Tips Of The Day

[gramps]

I’ve posted some shots in the street photography section and no one’s told me to do one so…?!

We're too polite over there

 

[BillN_33]

It can be whatever you want it to be at your stage in photography, which will change over time - just enjoy the process, 99.9% of the people on here treat what they do as an (enjoyable) hobby albeit with different levels of enthusiasm

 

[ancient_mariner]

I do think that a lot of my photography probably qualifies under some wider definition of street.

Well, I’ve posted some shots in the street photography section and no one’s told me to do one so…?!

Generally people seem to think of Street photography as being picture of people taken in the street. I would describe yours from the just 3 pictures I saw as being more like architectural and documentary photography, not that I want to pigenon-hole you.

 

[No_Photoh]

Definitely just a hobby for me now.

Only job I do that pays these days is photographing bikes for another framebuilder and that tends to pay in beer!

 

[No_Photoh]

Generally people seem to think of Street photography as being picture of people taken in the street. I would describe yours from the just 3 pictures I saw as being more like architectural and documentary photography, not that I want to pigenon-hole you.

Fair. I do occasionally include people, they’re definitely never the main focus though.

 

[BillN_33]

If we all set our standard to be "the decisive moment" we would probably never press the shutter button ......... but maybe one day by chance or skill it will be there

 

[LeeRatters]

Fair. I do occasionally include people, they’re definitely never the main focus though.

I think, as I hinted at before, there are several split genres of 'street' imo

I tend to look for moments, characters, and always people as the main subject. I go out to photograph people. I don't look for the scene & then wait for a person to walk through - at the moment, that just doesn't float my boat.

And, to add...... That doesn't mean that style isn't good. It doesn't mean I don't like it even. It just means it's not what I want to/enjoy shooting

 

[ancient_mariner]

If we all set our standard to be "the decisive moment" we would probably never press the shutter button ......... but maybe one day by chance or skill it will be there

I wonder if the decisive moment is over-rated - the same scene with the child's arm down was much less effective. This picture, for me, caused quite a strong emotional connection, yet the it has been almost completely ignored. 3 'likes' and not even a single comment/crit. Sure emotions are personal based on what we see in something, and I'm not looking for intra-rectally fitted smoke, but I'd hoped it might even start a conversation:


Windrush? by Anton Ertl, on Flickr

 

[No_Photoh]

I think, as I hinted at before, there are several split genres of 'street' imo

I tend to look for moments, characters, and always people as the main subject. I go out to photograph people. I don't look for the scene & then wait for a person to walk through - at the moment, that just doesn't float my boat.

And, to add...... That doesn't mean that style isn't good. It doesn't mean I don't like it even. It just means it's not what I want to/enjoy shooting

Well put.

I like Winnogrand’s work, do I want to do it? Hard no!

 

[benc98]

If we all set our standard to be "the decisive moment" we would probably never press the shutter button ......... but maybe one day by chance or skill it will be there

It's an interesting topic that deserves its own thread. What do we think HCB meant by the decisive moment? I think he meant nice composition, e.g all elements have come together

 

[jamesev]

I guess I tend to be more at the 'architectural' end of the street photography spectrum too but say that and people think you're either talking about tripods and tilt shift lenses or photos for estate agents!

architectural street photography? isn't that blending into "urban landscapes"

I've noticed that 'street photography' tends to include a lot more (in my opinion and sorry to be blunt) crap photography than other genres so it's a term I stay away from as much as possible.

I agree, many random 'snaps' taken on the street with no purpose

 

[gramps]

many random 'snaps' taken on the street with no purpose

a bit like random birds, car, boat etc snaps - though not necessarily on the street.

 

[ancient_mariner]

a bit like random birds, car, boat etc snaps - though not necessarily on the street.

And this is also very true.

It's an interesting topic that deserves its own thread. What do we think HCB meant by the decisive moment? I think he meant nice composition, e.g all elements have come together

I would have said the moment when a scene comes together from the lenses perspective to create a picture that has something to say. It might be someone jumping over a puddle, a kiss or something else.

 

[benc98]

I would have said the moment when a scene comes together from the lenses perspective to create a picture that has something to say. It might be someone jumping over a puddle, a kiss or something else.

I think the same, for me it's the moment worthy of being photographed. The idea is problematic though, what about multiple decisive moments?

 

[ancient_mariner]

I think the same, for me it's the moment worthy of being photographed. The idea is problematic though, what about multiple decisive moments?

Isn't that video.

The DM is just a construct to help us think about how we work.

 

[jamesev]

a bit like random birds, car, boat etc snaps - though not necessarily on the street.

The difference being that street photography is actually societal reportage - telling a story though visual imagery as its purpose. Without that its just a snap on a street

 

[gramps]

The difference being that street photography is actually societal reportage - telling a story though visual imagery as its purpose. Without that its just a snap on a street

Every picture tells a story - not everyone can read and not every subject appeals to every reader.

 

[benc98]

The difference being that street photography is actually societal reportage - telling a story though visual imagery as its purpose. Without that its just a snap on a street

I wonder if folks who are engaged in documentary photography would disagree - a lot of street photography is focused on the single image and the aesthetic, something that could be contrary to reportage. I'm not saying all street photography isn't reportage - there's a ton of overlap, but there is a lot of great street photography that isphotographed with purpose that isn't reportage imo

Every picture tells a story - not everyone can read and not every subject appeals to every reader.

I'm minded to say that photographs don't tell stories, especially single ones, they just show you what something looked like. They can be packed with description and signs that can be analysed for connotations. A lot of the 'stories' I read in the comments to posted photos is often someone letting their imagination run wild rather than reading the image imo

 

[F1.2]

" Tips Of The Day "

PG

 

[mstphoto]

I don't have the confidence to do "Street Photography", however a lot of this genre I see on here taken with a phone are excellent.
I would never have considered taking phone images but I have been taking quite a few phone images since upgrading my phone.

Depending on the subject, converting to B&W could be seen as an improvement.
A few days ago, I was in the Gingerbread shop in Grasmere and took an overhead phone shot of the interior and converted it to a light sepia tone which I think suits the image.
Perhaps others may see it as tacky but as long as I like it that's all that matters.

Most if not all my images have a light vignette added.

So, in the end, I wouldn't call your list as tips - just your opinion.
Opinions are best kept to yourself IMHO

 

[Ed Sutton]

I wonder if folks who are engaged in documentary photography would disagree - a lot of street photography is focused on the single image and the aesthetic, something that could be contrary to reportage. I'm not saying all street photography isn't reportage - there's a ton of overlap, but there is a lot of great street photography that isphotographed with purpose that isn't reportage imo

Most 'street' photography is all about the image. At its best the photos stand repeated viewing and stick in the mind, but all too often it's what I call one-liner pictures that are only worth a first look before you move on to the next. With the passage of time even the least considered street pictures become historic documents showing how things used to look. It's rarely the primary intention of the photographers to do that though.

I'm minded to say that photographs don't tell stories, especially single ones, they just show you what something looked like. They can be packed with description and signs that can be analysed for connotations. A lot of the 'stories' I read in the comments to posted photos is often someone letting their imagination run wild rather than reading the image imo

"I take photographs, and photos explain nothing; they describe."
Chris Steele-Perkins

 

[jamesev]

I'm minded to say that photographs don't tell stories, especially single ones, they just show you what something looked like.

Thats a snap and to go back to the origins of this line of thought, the prevalence of snaps that are called street photos are what makes the pool of c**p

 

[gramps]

Of course some people just pontificate and rarely, if ever, post their own photos.

Tip of the day - If you don't like it move on, you don't have to view it.

 

[Rodinal]

Some excellent street photos are posted on here but there are 2 styles that I just do not "get".

1. Image inside a full underground carriage with no one particularly interesting.

2. Images of the rear of people - someone walking down a street away from you.

Rant over.

I cannot say that I have seen many of these because there are no underground train near where I live. Some that i have seen are very intrusive in a person's space which is taking the right to photograph anyone so long as it is in a public place to a point where it should be off limits.

The image of the rear of a person can sometimes be better than the front.

 

[Merlin5]

" Tips Of The Day "

PG

Tea by Merlin 5, on Flickr

 

[BillN_33]

The image of the rear of a person can sometimes be better than the front.

 

[ancient_mariner]

Moderator hat on for a moment:

Lets not throw stones at genres we don't especially like, whether that's street, landscape, nudes, sports, whatever.

Please, please, please POLITELY put that energy into critique of images in the main crit photo-sharing section. Many of us benefit from helpful crit, and you will do both others and ultimately yourself good if you post helpful comments that can guide someone in ways to make better pictures.

However if you are the kind of person that just doesn't like a particular genre, keep the secret to yourself - no-one else will benefit from knowing.

/moderator