Street photography- local or big towns?

[BlackDogPhoto]

I’m interested in getting into street photography but wondered about location! On the face of it, it seems fairly obvious however…

Do you shoot “street” in you home town or do most people travel to the larger cities?

I live in a relatively small town, Manchester and Liverpool are about an hour away so can get there, also are there any issues taking photos on or from public transport ie trains/train stations, buses or bus stations?

 

[BillN_33]

I think the main thing is getting comfortable about taking "people" in "street" situations and how to react if you receive any hostility

 

[BlackDogPhoto]

I think the main thing is getting comfortable about taking "people" in "street" situations and how to react if you receive any hostility

I have no issue talking to people or with hostility, but it’s an interesting consideration!

I think most people actually like talking about themselves, but not all like having their photo taken

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

There's a lot of material on this site about "street photography".

If you use the search function, (the magnifying glass at top right hand corner on the menu bar) you'll find that there are diverse views on what it is and how it should be approached,

 

[d00d]

I think the main thing is getting comfortable about taking "people" in "street" situations and how to react if you receive any hostility

I have no issue talking to people or with hostility, but it’s an interesting consideration!

I think most people actually like talking about themselves, but not all like having their photo taken

I think all toggers react/behave differently, personally I have the passive approach, offering to delete the picture before they ask. I say something like: I've just joined a pensioners camera club and they sent me out to take pictures of everyday activities in my local area. Oh that's alright then.

 

[1dmouse]

I live in a small town and I find it very different compared to street photography in large towns or cities.

Firstly in my home town I find it much harder because there are less opportunity with less people about who are not so used to be photographed unlike a large city where most are so used to seeing tourists and photographers daily the majority don't care. Then there is the familiarity of your home town where I don't see or notice things in the same way as going to somewhere new. Added to that the confidence to getting close to photograph people is another thing all together and not to mention the really great street photographers are doing it very very regularly and even their hit rate of good shots is low. It is mostly an exercise in failure but when you get something truly good there is no better feeling.

Given the choice it would be a big town or city every time.

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

...Added to that the confidence to getting close to photograph people is another thing all together...

This comes up so regularly.

"Street photography" does not need to be about marching up to people and blasting a flashgun in their face. To me, it's about recording people in their environment. You can do that far more effectively by standing well back and photographing them without interference, just as you would record any other animal.

 

[akirk]

This comes up so regularly.

"Street photography" does not need to be about marching up to people and blasting a flashgun in their face. To me, it's about recording people in their environment. You can do that far more effectively by standing well back and photographing them without interference, just as you would record any other animal.

The difference is simple though:

- distant = observing the scene
- close up = making you feel a part of the scene

simple physics of lenses means that standing further away with a long lens is not the same as being closer with a wide angle lens. It includes other items that would be excluded and it compresses the image's layers - whereas wide angle opens up the image...

of course - which you prefer is down to your style, but they are not the same...

 

[gramps]

I’m interested in getting into street photography but wondered about location! On the face of it, it seems fairly obvious however…

Do you shoot “street” in you home town or do most people travel to the larger cities?

I live in a relatively small town, Manchester and Liverpool are about an hour away so can get there, also are there any issues taking photos on or from public transport ie trains/train stations, buses or bus stations?

I shoot street in my home city and travel to other cities like London, Birmingham, Oxford, Bath & Cardiff as well as smaller towns like Weston-Super-Mare, Wells, etc.
The main difference is the number of people and therefore, generally, the more opportunities - given the option I prefer London but enjoy a photowalk almost anywhere.
As you may well know, shooting in a 'public place' (not necessarily a place to which the public has access!) is fine but areas like public transport and train stations/bus stations are not truly 'public places' and may be governed by specific rules/consent or possibly bylaws. It is your responsibility to ascertain these and abide by them, for example Network Rail has a set of requirements listed on their website. Commercial photography/filming is almost universally only available by agreement with the property owners.

I prefer to get in close where possible, standing back with a 'long' lens just looks creepy IMO - I will shoot at 24mm -50mm - 85mm approx.
I rarely if ever have any confrontation, if noticed I always smile and generally stop for a chat.

 

[1dmouse]

This comes up so regularly.

"Street photography" does not need to be about marching up to people and blasting a flashgun in their face. To me, it's about recording people in their environment. You can do that far more effectively by standing well back and photographing them without interference, just as you would record any other animal.

I never mentioned about marching up to people and blasting a flashgun in their face but getting close which is something a great deal of street photographers advocate. As some say if your not close enough etc ,something not everyone will or wants to do. Whilst street photography is very much a wide spectrum of styles and everyone has different preferences and levels of confidence and choice of equipment you are using.

 

[Barney]

These are two of my favourite street photography shots, at a garden in a country estate, she posed for a photo being taken by her friend, I butted in and asked to take a couple of snaps, she had the most beautiful gleam in her eyes, a window into her jolly friendly soul. Shows her essence if you ask me.

 

[Plain Nev]

I think there are advantages to photographing a small town, be it your own or nearby. Precisely because we don't look. And if it has alleys, and unexpected nooks and crannies all the better. I find that bringing out the characteristic details is what floats my boat. Not the people.

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

...and everyone has different preferences,,,

This is true,

My preference is to spot interesting human interactions and record them without being noticed...

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

of course - which you prefer is down to your style, but they are not the same...

If a picture is taken in the street, it's street photography. Hence, all street photography is the same in name.

On the morality front, here's an interesting piece of advice...

Whatever the situation, just imagine it’s you on the other side of that lens, consider your own ethics and morals, and maybe even ask yourself what you actually want from the photograph.

... from this page ...

The laws of street photography - Photography News

If you’re keen on street photography, it’s important to know your legal rights and limitations. Here are the essential photography laws of the urban jungle.

www.photographynews.co.uk

 

[Bodian]

Depends how small 'small' is. I'm in a small town of around 5,000 people, and only a couple of main streets. It's not great for street photography, because I stand out so much and there are limited opportunities.

Lancaster is bigger, and OK. Preston is very good with lots of opportunities. Manchester is excellent - especially round Deansgate where you can combine 'people' street photography, with 'buildings' street photography.

Train stations - no-one seems to mind photography on stations, it seems to be accepted. But taking photos when inside the train just feels wrong somehow.

 

[akirk]

If a picture is taken in the street, it's street photography. Hence, all street photography is the same in name.

On the morality front, here's an interesting piece of advice...

... from this page ...

The laws of street photography - Photography News

If you’re keen on street photography, it’s important to know your legal rights and limitations. Here are the essential photography laws of the urban jungle.

www.photographynews.co.uk

I am not getting into an argument about what it is called - quite frankly you can call it what you like!
Nor do I judge the morality of others online

My point was that shooting from a distance with a long lens will give a different feel to the photo from shooting close in with a wide lens...
So my point to the OP was - think about your style and which you want - they are not two alternatives for the same result - they give a different feel...

physics, not morals or legals

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

I am not getting into an argument about what it is called ...

It is ever so easy to do just that, if someone else thinks you're laying down the law.

My point was that shooting from a distance with a long lens will give a different feel to the photo from shooting close in with a wide lens...

I agree. However, the way in which you compose the image will have, in my opinion, a greater effect on the final result than the focal length chosen.

... they are not two alternatives for the same result - they give a different feel...

That may be correct or it may not. So many different elements feed into the "feel" of an image, that the perspective created by the focal length becomes just one more variable among several.

 

[LeeRatters]

If a picture is taken in the street, it's street photography. Hence, all street photography is the same in name.

Let's not go through all this again.... The last thread was bad enough......

"Here's a photo of a crisp wrapper on the pavement in a street. I'm going to call this street photography......."

------------

Big towns and cities are often better imo More people, more going on, more interactions, more chance of some good moments to capture. I only really shoot Bath, Bristol and Weston - I've not had the chance to try London yet. FF 35mm or wider, don't worry about getting in close, walk amongst people and through groups, sometimes a wider shoot with more going on can be interesting, including an environment etc And sometimes a nice scene waiting for a subject van be cool too, but I don't often do that tbh. O usually shoot at a 2-3 metre distance. And don't look like a p3rv3rt with a longer focal length lens shooting people from a distance, that's creepy and if spotted makes you stand out even more, looking awkward and weird.

 

[LeeRatters]

These are two of my favourite street photography shots, at a garden in a country estate, she posed for a photo being taken by her friend, I butted in and asked to take a couple of snaps, she had the most beautiful gleam in her eyes, a window into her jolly friendly soul. Shows her essence if you ask me.

View attachment 461403

View attachment 461402

Nice posed portraits

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

Let's not go through all this again.... The last thread was bad enough......

It's not surprising that this particular subject is contentious, given the behaviour of some practioners.

Unfortunately, when one person says that there is only one way to do something, it's difficult to dissuade another person from pointing out a second way to do the same thing.

 

[LeeRatters]

It's not surprising that this particular subject is contentious, given the behaviour of some practioners.

Unfortunately, when one person says that there is only one way to do something, it's difficult to dissuade another person from pointing out a second way to do the same thing.

The only issue being, it's not the same thing is it ......

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

"Here's a photo of a crisp wrapper on the pavement in a street. I'm going to call this street photography......."

I haven't managed a crisp wrapper in the wild, yet.

Will two chocolate wrappers in captivity do?

 

[BlackDogPhoto]

I shoot street in my home city and travel to other cities like London, Birmingham, Oxford, Bath & Cardiff as well as smaller towns like Weston-Super-Mare, Wells, etc.
The main difference is the number of people and therefore, generally, the more opportunities - given the option I prefer London but enjoy a photowalk almost anywhere.
As you may well know, shooting in a 'public place' (not necessarily a place to which the public has access!) is fine but areas like public transport and train stations/bus stations are not truly 'public places' and may be governed by specific rules/consent or possibly bylaws. It is your responsibility to ascertain these and abide by them, for example Network Rail has a set of requirements listed on their website. Commercial photography/filming is almost universally only available by agreement with the property owners.

I prefer to get in close where possible, standing back with a 'long' lens just looks creepy IMO - I will shoot at 24mm -50mm - 85mm approx.
I rarely if ever have any confrontation, if noticed I always smile and generally stop for a chat.


Predator & Prey by Bristol Streets, on Flickr

Thanks for the detailed reply, definitely agree with the creepy long lens situation!

I figured big cities have more opportunities, I just wonder if sometimes people are a bit muted to there own towns.

 

[BlackDogPhoto]

I live in a small town and I find it very different compared to street photography in large towns or cities.

Firstly in my home town I find it much harder because there are less opportunity with less people about who are not so used to be photographed unlike a large city where most are so used to seeing tourists and photographers daily the majority don't care. Then there is the familiarity of your home town where I don't see or notice things in the same way as going to somewhere new. Added to that the confidence to getting close to photograph people is another thing all together and not to mention the really great street photographers are doing it very very regularly and even their hit rate of good shots is low. It is mostly an exercise in failure but when you get something truly good there is no better feeling.

Given the choice it would be a big town or city every time.

I love that phrase “mostly an exercise in failure “ that sounds like a lot of my hobbies!!!

 

[BlackDogPhoto]

I think there are advantages to photographing a small town, be it your own or nearby. Precisely because we don't look. And if it has alleys, and unexpected nooks and crannies all the better. I find that bringing out the characteristic details is what floats my boat. Not the people.

This is what I was considering for my town, an opportunity to document this time in my town in history, buildings and people.

 

[BlackDogPhoto]

Depends how small 'small' is. I'm in a small town of around 5,000 people, and only a couple of main streets. It's not great for street photography, because I stand out so much and there are limited opportunities.

Lancaster is bigger, and OK. Preston is very good with lots of opportunities. Manchester is excellent - especially round Deansgate where you can combine 'people' street photography, with 'buildings' street photography.

Train stations - no-one seems to mind photography on stations, it seems to be accepted. But taking photos when inside the train just feels wrong somehow.

Sound like you’re in my neck of the woods, but slightly smaller town than me! Agree taking photos on the train seems a bit weird!

 

[Barney]

Let's not go through all this again.... The last thread was bad enough......

And don't look like a p3rv3rt with a longer focal length lens shooting people from a distance, that's creepy and if spotted makes you stand out even more, looking awkward and weird.

I think that is one of the most inappropriate comments I have read on TP, and does many photographer's a great disservice.

The "perverts" , In this instance, I will asume, unrequested images of a girls bottom or breasts or a mans genital area, will more than likely be obtained by someone with a compact camera and short lens with a zone focus method where the camera is obscured in the hand.

If I recall the relatively recent "outlawing" of the disgusting "upskirt" phenomenon was due to the operations being carried out with mobile phones and not camera's at all.

 

[LeeRatters]

I haven't managed a crisp wrapper in the wild, yet.

Will two chocolate wrappers in captivity do?
View attachment 461414

Yep. We can call that captivity photography

 

[LeeRatters]

I think that is one of the most inappropriate comments I have read on TP, and does many photographer's a great disservice.

The "perverts" , In this instance, I will asume, unrequested images of a girls bottom or breasts or a mans genital area, will more than likely be obtained by someone with a compact camera and short lens with a zone focus method where the camera is obscured in the hand.

If I recall the relatively recent "outlawing" of the disgusting "upskirt" phenomenon was due to the operations being carried out with mobile phones and not camera's at all.

No it isn't. That has been said many times everywhere in regard to candid/street/people/public photography. You are taking the actual term of a 'pervert' to its extreme here. I've seen many photos of girls/women in short skirts or skimpy clothes on Flickr and IG taken from a distance with a longer lens and it's simply wrong and shouldn't be happening, especially when it's tagged under 'street photography'! End of discussion.

That's where the comment comes from.

 

[gramps]

I think that is one of the most inappropriate comments I have read on TP, and does many photographer's a great disservice.

I disagree with you here, in the context of 'street photography' Lee is absolutely correct.
This is not to say that a long lens in the street is wrong, there could be reasons for the choice, eg photographing Peregrines on a church, but for 'street photography' it just isn't appropriate and does street photographers a disservice.

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

...but for 'street photography' it just isn't appropriate and does street photographers a disservice.

I have to disagree with you there, I often use long focus lenses for what used to be known as candid photography.

The point of using long lenses for such work is exactly the same reason as wildlife photographers use them - to avoid disturbing the subject. If used properly, the subject doesn't notice you.

 

[gramps]

I have to disagree with you

I don't doubt.

 

[Bodian]

What is a 'long lens' in terms of APS-C and street photography?

 

[Bodian]

This is what I was considering for my town, an opportunity to document this time in my town in history, buildings and people.

In which case, you might actually be better off asking people of your town if you can take a photo of them. That is - explain what you're doing and so on. They'll probably be more than happy.

 

[BillN_33]

In which case, you might actually be better off asking people of your town if you can take a photo of them. That is - explain what you're doing and so on. They'll probably be more than happy.

why all this fuss ....... it's only photography .......... the bigger the space/town/city the more images being taken with the mobile phone and cameras ....... just get out and see what happens .......... with your 28mm/35mm or 50mm

 

[Bodian]

why all this fuss ....... it's only photography .......... the bigger the space/town/city the more images being taken with the mobile phone and cameras ....... just get out and see what happens .......... with your 28mm/35mm or 50mm

Yes - but I guess doing 'street photography' as a thing, is different from 'documenting a specific home town'. Different end product really - and probably looking for different topics. Or I would be anyway.

 

[BillN_33]

Yes - but I guess doing 'street photography' as a thing, is different from 'documenting a specific home town'. Different end product really - and probably looking for different topics. Or I would be anyway.

Your original question to quote your thread, was................... "Do you shoot “street” in you home town or do most people travel to the larger cities?"

are you now asking about a photo "documentary" of your home or a specific town?

 

[Barney]

No it isn't.

Besides telling me what lens I can use when conducting a lawful and legal pastime in the United Kingdom, you also tell me what type of comments I may or may not consider inappropriate.

............Good Grief.

 

[LeeRatters]

Besides telling me what lens I can use when conducting a lawful and legal pastime in the United Kingdom, you also tell me what type of comments I may or may not consider inappropriate.

............Good Grief.

Back at ya

 

[Barney]

Back at ya

Have you thought of setting up the South western branch of the street photography Gestapo.

" veee have ze ways of making you use a short lens"