p.1 #1 · Street Photography - Black Sheep of Photography?
I have been shooting seriously now for around 3-4 years. I started off shooting the traditional stuff...landscapes, portraits of family, etc...
As my skills and tastes have matured, I have really come to appreciate street photography as an art form. Those of us who have attempted it know it's not easy to get those keeper shots. We don't control the light, we don't often control the subject, and it requires the photog to be johnny-on-the-spot when the moment comes.
In my participation of various photo forums and photo competitions, I seem to have noticed a trend where street photography doesn't hold up well in competition (unless of course it is a street-only competition which I am not referring to). In my observation, judges tend to gravitate to the more traditional (and boring IMHO) landscape and portrait work. Personally, I feel that one has to evolve into appreciating street photography...kind of like learning to distinguish between a fine wine and an el-cheapo alternative (maybe not the best comparison but you get the point).
Have you all seen the same thing in your experiences? What are your thoughts on the matter?
p.1 #2 · Street Photography - Black Sheep of Photography?
Since you ask - in my opinion, candid shots of random people on the street are usually totally pointless and boring. And most I see are black-and-white to boot, which takes away another potential level of appreciation, minimal though it might be.
p.1 #3 · Street Photography - Black Sheep of Photography?
Of course, it is all subjective...
And a random shot of a person on the street would be boring...the magic lies in capturing a photo that tells a true story in single moment...
There are some technical problems with this photo, but this is an example of what I am referring to...
What are the cabbies laughing at?
What is wrong with the car?
What is the guy in the jeep talking about with his counterpart?
There are 2-3 stories in this one photo. This isn't easy to do...
You may not appreciate it, but I appreciate the genuine nature of this type of photo versus some typical portrait or the "everyone has this shot" landscape photo...
Standard portraits don't often tell a story, neither do landscapes. And, in the remote chance they do, it is most often (though not always) contrived and staged. There is a genuine story in this shot...and no one else in the world told it but me. It may not be earth shattering...but it is my story. I know there are much better ones out there so I continue the hunt...it is documentary photography after all...
I should add that I don't mean any disrespect the those who enjoy landscape and portrait work. Again, everyone's tastes are different.
Charlie Shugart Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #4 · Street Photography - Black Sheep of Photography?
Russ,
First, I really like the image. Mostly because of the story-telling possibilities, and the fact that so many things are going on. It looks completely candid and honest to me, and I greatly respect that. And know how difficult it is to accomplish.
I also love candid street shooting, and have been posting mine on FM for a few years- mostly on People Forum because when I travel abroad, the people are of great interest to me.
(For some earlier samples- search People Forum 2011- key word "cesj"
I won't comment here on the political aspects of what you're saying, but I will shoot you a PM and share a few of my thoughts.
Charlie
p.1 #5 · Street Photography - Black Sheep of Photography?
I am primarily a sports photographer, but I enjoy looking at the pics in this forum. They remind me of my travels throughout life. However, I think many of the images posted are definitely not keepers. Then, some that could be keepers are WAY over the top in post-processing.
But, when it comes down to it, beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder.
p.1 #6 · Street Photography - Black Sheep of Photography?
Ernie Aubert wrote:
Since you ask - in my opinion, candid shots of random people on the street are usually totally pointless and boring. And most I see are black-and-white to boot, which takes away another potential level of appreciation, minimal though it might be.
I agree most are and that's why it's an acquired taste.
The good ones engage you.
The B&W aspect is for those that enjoy vintage film treatments
Generally, the least engaging are taken in areas you're currently familiar with. An exotic or unfamiliar area is potentially more engaging
Any aspect of photography can be caste in a poor light.
For example: You're avatar looks like a flat tracker and I have shot flat track. Talk about boring... 25 laps around an oval is too much repetition. At least in Speedway there's a chance of an unexpected event (BTW I had my own street tracker, so I'm an enthusiast)
p.1 #7 · Street Photography - Black Sheep of Photography?
Ernie Aubert wrote:
Since you ask - in my opinion, candid shots of random people on the street are usually totally pointless and boring. And most I see are black-and-white to boot, which takes away another potential level of appreciation, minimal though it might be.
Ruth Orkin, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Paul Strand, Ed Ruscha, Robert Frank, ... many dozens more. ... Ernie Aubert, you need to get educated.
p.1 #8 · Street Photography - Black Sheep of Photography?
Just an opinion here. Street Photography is probably the least understood genre of photography. It is so broad ranged that it is often misinterpreted and/or misrepresented. I also think that the definition of street photography is extremely difficult to comprehend and at the same time very subjective. In my opinion is also one of the most challenging genres to produce good work. Just look at all the so called street photography enthusiast. Majority produce crappy work, a few produce decent work and a very small percent produce exceptional work.
p.1 #9 · Street Photography - Black Sheep of Photography?
I'm a huge fan of candid street photography, especially when it's done surreptitiously.
Anticipation, then capturing just the right moment...is an art unto itself. Difficult yet satisfying.
p.1 #11 · Street Photography - Black Sheep of Photography?
I'm a thankin' ya Rags, nothin' special...BUT they were handy.
I found a 'black' sheep
...and one of my faves workin' another brewpub with the ever so discreet 200 f2
He never saw me BUT I just knew he'd eyeball the waitresses butt... I KNEW!!
taken from the patio...technically still "street" ;)
p.1 #12 · Street Photography - Black Sheep of Photography?
I’ve been very successful entering contests with a few hundred award winning images. I shoot a bit of street and always enjoy when I do. A good street image needs to talk to the viewer and this is very hard to make happen. You need something interesting happening and as you point out the photographing elements need to align. While some of having the photographic elements align is luck, you can take some of the random event out of the need for luck by going to places that you know interesting things will happen, chose times when these things will happen and go out when the lighting and weather is what you desire.
p.1 #13 · Street Photography - Black Sheep of Photography?
I like street photography unless the subject falls into one of these categories
Beggers
The homeless
Helpless old people
Helpless disabled people
Helpless mother with babies in a stroller
Kids who look like you're gonna give them candy and rape them
p.1 #14 · Street Photography - Black Sheep of Photography?
trenchmonkey wrote:
I'm a huge fan of candid street photography, especially when it's done surreptitiously.
Anticipation, then capturing just the right moment...is an art unto itself. Difficult yet satisfying.
TM: At this image size, I just blithely passed by the second of these two images (the one with the two women at the table), thinking you were just catching a colorful scene. On my second visit, however, I realized this was a palm reading, and then all the other details clicked into place: the serious look on the palm-owner's face, the Buddha, the gypsy hair-do on the palm-reader, the magnifying glass.... and the image took on a new meaning. I even zoomed-in on the books to try to read the titles, but couldn't quite get the print. I'd suggest putting a title on the photo to help those of us too lame to understand on the first view...
---John
p.1 #15 · Street Photography - Black Sheep of Photography?
Thank you kindly, John I just loved the expression on her face...it was like
"I'm payin' you for this?!" Re: the 1st shot, how often do you get to capture
4 purely joyful smiles on the sly? I went for the kid...and got lucky.
p.1 #17 · Street Photography - Black Sheep of Photography?
I tend to look for the moment when visual elements like repeating shapes, leading lines, tone all support content. Heres a few of mine. Trying to see and capture these elements in a fraction of a second is in my opinion what its all about. Had a show of some of this work in April.
p.1 #18 · Street Photography - Black Sheep of Photography?
I would also recommend looking at the work of Bresson, Winogrand, Mary Ellen Mark, Frank, Meyerowitz, Gilden. Also read about their philosophy and approach to the medium.
Heres a couple of pieces you might find interesting. I like his observations on story telling and this philosophy is shared by most of the great street photographers though I really don't like labels thats the one that is most used to describe this type of work
Winogrand
p.1 #20 · Street Photography - Black Sheep of Photography?
I do agree with the OP that street work doesn't get a lot of love. Bresson is considered one of the most important photographers of the 20th century and Vivian Maier has brought a lot of attention to it again but the masses still like their sunsets and thats OK.
Re: the 1st shot, how often do you get to capture
