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Street Photography
Definition of Street Photography?
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Oct 28, 2018 06:55:36   #
John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK
 
Has anyone given a definitive description of what is Street Photography. We had a chat at the club the other week and the visiting pro asked us this very question.
He couldn't come up with his own either but quoted an answer given by a school pupil at a previous event held at a different club.

'The ordinary shown in an extra-ordinary way'. Does this sum it up for most practitioners of this branch of photography, and if not - what does?

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Oct 28, 2018 07:21:36   #
Silverman Loc: Michigan
 
John N wrote:
Has anyone given a definitive description of what is Street Photography. We had a chat at the club the other week and the visiting pro asked us this very question.
He couldn't come up with his own either but quoted an answer given by a school pupil at a previous event held at a different club.

'The ordinary shown in an extra-ordinary way'. Does this sum it up for most practitioners of this branch of photography, and if not - what does?


I personally do not have a definition of what "Street Photography" Is or Isn't. But the idea of this avenue of Photography does interest me. Although as a beginner of now approximately two years, I am apprehensive about indulging in this intriguing aspect of Photography, due to any legal complications, or just having individual people voice their objections to having their Photo taken by a stranger. So, I am now asking for those experienced in "Street Photography" to share their experience and their encouraging ideas. Thanks😊

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Oct 28, 2018 08:00:17   #
anotherview Loc: California
 
Wikipedia offers a worked-out definition of street photography: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Street_photography

This Web-site presents a plain-language definition of street photography with examples of it: http://erickimphotography.com/blog/the-ultimate-beginners-guide-for-street-photography/

This approach includes contrived photographs within the genre.

For my part I see street photography as capturing moments that depict humans in relation to elements of a public setting outdoors.

Historically, street photography appears to have been practiced primarily during the film era, before photography became digital, ubiquitous, and intensely commercial.
John N wrote:
Has anyone given a definitive description of what is Street Photography. We had a chat at the club the other week and the visiting pro asked us this very question.
He couldn't come up with his own either but quoted an answer given by a school pupil at a previous event held at a different club.

'The ordinary shown in an extra-ordinary way'. Does this sum it up for most practitioners of this branch of photography, and if not - what does?

Reply
 
 
Oct 28, 2018 08:03:36   #
Stephan G
 
John N wrote:
Has anyone given a definitive description of what is Street Photography. We had a chat at the club the other week and the visiting pro asked us this very question.
He couldn't come up with his own either but quoted an answer given by a school pupil at a previous event held at a different club.

'The ordinary shown in an extra-ordinary way'. Does this sum it up for most practitioners of this branch of photography, and if not - what does?


Serendipity has a lot to do with "street" photography. One has to be at the right place, at the right time, and the right mind, to capture a story telling photo. When looking at street photography, there is always a story being told that has not been set and staged by the photographer. However, the story has been spotted by the photographer. Just as in writing, it can be prosaic or poetic. And it has to be spontaneous. But it does not have be actual.

I disagree with "ordinary shown in an extra-ordinary way" in that it does not address the crucial story telling aspect of street photography.

Like any form of art, the definition can be rather amorphous.

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Oct 28, 2018 08:48:05   #
jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana
 
John N wrote:
Has anyone given a definitive description of what is Street Photography. We had a chat at the club the other week and the visiting pro asked us this very question.
He couldn't come up with his own either but quoted an answer given by a school pupil at a previous event held at a different club.

'The ordinary shown in an extra-ordinary way'. Does this sum it up for most practitioners of this branch of photography, and if not - what does?


I’m staying out of this discussion for fear of being crucified, as I have been in the past for my comments about street photography.

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Oct 29, 2018 07:08:45   #
John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK
 
The PRO. at our club evening had an ability to see a street photograph before it became one. He explained that he could often see a scene but needed the human element to complete it. So he would set up and frame the shot - then sit back with remote in hand for a person to walk into it, completing the shot. It worked for him.

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Oct 29, 2018 07:35:36   #
Stephan G
 
John N wrote:
The PRO. at our club evening had an ability to see a street photograph before it became one. He explained that he could often see a scene but needed the human element to complete it. So he would set up and frame the shot - then sit back with remote in hand for a person to walk into it, completing the shot. It worked for him.


That is a good way of doing it. Very much akin to live stage work.

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Oct 29, 2018 08:09:41   #
SonyBug
 
Yeah, then suck the color out of it because all street photography has to be in black and white. Just joking, but it is a pet peeve of mine. Why do so many photogs think that they have to take a real colorful street scene and render it into gray scale? There should be rules to prevent that when it actually wrecks the photograph. Just my opinion of course...

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Oct 29, 2018 08:25:37   #
Stephan G
 
nikonbug wrote:
Yeah, then suck the color out of it because all street photography has to be in black and white. Just joking, but it is a pet peeve of mine. Why do so many photogs think that they have to take a real colorful street scene and render it into gray scale? There should be rules to prevent that when it actually wrecks the photograph. Just my opinion of course...


Color does have a way of "sucking out the focus" of the story many times. The one called "Pawned First Born" that I posted would have been so badly muddied if it was presented in color. There are street shots that do depend on color to tell a story. And go bland when done as black and white. The photographer chooses as to how the shot is best presented.

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Oct 29, 2018 08:53:17   #
fergmark Loc: norwalk connecticut
 
I think that street photography is the spectacle of humanity taking place in a public area. I think the range of qualifications can be met with any number of people in the frame, so long as there is clearly an "on the street" context. I think the subjects in a photo can be aware of, or completely unaware the camera. But to really be street photography, there must be a tangible sense of humanity that engages us. Stephen G used the word serendipity, and I can't think of a better one, for the fleeting moments, whether its people interacting, or portraits of individual expressions, that capture the human spirit. A completely anonymous sea of people can constitute street photography. Above all, as in any photograph, composition of elements is key. Simply taking a photo on a street in which people are present, really doesn't constitute street photography. IMO this is a very specialized kind of photography that requires very special talents. If you were to look at the work of Graham Smith here on UHH you would see some very fine examples of street photography. Ultimately, I think Vivian Maiers work precisely defines what street photography is.

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Oct 29, 2018 09:46:15   #
SonyBug
 
fergmark wrote:
I think that street photography is the spectacle of humanity taking place in a public area. I think the range of qualifications can be met with any number of people in the frame, so long as there is clearly an "on the street" context. I think the subjects in a photo can be aware of, or completely unaware the camera. But to really be street photography, there must be a tangible sense of humanity that engages us. Stephen G used the word serendipity, and I can't think of a better one, for the fleeting moments, whether its people interacting, or portraits of individual expressions, that capture the human spirit. A completely anonymous sea of people can constitute street photography. Above all, as in any photograph, composition of elements is key. Simply taking a photo on a street in which people are present, really doesn't constitute street photography. IMO this is a very specialized kind of photography that requires very special talents. If you were to look at the work of Graham Smith here on UHH you would see some very fine examples of street photography. Ultimately, I think Vivian Maiers work precisely defines what street photography is.
I think that street photography is the spectacle o... (show quote)


OK, I went back and looked at Vivian Maiers work. Most of it is B&W. But it was also shot back in 40's up to 70's from what I could see. That was in an era of B&W film and predated color in common useage. I remember when color film was very expensive, so the B&W artists used light differentiation to accentuate photographs. Even Ansel Adams wanted to master color the same as B&W, but did not have time in his lifetime to do that. So, where does B&W vs color fit in? Do photographers use B&W just because they think it is better? How do they use that to tell a better story? I see in color and think I can tell a better story 99% of the time in color.

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Oct 29, 2018 10:18:49   #
fergmark Loc: norwalk connecticut
 
I don't believe street photography is exclusively black and white in these times. B/W can convey a scene in a way that color cannot, and likewise for color. Its important to recognize that many photos of any type, simply do not work in B/W, but when they do, the impact can be an astonishing improvement over color. The Maier photos are prime examples of both subject matter and composition for street photography. Who knows how she would have adjusted to more common place color film. If color had been significantly cheaper for her. Having taken the time to look at her photos, I would suggest you have a look at Graham Smiths photos. Go back to his first posted photos and work your way forward. Graham has some of the finest black and white work I have ever seen, irregardless of his subject mater, and you will see that his street photography is a mix of both color and B/W, depending on how he feels the photo is best presented. This will get you started.
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/user-profile?usernum=33801


nikonbug wrote:
OK, I went back and looked at Vivian Maiers work. Most of it is B&W. But it was also shot back in 40's up to 70's from what I could see. That was in an era of B&W film and predated color in common useage. I remember when color film was very expensive, so the B&W artists used light differentiation to accentuate photographs. Even Ansel Adams wanted to master color the same as B&W, but did not have time in his lifetime to do that. So, where does B&W vs color fit in? Do photographers use B&W just because they think it is better? How do they use that to tell a better story? I see in color and think I can tell a better story 99% of the time in color.
OK, I went back and looked at Vivian Maiers work. ... (show quote)

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Oct 29, 2018 10:53:51   #
Voss
 
Here's a simple definition of Street from National Geographic that I tend to follow: Street Photography is … a way of seeing, a way of experiencing life. At its very essence, Street Photography is capturing life without interrupting it. Witnessing and capturing a once-in-a-lifetime moment as it unfolds in front of you. A pursuit that intrinsically means photography without permission.

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Oct 29, 2018 11:01:51   #
Voss
 
For nikonbug and fergmark. Just a thought on your discussion. I've taken a number of photos where, after editing the color version, I said to myself, "Love it. This is what I'm posting." Then I do the b&w version, compare them, and go with the b&w because it just looks better. Don't know why, it usually just does. But of course sometimes the color version is better. (But not usually.)

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Oct 29, 2018 11:26:25   #
Stephan G
 
Voss wrote:
Here's a simple definition of Street from National Geographic that I tend to follow: Street Photography is … a way of seeing, a way of experiencing life. At its very essence, Street Photography is capturing life without interrupting it. Witnessing and capturing a once-in-a-lifetime moment as it unfolds in front of you. A pursuit that intrinsically means photography without permission.


The "shoot first and apologize after" philosophy in photography.

Corollary: "Oops, I didn't know it was loaded."


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