JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

Joseph Selle was a street photographer in San Francisco from the ‘30s to the ‘80s. Not a fine art street photographer like Henri Cartier-Bresson or Gary Winogrand, but a photographer who shot people on the street to try and sell them the photographs. When he started, this was much more common, and he was probably one of the last to practice it. I came to San Francisco in the late ‘70s to attend the San Francisco Art Institute, and one of my photography instructors took our class out on the street to meet him and see how he works. He sold a few photos to a lot of us that day.

http://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Photographer-shot-slices-of-life-on-SF-streets-11109071.php

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

Thanks for posting. Very interesting. Chicago had these guys too and I still have a few of these pictures. Nice memories.

Larry123

Being born in the City it was my back yard as I lived in Marin. I use to roam SF and you never did it without being dressed. Being young I spent a lot of time in North Beach as that was where the clubs were. I always went to fantastic places like the Top of the Mark at the Mark Hopkins hotel. Things were still classy in the early sixties and you were not allowed in most places witbout proper dress. It made you feel good dressing in your mohair wool suit with white shirt with bow tie and a vest. Of course you always knew who really had class when you looked at their shoes. Well shined shoes was a must. I am sorry that I never was photographed by Selle but wish I had. I knew of him but for what ever reason never crossed paths with him.

LarryN Loc: Portland OR & Carbondale, CO

Interesting story. But having checked out the achieve, his technical skills left a lot to be desired. Now if he had been a Maier the photos of SF would be priceless. thanks for posting the story.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

I don't think anyone is claiming much conventional artistic value in his work. It's more a historical and sociological archive of people on the street in San Francisco over the time he worked. And he was a much liked character in San Francisco who lots of people came in contact with. The article calls it "vernacular photography" and I think it is similar to folk art.

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

Good response. She shot for her own amusement while he shot to make a living. A big difference.

LarryN Loc: Portland OR & Carbondale, CO

Don't quite understand that distinction. She was doing it for amusement so she did a better job & he did for a living so he could do a crappy job. I would think if he was doing it for a living he would want to do the best job possible.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

I don't think that was the difference. Vivian Maier was just incredibly talented, standing with the greatest street photographers in history. She was also a very private person, possibly with some mental health issues, who seemed to have no desire to share her work with anyone. I doubt we will ever see another unknown photographer discovered of her caliber.