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Author Topic: Bad Day at Black Rock  (Read 583 times)

RSL

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Bad Day at Black Rock
« on: May 18, 2018, 09:31:04 am »

I'm going to post this one a second time.

The reason I'm posting it a second time is that I'm not sure thee's a general understanding that a street shot has to have a story in order really to be effective. Somebody simply standing on a street, or squatting on a street (à la Keith's exotic shots) may be excellent informal portraiture, but it probably isn't good street.

What's happening here? Well, it's not hard to figure that out. But let me ask you this: Have you ever been in this kid's position? Do you understand what's running through his mind? I suspect you have and you do, and that the picture reconnects you with that feeling -- at least to some degree (unless you're an automaton). It's that kind of connection a street shot needs to make in order to do its job. You can see it over and over again in HCB's stuff, in Robert Frank's stuff, and in Garry Winogrand's stuff, to name just three out of a multitude.
« Last Edit: May 18, 2018, 09:34:26 am by RSL »
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Paulo Bizarro

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Re: Bad Day at Black Rock
« Reply #1 on: May 18, 2018, 09:51:04 am »

Good one.

IMO, all good photos will tell a story, regardless of the genre.

Two23

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Re: Bad Day at Black Rock
« Reply #2 on: May 18, 2018, 09:52:45 am »

"It's my party and I'll cry if I want to, cry if I want to!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6Uo1nNt6LU


In the photo above, if it didn't have the crying kid there would be no shot.


Kent in SD
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RSL

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Re: Bad Day at Black Rock
« Reply #3 on: May 18, 2018, 09:55:05 am »

Exactly, Kent. It'd just be a bunch of little kids having a snack. I might call that street photography, but I sure as hell wouldn't call it good street photography.
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BobDavid

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Re: Bad Day at Black Rock
« Reply #4 on: May 18, 2018, 11:00:04 am »

Exactly, Kent. It'd just be a bunch of little kids having a snack. I might call that street photography, but I sure as hell wouldn't call it good street photography.

I did a double take, all those little kids at Starbucks. A caffeine-centric birthday party? This begs to be a big print.
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