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Author Topic: Post Your Street Photography Images  (Read 13744 times)

RFPhotography

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Post Your Street Photography Images
« on: July 02, 2013, 09:31:59 am »

There's a thread discussing street photography and what gear may or may not be suitable for street and it's getting a fair bit of discussion.  This thread is for posting of street photography images.  In whatever form you define that genre.

These were taken at the Toronto Pride Parade celebrations June 30.  All with a Fuji X100s.

Personally, I'm more of the school that says in true street photography, the subject is unaware that you're taking the shot.  None of these were.









In this last one, I saw these two men walking down the street holding hands and I had them stop so I could get this shot.

« Last Edit: July 02, 2013, 11:06:37 am by BobFisher »
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RSL

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Re: Post Your Street Photography Images
« Reply #1 on: July 02, 2013, 11:11:27 am »

Hi Bob,

Let's talk a little about what street photography is and isn't.

If you're somebody who takes every word literally -- children tend to do this -- then any picture that includes a street is street photography.

If you're a little more sophisticated and understand that street photography actually is about people, you may believe that any picture of somebody on a street is street photography.

But if you're familiar with the work of even a few of the great street photographers you'll understand two things: that street photography isn't simply about somebody on a street, it's about the way humans behave, and that a picture that tells a completely understandable story isn't really street photography. To be a really good street shot the story needs ambiguity, something that'll make the viewer think beyond what he sees in the picture.

I'm not going to critique the pictures you posted, but I'm going to post an example of what I think is good street photography. I've posted it before. Notice that there's no street in it. It's a restaurant. These people are reacting to each other in a very human way. Can you explain what's going on?


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Russ Lewis  www.russ-lewis.com.

RFPhotography

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Re: Post Your Street Photography Images
« Reply #2 on: July 02, 2013, 11:22:52 am »

You have a very specific definition of street photography, Russ that, I'd venture, is probably quite different from some others.  By saying "I'm not going to critique...." and then saying 'but here's what I think is a good street shot', you effectively have critiqued.   ;D

WRT the idea of the picture telling a story, Winogrand said pictures don't tell stories.  They merely show you a snapshot of what the camera saw at that moment.

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Jim Kasson

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Re: Post Your Street Photography Images
« Reply #3 on: July 02, 2013, 11:32:58 am »

Staying close to the conventional definition of street photography:



More like the above here.

A little further afield:



More like the above here.

Slobodan Blagojevic

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Re: Post Your Street Photography Images
« Reply #4 on: July 02, 2013, 11:34:13 am »

Bob, you mentioned that another thread (about the gear for street photography) inspired you to post those photographs and start a new thread. However, I think there already is an existing thread on LuLa where your photographs would be more appropriate ;)

Chairman Bill

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Re: Post Your Street Photography Images
« Reply #5 on: July 02, 2013, 11:43:58 am »

As a response to the OP, this seems apt  ;)

RFPhotography

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Re: Post Your Street Photography Images
« Reply #6 on: July 02, 2013, 11:49:38 am »

Bob, you mentioned that another thread (about the gear for street photography) inspired you to post those photographs and start a new thread. However, I think there already is an existing thread on LuLa where your photographs would be more appropriate ;)

Perhaps one, but not all.   :)
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Slobodan Blagojevic

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Re: Post Your Street Photography Images
« Reply #7 on: July 02, 2013, 12:06:43 pm »

As a response to the OP, this seems apt  ;)

I must have read somewhere there are plans for the erection of a monument on that street? ;D

RSL

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Re: Post Your Street Photography Images
« Reply #8 on: July 02, 2013, 04:12:38 pm »

You have a very specific definition of street photography, Russ that, I'd venture, is probably quite different from some others.  By saying "I'm not going to critique...." and then saying 'but here's what I think is a good street shot', you effectively have critiqued.   ;D

I'm still not going to critique, but you might want to learn the difference between photojournalism and street photography. What you've posted is documentary -- I'd call it photojournalism if you were telling a story with a series of pictures, but you're not. Also, a demonstration like this is one place where it's very unlikely you'll be able to get a street shot. People are at demonstrations to pose: to show off their enthusiasm for whatever it is that they're demonstrating about. People who are posing aren't good subjects for street photography.
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Russ Lewis  www.russ-lewis.com.

RFPhotography

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Re: Post Your Street Photography Images
« Reply #9 on: July 02, 2013, 06:38:01 pm »

Say what you will, Russ but you are critiquing.  And that's fine, I don't mind valid, constructive critique at all.  If you're going to do it, at least have the balls to admit it though.  ;)

I do understand the difference between street and documentary/PJ.  I also don't think the two are mutually exclusive.  Just as PJ can also be artistic.  Just as a beautiful art image can also have commercial value as stock.  Very little fits into neat silos.

WRT posing, which of these looks posed to you?  In fact I said that in all but one, none of the subjects knew what I was doing or were aware I was taking a picture of them.  If you mean posed from the standpoint of posturing, or strutting, or preening, or similar, which of the subjects in these appear to be doing that?  Looking in a shop window is posing?  Sitting on a step is posing?  Kissing is posing?  Walking along the street, even in a wild costume, paying no attention to others is posing?  Walking along a street holding hands is posing?  Now, had these been taken during the Pride Parade later in the day, I'd agree completely even if they didn't know I was taking their picture.

Whether a 'good' street image can be made in such a situation is a matter of conjecture.  As noted earlier you have a very specific and very restrictive definition of street photography.

And to be abundantly clear, when I posted these I made no suggestion that I thought they were 'good' examples.  So don't project that mindset onto me.

You say that a good street image should have some ambiguity.  I think the first 4 do that, particularly the 2nd, 3rd and 4th.  Do you know what the man in the 2nd image is or is doing?  Is he a street dweller begging for money?  Is he a day labourer on a break or waiting for a ride home?  What is he looking at?  Did someone just walk by and make a snide remark?  Did someone call his name?  What does the man on the right of the third image thing of the two gay men kissing?  Does he approve or disapprove?  Is he jealous that he doesn't have that kind of passion in a relationship?  What about the two men?  Are they in a relationship or did they just meet the night before and have a night/morning of sex?  What does the guy in the wild getup in the 4th think of the trans who's walking beside him?  Are they together?  If so, why the odd look?

WRT the idea of telling a story, I wrote earlier what Winogrand thought of that concept.  I'm of the same position.  A picture can just be a picture.  Even a good street picture.  Quite honestly I sometimes get quite tired of the idea that a photo has to tell a story.  It doesn't.
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RSL

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Re: Post Your Street Photography Images
« Reply #10 on: July 02, 2013, 09:15:03 pm »

Bob, I don't really have either time or inclination to argue with you about what is and what isn't street photography. All I can do is tell you that I couldn't care less whether or not that hobo in #2 is begging or a day laborer or on a break. And that's where the problem lies. The other part of ambiguity in street photography is that the viewer needs to care. I couldn't care less about what any of the people in any of those photographs are doing. Nothing of interest is happening.

Oh, and the two guys in #3 ARE posing, though you seem not to realize it.
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Russ Lewis  www.russ-lewis.com.

RFPhotography

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Re: Post Your Street Photography Images
« Reply #11 on: July 03, 2013, 07:04:58 am »

LOL!  You're funny, Russ. 
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RSL

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Re: Post Your Street Photography Images
« Reply #12 on: July 03, 2013, 12:24:57 pm »

WRT the idea of the picture telling a story, Winogrand said pictures don't tell stories.  They merely show you a snapshot of what the camera saw at that moment.

I suspect Garry had tongue-in-cheek when he said that, Bob. Here's an example of why you have to base your understanding of Winogrand's work on what he did instead of what he said: http://erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/garry-winogrand-monkeys.png

Here's an even more powerful example of the fact that Garry was pulling legs (including yours) when he made that statement: http://jophilippe.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/winogrand_la_sidewalk.jpg
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Russ Lewis  www.russ-lewis.com.

Rob C

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Re: Post Your Street Photography Images
« Reply #13 on: July 03, 2013, 12:50:58 pm »

I suspect Garry had tongue-in-cheek when he said that, Bob. Here's an example of why you have to base your understanding of Winogrand's work on what he did instead of what he said: http://erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/garry-winogrand-monkeys.png

Here's an even more powerful example of the fact that Garry was pulling legs (including yours) when he made that statement: http://jophilippe.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/winogrand_la_sidewalk.jpg


1. Baby apes: ouch!

2. Double highlights: very quick eye; useful for fashion dating, too.

Rob C

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Re: Post Your Street Photography Images
« Reply #14 on: July 03, 2013, 12:52:59 pm »

You say that a good street image should have some ambiguity.  I think the first 4 do that, particularly the 2nd, 3rd and 4th.  Do you know what the man in the 2nd image is or is doing?  Is he a street dweller begging for money?  Is he a day labourer on a break or waiting for a ride home?  What is he looking at?  Did someone just walk by and make a snide remark?  Did someone call his name?  What does the man on the right of the third image thing of the two gay men kissing?  Does he approve or disapprove?  Is he jealous that he doesn't have that kind of passion in a relationship?  What about the two men?  Are they in a relationship or did they just meet the night before and have a night/morning of sex?  What does the guy in the wild getup in the 4th think of the trans who's walking beside him?  Are they together?  If so, why the odd look?

There is a difference between "ambiguity" and "confusion". You seem to be confused about the difference.
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Slobodan Blagojevic

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Re: Post Your Street Photography Images
« Reply #15 on: July 03, 2013, 01:05:42 pm »

Speaking about NSFW... these are NSFH either (not-safe-for-home). As if it is not enough that I have to avoid downtown streets on certain days of year if I want to avoid a "parade" of debauchery, I now can't escape from it in a photographic forum too!? What used to be a domain of porno sites has now spilled onto streets.

RFPhotography

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Re: Post Your Street Photography Images
« Reply #16 on: July 03, 2013, 02:29:53 pm »

There is a difference between "ambiguity" and "confusion". You seem to be confused about the difference.

No, I'm really not.

Russ, having seen him make the statement in a video clip, I'm comfortable in the idea that it wasn't tongue in cheek.  Perhaps you're simply trying to read too much into his (and others') photography.  If you require an image to tell a story then you will find a story even if one doesn't exist.

Slobodan, this really isn't the place to expound about your phobias.
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Rob C

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Re: Post Your Street Photography Images
« Reply #17 on: July 03, 2013, 03:34:49 pm »

Slobodan, this really isn't the place to expound about your phobias.


A moral distaste for a perversion is not a phobia: a phobia is a fear.

Rob C

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Re: Post Your Street Photography Images
« Reply #18 on: July 03, 2013, 03:43:19 pm »

Russ, having seen him make the statement in a video clip, I'm comfortable in the idea that it wasn't tongue in cheek.  Perhaps you're simply trying to read too much into his (and others') photography.  If you require an image to tell a story then you will find a story even if one doesn't exist.

Are you familiar with the word "gullible," Bob? If you can look at the two Winogrand pictures I referenced and swallow the idea that Garry believed his pictures don't tell a story, then that word certainly applies. As the Duke said to the lady, ". . .if you believe that, you will believe anything."
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Slobodan Blagojevic

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Re: Post Your Street Photography Images
« Reply #19 on: July 03, 2013, 03:46:22 pm »

... Slobodan, this really isn't the place...

Funny, that is exactly what I thought of your photographs ;)
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