Street Photography Ninjas

[RayPA]

This is a good read about Gary Winogrand and his technique:
http://www.photogs.com/bwworld/xtol1.html

Really good article! Inspiring. Thanks for passing it along, Vladhed. 🙂

 

[Doug]

Stuart, I sense that with the third pic, you settled in for a more thorough composition... I think that may be the best of the three. Or, gee, I like the dynamism in the second, and the grin is great... 🙂

 

[StuartR]

stuart, yes you got the pics but more importantly did you get her number?

joe

Ahh, I did not even get her name. I figured photos were enough for that day. Baby steps. I think she was a little young for me too...probably 19 or so -- I am 27.

Doug -- you are correct, in the second photograph I just wanted the expression, and by the third I realized she was completely fine with the whole situation, so I moved in closer and crouched to her level.

 

[hoot]

Really good article! Inspiring. Thanks for passing it along, Vladhed. 🙂

Hmm, I'm getting a 404!

 

[Roman]

f.

The second time (also with XA) was a few days ago in my native city, Vienna. An African woman wearing what I suppose is her traditional garb (a bright green silk scarf wrapped like a turban around her head, and a bright gold dress) was sitting on a bench at a tram stop. I framed, but waited for her to turn her head to look at me. She did, I snapped a shot, and she freaked out and tried to beat me with her handbag, cursing after me as I fled. It was a pretty surreal experience, and I attribute the reaction to her, not me, because I don't think I was behaving any differently than usual. 🙂

Don't you think that the ever-growing racism against African immigrants that is very visible in this city might have been the reason that maybe she was a bit unnerved?

Roman

 

[hoot]

Hmm, I just appreciated the way the setting sun reflected off her silk dress. As far as I know, racists don't go around photographing the objects of their xenophobia. But then, what do I know.

 

[Roman]

As far as I know, racists don't go around photographing the objects of their xenophobia. But then, what do I know.

That's not what I meant - I meant that in a city and a time where black people don't even dare to use certain subway lines any longer because of the fear of being hassled by cops and shouted at by passengers, any kind of special attention (as benevolent or noncommital it may be) might be considered a threat or intrusion, if you're the outsider.

Roman

 

[Goodyear]

After two pages of this thread, I have something to say. Not terribly useful, probably, more anecdotal.

I'm not a street shooter, but yesterday I hit a street party in town with a roll to burn so I could try out some Diafine. When I asked (smile, hold up the camera) I was only refused once. People looked bemused, but didn't mind. And it didn't spoil shots, becasue in all but one case they nodded, looked confused, and then ignored me. Maybe people round here just 'get' what I was trying to do 😀

Nothing came out terribly well (look in the Darkroom forum for why :-/ ), but a few are at Flickr.

Interestingly, I asked a guy if I could photograph his daughter doing some painting. He was perfectly happy. That was unexpected, in a city that tried to ban parents taking photos at school concerts.

 

[hoot]

That's not what I meant - I meant that in a city and a time where black people don't even dare to use certain subway lines any longer because of the fear of being hassled by cops and shouted at by passengers, any kind of special attention (as benevolent or noncommital it may be) might be considered a threat or intrusion, if you're the outsider.

I have to admit I didn't realize how bad it was (my mistake; I guess I should read newspapers). Wish I could do something about it. But what? Do you think I should specifically avoid photographing immigrants? Being that I grew up in an international school, I don't tend to notice people's skin color, etc., when photographing. It's all the same to me. I just mentioned she was African because of her lovely clothing, and because I figured perhaps in the specific culture she came from, photography was a taboo, or something. Susan Sontag mentioned that there were cultures in which being photographed was supposed to rob you of your soul.

 

[Goodyear]

perhaps in the specific culture she came from, photography was a taboo, or something.

It's possible.

 

[StuartR]

It's possible.

I would say it is incredibly unlikely. Anyone who is going to be found on a train in Vienna is going to know that taking a photograph doesn't steal your soul. The people Sontag are talking about are people who have had almost no contact with the modern world, and they would not be members of the elite in any country of the world. I mention the elite, because in most African countries, they are the only people who could afford to travel abroad unless they are doing so on a work-contract basis. I think it is much more likely that Roman's theory about the situation is correct. Or maybe she just thought you were a pervert? You never know what someone is thinking...

 

[hoot]

I'd rather be thought of as a pervert than as a racist. 😀

 

[StuartR]

But what if she thought of you as a perverted rascist??? Where would you be then??? 🙂

 

[Roman]

Aren't racists perverts, anyway?

Roman

 

[nwcanonman]

Roman,
Anyone that assumes you will act in the same manner as others of your skin color, is by defination a bigot themselves. Everyone who is white is not racist, anymore than all blacks are criminals. We're all individuals, making individual choices, for good or wrong.
The woman had no reason to assault hoot, SHE is the one that committed a thoughtless act.

 

[back alley]

The woman had no reason to assault hoot..

she had a reason.

she had no right to.

joe

 

[Roman]

Well, I'm just guessing in the dark here, but considering the current athmosphere, I don't agree with you at all - if you live under constant pressure of prejudice in the media (the most popular newspaper in Austria attacks African immigrants on a daily basis, and no, I'm not in the very least bit exaggerating), in politics (some local politicians here work really overtly with the equation 'black = drug dealer', 'refugee = criminal'), and the public (every other house wall or public bus seat has some racist slogan written on it, and racial slurs and insults directed at people of other skin color in public have increased a lot, too, in the last 3 or 4 years), I guess this might put you in a psychological state that might make you quite easily overreact!

Roman

 

[Roman]

Joe,

well said!

But we are disgressing a bit far from the original thread!

Roman

 

[nwcanonman]

Well, yes and no. The discussion is about "fear" (or how do you?) about doing street photography.
No place I've ever shot, is photography in a public place illegal. I don't see people getting upset at a photographer as "reason" (as in a reasonable act). They may be "reacting" in a given manner from an overage of negative pressures, but I don't find that as reason. Humans still have "choices" in most cases. If I found it intolerable to live/photograph in a place, it would be my choice to LEAVE that place, not give those who disliked me even more reason to dislike me.
To me THAT is reason.

 

[Roman]

Hmm, 'reason' as in 'reasonable', I agree with you, but I'm thinking in terms of 'reason' as 'understandable motivation' for an act.
As fo choice of where to live, very few people really have that choice (but we had that recently in another thread).
As for choice of photographing, I agree, of course, you always have the choice to take a picture or just leave, but this depends on how much you really would like to have that picture.
I personally would at least try to get some sign of consent (and be it only a smile or nod) befor trying to get a picture of someone I feel might not like their picture to have taken (reasonably or not), specifically if on delicate territory with marginalized groups like homeless, ethnic minorities, etc.

Roman