Can someone please define Street Photography? (Page 2): Those m's are supposed to be spaces. I have this prob frequently on my posts for some reason.

DeanS Loc: Capital City area of North Carolina

rjaywallace wrote:

??? photomImshoot ??? Say what?

Those m's are supposed to be spaces. I have this prob frequently on my posts for some reason.

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

selmslie wrote:

It seems to be a controversial topic. Link and additional information in the next post,

I have my own definition-any photo of anything on a street, or of a street. or any photo taken while the shooter is on a street. Here are some of my street shots. A country road is a street. It doesn't even have to be paved

(Download)

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

I usually try to stay away from the term "Street Photography". There certainly are images which most everyone will agree are examples of Street Photography, but there are also plenty of images which fall into a gray area... some people are willing to classify them as examples of Street Photography, while other people either refuse to do so or are simply not sure.

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

JohnSwanda wrote:

But candid photography could be photos of family or friends, whereas we most commonly think of street photography as candid photos of people the photographer doesn't know in a public setting. But have also seen it defined more widely as any photo taken on the street, even without people. There is no official authority to make definitive definitions of genres of photography.

"...candid photos of people the photographer doesn't know in a public setting."

That sounds pretty clear to me.

Does anybody have a problem with that definition? Can it be refined any more?

erinjay64

Generally, 'Street Photography' is taking photos of things /people / activities on city streets...things such as: street signs, cars, pedestrians, cops directing traffic, city buses loading passengers, shoppers window shopping, punks mugging passersby, store fronts, alleyways, etc. It may include 'candid' shots, but usually doesn't...as most people see you, and your camera, because they are on the lookout for: muggers, cops, etc, and will be alert enough to spot you. Street photos may include people, or not. A picture of a dog urinating on a sign post in a street is a street photo.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

DeanS wrote:

Seriously, I think we get way too hung-up on stuff like this.

cthahn

It is exactly what it implies. Walking along a street with you camera and taking pictures of anything you deem interesting. Go to Utube, do a search and you will find videos of the subject.

Mary Kate Loc: NYC

selmslie wrote:

See the original discussion under url=http://www.... (show quote)

I think it's someone with a camera who thinks they have the right to take a picture of someone whether that person wants their picture taken or not. The camera person feels his rights and levels of entitlement are greater than the people they are taking pictures of.

foathog Loc: Greensboro, NC

Street photography is URBAN and mostly with the interaction of people. Although the gaffitti shots MAY be urban I personally wouldn't consider them Street Photography.

selmslie wrote:

It seems to be a controversial topic. Link and additional information in the next post,

petego4it Loc: NY

Rehess, excellent post, thanks!

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

cthahn wrote:

It is exactly what it implies. Walking along a street with you camera and taking pictures of anything you deem interesting. Go to Utube, do a search and you will find videos of the subject.

The overwhelming majority of street photography examples posted anywhere on the internet, including within the Street Photography section itself, fall within the definition of "candid photos of people the photographer doesn't know in a public setting." There seems to be a general consensus on that definition.

Street images without people are extremely rare because when there are no people the only part you are left with is "... in a public setting." That's how we ended up with Traditional Street and Architectural Photography which makes the distinction that people-less street photography is somehow different - not mainstream.

Regardless, it's hardly something to lose sleep over.

vermis Loc: Atlanta, GA

boy, tough topic. I have been asked to delete pictures of shops (without people), people without shops and of course, people with shops. It is a headache.. I am going to New York in 2 weeks and will be taking street photos there. I bet it is probably easier there as people in NY are used to cameras. I had problems in the US and outside the US, even in third world countries. I guess street photography is defined by the people in the photo themselves (and of course, the owners of the shops if you are too close) and not by the photographer. My advice is easier to apologize and delete than to go head to head. A lot of people will not understand.

Steve DeMott Loc: St. Louis, Missouri (Oakville area)

I have a book by James Maher called "The Ultimate Guide to Street Photography".
https://digital-photography-school.com/ultimate-guide-street-photography/
James Maher Definition of "Street Photography"....
"... Street photography is candid photography of life and human nature. It is a way for us to show our surroundings, and how we as photographers relate to them. .....People do not need to be present ....It can be taken anywhere .....as long as it isn't posed or manipulated."

krl48 Loc: NY, PA now SC

Mary Kate wrote:

I think it's someone with a camera who thinks they have the right to take a picture of someone whether that person wants their picture taken or not. The camera person feels his rights and levels of entitlement are greater than the people they are taking pictures of.

Mary Kate, that's a harsh assessment of many of us who try to do good street photography. Do not allow your bigotry, your intolerance and your hatred to be your guiding light.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

Mary Kate wrote:

I think it's someone with a camera who thinks they have the right to take a picture of someone whether that person wants their picture taken or not. The camera person feels his rights and levels of entitlement are greater than the people they are taking pictures of.

If you had your way, we would be missing a huge number of the greatest photographs ever taken by our best street photographers. It is one of the richest traditions in the history of photography.