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.

Vivian Maier.

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

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

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

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.

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?

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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+1

I've dabbled a little

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...

I totally agree