let us talk street...

[kbg32]

Life is filled with so many interesting and at times unexpected visuals. Whether I'm walking on pavement or dirt, it's a journey. I don't have problems with whatever one wants to call it. We're involved in a medium, a genre that has a history. It's a responsibility to extend it. We don't work in a vacuum.

In regards to Meyerowitz - is it chaos? He can only speak from his experience. It's not right or wrong. It's his experience. Others, their mileage may vary.

 

[kbg32]

many say it is finished, overdone, that there is nothing new to shoot...i don't believe that but even if it were true it would not be true for me and my photography.

People who say that, well, I somewhat feel sad for them. The arts, photography, etc., is about one's experience in life. No one can duplicate that. It's how you feel about yourself. It's how you feel about your place in the world.

 

[skopar steve]

I think of my work as "people photography". Most of it is of strangers, and I find good opportunities in cities, towns or events. Since I live in a rural area, I must travel to engage in the photography I enjoy most.

I don't do "stealth" shooting very often. The interaction with the subject through body language and spontaneous conversation that delivers a decent image is most rewarding. The process also creates a memory of the outing that is sometimes more rewarding than the images produced. There are lots of interesting people out there.

I enjoy viewing street photography. There are some photographers on this site that do it well. However I feel it is a broad term and don't get too hung up on what is or is not "street photography".

 

[DNG]

I have been dabbling in Street since 2010... I have nothing close by (in the small town I live in) and must go to Indy (about a 20 mile distance). I also can't afford to go everyday, maybe 2 times a month though.

I'm ok with the term "Street Photography", as Joe said, the Genre has a rich history. Many of those that don't like it, remind me of how each generation wants their own terms to describe long standing nomenclature.

I try to tell a story, many times I just quickly take a photo, with an idea of I "might" be capturing, but, many times, with Street, what we capture is not a true reflection of what we really saw.. you know what I mean?

I always try to snap a photo when the people are doing something, not just walking about.. that can be some kind of juxtaposition with the elements in the photo, or at least an engaging expression, or involvement with others, or just enjoying the moment they are in.

And, this forum is one of my main places to go to see what others are posting as Street, and the plentiful discussion that can invigorate any photographer.

As far as others calling me a Street Photographer, that is their opinion, just as if you placed the top 5 images of 10 known Street Photographers, and place 10 self-taught Street photographers to pick 10 images that they consider good street photography, and you have 10 different answers.

I know a Professional that lives in Mexico, and his street is very contrasty, hardly ever level, usually very close head shots that are off center... and all are good. But, show him a more classic approach, and he is bored very quickly. So, he tends not to publish work from other street photographers that doesn't look like his stuff, or is at least a similar approach.
So, what others think is up to them. If they can connect to one of my images, then, I was successful in that image for him/her.
It was still successful for me though, and that is all that matters in the long haul.

 

[Sparrow]

... I've been taking photos since I was twelve, mostly around where I live and I've done that for the last fifty years. Then a few years back somebody popped up with the label 'street photography' and applied it to what I do ...

... I sort of feel uncomfortable being labelled, pigeonholed by this fashion into some genera. Being a photographer is enough, I don't need any restrictions beyond that.

 

[anu L ogy]

I don't mind people using the term "street" as much as other people seem to mind it. I think its really just their own way to categorize a body of photographs that have a similar feel to them. I know that when I go out shooting I am trying to capture a particular essence or feeling that I see when I look at the scene. When I look through my photos, I don't try and categorize my own photos into a street category, I try to see if the essence of the photo matched what I felt when I took the picture, and then I am satisfied.

To address an interesting point that I think Joe made:

...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

The important part there to me is how people would categorize you. I scrolled through your blog and thought that I wouldn't categorize "you" per se as a street photographer, specifically because the breadth of the work on the blog is too broad. When I think of someone who meets the typical street definition, I think of their whole body of work so because there is mixed genre work on your blog, maybe that is why you don't come up in street discussions vs someone who has a whole portfolio of work that is just "street." So, instead of "you" as a street photographer, I'd be more inclined to say something like "some of the work is street, some isn't." With that said, I did dig some of the bw work on the blog. If you edited it all into a separate site / blog with just that work, I think it would be pretty cool.

 

[Bike Tourist]

I think of myself as a bit of a loner and introvert. Taking people pictures demands just the opposite characteristics, being outgoing and friendly, engaging potential subjects and putting them at ease. This is good for me.

I have learned some interesting things, talking to the people in front of my camera. I'm not one to photograph surreptitiously. I ask before taking people pictures, or I sometimes start shooting and converse while doing so. I find most people to be friendly and cooperative. The most resistance comes not from ordinary folks but from self-important security cops who guard their assigned premises and refuse to let them be photographed just because they can.

The most common question: Why do you want a picture of me? If you've come up with a good answer to that one, let me know!

 

[FrankS]

But Stuart, are you a wedding photographer? No? See how helpful a label/description is?

 

[FrankS]

I think of myself as a bit of a loner and introvert. Taking people pictures demands just the opposite characteristics, being outgoing and friendly, engaging potential subjects and putting them at ease. This is good for me.

I have learned some interesting things, talking to the people in front of my camera. I'm not one to photograph surreptitiously. I ask before taking people pictures, or I sometimes start shooting and converse while doing so. I find most people to be friendly and cooperative. The most resistance comes not from ordinary folks but from self-important security cops who guard their assigned premises and refuse to let them be photographed just because they can.

The most common question: Why do you want a picture of me? If you've come up with a good answer to that one, let me know!

You are interesting looking. You are doing something interesting. You are in an interesting setting. The light on you is interesting. Your dog is so cute ...

 

[Sparrow]

But Stuart, are you a wedding photographer? No? See how helpful a label/description is?

Well yes, but I should decide on my label ... not have it imposed on me

 

[FrankS]

First world problem, I guess: Don't you dare presume to label my photography!

🙂

It's not as if you have to walk around in public with a sandwich board that reads "street photographer", nor does that have to be your epitaph.

 

[Sparrow]

... just good manners I would suggest

 

[back alley]

I don't mind people using the term "street" as much as other people seem to mind it. I think its really just their own way to categorize a body of photographs that have a similar feel to them. I know that when I go out shooting I am trying to capture a particular essence or feeling that I see when I look at the scene. When I look through my photos, I don't try and categorize my own photos into a street category, I try to see if the essence of the photo matched what I felt when I took the picture, and then I am satisfied.

To address an interesting point that I think Joe made:



The important part there to me is how people would categorize you. I scrolled through your blog and thought that I wouldn't categorize "you" per se as a street photographer, specifically because the breadth of the work on the blog is too broad. When I think of someone who meets the typical street definition, I think of their whole body of work so because there is mixed genre work on your blog, maybe that is why you don't come up in street discussions vs someone who has a whole portfolio of work that is just "street." So, instead of "you" as a street photographer, I'd be more inclined to say something like "some of the work is street, some isn't." With that said, I did dig some of the bw work on the blog. If you edited it all into a separate site / blog with just that work, I think it would be pretty cool.

thanks for the feedback...it's a good idea to start a 'street' blog of images...i may just give that a go over this next weekend!

 

[Ko.Fe.]

....
The most common question: Why do you want a picture of me? If you've come up with a good answer to that one, let me know!

Be honest helps. I tell people what I like about, around them. Outfit, what they are doing, their pet, kid, place they are at, light.

John Free recently posted his story about assignment for trucks stops areas. Interesting read in terms of what to tell for not so warm reaction.

 

[FrankS]

Be honest helps. I tell people what I like about, around them. Outfit, what they are doing, their pet, kid, place they are at, light.

John Free recently posted his story about assignment for trucks stops areas. Interesting read in terms of what to tell for not so warm reaction.

Do you have a link to that story, please?

 

[airfrogusmc]

L

In regards to Meyerowitz - is it chaos? He can only speak from his experience. It's not right or wrong. It's his experience. Others, their mileage may vary.

I find the streets of large cities like New York and Chicago to be very chaotic.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Do you have a link to that story, please?

Sure, here it is:
http://www.johnfreephotography.com/2015/01/03/magic-nikon/

 

[airfrogusmc]

I agree with what Adams had to say about categories:
"Let us hope that categories will be less rigid in the future; there has been to much of placing photography into little niches-commercial, pictorial, documentary, and creative(a dismal term). Definitions of this kind are inessential and stupid; good photography remains good photography no matter what we name it. I would like to think of "just photography"; of each and every photograph containing the best qualities in proper degree to achieve its purpose. We have been slaves to categories, and each has served as a kind of concentration camp for the spirit."-Ansel Adams

 

[kbg32]

I find the streets of large cities like New York and Chicago to be very chaotic.

Depends where one stands Allen, and what one's idea of chaos is. I find it very controlled crowd control, except where one, tourists might que up for a line at a tourist site.

 

[airfrogusmc]

Not where I stand. I avoid areas that are too controlled. There's people yelling at me sometimes, pushing each other, some are moving one way and the other mixing all together coming for different directions and I rarely go anywhere near tourist sites.