FrankS
Registered User
I prefer doing photography on my own. When I'm with others it's just a distraction for me. When I'm on my own, I can go where I want and take as long as I want, and not have to consider others.
Pablito
coco frío
That video is hilarious. Saturday Night Live could not do better!
Al Kaplan
Veteran
What I've never understood is what is the attraction of "street photograhy", the motivation for doing it as a hobby. I can understand doing it to illustrate an article in a magazine or book, maybe the occasional shot because you want to "make a statement" about something. But a group of guys armed with cameras stalking random people? Somebody enlighten me please.
That's the funniest aspect of that video. Those guys act like they don't have the foggiest idea as to why they're doing it either.
That's the funniest aspect of that video. Those guys act like they don't have the foggiest idea as to why they're doing it either.
Kevin
Rainbow Bridge
For many it must be like panning for gold, painful to do all day but if they find one or two nuggets possibly worth the effort.
astroman
-
I have that problem all the time. My wife and I are avid landscape photographers so we travel to the rockies every second weekend .I find that were stumbling over each other to get the (good) angles as were hiking up the side of the mountain.
antiquark
Derek Ross
Because HCB did it!
Actually, I've always had the impression that street photographers like to show how brave they are by sticking a camera in a stranger's face. It's like an "extreme sport" .
Lots of street photogs admire Bruce Gilden because of his extreme, in-your-face flash technique:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkIWW6vwrvM
back alley
IMAGES
and i find most other types of shooting boring.
i did landscapes when i started in photography, shot skiers and wildlife too, all pretty pictures but nothing that excites me now.
sports...not for me...don't mind environmental portraits...if not for the streets - why bother? is my question.
back alley
IMAGES
as for a code of conduct...i usually shoot alone but if there are others about i normally don't pay them much attention.
ferider
Veteran
back alley
IMAGES
They are participating in their own, little reality show, Al
aren't we all?
ferider
Veteran
Right. But I rather do it alone.
Photography that is. Not sneaking up in a pack on people relaxing in the park.
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back alley
IMAGES
i have no wife to swap but i can sing pretty well.
'rff has talent'
'rff has talent'
Drewus
Established
I find street photography the most interesting of all the styles. People doing various tasks, reacting to the camera, are far more interesting to look at than a landscape IMO.
Combine that with good composition, having to instantly incorporate the scene into the shot so that it works properly, whilst dealing with moving elements (the people) that are also reacting to your presence and the things around them, the possibility for the scene to completely change in a fraction of a second, and you have some pretty exciting stuff.
It's also FUN to do. Slowly setting up a camera and snapping a landscape or a macro of a flower just lacks any thrill for me. Whereas walking around, scanning, predicting events before they happen, maneuvering into position, reading reactions and the position of moving elements, it's fun.
Combine that with good composition, having to instantly incorporate the scene into the shot so that it works properly, whilst dealing with moving elements (the people) that are also reacting to your presence and the things around them, the possibility for the scene to completely change in a fraction of a second, and you have some pretty exciting stuff.
It's also FUN to do. Slowly setting up a camera and snapping a landscape or a macro of a flower just lacks any thrill for me. Whereas walking around, scanning, predicting events before they happen, maneuvering into position, reading reactions and the position of moving elements, it's fun.
John Rountree
Nothing is what I want
Drewus says it well. Street shooting is exciting, difficult, and when you get it right, rewarding. YMMV, but for me, there is nothing on this earth more interesting than people. People just being people, in public, is a slice of visual life that is endlessly fascinating. When shooting on the street, the odd gesture or out of place facial expression, the juxtaposition with all the other random elements of "life" makes fiction useless. As Drewus said, the ability to recognize a scene that is unfolding in front of you and then react in a way that allows you to "get" the picture is a huge challenge.
vrgard
Well-known
Just wanted to say thanks to Drewus and John Rountree for their comments above. Nicely stated explanations of why they like street photography.
-Randy
-Randy
Newjerseyjohn
Member
Because HCB did it!
Actually, I've always had the impression that street photographers like to show how brave they are by sticking a camera in a stranger's face. It's like an "extreme sport" .
Lots of street photogs admire Bruce Gilden because of his extreme, in-your-face flash technique:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkIWW6vwrvM
I like people, i like their expressions, i would rather shoot a person in the street i don't know than a person in a studio or someone who is completely aware of having their picture taken. I get in peoples faces, afterwards i talk to them, during it i talk to them sometimes, its nothing to do with being extreme, i just like people.
OurManInTangier
An Undesirable
That video simply shows me that watching photographers take photographs is far less interesting than looking at their photographs. Though most of those shown in the video are pretty disappointing.
Squonk
Established
KM-25
Well-known
Amateurs are killing street photography
Amateurs are killing street photography
The news is not good.....amateurs armed with digital cameras using the internet are killing street and documentary photography. But not for the reasons you would expect, IE: Free photos versus pro photos.
I am going to go put something out there that has been a topic of discussion among some well known documentary photographers lately. I am sure I will get flamed for it, but it has to be said.
The digital and internet age in the hands of amateurs is pretty much killing documentary / street photography as we have known it in public places. We predict that in many cases within 10 years, a permit will be required to photograph anyone in a public place in most developed nations.
The reason is that so many people distribute photos of unknowing subjects often in not-so-flattering situations. Many of these "D-Lux 4 does street fair" or "M8 does Trafalgar Square" happy-snaps are just plain bad if not disrespectful of their subjects and yet, they get plastered on the internet.
Professional journalists and even long time pro street photographers are finding it hard if not impossible to make a photo of someone without being asked, "Is this going to be on Flicker? Because I don't want my photo on Flicker".
So while anti-terrorism and child protection acts are entering the blockade to photographers, it is the amateurs using the internet as a visual bragging ground that is destroying the decades of trust between the public and a professional journalist.
We hope this turns out to be wrong, but it sure looks like it is going that way and faster than we would have thought. The worst thing that has ever happened to this world is the internet, we were much better off without it.
If I need a permit to make certain photographs in certain places, I am actually all for it, it might help to weed out the people who are utterly clueless about respect for other people and slapping their photo up on the internet for all to see.
Amateurs are killing street photography
The news is not good.....amateurs armed with digital cameras using the internet are killing street and documentary photography. But not for the reasons you would expect, IE: Free photos versus pro photos.
I am going to go put something out there that has been a topic of discussion among some well known documentary photographers lately. I am sure I will get flamed for it, but it has to be said.
The digital and internet age in the hands of amateurs is pretty much killing documentary / street photography as we have known it in public places. We predict that in many cases within 10 years, a permit will be required to photograph anyone in a public place in most developed nations.
The reason is that so many people distribute photos of unknowing subjects often in not-so-flattering situations. Many of these "D-Lux 4 does street fair" or "M8 does Trafalgar Square" happy-snaps are just plain bad if not disrespectful of their subjects and yet, they get plastered on the internet.
Professional journalists and even long time pro street photographers are finding it hard if not impossible to make a photo of someone without being asked, "Is this going to be on Flicker? Because I don't want my photo on Flicker".
So while anti-terrorism and child protection acts are entering the blockade to photographers, it is the amateurs using the internet as a visual bragging ground that is destroying the decades of trust between the public and a professional journalist.
We hope this turns out to be wrong, but it sure looks like it is going that way and faster than we would have thought. The worst thing that has ever happened to this world is the internet, we were much better off without it.
If I need a permit to make certain photographs in certain places, I am actually all for it, it might help to weed out the people who are utterly clueless about respect for other people and slapping their photo up on the internet for all to see.
JohnTF
Veteran
I think you are essentially correct, but it is also communication, cable, 24/7 "news", and a plethora of other "modern" devices that serve to dilute our senses. The internet facilitates or enables what I would see as misuse of the medium.
I have traveled with friends who shoot people, human condition, life, and I used to try to bring simple looking equipment to be less intrusive. He had an SLR with several lenses, and said, at least, in Mexico, that people accepted generally that he was an artist in his intent. Sometimes people would politely ask us why we are shooting, but they allowed us to shoot because a reasonable situation was at hand, and mutual respect as well. Sometimes I have a few small prints stuck in the back of my case, and sometimes I have a few prints from a prior excursion to that town, which I have shared to great smiles on too rare occasions (my failure).
I also worked long ago for a newspaper, long enough ago, that certain things were self edited that were in poor taste, excessively invasive, etc., i.e. the people really did not have a "right" to know and see everything. We would see some pretty ugly things that would benefit no one to publish. Shifts in what is accepted or even sought after today are exponential. News worthy is now anything you can get someone to look at and fill the slots.
Am pretty sure I do not agree with much of these shifts, though many I thought were positive 30 years ago.
In addition, once something is digital, the internet will not let you discard it, so I suppose if I go to my door to see if a light meter is working, I have to understand if someone is passing by in the street, it gives them pause to consider my intentions.
Regards, John