Street Photography clichés, no no's and taboos.

[Ranchu]

Well this is a bad idea for a thread. You're just going to discourage people from shooting.

 

[airfrogusmc]

Yes ...for me ...that sums it all up.
That`s how I feel about it anyway .

Yes I agree...

 

[fotographz]

Well this is a bad idea for a thread. You're just going to discourage people from shooting.

This could also make us (some) go out and "photograph".

 

[noisycheese]

Street Photography clichés, no no's and taboos.

Clichés:
1: "This is my hometown, the people here are visually boring."
2: "Nothing worth photographing ever happens here."
3: "I can't wait till I go on vacation - then I'll do some street photography!"


No no's:
1: Failing to get out and shoot street, even when you "don't feel like it."
2: Thinking/saying "My street photography always sucks - why even try?"
3: Comparing your street photography to Jay Maisel/Vivian Maier/Alex Webb/Joel Meyerowitz/Garry Winogrand/Bruce Gilden/Cartier-Bresson/whoever.


Taboos:
1: Photographing children
2: Photographing The Police
3: Candid shots



Therefore:
If you are serious about succeeding in street photography -
* Disregard the clichés
* DON'T do the no no's
* DO do the taboos
* Most of all, Know/obey all laws regarding photography that are in effect for the location where you are doing street photography (you can't do street photography when you're in jail, they'll take your camera for evidence). 😉

 

[Lauffray]

Clichés:
1: "This is my hometown, the people here are visually boring."
2: "Nothing worth photographing ever happens here."
3: "I can't wait till I go on vacation - then I'll do some street photography!"

Yep, that sounds like me 😀 😀

 

[Darthfeeble]

I've gone with just shooting anything that catches my eye, trying not to be judgemental. I then make a decision when I see the shots on the big screen. Boy do I toss a lot of pixels.

 

[airfrogusmc]

As I understand it, you are talking about your photography and comparing it to Bresson, yes?

No way I'm I comparing. If you look at my work there is a big difference. I am saying he was an influence as were many others. I do believe that great work has the things he does talk and write about in it.

 

[jsrockit]

Well this is a bad idea for a thread. You're just going to discourage people from shooting.

I agree. I just go out and have fun. You don't get better at photography by sitting at home.

 

[Black]

I agree. I just go out and have fun. You don't get better at photography by sitting at home.

This is true. But the same can also be said for every other thread on this and other forums.

 

[Sparrow]

I won't engage in this conversation because I'll quickly make a lot of enemies.

I'll simply say that I'm amazed at the high count of blind photographers out there. Photographers that don't understand what they're seeing ... It's scary.

I agree completely with Mikhail. No, an interesting poster or a weird punk does not make a good photo just because the poster is appealing (another person's work of art) or the punk is a punk.

... that wasn't a punk ... this is a punk, or was at the time anyway ... and it's a really good photo too



Watty, Craven Heifer, Bankfoot par Sparrow ... Stewart Mcbride, on ipernity

 

[Lauffray]

I agree. I just go out and have fun. You don't get better at photography by sitting at home.

I don't know if this falls under "excuses" but it's f**** cold right now, been like that since January. Every winter I say I'm going to find something to do, photographically, every year winter wins 🙁

 

[Sparrow]

I agree. I just go out and have fun. You don't get better at photography by sitting at home.

... so should we stop posting on it then?

 

[John E Earley]

Quick question. If I can't photograph from behind how am I supposed to get creepy shots of young women in short shorts?

I thought creepy shots of women in yoga pants was very the in thing.

 

[back alley]

it's all pretty much been done before...the trick is converting your vision/interpretation and catching a new moment/twist on it...

i failed to mention previously that i can't do this!

 

[Sparrow]

i failed to mention previously that i can't do this!

... yes you can, I've seen em

 

[Landberg]

I think it's a bit funny that we should set the rules of street photography. Rangefinderforum.com is a site with 90% amatures that don't know how to take good pictures, but we are learning! So why set up rules for what we can't do instead of just encourage each other to shoot more!

 

[back alley]

... yes you can, I've seen em

not true...let's face it...i'm a hack...with or without rules or cliches...

 

[back alley]

I think it's a bit funny that we should set the rules of street photography. Rangefinderforum.com is a site with 90% amatures that don't know how to take good pictures, but we are learning! So why set up rules for what we can't do instead of just encourage each other to shoot more!

what is this 'encourage' of which you speak?

 

[Sparrow]

not true...let's face it...i'm a hack...with or without rules or cliches...

... you are reliable, and have a pretty impressive back catalogue in my estimation

 

[Landberg]

what is this 'encourage' of which you speak?

Maybe I got the word wrong?

I guess that this thread is not that serious but it's fun to see people discuss what not to do when almost all off us really can't call ourselves photographers. When one start with photography we need to go trough a few steps. Often it starts with family photos, macros, landscapes, portraits of friends and so on. Then you find your style and then you start to copy photos you like. All this is normal to get better! Along the way a lot of people needs to show their photos to get som critics to get better!

That's how I see it, right or wrong.

Sorry for my English, I'm really tired.