Bunkershot Loc: Central Florida

This is the first time I've taken a look at Street Photography section. I'd sure like to know why most of the images are B&W. Is that a requirement of "street photography? Are there rules to be followed? I would agree that people are a requirement to tell a good story.

Whuff Loc: Marshalltown, Iowa

B&W is not a requirement but pretty common. One thing B&W allows you to do is focus on the composition and subject without being distracted by color.

Walt

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

Any rules are made clear when you select a section and subscribe. You may unsubscribe at any time with a minimum of hassle.

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

why B&W?
Because the early greats of "Street" did their work in the days when color was too slow to process and too expensive to shoot the large number of frames the genre grew to require. Today, with digital, it's all color unless you wish to do monochrome conversion for stylistic reasons. Many still prefer B&W because of the gritty, tough, in-your-face sort of image attainable....like those of the pre-digital heyday of "Street".
Dave

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

Perhaps that is a wee bit overboard? Eh.

The question is a very good one. It is clear that if only some higher percentage, but not all, of the Street images posted in this section and elsewhere (books and on the Internet, as well as in art exhibitions) are BW then it can be called "popular", but cannot be said to be a requirement.

Much the same as any imagined requirement for people or for an urban environment, or that images be on a street. Street Photography is about pictures of life. Of the relationship between people and their surroundings. Some say it is like looking at society by framing it through a mirror (perhaps a one way mirror at that). Generally emotions, particularly the photographer's emotions, are not relevant, but the detail, the relations between object and the timing of context are the important aspects of Street Photography's composition.

Color only helps if it assists those aspects. It is very easy for color to be an obfuscation that deflects attention from the purpose of an image. It can also be a hugely useful tool to implement exactly what is desired, but that is also somewhat complex and difficult.

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

Not overboard at all. My response was meant as a straightforward answer to the OP, not as any sort of criticism. My intent was to INVITE the OP to try the highly-interesting "Street" section and DISCOVER the answer to his question for himself. I took from his articulate post that he is entirely capable of doing so.

Bunkershot Loc: Central Florida

I thought Apaflo's post was great and quite informative. And I agree with you that I should have read the preamble to this section before writing my post. All who responded have filled in the blanks. Hopefully I'll be posting some images in the not too distant future that will enable all to guide me in learning this new approach to creative photography. Love it!

PAR4DCR Loc: A Sunny Place

Please post some of your images Bunker, would like to see them.
I take it, from your screen name, that you have played a round or two. What I also like to do when not taking photos.

Don

Bunkershot Loc: Central Florida

Used to love the game but now have a very bad shoulder which motivated me to get back into photography. I'll post something as soon as I have something worth a post.

Nightski

Not all street shots have to be black and white. Here's one in colour.

http://500px.com/photo/123472487/crosswalk-by-sandra-nightski?ctx_page=1&from=user&user_id=5883322

Nightski

and another ...
http://500px.com/photo/119758721/distracted-driving-by-sandra-nightski?ctx_page=1&from=user&user_id=5883322

Nightski

Of course sometimes b&w really adds to the feel of the image. This one reminded me of a snapshot from the sixties and I thought b&w suited it.
http://500px.com/photo/121511415/the-photographer-by-sandra-nightski?ctx_page=1&from=user&user_id=5883322