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"Street" Photography
I've been thinking lately about "street" photography. By its nature, Model Mayhem attracts photographers & models who agree to work together to produce photographs. But "street" photography involves a photographer going out on the street & photographing the people & places he finds there. I first picked up a camera in the mid-1960s, and there were a lot of excellent "street" photographers already out there, like Robert Frank. When I got started, I did a lot -- I photographed my friends, strangers, my walk to school, etc. It was very good. There are two kinds of "street" photographers (IMHO): those that pretend that they are looking somewhere else & "sneak" an exposure of their subject when their subject isn't aware that they are being photographed, and those that engage with the people they meet & ask permission before making their exposure. Which kind are you? I'm the latter -- I like eye contact, I feel that people deserve a little privacy even when they are out in public, and I think I get a better sense of the person when I interact with them. I've not done any street photography in decades, but I think I'm going to try some over the next few months. Anyone got any examples they want to share? Nov 25 08 08:29 am Link I go both ways.      Nov 25 08 10:23 am Link I've done both. The latter is normally for children with their parents. I just snap photos of events and stuff like that. Nov 25 08 10:46 am Link I love street photography. Nov 25 08 10:50 am Link So you can take a picture of someone you did not know from before and use it in your portfolio? I am assuming you do have to get their permission afterwords, no? Nov 25 08 10:50 am Link I do it all the time, even get paid to do it. I find that most people are ok with it as long as they know you are there. When one tries to hide the fact you are photographing them that is when people get suspicious. Also very handy to carry a press pass if you have one or at least a business card. Nov 25 08 10:52 am Link Malloch wrote: The business card idea is a good one because usually while I am photographing people stop me and ask for a card. Nov 25 08 10:55 am Link I've done both too. Depending on the setting, either technique worked well for me in a recent trip to Africa. This was one of the better "posed with permission" shots I got:  Nov 25 08 10:57 am Link Street photography is probably my favorite genre. I do have to admit though I would prefer that the subject not be aware that I am there. It's ironic however that the honesty that I look for in the subject not knowing they are being captured is not being employed in the very capture of the image. I don't think that I will ever be able to reconcile that dichotomy. Nov 25 08 11:07 am Link TigersCrest wrote: Yes, you can take the picture. No, that after-the-fact consent would not be the general rule as long as the unreleased usage was otherwise a protected use. But your mileage could vary depending on particular state laws. Nov 25 08 01:06 pm Link      Nov 25 08 01:12 pm Link  Nov 25 08 01:22 pm Link During my formative years, I was inspired by Diane Arbus, who (among other things) interacted with her subjects. In general, when I was starting out, when faced with a choice, I asked myself which way was the more difficult, and then I chose that way. Snapping pictures of unaware people felt like stealing, while talking to strangers & getting their permission was just plain harder. I chose harder. Nov 25 08 02:39 pm Link  sarajevo market  varanasi Nov 25 08 06:17 pm Link i love street photography! this last memorial day i was walking in down town spokane i decided to shoot our falls from the bridge as i set up about 7 feet away this cute old couple where holding hands watching the falls and i couldn't resist i shot a couple shots with out them knowing then i walked over and talked to them and showed them this photo well they called there son and daughter over and well they ended up buying 2 8x10s of it and signing a release for me to use it in my portfolio  Nov 25 08 06:27 pm Link i call that walk ups, where you shoot the crowded streets without any sort of interferance in the natural happenings, i used to love to do that when i started Nov 25 08 06:43 pm Link MMDesign wrote: what a beautiful collection Nov 25 08 06:44 pm Link TigersCrest wrote: public place. public rights. i don't need their permission. Nov 25 08 10:36 pm Link Yes, I've shoot tons of it back in Detroit, Milwaukee and here in San Francisco. Nov 25 08 10:38 pm Link So, what makes a good "street photograph"? I'd say... Good composition is very important. Humans being human. Good technical quality is not too important, but good light is. Nov 26 08 07:45 am Link DKLEE STUDIO wrote: I'd worry more about those around me who don't understand those rights and decide to deal with things their own way. Nov 26 08 07:48 am Link when shooting people I prefer eye contact, and permission. when shooting situation I prefer stay "invisible". when shooting architecture etc. sometimes I let people walk into frame and shoot to catch them where I want them Nov 26 08 08:02 am Link While in VA on business for 2 days I decided to walk over to the metro station one evening. Boring stuff, but I was bored.  I had always hesitated taking photographs of strangers on the street. I'm not sure what I expected by way of reaction from people but the truth is no one really seemed to notice. People would watch me take pictures of others, but when they thought I might take their photograph, they ignored me. People are funny. Nov 26 08 08:03 am Link RKD Photography wrote: Beautiful Shot. Nov 26 08 08:55 am Link "surprised"... girl at street market  "stay perfect" ... smoke break  Studio36 Nov 26 08 10:30 am Link Events like Renaissance festivals are best of both worlds as far as street and model photography. Participants are often in costume and makeup, and being photographed by strangers is to be expected. Nov 26 08 10:36 am Link |
