Street Photography for the purist. A great read!

[chrisweeks]

Then again I don't claim to have the secret of perfect street photography either 😀

we can agree on that for DAMN sure!

you made my blog! 😉

 

[RayPA]

>>To be better photographer two things: audacity (with respect) and attention.<<

Benilam, quoted above, perfectly summed up my thinking about how good photographers, in my opinion, get their best photos ... "Audacity (with respect)".

It's true, there are rare times when a hip shot is the only way to get a needed image (for a working photographer or someone serious about documentary) if there's absolutely no other way. But the majority of photography in public places doesn't fall into this category. When I was young and learning photography, I practiced a few hip shots, and my actions were indeed cowardly. With practice, I learned to accept and be comfortable with my role as a photographer in public space ... I learned how to perform this as a role, if you will ... once you get good at it, you often get the image a moment before the subject is aware of what you're doing. And I find it very satisfying to then have a polite acknowledgement -- even if it is nonverbal -- that for a brief moment two separate and random lives interacted.

*Warning Philosophical Rant Ahead* 🙂 🙂

OK. What's wrong with seeing a moment, using technique to remain outside that moment, not interrupting it, and moving along, allowing the moment to remain and transpire on its own. You may see that as cowardly or sneaky or spying, but I see the idea that the photographer has to constantly be a part of every moment as disruptive and egotistical (referring to the concept here, not you specifically). Where is the respect in constantly pulling a "gotcha"? Where is the respect in intruding and insisting on a "random" interaction with another live. I use both techniques, but if I had my way I'd prefer to let things flow along and transpire on their own and not have to impose myself. IMO, it is far more difficult to use technique to remain outside the moment, to become invisible. I think the far more accomplished photographer is the one who can see a moment, circle it, photograph it without being seen and move along, leaving it untouched, intact. Does the photographer need to be a part of every moment?

Don't get me wrong, I'm arguing strictly against a condemnation of a technique/style/philosophy of shooting, not against the technique/style/philosophy you expound, which is without a doubt valid.

*End of Philosophical Rant* 🙂 🙂

 

[chrisweeks]

have you tried daV5 yet? many more changes to come!

 

[Stephanie Brim]

Maybe I'll ponder joining again. I do miss being a part of an art community.

Edit: Okay...DA is a LOT different than it was when I went there last. It works halfway decent in Firefox...even the menus. Very nice. Very, very nice.

 

[fitzihardwurshd]

i. anything that helps promote us, film and rf cams should be celebrated not reviled.
joe

That means "blind praise", in other words. At any price. Amazing statement.
Haven't you got a bit too obsessive against everything here which is not explicitely POSITVE, Joe ?

Neither RFs are a dying species nor is it film and even if it were then praising nonsense as wonderful would not help either ?

Fitzi

 

[back alley]

That means "blind praise", in other words. At any price. Amazing statement.
Haven't you got a bit too obsessive against everything here which is not explicitely POSITVE, Joe ?

Neither RFs are a dying species nor is it film and even if it were then praising nonsense as wonderful would not help either ?

Fitzi

maybe read the whole of what i said before knocking it bertram, er fitzi...

joe

 

[chrisweeks]

maybe read the whole of what i said before knocking it bertram, er fitzi...

joe

fitzi should probably learn how to shoot b4 he defends rangefinders ... or even photography ...

just a thought!

yo ... fitzi ... so can you tell us why you were fired from the mini-lab doing passport photos? i'm seeing a scene from "one hour photo." 😉

cheers mate!

 

[rogue_designer]

Maybe I'll ponder joining again. I do miss being a part of an art community.

Edit: Okay...DA is a LOT different than it was when I went there last. It works halfway decent in Firefox...even the menus. Very nice. Very, very nice.

Does that mean you'll be signing up? If so let us know your name there, I like what little I know of your work and wouldn't mind watching new pieces when you post.

 

[FrankS]

I'm guessing Chris is looking/hoping to be banned from RFF in order to wave that as a flag of honour.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

What can I add...

Nothing. You guys are especulating a bit too much about photography.

Have a nice day! 🙂

 

[steve garza]

I like Weeks' attitude. It speaks of a passion for the medium that is often lost here when people become wrapped up in equipment and that happens quite a bit here. People put so much time into writing about straps and the looks of camera equipment that it literally turns my stomach sometimes. It's nice to own Leica equipment, but much better to use it no matter what skill level of the photog may be. And this about fun. I was on a workshop recently and while I learned a few things, Iwas a little dissapointed because the operator was one who disapproved of the "stolen shot". I found instead that I came home with many typical travel shots. And that is nice, but boring. That's what I get for touring with a commercial photog who has to worry about such things. As a non-pro I certainly do not worry about those things. Those who say Weeks claims to have the "secret" street photography don't "get" the wrting style. There are plenty of people here who behave as if they know everything about exposure or developing and they produce beautiful images....of their cats. The writing style is in your face and provacative in order to stimulate a reaction. The best art always does. It is always the outspoken and opiniated upstart who changes or influences others. And that's a role that I relish. I think someone here wrote that Weeks probably wants to be banned from this site as a badge of honor. Nothing wrong with that. I loved being kicked out of high school for flipping off the principal. Today I'm an investment adviser with an office on Wilshire blvd and I make far more money than that old principal. And if I saw him on the street today I'd flip him off again.......as I shoot from the hip just get his reaction.

 

[RdEoSg]

Of course I managed to put off reading this thread long enough so that now it will look like I am simply jumping on the bandwagon but eh such is my luck.. I liked it. Some of the shots I liked, some of the shots I didn't. Same for the writings. I'll say one thing. It made me decide when I go to San Francisco next month, the only camera coming with me with be the M6 with the 35!

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Maybe I'll ponder joining again. I do miss being a part of an art community.

Ah, the triple-edged sword of "being part of" an art community. All joined by the same passion, then grabbing each others' throats over minutae (that's how Chirac got re-elected, the left voted themselves out of the final round).

I think I've grown another millimeter on my skin to endure the posturing and "critiquing" of some in "an art community".

Passionate members. Kaleidoscope eyes. Little money and bottomless enthusiasm.

Man, where's my St. John wort's root?

 

[Rich Silfver]

maybe read the whole of what i said before knocking it bertram, er fitzi...

joe

bertram and fitzi is the same guy?

 

[back alley]

bertram and fitzi is the same guy?

i have no proof...

 

[fitzihardwurshd]

maybe read the whole of what i said before knocking it bertram, er fitzi...

joe

I DID read it all before I posted. Nothing to correct. And forget that bertram thing, dunno where that cames from, Rover got on my nerves too with that nonsense, because I also have a Goethe quote in my signature, a real Sherlock, wanted to see a selfie, best a self nude I suppose 🙄

You guys from the nice and friendly campfire crowd seem to suffer a bit from paranoia, don't ya ? Too many renegades out there ?

Take care,

Fitzi

 

[Marc-A.]

As far as I can remember Bertram signature was "Vivre c'est choisir" and not a quotation from Goethe. But I may be wrong.
Marc

 

[John Camp]

I liked the photography. The title was both accurate and revealing -- it's photography for a purist. It's important to understand, however, that there are several kinds of purists, including color purists (people who stay away from black and white because it's an abstraction.) I can understand a photographer becoming wedded to his equipment, because it works for him/her, but the Leica/RF chauvinism was a little much. I don't think anybody carrying an SLR with an appropriate lens should feel poorly equipped; in fact, there's an argument that an SLR with a zoom and autofocus and set to "program" is much more able to capture a "moment" than a RF, because then the photographer is free to concentrate on seeing, and the camera does the rest.

Anyway, whatever his prejudices, I gotta say I liked his results.

JC

 

[ghost]

for a guy that's "all about the photograph", he sure is fixated on very expensive gear. 😀

if he weren't so great at marketing himself, nobody would take a second look.

 

[HansDerHase]

for a guy that's "all about the photograph", he sure is fixated on very expensive gear.

Guess it's more like fixation on professional gear, which is almost the same but not quite. Check out the camera-pics. This gear is actually used. I bet my Zorki would have allready fallen apart once or twice after such use.

I'm late but thanx for the link. The paragraph about the "fondlers hero, the fondler-of-all-fondlers" alone was well worth the read. 😀