Mr Bob

Interesting character. Just another weekend in California.

(Download)

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

An interesting image, particularly because of the unique subject!

However, it isn't actually an example of Street Photography! It is perfectly okay to post it to this section though, because we can discuss both what it is not and what it is and thus learn more about Street Photography as a genre.

The biggest distinction is that a "street performer", or a performance by such, is by definition staged. Almost universally accepted as verboten for Street. But also that particular picture is a portrait, intended to show the character of the individual pictured. Street is about life, about relationships, but not the character of an individual.

If one accepts that, the question would then be how to compose such a shot to make it Street rather than not. More environment, to show how this person is interacting with everything, and to reveal the intangible relationships between other objects. That could override all pedantic concern about "staging".

Mr Bob

Apaflo. Thank you for the clarification. I agree with you and appreciate the input as I am new contributor.
Bob

travelwp Loc: New Jersey

With this statement, you have eliminated Bruce Gilden as being a Street Photographer. Gilden would blast an unsuspecting person with his flash and the photo was a portrait showing the character of an individual, not about life or relationships on the street.

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

We don't agree about what Gilden's photography shows.

travelwp Loc: New Jersey

You also said: "But also that particular picture is a portrait, intended to show the character of the individual pictured."

These look like portraits to me:

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

Gilden does not intend to show merely the character of the person.

Study his work and his style. He is not a Portrait Photographer!

travelwp Loc: New Jersey

I have studied his work, and when you say: "that particular picture is a portrait, intended to show the character of the individual pictured. Street is about life, about relationships, but not the character of an individual" I have to remind you that the famous Street Photograher Gilden took many portraits showing the character of the individual.

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

Nobody else, including Gilden, agrees with you. He is not shooting portraits and what he intends to show is not limited to the character of a person.

You have selectively picked a sampling that is easy to misinterpret out of context. A more typical example of his work shows better what his intent is, and from that the examples you selected can be more appropriately understood for what they are.

The main difference is that while a given image may also show the character of an individual (which with the sample you selected actually is not very significant), the issue is whether that is the primary intent or just an artifact of lesser significance.

The OP's image is intended to be a portrait.

travelwp Loc: New Jersey

It's not just a sampling, one could find many such examples.

But the important part is to read your opinion on how the three photos are showing about life and relationships on the street.

Mr Bob

I've added the original photo for review. I originally cropped the background out to focus on the street character.
Take a look if you have a chance. "Street Entertainer- Street View"