Street photography cliches

erictearle said:
What I've concluded from this thread so far from the list of cliches;

- If you take photos in the street no matter what it looks like, it's a cliche. So don't do street photography as people will be upset
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Not so much upset....more disappointed.
 
Okay. it is mean't to be a tongue in cheek post.

Maybe a bit to close to home for some though? If the cap fits the wear it.

One point I stand by is the number of repetitive and formulaic photos on street photography flickr groups that are fawned over with sychophantic comments by other users (presumably in the hope for the same treatment in return?).

Forum rules prevent me from posting links to examples here, but I would be surprised if any flickr user didn't recognise this.

I don't see myself as elitist... I'm just an amateur with an opinion.
 
PMN said:
Words that pretty much describe 95% of general photography then? How 'original' are you? ;)
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I'm an accountant by trade....we don't do originality :)
 
fabs said:
I never did understand why people get upset by what other people are photographing.

Here you go, one of my favourite photos and, apparently, it's a cliche. ;)

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I'd say this is far from a cliche, had the image been just of one of the women, and the newbie street photographers would have opted for the woman with her back to the camera, then yes masseeeeeeve Cliche

BUT

You have the two women without knowing it in almost mirror image poses pivoting around the central line in the fence in the back ground.

Thats what makes it interesting and a great shot, certainly not a cliche.....

If thats why you took it because you saw that symetry etc then hats off, please wear your 'I'm not a Cliche' badge with pride ;););)
 
NeilMc said:
I'd say this is far from a cliche, had the image been just of one of the women, and the newbie street photographers would have opted for the woman with her back to the camera, then yes masseeeeeeve Cliche

BUT

You have the two women without knowing it in almost mirror image poses pivoting around the central line in the fence in the back ground.

Thats what makes it interesting and a great shot, certainly not a cliche.....

If thats why you took it because you saw that symetry etc then hats off, please wear your 'I'm not a Cliche' badge with pride ;););)
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Neil, I thank you for your kind words.

And yes, The positioning of the 2 women was the reason I took the shot so I'm pinning my badge on now. :D
 
Typical Talk Photography treatment of anyone who has a negative opinion about repetitive, formulaic work.

ELISTIST!!


Yeah... we don't want no stinking elitist creativity in here!! Heaven forbid those damned elitists should try to talk our beginners out of taking the same old tired shots.... I mean.. how dare they... what would the poor beginners do then? They might even start believing that photography is CREATIVE!!.. (cross yourself with holy Eclipse sensor cleaning solution) and not a technical hobby after all. They may have to THINK creatively (self flagellate with a Black Rapid camera strap to purge your soul of such heresy). That's just unreasonable and elitist to expect beginners to aspire to something more than that.

Oh the horror!!


:)
 
Sorry... was I too subtle? :)
 
You can't win 'em all.
 
Have I been getting it wrong then?













*heads off to delete all the pictures of streets I have taken*
 
Pookeyhead said:
Typical Talk Photography treatment of anyone who has a negative opinion about repetitive, formulaic work.

ELISTIST!!


Yeah... we don't want no stinking elitist creativity in here!! Heaven forbid those damned elitists should try to talk our beginners out of taking the same old tired shots.... I mean.. how dare they... what would the poor beginners do then? They might even start believing that photography is CREATIVE!!.. (cross yourself with holy Eclipse sensor cleaning solution) and not a technical hobby after all. They may have to THINK creatively (self flagellate with a Black Rapid camera strap to purge your soul of such heresy). That's just unreasonable and elitist to expect beginners to aspire to something more than that.

Oh the horror!!


:)
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So, any of the shots you quoted could not be creative? Surely you agree that the subject matter alone is not a marker for creativity. To turn your nose up/berate/take the **** out of people for what they shoot is a bit far fetched.
 
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What I'm taking the **** out of is the reverse snobbery in here.
 
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Apologies for swearing... but you have to admit... that swear filter does a really good job :)

fabs said:
There is no reverse snobbery, people are just defending their right to take the photos they wish to take so please untwist your knickers.

and the swear filter is there for a reason.
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There soooo is reverse snobbery in here. I defy you to start a thread on creativity, art, visual innovation, or fine art, or conceptual photography... go on.. see what happens.
 
Creativity is fine, there are some very creative photographers on here ... I see some and wonder how on earth they manage it but I don't necessarily want to emulate it.
For me photography is all about getting out for a walk with the camera or going to a specific location/event and taking some shots that I think might work or which I think I may like.

Don't I have the right to do this or post the results here?
Do I have to put up with being derided because the results are not super creative?
Shouldn't I post just because my images are not worthy of some prestigious art award?

There is room for everyone and we shouldn't feel that we will face ostracism for posting whatever we are able to accomplish with our cameras, whether extremely limited or super-creative - don't belittle, post constructive crit.
 
fabs said:
There is no reverse snobbery, people are just defending their right to take the photos they wish to take so please untwist your knickers.

and the swear filter is there for a reason.
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I think there is some reverse snobbery here, I've been accused of being elitist at work because I don't like tabloids, reality TV or McDonalds, all of which are far more popular than the alternatives I like. But if I criticise these then I'm elitist.

I have not criticised any individual's work, but made some general points.

My own work may not be the most creative or original, but I do try to come up with my own ideas.

Surely there is nothing wrong with aspiring to be the best I can, and I believe that means getting it right both technically and creatively. And for me, that means trying to avoid formulaic and repetitive cliches.

I understand that everything I do has probably been done already...but some has been done more than others to the extent that they can rightly be classed as cliches.
 
you need to go out and shoot what you want and stop worrying about what other people shoot. IN the long run, if you are any good, your work will stick out and you will be recognised as being good. Klein is an excellent example in this field of someone who just got out there and did what he wanted
 
Richard King said:
you need to go out and shoot what you want and stop worrying about what other people shoot.
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I agree wholeheartedly... but if you shoot stuff that's been shot to death, and ask for crit... don't call people elitist for pointing that out to you (yes, I know no one in here asked for crit but I've been accused of being unhelpful and elitist in crit threads when I've suggested this). If you're taking something formulaic because a client is paying you to do so, then fine, but of your own free will... don't cry about it if someone points out that it's probably been seen a million times before, and perhaps you should try to take it in a way that's a little bit refreshing.

Richard King said:
IN the long run, if you are any good, your work will stick out and you will be recognised as being good. Klein is an excellent example in this field of someone who just got out there and did what he wanted
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It won't stick out if it looks like everyone else's though, will it. Klein was an innovator... he didn't shoot what everyone else shot.. that's what made him famous.


I've all but give up on the crit threads lately... it's like walking on egg shells.
 
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Exactly. The OP has a choice. Go out and shoot what he feels is interesting, or... stay in and get his knickers in a twist that other photographers in his opinion is not original
 
gramps said:
Creative ... but no staying power :D
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I just know when I'm swimming against the tide :)

Richard King said:
Exactly. The OP has a choice. Go out and shoot what he feels is interesting, or... stay in and get his knickers in a twist that other photographers in his opinion is not original
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Or maybe people... you know... listen to feedback they receive? All of it.. not just the stuff they want to hear. Why the OP started the thread is irrelevant. Interest? Troll? Doesn't matter. It's the conversation that ensues that matters.


Anyway.. what do you mean, "exactly"? You say people can shoot what they want, then reference William Kline, who made his name by doing something new, different, and fresh... Well.. that's all I'm suggesting. That people shy away from deliberately shooting stuff that's already saturating every digital image repository over the entire internet. Klien may well have done what he wanted... but what he wanted was not what everyone else was doing. If it was... do you think he'd be such an iconic figure?

Shoot what the hell you want... it's your camera. Just don't be surprised if people say "Oh ****... not another shot of Durdle Door" or whatever your particular photographic groundhog day is.
 
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Richard King said:
Exactly. The OP has a choice. Go out and shoot what he feels is interesting, or... stay in and get his knickers in a twist that other photographers in his opinion is not original
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hmmm....not sure I was getting my knickers in a twist.....odd comment to make
 
Life is a cliche. It's all been done by millions before us, but I'm not going to stop getting out there and enjoying it. If you are happy with what you do, why care about what anyone else thinks?

This is generally why I very rarely post anything for crit. I'm happy with what I do, even if it has been done by many before me.
 
Steve said:
I've been accused of being elitist at work because I don't like tabloids, reality TV or McDonalds, all of which are far more popular than the alternatives I like. But if I criticise these then I'm elitist.
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Not liking them is fine, I don't like them either but the elitism comes from how you express it. If you say everyone who likes them is stupid, lesser than you then you have a problem.

Just the same as saying anyone that takes a cliched shot is "disappointing" you, as though they should only take shots that are good enough to please you.

I have referred to it before but Grayson Perry did a great 3 part TV show exploring taste going from working class to upper class which gave a very good perspective on why different classes appreciate different things.

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/in-the-best-possible-taste-grayson-perry
 
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ernesto said:
Not liking them is fine, I don't like them either but the elitism comes from how you express it. If you say everyone who likes them is stupid, lesser than you then you have a problem.
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I agree. Which is why I've not called anyone stupid or lesser than me in this thread.

If you mean I'm elitist for suggesting that perhaps their photography will improve if they stop taking pictures people are tired of seeing, then that's just belly aching because someone didn't like their images.

ernesto said:
Just the same as saying anyone that takes a cliched shot is "disappointing" you, as though they should only take shots that are good enough to please you.
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If someone feels disappointed in the photography they are seeing in here... so what?

ernesto said:
I have referred to it before but Grayson Perry did a great 3 part TV show exploring taste going from working class to upper class which gave a very good perspective on why different classes appreciate different things.
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Now you're making assumptions about people's social class? LOL So now we understand where your opinion comes from at least.

...like I said... reverse snobbery. I like art, and that's "posh" so by default I'm elitist.

Brilliant.

You know nothing about me, or Steve, or anyone else who shares the same opinion, and you have no idea what social class I come from.


Seems to me that in here.... if you have nothing nice to say, say nothing. I fail to see how that will help anyone, but fair enough. If people don't want the opinions of those with experience, then stop asking for crit.




Nikon_Nick said:
This is generally why I very rarely post anything for crit. I'm happy with what I do, even if it has been done by many before me.
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Then you've really nothing to worry about by anything anyone is saying in here. However, those that do post images for crit clearly want to improve... yet only if entails hearing things that make them feel good about their work. Tell them to move the light more to the left... they accept that... crop that tree out... fine too.... suggest that they stop taking images that have been taken a million times before, and you're elitist.

They don't want their images critting, they want their technique critting.... and when you suggest that good photography doesn't come from technique alone, you're elitist for thinking that. A great many of the people who behave like this, also have "Joe Bloggs Photography" plastered all over their images, and seem to have aspirations to be a professional Photographer... and when professionals advise them on what they may need to do in order to reach their goal... they reject your advise... like we've all not struggled through the same period of growth they're now struggling through.... like we don't know what we're talking about.
 
The thing that is really sad is this kind of attitude stops timid people even attempting to try new things at risk of being lambasted for not being up to standard. For most, this is a hobby not a life choice, I think that gets lost in translation sometimes.

As for critical analysis of other people's work is imagine, 'I think the shots rubbish because it's cliché' argument is an oxymoron, it actually stifles creativity. And It's lazy. Most people im guessing (in my opinion) would much rather have the composition, framing, so colour sharpness, detail etc be at the forefront of the analysis because if you think about it, they posted it thinking the image was a good capture of the subject in question. That's not really up for debate as that's a choice between them and there environment at that time. Sure you can say about it from a different angle will produce this etc but to say is bad because it's cliche is poor form. It's cliche for a reason, people like clichés. That's what most films follow smaller patterns. Most models look the same and so forth.
 
Pookeyhead said:
those that do post images for crit clearly want to improve... yet only if entails hearing things that make them feel good about their work. Tell them to move the light more to the left... they accept that... crop that tree out... fine too.... suggest that they stop taking images that have been taken a million times before, and you're elitist.
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Why would they need to "stop taking images that have been taken a million times before" in order to improve?
What is wrong with taking an image of Durdle Door that you have never taken before ... or going back to try taking it a different way, different time ... or to try a different technique, camera or lens.
Why do I need to go into a studio to do some sort of creative cut & paste in Photoshop when I can get out in the fresh air and do something I enjoy? :shrug:
 
Pookeyhead said:
They don't want their images critting, they want their technique critting.... and when you suggest that good photography doesn't come from technique alone, you're elitist for thinking that.
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What you have to realise, David, is that for the majority of people on here photography is a pastime and they imagine it should be enjoyable with a steady increase in ability until a high standard is attained.

They want to make pictures which their peers approve of. Pictures which look like thousands of other pictures. For them that is how they measure their success.

Not everyone who owns a camera wishes to challenge themselves or others by stepping outside the accepted populist norms.
 
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