street photography

I was wondering what is the definition of street photography and what makes a good street photograph?

Dave

Here's one interpretation, from a photographer I like: http://blog.mingthein.com/2012/11/02/what-is-street-photography/

Personally, I think unless you are trying to emulate a particular style the genre is quite open.

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Panasonic GX80, Pentax MX, Mamiya 6. My Flickr

Vivian Maier.

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Best wishes,

Andrew

"These places mean something and it's the job of a photographer to figure-out what the hell it is."
Robert Adams
"The camera doesn't make a bit of difference.  All of them can record what you are seeing.  But, you have to SEE."
Ernst Hass
My website: http://www.ephotozine.com/user/bwlchmawr-199050 http://s927.photobucket.com/home/ADC3440/index
https://www.flickr.com/photos/78898196@N05

I'd agree with the link given above but most of all I'd say the images must have something to say and quite often that can be done as a body of work and not necessarily a single image. For me Elliott Erwitt is the consummate master. link

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Ken
“We must avoid however, snapping away, shooting quickly and without thought, overloading ourselves with unnecessary images that clutter our memory and diminish the clarity of the whole.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson -

Hmmm the picture must tell a story but does it have to be in a street? Does it have to be candid?

....or are the shots simply snapshots of time?

and why are most black and white?

Dave

I highly recommend this book link

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Ken
“We must avoid however, snapping away, shooting quickly and without thought, overloading ourselves with unnecessary images that clutter our memory and diminish the clarity of the whole.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson -

Agreed Ken, I have a copy and it's excellent.

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Best regards, John

I was given that book for Christmas and I recommend it too. As a non street photographer but someone trying to understand I find it very interesting. I find some work brilliant, some emperor's new clothes and some downright ordinary. I find the same of Vivian Meier. However, it is a fine exploration of the genre.

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You can see some of my photos here if you are so inclined

Dr O I think that is the struggle I am having, its a bit like looking at Hockney artworks. You often think what's good about that, I could do it. With other bits of modern art the meaning is too intellectual or maybe just con or even a cultural difference

I quite agree. One looks at street photographs and the process appears so simple and easy to do, so one has a go and, well, as far as I'm concerned, all that result is a so-so bunch of distinctly unmemorable images.

Oh, and it also makes me feel furtive and intrusive, particularly when using a DSLR. I reckon one of those 'phones which can take pictures might be the answer, as the rest of the human race seems to walk around studying the screens. Who would realise one was taking a picture as opposed to...what ever people use them for?

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Best wishes,

Andrew

"These places mean something and it's the job of a photographer to figure-out what the hell it is."
Robert Adams
"The camera doesn't make a bit of difference.  All of them can record what you are seeing.  But, you have to SEE."
Ernst Hass
My website: http://www.ephotozine.com/user/bwlchmawr-199050 http://s927.photobucket.com/home/ADC3440/index
https://www.flickr.com/photos/78898196@N05

Thanks for the book tip Ken. It is ordered.

Why is black and white so dominant in street photography?

Yup she was the Master!!

http://www.vivianmaier.com/


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[i]Bodies: 1x K-5IIs, 2x K-5, Sony TX-5, Nokia 808
Lenses: Pentax DA 10-17mm ED(IF) Fish Eye, Pentax DA 14mm f/2.8, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8, Pentax-A 28mm f/2.8, Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.2, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.4, Pentax-FA 50mm f/1.4, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.7, Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8, Sigma 135-400mm APO DG, and more ..
Flash: AF-540FGZ, Vivitar 283

+1

I've dabbled a little

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Mike

Pentax K5 / Pentax K5 11/ Pentax K200D / Canon Rebel T1 i / Canon 650D / Pentax MX-1 / Fuji XF1 /Fuji X 10 / Canon EOS-M / Canon G10/ Pentax Mz-7 x 2

A couple of reasons in my view. A lot of people are influenced by the style of old New York or Parisian street photography, or indeed photojournalism. Vivian Maier shot black and white because that was what was readily available. Later on she increasingly shot colour.

Aesthetically colour can be a distraction unless it is considered in the composition. Steve Mccurry is a master at using colour in street style photography, but it can be hard when you are doing this on the fly with little control. Black and white allows you to focus on the light, shapes and subject and removes an additional variable that you have to control.

Of course much as there is a lot of poor street photography on the internet, there are also those that think b&w looks arty and will make a bad image good...

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Panasonic GX80, Pentax MX, Mamiya 6. My Flickr

I totally agree

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Ken
“We must avoid however, snapping away, shooting quickly and without thought, overloading ourselves with unnecessary images that clutter our memory and diminish the clarity of the whole.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson -