How much subtlety and suggestion is it possible for cameras to offer? I've been loving street photography recently and taking load of shots. Like many areas of photography it seems to be the contrasts and the tensions that catch the eye draw in the camera. Beggars on elegant streets, a suited man in a rough, run down neighbourbood, and all that stuff.
I often find that, looking at my pictures later, there's something unsatisfactory. When taking shots I feel interested by something, but the camera seems more opinionated than me! Everything kind of becomes a statement - 'look how awful this neighbourhood is compared to the guy who takes pride in his appearance', or 'see how sad the beggar looks as all the people ignore him'. I guess these examples a little too obvious, but it's about struggling to
show things rather than just
state them.
I was wondering whether this is because in photography we're dealing with
real things. The immediate claim to the viewer is this
actually happened and I saw it. It's really tough to get those shots that genuinely raise a question and nothing else. The best portrait photographers - like
Steve McCurry (who is indeed unbelievably awesome!) - seem able to put people at their ease and seize on a little glance or something that just makes you want to know more.
I think perhaps having sympathy for your subject helps, rather than being a totally detached observer. I'd love to hear peoples' thoughts. How do you try to invite questions rather than give answers?