit into a category neatly. I say just create and let those that want to label do just that. I really don't care what pile anyone wants to put work into. I just go out and work. If they want to call it X or Y so be it. Still wont change what i am doing. But too many will change and create around preconceived ideas of what things should be and I think that is what Adams was getting at and I agree.
 
I enjoy social documentary (the recording of humans in their natural condition), and do quite a bit of it when I travel.

However, I don't get to enjoy it when I'm at home. Maybe it's because it's too sterile or vanilla in Southern California suburbia. Or maybe it's because exploring somewhat interesting areas in LA is just too much of a hassle.

Maybe I just need to get out more often.
 
I like the comparison of "jazz" to the outside world Allen. For me that is how I see it. A lot of random notes jostling for rhythm. A "score" waiting to be written.
 
Godfrey said:
Joe, how do I find your flickr stream? You don't mention it on your blog.

I do some shooting reminiscent (to me) of the photography of Andre Kertesz, Robert Frank, et al, which I guess loosely defines "street photography" for me. But I don't call myself a street photographer.

My interest in making photographs is to express what I see, what I'm feeling, the life and things I see around me in their myriad interactions, and share those perceptions with others. Street photography is a subset of that which focuses on the interactions—or juxtapositions—of people and things in the shared public space.

Street photography should, in a sense, document people, their society, and culture as filtered by a camera's lens and photographer's eye. That's how I think of it.

G
Click to expand...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/back_alley/
 
maybe music is a better example...
like jazz, blues, rock, pop...do we limit musicians by labelling them or is just easier to find music when we have a better idea of what we are looking for?
 
back alley said:
don't we label everything?
we have shoes...dress, business, casual, high heels, moccasins, snow, loafers...i think i could go on...
Click to expand...

Who is "WE"? We label that which needs to have a name. Shoes, yes. Dress, yes. Snow, yes.

Painters paint. What do you do? I am a painter. What kind of painting do you do? I am an abstract color field painter. I am a portrait painter, etc., etc..

"Photography" is so named. One can "describe" what they do if asked. One does not have to preface it.
 
kbg32 said:
Who is "WE"? We label that which needs to have a name. Shoes, yes. Dress, yes. Snow, yes.

Painters paint. What do you do? I am a painter. What kind of painting do you do? I am an abstract color field painter. I am a portrait painter, etc., etc..

"Photography" is so named. One can "describe" what they do if asked. One does not have to preface it.
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i'm thinking we is we...
maybe i'm just lazy but having a label seems easier to find things generally.

i wonder if folks react to a label if it appears judgemental as opposed to a description?
 
back alley said:
maybe music is a better example...
like jazz, blues, rock, pop...do we limit musicians by labelling them or is just easier to find music when we have a better idea of what we are looking for?
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But why even label that? Country now is rock from the 1970s so why label it? Marketing people do it so they can package it and sell it. I say just enjoy it. I'm sure the really creative ones don't say I'm going to write a _______ song. They just create and let those that label and package put them into nice neat piles which in many ways don't make much sense outside a selling point. Kenny G jazz. I'll bet Coltrane is rolling in his grave and if the Allman Bros came along today they would probably get labeled country though they were juast as much blues and rock if you have to label. I just enjoy the music.
 
i may be done with flickr...i can't sign on anymore, they wont reply to my emails and i'm at a loss as to what to do. i'm waiting for february to see if they ask for another years payment and then maybe they will talk to me.
 
airfrogusmc said:
I don't disagree with that.

My daily work is for the most part very controlled and not chaotic at all. Sketches, art directors, designers and controlled lighting in a lot of situations. The streets are free form for me. Not pre planned. Light seen but not manipulated and controlled by me or an assistant. Subjects moving in an uncontrolled and unplanned nature. Very chaotic when compared to a studio or on location with a studio type environment. I find that world outside that controlled world refreshing and free. Like a jazz musician. Just jamming. Hitting and missing but trying to make sense out of it all.
Click to expand...


I don't get "street photography", and you make an incisive comparison between "street" and jazz . . . and I love jazz. I love it apparently for the same reason that you love "street" . . . I am beginning to take that inside and let it stew.

Dave's Epiphany , let's call it . . . :p
 
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