What Makes a Good Street Photography Scene?

[Paolo Bonello]

A crappy street scene one day can be a treasure trove the next.

 

[FrankS]

What makes any photograph interesting is the content and/or the form.
(The form consists of composition and lighting.)

 

[Lauffray]

There isn't a formula.

No, but what you find interesting is usually stable over a certain period of time, so I suppose one can describe what, for them, makes a good photograph at that point in time.

 

[f16sunshine]

Good Luck is important.

Things happen that one can never predict and make a scene more special than you could ever expect it to be.

Run Away! by Adnan W, on Flickr

 

[jsrockit]

No, but what you find interesting is usually stable over a certain period of time, so I suppose one can describe what, for them, makes a good photograph at that point in time.

And there will always be something else that comes along and disproves what you thought...

 

[back alley]

i'm still trying to figure it out...

 

[kbg32]

i'm still trying to figure it out...

Don't Joe. Just do what you do!

 

[DNG]

I don't necessarily need a 'busy' area, many smaller cities still have people always waking about,
and, really, I only need a one or a few people to make a photograph. What they are doing is more important.
Their expressions, their interactions, and the humanity that may come though in the photograph.

Though, I do like to revisit areas, a new day is new opportunities with different people most likely.
Even though the backgrounds may be similar in other photographs. That is Okay, the angle, and what is included is always different.
It is those in the photo that make the photo, not the BG areas, in most photos.

Safety is an issue, and I size-up the person quickly, and decide within a few seconds..
If, I really want the photo, if I do, I will shoot from my waist or hip, depending on how I am holding the camera.

 

[Lauffray]

And there will always be something else that comes along and disproves what you thought...

Yes of course, it's only normal that it changes and evolves

 

[back alley]

Don't Joe. Just do what you do!

it's hard not to be myself...

 

[Colin Corneau]

Much like art and pornography -- you know it when you see it.

 

[paulfish4570]

unfortunately, it's the people who make the scene ... 🙂

 

[kxl]

Don't know about 'good' but what I like:

- if there is a person or there are people in the frame, then I'd like to see the people interacting or within thhe context of their locale.

- if there are no people in the frame, then I would like to get a sense of 'place'

In either case, I would like to get a sense of authenticity about thhe photo that transports me to that location. I think it's sometimes referred to as 'envronmental' or even social documenntary.

 

[mfogiel]

Good street photrography scene, is a scene where people do what they do and it looks interesting:


201410617 by mfogiel, on Flickr

For a reason quite difficult for me to understand, lots of people found something interesting in this photo - I got 700 faves on Flickr in a day.
What could it be? The baseball hat of the guy?

 

[airfrogusmc]

I tend to look for things like repeating shapes, leading lines, geometry and other visual elements and try to tie them together somehow within the frame. To make some kind of visual sense out of chaos. This is the way I do it. I have a lot of influences Bresson, Davidson, Lyon, Evans, Frank and Winogrand to name a few.

 

[DNG]

I look for....... What inspires me to capture a moment, it could be a couple totally independent in their expressions.

2015 Classic Street Photography by Peter Arbib STREET, on Flickr

or the juxtaposition of the environment

2015 Classic Street Photography by Peter Arbib STREET, on Flickr

Or an uncommon viewpoint

2015 Classic Street Photography by Peter Arbib STREET, on Flickr

That is what makes Street so challenging, so many ways to see a photo......

 

[Ko.Fe.]

...
What could it be? The baseball hat of the guy?

😎
I used to follow one photog with nothing but ladies, not as kinky as this one, just casual well taken outdoor portraits. I'm checking Flickr often and I was always surprised how quickly it was getting 99+. Almost instantly.

I think, your photo isn't unique one in situation, which we observe and even practice... sometimes 🙄. It is very good example to look at ourselves, I faved it as well.

 

[peterm1]

HCB called it the "decisive moment" of course but I simply look for the relationship between the elements in the photo and composition so there is a captivating juxtaposition of elements. If it works it can almost look posed in a cinematic kind of way. It also helps if the subject matter is interesting (attractive or perhaps craggy and ugly in an interesting and characterful way).

Watching the show by yoyomaoz, on Flickr

Layers in time and space by yoyomaoz, on Flickr

Shopping by yoyomaoz, on Flickr

Italian restaurant by yoyomaoz, on Flickr

Red coffee machine by yoyomaoz, on Flickr

 

[kbg32]

Seems to me, a lot of people have a lot going through their minds when they're carrying a camera out on the street! I have ideas in mind, but I subscribe to the zen philosophy of "emptying oneself". I have projects that I work on continuously, but that just puts me in certain geographic areas or places. I need to be aware of - Joe will love this - the cacophony out on the street. Taking it all in and eventually letting myself filter out to what I need to see. For me, the street is about life, feeling. It's a direct reflection, a mirror, and a window.

Herald Square by keithbgoldstein, on Flickr

 

[airfrogusmc]

I don't have anything in my mind. In my opinion thinking should come before and after not during shooting. It should come from, as Bresson called it and I totally agree, a developed instinct.