nightfly
Well-known
(Updated with Brits Name)
Just figured I'd post a little summary of the street photography event at the Museum of the City of New York last night as I read about on this list.
The event was in conjunction with the Gus Powell exhibit there and included Gus Powell, Jeff Mermelstein and Matt Stuart. Also in the audience was Joel Myerwitz, which was pretty cool. At first I couldn't place him and then it hit me that I'd watched that Youtube video of him.
It was a fairly small group and many in attendance had the requisite black, taped up Leica with bashed lens hanging around their necks which seemed be de rigeur jewelry for the evening (mine was tucked in my bag). It started with each of the photographers giving a short (12-20) slide presentation, then they did a very brief (all too brief) slide show of the history of street photography and then moved on to a forum discussion.
Interestingly all the photographers shot color film and had sort of similar styles. The discussion was not technical in the least (thank god) but focused a lot on the practice of street photography and what it means to be a street photographer today. They were a very congenial and articulate bunch (with the exception perhaps of the moderator who seemed ill prepared and a little nervous). I was very impressed with the respectfulness that they paid to their craft and how difficult they felt it was to make a good street photograph. Calling it one of the most, if not the most difficult forms of photography. They also all obviously relished the act of shooting on the street and spoke about the gifts that New York in particular gives a street photographer.
I found it very inspiring, more the talk even than the photography. I wasn't too impressed with Gus Powell's stuff. I have his book and feel like it's kinda eh but seeing him speak made me realize how he got where he is, he's very articulate and well educated and frames his photos well. I wasn't all that familiar with Mermelstein's work but I liked it's quirkiness and his use of color. I thought Matt Stuart was the best of the lot. I spoke to him after the forum for a few moments and he was a genuinely nice guy. I think one of the other things that came across, particularly in the Q & A was how nice and sympathetic all of the photographers are to their subjects. They talked about confrontations a bit but most agreed that they were often diffused with a smile or a complement (I was just admiring your hat). None of them asks for permission and most see the act of photographing in the street as their right, basically if you're out in public, we'll take your picture. Matt Stuart mentioned getting several terrorism tickets while shooting in London
I thought the thing could have been better organized, while the photographers were great, the moderator seemed ill at ease and my wife who is not a photographer felt that the presentation of historical street photography (basically Bresson through Myweritz) went far too fast for her to even focus. She also pointed out that the moderator was very hard to understand and didn't really do a good job moderating the discussion and focusing it. I wasn't too put off by this but I do think she was correct in her assessment, especially as it was forum for the general public, although about 60 percent of the people there were self professed street photographers.
Just thought you guys would want to know.
Just figured I'd post a little summary of the street photography event at the Museum of the City of New York last night as I read about on this list.
The event was in conjunction with the Gus Powell exhibit there and included Gus Powell, Jeff Mermelstein and Matt Stuart. Also in the audience was Joel Myerwitz, which was pretty cool. At first I couldn't place him and then it hit me that I'd watched that Youtube video of him.
It was a fairly small group and many in attendance had the requisite black, taped up Leica with bashed lens hanging around their necks which seemed be de rigeur jewelry for the evening (mine was tucked in my bag). It started with each of the photographers giving a short (12-20) slide presentation, then they did a very brief (all too brief) slide show of the history of street photography and then moved on to a forum discussion.
Interestingly all the photographers shot color film and had sort of similar styles. The discussion was not technical in the least (thank god) but focused a lot on the practice of street photography and what it means to be a street photographer today. They were a very congenial and articulate bunch (with the exception perhaps of the moderator who seemed ill prepared and a little nervous). I was very impressed with the respectfulness that they paid to their craft and how difficult they felt it was to make a good street photograph. Calling it one of the most, if not the most difficult forms of photography. They also all obviously relished the act of shooting on the street and spoke about the gifts that New York in particular gives a street photographer.
I found it very inspiring, more the talk even than the photography. I wasn't too impressed with Gus Powell's stuff. I have his book and feel like it's kinda eh but seeing him speak made me realize how he got where he is, he's very articulate and well educated and frames his photos well. I wasn't all that familiar with Mermelstein's work but I liked it's quirkiness and his use of color. I thought Matt Stuart was the best of the lot. I spoke to him after the forum for a few moments and he was a genuinely nice guy. I think one of the other things that came across, particularly in the Q & A was how nice and sympathetic all of the photographers are to their subjects. They talked about confrontations a bit but most agreed that they were often diffused with a smile or a complement (I was just admiring your hat). None of them asks for permission and most see the act of photographing in the street as their right, basically if you're out in public, we'll take your picture. Matt Stuart mentioned getting several terrorism tickets while shooting in London
I thought the thing could have been better organized, while the photographers were great, the moderator seemed ill at ease and my wife who is not a photographer felt that the presentation of historical street photography (basically Bresson through Myweritz) went far too fast for her to even focus. She also pointed out that the moderator was very hard to understand and didn't really do a good job moderating the discussion and focusing it. I wasn't too put off by this but I do think she was correct in her assessment, especially as it was forum for the general public, although about 60 percent of the people there were self professed street photographers.
Just thought you guys would want to know.
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