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Jimi

Jimi

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Jimmy
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...Street photography.

I have been searching around, the wonder that is, the internet researching street photography. Spent far more time than I anticipated on youtube watching the various offerings from 'street photographers' from around the globe. Now, I am pretty open minded when it comes to art and, for that matter, what I consider to be a good photograph, but some of the stuff I have witnessed is, well, how can I say it...not very good :shrug:

The term street photography, to me at least, conjours up the kind of images you may expect to see emblazoned inside the covers of National Geographic and magazines of that ilk. Crisp razor sharp portraits of an old lady with very distinguishing features with the pleasant BOKEH of a city scape forming a natural backdrop, and of course all done in monochrome for that extra artistic effect. Or, a black and white image of a guy in a suit reading a newspaper and smoking a cigarette stood in a shop doorway, the sign above the door adding extra poetic licence to the whole image. Carefully captured images of the queing trafic in the centre of a busy city street with the focal point of a uniformed Police man directing the cars and taxis around a broken down bus, the vibrant colours of the shop signs and hoardings all adding to the effect.

However, the stuff displayed in some of the youtube footage are the kind of images which 'Boots' or 'Bonusprints' would put a sticker on advising of the fact that the photograph is out of focus or that you have decapitated somebodies head :) Now I know that the any photograph, regardless of content, can be interpreted and veiwed differently by those who look at it, but TBH I just struggle to see the point of some of them. They just appear to be badly taken snapshots taken by trigger happy snappers with a seemingly huge following and fan base.

Is it just my amateur ignorance misinterperating them, or are they over hyped? :thinking:
 
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In answer to your last two questions, Yes and Yes! Everyone (well most) will interpret 'street photography' differently.
For me it is the unsuspecting person caught doing something unusual.
And I prefer it when they don't know you are taking the picture of them, more natural I suppose.
I suppose it's a little bit like hunting, spot your prey, aim, fire!
I also love the idea of telling a little story, a few images to impart what was going on.
Just my take on it!
 
That's generally the case with anything you don't have much interest in. I for one don't particularly enjoy Dutch Golden Age style of paintings, or motor sport photography, for instance; and thusly much of it come across as 'not very good' to me.
 
gnom said:
That's generally the case with anything you don't have much interest in. I for one don't particularly enjoy Dutch Golden Age style of paintings, or motor sport photography, for instance; and thusly much of it come across as 'not very good' to me.
Click to expand...

That's the thing though, I do have an interest in this form or style of photography and it's something I relish the thought of 'really getting into' for want of a better phrase. It's just that some of footage and shots on the net from the likes of Mark Cohen and Bruce Gilden just seem to be 'lets shoot everything that looks remotely interesting and hope there is something decent there after' type shots :shrug: To me it is shoot and hope photography as opossed to seeing a scene or scenario worthy of creating a good photo, both in terms of technical and artistic talent.
 
I like street togging and the unusual, the more thought provoking the better, true life in all it'd rawness, nothing shady, i do show some at CC but a lot are on my walls, reminders of what could be.

seen so many pictures over the years of my togging both professionally and personal i like this site.

here get posting your shots.


Merc
 
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Each person have their methods of photography, and a lot of street photographer rely on luck; partly because there's no time to properly 'construct' the photograph.

Focus on the images and style of street photography that you like and practice that.

Check out the "Street Photography Now" book, lot of great images there that perhaps can serve as inspiration. Needless to say there's also a lot of 'meh' images too - but their purpose is to instruct you on what you don't want to photograph. :)
 
You need to be pretty thick -skinned to be a really good street photographer. Good street photography is seldom furtive with long lenses, it's close- in shots with short focal length lenses, trying to capture truly candid unposed moments, while sometimes the interaction between the subject and the camera can be key to the success of the shot also.

Sooner or later, you will find someone who objects to what you're doing - even more so these days when cameras are viewed by many people with such suspicion
 
CT said:
You need to be pretty thick -skinned to be a really good street photographer. Good street photography is seldom furtive with long lenses, it's close- in shots with short focal length lenses, trying to capture truly candid unposed moments, while sometimes the interaction between the subject and the camera can be key to the success of the shot also.

Sooner or later, you will find someone who objects to what you're doing - even more so these days when cameras are viewed by many people with such suspicion
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i use my 70 200mm with great effect, the trick is do not under any circumstances look like a jessops happy togger,

it's street/candid dress the same

camera + lens + strap

no spray way jackets
no rucksack
no walking boots


Hat ok
gloves ok

walk with purpose and when the shots there swing that camera up and start shooting



Merc
 
mercmanuk said:
i use my 70 200mm with great effect, the trick is do not under any circumstances look like a jessops happy togger
Click to expand...

Each to their own. Personally I prefer a 35mm or 50mm on FF, and then get right up there where it's happening. It begs for all kinds of fun interactions with people, like today:

Guy: "Wtf are you doing putting that f-ing camera in my face?"
Me: "It's not in your face, it's in my hands..."

Then he just laughed and asked to see the picture and we chatted for a bit.
 
i agree 50mm is a great in your face lens


but as i would use years ago when working with young people was a candid lens

one of the problems of working with problem (Disaffected) young adults was that as soon as you pointed the camera at them they are all turned into Sid Vicious even the Girls, giving the V's Etc, so in order to capture the moment we used the candid lens

get one there great if they still make em

Merc
 
I'm not sure I understand, what's a "candid lens"?
 
gnom said:
I'm not sure I understand, what's a "candid lens"?
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it's a attachment like a lens extension fits on the filter thread, inside is a mirror at 45 degs the lens points at the mirror and therefore at 45 Degs, the end of the lens extension is made to look like the end of a lens.

,


so you point at one thing but takt the picture of whats happening to the side

like me a bit old but would still work.

Merc
 
I remember seeing those advertised in photo mags years ago and always wondered whether they really worked. Maybe I should look out for one....
 
Jimi said:
The term street photography, to me at least, conjours up the kind of images you may expect to see emblazoned inside the covers of National Geographic and magazines of that ilk. Crisp razor sharp portraits of an old lady with very distinguishing features with the pleasant BOKEH of a city scape forming a natural backdrop, and of course all done in monochrome for that extra artistic effect. Or, a black and white image of a guy in a suit reading a newspaper and smoking a cigarette stood in a shop doorway, the sign above the door adding extra poetic licence to the whole image. Carefully captured images of the queing trafic in the centre of a busy city street with the focal point of a uniformed Police man directing the cars and taxis around a broken down bus, the vibrant colours of the shop signs and hoardings all adding to the effect.
Click to expand...

See what you have just described here bores me to tears :D (not your words just the style you are describing!)

Jimi said:
In my opinion street photography shouldnt look like that, its too perfect, thats not what real life looks like. When you pass someone in the street it is blurry and surreal, I hate when everything is tack sharp, it just doesnt sit right with me.

However, the stuff displayed in some of the youtube footage are the kind of images which 'Boots' or 'Bonusprints' would put a sticker on advising of the fact that the photograph is out of focus or that you have decapitated somebodies head :) Now I know that the any photograph, regardless of content, can be interpreted and veiwed differently by those who look at it, but TBH I just struggle to see the point of some of them. They just appear to be badly taken snapshots taken by trigger happy snappers with a seemingly huge following and fan base.

Is it just my amateur ignorance misinterperating them, or are they over hyped? :thinking:
Click to expand...

I think its just a case of different strokes or different folks, I love both kinds, the class B&W work of Gilden but also the abstract of Martin Parr. :)
 
Vic said:
See what you have just described here bores me to tears :D (not your words just the style you are describing!)



I think its just a case of different strokes or different folks, I love both kinds, the class B&W work of Gilden but also the abstract of Martin Parr. :)
Click to expand...

Fair comments:thumbs: I must admit though, the deeper I delve and the closer I look into the images the more used to them I become.

Any more recomendations of street photography/ers for me to look at?
 
Jimi said:
The term street photography, to me at least, conjours up the kind of images you may expect to see emblazoned inside the covers of National Geographic and magazines of that ilk. Crisp razor sharp portraits of an old lady with very distinguishing features with the pleasant BOKEH of a city scape forming a natural backdrop, and of course all done in monochrome for that extra artistic effect. Or, a black and white image of a guy in a suit reading a newspaper and smoking a cigarette stood in a shop doorway, the sign above the door adding extra poetic licence to the whole image. Carefully captured images of the queing trafic in the centre of a busy city street with the focal point of a uniformed Police man directing the cars and taxis around a broken down bus, the vibrant colours of the shop signs and hoardings all adding to the effect.
Click to expand...

This is quite a romanticised and dare I say cliched image of city life I think, which isn't exactly what a lot of people are trying to portray with their work.
Many are going for a more honest and often ugly portrayal of the places we live. Check out for example Maciej Dakowicz. It ain't pretty, but I really like it.
 
The Matt said:
This is quite a romanticised and dare I say cliched image of city life I think, which isn't exactly what a lot of people are trying to portray with their work.
Many are going for a more honest and often ugly portrayal of the places we live. Check out for example Maciej Dakowicz. It ain't pretty, but I really like it.
Click to expand...

I suppose you are right about the cliche bit. Some great photographs on that link and they certainly show things in their 'raw normality' if you like.

Makes me thankful though that I am now of an age were Countryfile and Cocoa seems more appealing :D:D:D
 
Further to whatI said before, I guess it's the difference between shooting to create something for purely aesthetic purposes and shooting for documentary purposes. Your outlook will vary wildly depending on how much importance you place on each of those things.
 
I enjoy doing street photography, but blimey its hard work. Frustrating even. If you look for a interesting shot rather than street snaps, sometimes the 'storytellers' don't happen.

I did take a lot of snap shots first, but I like to spend more time watching people than i do taking pictures, trying to read body language, anticipate movement etc. When you stop and watch people in the street, they do become fascinating. Trying to capture that is the tough part though.

Then you have the added bonus of someone giving you that is he a perv look - its life on a knife edge!
 
I think people are over-analysing and over-complicate things. It's not quantum physics; just get out there and take pictures.

:)
 
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