What do you do when you photograph the streets?

[bmattock]

If you are invading people's privacy and making them generally unhappy, perhaps you should reconsider this type of photography. Doing things in public that people don't like, whether photographing them, or playing really loud music from your car, or protesting their choices are all signs of selfishness. If you care about people....then care about what they care about. If you don't care, then you should not care that some people are going to despise you, and some may even come and talk to you about what you are doing to them. Like hunting the Passenger Pigeons to extinction, some people don't care what it's doing.

I think it very much depends on what the photographer is doing. If I go to a political rally or a public demonstration, I do not have to support what the people protesting or demonstrating support, and if they do not like that, that's a shame.

I'm sure it makes them unhappy if I portray them in a negative light, but remember, they're the ones in public making their opinions known. They have to expect that not everyone will agree with them; otherwise what would be the point of protesting or demonstrating?

As an example, I photograph the Detroit Veterans Day parade every year. A couple years ago, the 'Occupy Detroit' people got into the middle of the parade. Yes, I took their photos. No, they did not like it.

I did not care. And I don't feel I had any reason to respect their issues.

On the other hand, many of the 'Occupy' people were actually very nice to the veterans and lined up and waved flags as the veterans passed by. I thought that was really nice of them. They didn't mind my taking their photos.

Bottom line, though, I was there to take photos of the parade, and the people I saw while I was doing it. Whether or not they preferred me to 'invade their privacy' I did it anyway.

https://flic.kr/s/aHsjwD2TjR

 

[Oscuro]

If you are invading people's privacy and making them generally unhappy, perhaps you should reconsider this type of .....some people don't care what it's doing.

I would stress PUBLIC.

And, I would also suggest to you that a person's happiness is their own responsibility.

Your argument is easily inverted: if you don't like what might occur in public, don't go out into the public space.

Salute,
Monsieur et Mme. O

 

[BillBingham2]

.....Just go do it everyday. You'll figure it out.

+1

If you practice you will find the way that works for you. Learn from your mistakes and when in doubt, fall forward.

Set a goal, define it well so you can judge if you met it. Share your results, the pictures you like that met your goal. If you don't feel progress, let us see what your results are and look at your goal, odds are you will get at least a dozen ways to approach/meet your goal.

Stretch yourself after you've accomplished the first few goal(s) (perhaps first, perhaps fifth).

Goals could be getting the right exposure, perhaps focus, or subject matter, it's your choice. You need to pick the path. Many can recommend but only you will know.

B2 (;->

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I know we've had several folks join RFF under different monickers from time to time. I've never felt the need to out any of them..........

But I think we have one of the five candidates for US president contributing to RFF!

But seriously folks, I think there are many subjects and approaches. Just like best cameras, formats, etc., lots of alternatives and choices.

B2 (;->

Haven't seen so personal attacks here for awhile. Here is one thing to say honest opinion about gear use and subject, but you really crossed the line here.

 

[Oscuro]

Haven't seen so personal attacks here for awhile. Here is one thing to say honest opinion about gear use and subject, but you really crossed the line here.

He most certainly did not.
It was the other gentleman who suggested that telephoto lenses were "for losers" - the respondent said, essentially, keep an open mind.

Cordialemente,
Mme. O.

 

[johnnyrod]

Ko.Fe it was just a joke, you have to admit you packed quite a few opinions into one post, a bit like a blunderbuss, but you know what, you made me laugh. I don't think Bill was trying to insult you, though to be fair, invoking Trump is potentially a pretty good way to do so.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

He most certainly did not.
It was the other gentleman who suggested that telephoto lenses were "for losers" - the respondent said, essentially, keep an open mind.

Cordialemente,
Mme. O.

Did I call OP as the looser? Do you read it so directly?

All I was saying, if OP wants to bring tele lens and take pictures of street performances it is going to be loss in terms of street photography.

 

[Oscuro]

Did I call OP as the looser? Do you read it so directly? All I was saying, if OP wants to bring tele lens and take pictures of street performances it is going to be loss in terms of street photography.

Perhaps I misunderstood. English is not my first language. I apologize then.
However, as to the tele, you'd better ask Jay Maisel or René Burri. Maisel's book on the aftermath of 9-11, along with much of his other people work looks like it was shot with everything from 35mm to 300mm.

No rules. Only what you see and the photograph. Those are the defining parameters.

 

[goamules]

I would stress PUBLIC.

And, I would also suggest to you that a person's happiness is their own responsibility.

Your argument is easily inverted: if you don't like what might occur in public, don't go out into the public space.

Salute,
Monsieur et Mme. O

As human population grows, and more and more of us are crowded into cities, public is all you've got. Just as room mates have to learn to be courteous to each other, and the members of a primitive tribe had to, by extension the "community" in your immediate proximity needs to follow some common rules of politeness.

Your flippant answer of "if you don't like my obnoxious behavior, just don't go out in public" is exactly the type of attitude that will not be tolerated as the public gets less and less solitude. And they'll eventually fight back. But I'm sure you're prepared for that too, and hope society will revert to only the strongest survive, right? I guess that photographer bully with the big muscles will dare anyone to stop him. Ironic some of the lovers of our high civilization don't seem to want to act.....civilized themselves. In "primitive" times, if one member of the tribe acted obnoxious, the tribe would gather and stone him senseless, or ostracize him from the tribe. Now we have the bullies posturing with their loud Harleys, cameras in faces, breaking into Veterans parades - then whining that the law better protect their "rights." Bring me back to a simpler time, where if you did something wrong, the community would correct you, instantly.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Perhaps I misunderstood. English is not my first language. I apologize then.
However, as to the tele, you'd better ask Jay Maisel or René Burri. Maisel's book on the aftermath of 9-11, along with much of his other people work looks like it was shot with everything from 35mm to 300mm.

No rules. Only what you see and the photograph. Those are the defining parameters.

People with ESL understand better each other! 🙂

I was using tele primes ans tele zooms for street, candid photography. Trying to use and get lost in space. I feel like weirdo and received the "death look" or how it is called in this thread.

This is 135 2.8 prime on FF DSLR. I was noticed.

It is not the size of the camera, lens, it is your gesture, pose and time to get this lens in frame and focused. FOV and DOF.

I was trying AF 90mm on crop sensor and small 90mm MF on film M. Same thing, you are not connected. The gap between what is happening and you is huge.

And this is the picture for one of the first moment I was set free. Small XA in my hand. 35mm prime, enough DoF even at f2.8.
I was walking on empty street, nothing happening, but dog just smiled to me. I would never get it with tele.

Salute! Ko.

 

[OurManInTangier]

Does any other form of photographic endeavour have such a weighty rule book as 'street' photography?

All my failures tend to come from adhering to the policies laid down and enshrined in street-law. The very few that I think may hold any interest appear to come when I'm far from thinking. Perhaps it may be best to forget all the labels and laws and simply use your camera to explore, I wonder if that is the thing that connects all photographers regardless of chosen genre

 

[bmattock]

Does any other form of photographic endeavour have such a weighty rule book as 'street' photography?

All my failures tend to come from adhering to the policies laid down and enshrined in street-law. The very few that I think may hold any interest appear to come when I'm far from thinking. Perhaps it may be best to forget all the labels and laws and simply use your camera to explore, I wonder if that is the thing that connects all photographers regardless of chosen genre

I obey the law. I also try to be kind, polite, respectful and peaceful when I am out taking photos.

What I do not obey are strictures promulgated by various RFF posters about what a photographer can properly photograph, or what constitutes a so called real photographer, and so on. I do what I do. Anyone who dislikes that is cordially invited to wave goodbye to me, because we have nothing to discuss. I'm not interested in following made-up RFF rules for photography.

 

[Brian Atherton]

My thoughts:

https://asingulareye.wordpress.com/2013/05/08/urban-photography/

Works for me, and keeps me out of trouble. Mostly. 😉

 

[ernstk]

My thoughts:

https://asingulareye.wordpress.com/2013/05/08/urban-photography/

Works for me, and keeps me out of trouble. Mostly. 😉

That's a good article...

 

[bmattock]

My thoughts:

https://asingulareye.wordpress.com/2013/05/08/urban-photography/

Works for me, and keeps me out of trouble. Mostly. 😉

What I have been saying for decades.

No one notices or objects to the letter carrier or the refuse collector as they go about their jobs. They are part of the environment. They neither attract attention to themselves nor attempt to disguise what they are doing. They merely do it.

At least in American society, few people attempt to interfere with a man or woman at work. We tend to recognize and respect the notion that one should not impede the work from being done.

Be the person who is merely doing their job. No extraneous movement, no presumed gravitas, no celebrity. "Please notice me being a street photographer." Just do your work and move on. Do not hide, nor skulk, nor avoid eye contact. Likewise, do not hesitate or behave in an uncertain or sly manner.

The letter carrier strides up, deposits letters, departs. Your conscious mind barely registered his or her passing, and cannot recall the vaguest detail even now. A bag and a uniform, that's about it. Be that person.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

My street jones kind of evaporated after somebody lost her **** on me in New York in 2009, and now I mostly shoot geometry. I think the pictures are less good but the process is more meditative. I think I lack the kind of confidence that bmattock is prescribing...I'm too furtive; I look like somebody who's sneaking pictures!

 

[Oscuro]

I obey the law. I also try to be kind, polite, respectful and peaceful when I am out taking photos. What I do not obey are strictures promulgated by various RFF posters about what a photographer can properly photograph, or what constitutes a so called real photographer, and so on. I do what I do. Anyone who dislikes that is cordially invited to wave goodbye to me, because we have nothing to discuss. I'm not interested in following made-up RFF rules for photography.

Caro Mr. Mattock,

Or indeed other people's "made-up" rules for the lives of others.
I make photographs. It is what I and my husband do. We shall continue, until we are dead or cannot see to frame an image.

There is an immense irony, perhaps unrecognized by those making the arguments, in the arguments made for the restriction of human activity in so-called free societies.

Grazie

Mme. O.

 

[Machspeed]

Of course this is always a case by case thing, and something that works for me might not work for you and vice versa. I also find location is a big factor in street shooting style (ie. Manhattan vs small town America)

If my eye is drawn to a particular person and I think I can make something decent out of it, I won't make eye contact. When I think the timing is about to happen then I'll put the viewfinder to my eye relatively slowly, and I will usually point it in a direction slightly off from the person(s) and I guess that might make it appear that they walked into my shot.

OR sometimes if I'm walking on a super crowded street Im just like F*ck it and go on a shooting spree and then see what I come back with later.

Other times I'll have the camera to my face and tilt it up slightly as if i'm taking a photo of a building or something - which gives the subject a brief moment to think to themselves that I'm photographing something else. When they're in the right possible spot I'll bring the camera down and frame up the shot and snap a frame.

Sometimes I won't walk around and I'll just stand on a street corner and photograph people as they walk by. Sometimes people will give strange looks but other times people won't even bother looking at me.

There are a ton of videos of working street photographers you can watch on youtube. Just do a playlist search or something.

Hope this somewhat helped you. I guess the most important thing you can do is to KNOW that you are not doing anything wrong and that you are not trying to hurt anyone. If you spend your time thinking "I bet they think I'm weird" or "they think I'm a perv" or something like that then you are doomed.

Good Luck!

Basically this.

 

[bmattock]

I personally enjoy intimate photos, taken when the photographer was acknowledged, and in many cases friends with the subject. They are certainly my best photos.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/books/2015-11/Nov16/truman-capote-large.jpg

I also enjoy those photos; yours and those of others. Some of them remain with me for a long time. Belgian pub photos of a member who has gone to meet his reward come to mind.

I also like the common ordinary photos of the sort when the person being photographed is simply doing what they do. They may or may not be aware that they are the subject of the photograph, but the photo represents a candid view of that person's activities at that moment in time.

What I tend not to care for as much are 'street' photographs of people walking away from the photographer or with their backs turned. If one is afraid to be 'caught' making a photograph, perhaps one ought to refrain from making the exposure at all. Being embarrassed or afraid or timid are simply not on.

 

[Oscuro]

I used to make first year students shoot photos of their immediate family. While I was sort of functioning like an art director, some of the photos taken by students in that context were simply amazing. Their photos in neighborhoods they did not know well, not so much.

Now that's on the right track!
Grazie,
Mme. O.