In order to put things in place I would like to open a discussion about the definition of "street photography".

I paste here the related article from "wikipedia" and I would be very interested to see your comments:

"Street photography is a non-formalised genre of photography that features subjects in candid situations within public places such as streets, parks, beaches, malls, political conventions and other associated settings.

 

It typically uses the techniques of straight photography to show a pure vision of a situation, as if holding up a mirror to society. Images can often be ironic or emotionally detached from the subject matter, focussing instead on a particular context or detail. Framing and timing are key aspects of the craft, with the aim of creating images at a decisive or poignant moment. Alternatively, the street photographer may seek a more prosaic depiction of the scene, as a form of social documentary.

 

Much of what is now widely regarded, stylistically and subjectively, as definitve street photography was made in the era spanning the end of the 19th Century through to the late 1970s; a period which saw the emergence of portable cameras, especially small 35mm, rangefinder cameras, most famously the Leica, as used by Henri Cartier-Bresson,[1] among others. During the course of its evolution, street photography has provided a diverse and detailed record of street culture, particularly within Europe and North America. The advent of digital photography, combined with the exponential growth of photo-sharing via the internet, has greatly expanded an awareness of the genre and its practitioners."

 

All true :-) . Many, at least on 1X, would add that composition is very important for SP. Though I think that if the subject matter is strong enough, composition can be really secondary.

Hello Gianni,

I am here looking forward to your Street shots and especially those of Athens, or any city streets in Greece.

I think many of the older Street photographers would probably have just thought of themselves as photographers.

I think I often connect better with people on the Street when it is a place or a culture I am familiar with. Though it would be great to see other countries also.

I have no idea if I will receive a notification is someone posts here..so forgive me if you do not get any immediate answers from me.

Phyllis

 

Hi Phyllis, glad to see you here, i agree with you on the aspect that street photography is connecting people from different countries and cultures in a very interesting way. I am waiting to see street photos from different places of the world with great anticipation. As for me, you will have the opportunity to see your beloved Greece from my POV.

I agree Anna, there was always a discussion about the form and the content in street photography, in news-documentary i can say it' s definitely the content that matters most (your editor wants the story no matter what). In street there is much more freedom and i notice a great turn towards formalism, but this is only because i was not following the trends up to very recently. It is so so difficult to have both in the same shot that there is almost always a compromise. Gianni

 

 

Pretty sure you will need to consult Francis about this. I think he was just elected to answer such "high" questions...

 

And PLEASE remember, the form of these forums have changes, the participants haven't...

Clyde...am I dreaming. Which Francis are you talking about, and can you explain the second part of your comment. Are you in the right group for that comment?

 

 

I'm pretty sure there are no right groups here, just groups to join, whether regardless of leaning...it did say this group was an open group. I though that meant folks from any persuasion??

 

Papa Francis of course. Isn't the Pope responsible for defining the tenets of a religion?? And everybody knows Street is THE religion.

All right, if street is religion, define its dogmas ;-)

 

 

I said to ask Papa!! My only sense of dogmass is: Second start to the right, straight on till morning my little friend...

 

Pfff, that's as evasive as it gets. I am disappointed., Mr. Hillbilly.....

The vast majority of my photographic experience is more in the forest than in the street. But what most seem to think makes good street is good juxtaposition. Perhaps you could even say good tension or disharmony or disarray. What do I actually think is good "street photography?" Well frankly I don't think that way. If you look here at 1x at my Albums, a.k.a. Playlists, you won't find anything close to a category called street. I have put quite a few shots that were categorized as Street into my "The Provocateurs" & "Great Faces" albums and maybe a few in "Great Action". I guess I would agree with Phyl said about older Street photographers thinking of themselves as just good photographers. To me things like provocation, great light, great faces, great action, etc make for great photographs. But I know that Street people think their genre is unique and special, so if I had to pick one that epitomizes it for me I would say provocation.

 

Better?

Better :-) . I was thinking of mentioning juxtaposition myself. It does add a lot to the Street, as much if not more as a clever composition does. It is optional, though arguably used in Street more than any other photography genres I can think offhand.

 

I cannot pick one characteristic for street. For me it's mostly two characteristics: juxtaposition or unique/touching/original situation.

 

Like this, http://www.1x.com/photo/25220/all:all, is mostly both unique and juxtaposition. And this one, http://www.1x.com/photo/29331 , is mostly composition (and mood) .

Would be nice if the links actually worked, huh?

Also, please keep a broad mind about words I use in this type of context like "provocation." The Provocateurs are photos that provoke an emotion in me as the first reaction, that make me remember something or scare me or sooth me. In other contexts, I can be quite the provocateur...as you know. The narrow the context the more specific language becomes for me. And I guess only people that know me well understand that and can, therefore appreciate the nuance of it...or should I say nuisance of it...?

So...now way to edit a reply??? WTH??

Clyde wrote:

Pretty sure you will need to consult Francis about this. I think he was just elected to answer such "high" questions...

 

And PLEASE remember, the form of these forums have changes, the participants haven't...

 

Hi Clyde,

good morning from Athens Greece.

You have to advise me on what forum, if not this one, should i address my "high" question in order to get an answer from any religious or photographic pope. Mine is a simple question addressed to the members of this free community: "...what is street photography to you" . I am not sure though on how to interpret the second part of your comment, I would like you to clarify it PLEASE.

What i get as a "new kid on the block" is that i have to remember something i miss???

Gianni.

Dear Dianni,

 

You have the correct forum for sure! And my explanation for the second will explain the first part.

 

The look and feel of the forums have changed a LOT, many of the users of these new forums have not. I'm one that has not. I am a punster and joker and, many think, a jackass. SO often my comments are just snarking and trying to have a bit of fun. Be warned, I am not alone. Other lurk and will eventually show up, although they may appear more sublime than I.

Ok Clyde, your warning got through...good sense of humor is always welcome, it is irony that I can't stand and i don't bite my tongue . We 'll have the opportunity to get to know each other better in the future i hope.

Cheers, Gianni.

Street photography is a non-formalised genre of photography that features subjects in candid situations within public places such as streets, parks, beaches, malls, political conventions and other associated settings. It typically uses the techniques of straight photography to show a pure vision of a situation, as if holding up a mirror to society. Images can often be ironic or emotionally detached from the subject matter, focussing instead on a particular context or detail. Framing and timing are key aspects of the craft, with the aim of creating images at a decisive or poignant moment.

 

at least thats what mr Wiki makes of it to start with and follow up on it in much more deth

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Street_photography

 

It would be nice if we could access the archives of the old forum. quite a lot has been said

 

Mr Wiki also describes the distinction between street and documentary

 

"Street photography and documentary photography are two very similar genres of photography that often overlap while having distinct individual qualities. Street photography has the ability to document while documentary has the definite intention of recording history. Documentary photography can be candid, but street photography is defined by its candidness. Street photography produces ironic amusement while documentary provides emotional intensity. The language of street photography is subtle and not as loud and outspoken as documentary photography often is"

 

That last sentence explains maybe why some are excluded from practicing street \photography ;-)

 

PS it would be welcome to be able to edit posts for fine tuning...

PPS

Any thoughts on

"Showing "a pure vision of a situation, as if holding up a mirror to society. [...] ironic or emotionally detached from the subject matter, focussing instead on a particular context or detail."

 

In a non urban (say rural) environment, would that fit "street" in an out-of-the-box kind of way?

 

Cheers

 

Hi Willem,

I would have to explain that i was completely detached from almost any photographic activity for the last 15 years while before i was working full time as a photojournalist. It' s like coming back from another planet so excuse my naive or strange comments. A lot has change in those years and i am trying to adapt.

I don't see street photography as a pure vision of any situation simply because we only (as photographers talking) present a tiny fragment of our own angle of view. If this is what Mr wiki means then i would agree.

I would also like to see more "ironic" content photos (than threads in topics) instead of "emotionally detached from the subject matter" images.

In this case i prefer an emotionally charged situation the way Clyde described it, as a "provocateur".

In a non urban candid situation it depends on the content Willem, i recall photos that they could easily be categorized as street while others not at all.

After all, categorizing a photo does have sense only if it' s a good one.

Cheers, Gianni

 

You are trying to define something that is very instinctive, almost animal! a definition is good but there are so many other aspects that come into consideration. Your past as a photographer, your past as a man's life has made you what you be today and if you take a street photography is also with your sensibility, then define the street photography seems difficult and just not be the first thing to do.

Regards.

Not sure all of these will qualify for "Street" but some of them are pretty cool!

 

http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2013/05/the-art-of-being-in-the-right-place-at-the-right-time-street-photographs-by-lesley-ann-ercolano/

 

But irony, by definition, is misunderstood (or not understood at all) by at least half of the audience. That's what got Socrates into so much trouble. I think it is ironic that you find Clyde to have a good sense of humor.

I agree with Anna composition can be secondary thing, it's all about capturing the moment about the emotion, so perfect timing is the most important so you need to be like a hunter, to find a right place and wait for the moment or be on the walk to catch it.

 

Hi King, thanks for clarifying this and give me the opportunity to be precise.

English is not my first language and as "irony" comes from ancient Greek during the ages the "Socratic" meaning of the word in modern Greek changed into "sarcasm" (it happens that I am Greek)

So I mean sarcasm and Clyde himself admits that he often gets "sarcastic".

As about good sense of humor ? It gets hard to get Clyde' s peculiar sense of humor and it' s still difficult for me to dig it out of his sarcastic comments. I am sure though that he will have a good answer to this as he is an active member of the community.

Gianni

 

Very well played my friend, well played indeed!

 

By your rules my friend !

 

This is correct Goran, "right place-right time" a constant hunt for the "moment"

Gianni.

 

yo también comparto esa opinión, 70% historia 30% composicion, es mejor tener un momento significante de la vida diaria

 

 

I also share that opinion, 70% 30% composition history, better to have a significant moment of daily life

What happens if you put a few "street" portraits together ?

An exceptional and very emotional editing under the beautiful Handel's "Sarabande":

 

https://vimeo.com/76296725

 

This amazing compilation by Mete Başkoçak gives in my eyes a totally different approach on this genre of photography, it's when "Street" reaches... "Social Documentary"

http://1x.com/member/metemaximus

Gianni

A little late to the party but something I have been thinking about quite abit these days. I started to question the lack of emotional connection in my recent "explorations" on the genre. I have started to hunt geometrical compositions and alot of shadow and light. They were pleasing images but there was no connection just aesthetics. Does a street image have to have a worthwhile story? I think so. Thinking about this hurts my head. A current self definition I have is: Making a photo outside and not a studio in the context of the built environment, with people but the mere presence of habitation or use is enough.

 

I ended up watching all of them...and then others...and others....and no dinner got cooked. :)

 

Mete Baskocak has done a great job of showing the human condition. As I was watching I wondered what it would be like if he had followed one of those people lets say for a week or so...to see how life changes..or maybe for some does not change. I had that thought because many of the people seemed to be suffering.

 

I see that he is a lx member. Has he been invited to join the conversation? I wondered if all those photos were taken in Turkey or from which countries. He has a great eye for 'that moment.' ...I also wondered if he liked film...since he had put them together...and if he loved Nuri Bilge Ceylan as much as I do. :)

 

:)

Phyllis

Ricky/Gianni...and all..

 

I was looking for one thing on the NY Times multimedia section and found another which was equally as interesting....and the title said...

What makes good Street Photography...hear the answer from a master..he is clearly an oldtimer..I hope you enjoy as I did...

 

Then immediately following it is documentary photography from Kenya....if you watch them back to back you really do get sense of the differences...

See what you think..I hope it will come to your country....

 

http://www.nytimes.com/video/multimedia/100000002534680/neal-boenzi-photographer.html

 

A tip: If you are not a paying member of the NY Times one way to see most of the things you would like is to get in through the back door of Twitter. On the Twitter website they have so many of the features and columns there separated...and if you follow them..you can click on the links and enter the NY times for free even after your 20 free stories. :)

 

Phyl

Hi everyone who reads this forum. I am new to 1X, so finding the forum is going to help me in this genre of photography. I have read, looked at you tube for knowledge of street photography and one thought comes to mind, we are hunters looking for a moment to connect with the person or whatever we are shooting.

Not sure if anyone else feels the same, but it is a fix, an adrenaline rush when I click the shutter.

For me street photography is a connection.

Wow, Gianni/Phyllis!, Thanks a lot for those links, really good insights in them, worth giving them a look even a second or third time.

 

I watched recently "Everybody Street", there has been a lot of buzz around this documentary before it became public and I think that they did a great work with it, a bit slow because it's basically a series of interviews but I think that the selection of photographers has been great as each of them approaches the street and its people in a very different way. Those who didn't hear about it here have the link:

https://vimeo.com/ondemand/everybodystreet

 

And welcome to the forum Robert! I prefer to see myself as a fisherman rather than a hunter. When I click the shutter is almost the same as when the rod starts moving so you THINK you've got something but you don't know until you develop it and analyse it carefully ;) But yeah, in essence is more or less the same.

Hi Robert

 

to me when i go out with the camera to the street.. it's exactly that... hunt... hunt for something that come out of the ordinary... something that catch my eye or connect with me, find something different to something that is already ordinary or try to see it from a different angle.

 

i like the challenge to myself of approaching to it from a different angle without changing the elements they are in. like an 'shoot out of the box/spy observer'. (not exactly the idea of street photography but that's the way i like it when i go out to the street).

 

http://www.1x.com/photo/380526/all:user:331866

http://www.1x.com/photo/367491/all:user:331866

http://www.1x.com/photo/257137/all:user:331866

http://www.1x.com/photo/243186/all:user:331866

http://www.1x.com/photo/191958/all:user:331866

 

Don't think to anyone those will be 'street photography' but to me they are as I stole a moment from someone :)

 

 

Alonso, I am watching 'Everybody Street" now and I think this is one of the best documentaries I have ever seen on street photography, the real action of it and not only the theory.

In my view this should be seen by anyone who really likes SP but also by everyone who wishes to do critique or comments on this kind of photography.

I really enjoy it, thanks so much for suggesting it.

 

Gianni

Agree with you Gianni its a nice movie.

 

As far as general commenting and critiquing, it's a good start for some to identify it as street to begin with. I'm not complaining just mentioning it flies under the radar a lot.

 

Abdulmuhsen my friend, I don't hesitate to complain when supposedly experienced photographers don't identify a street photo and make comments as it's an "artistic" approach. I doubt that some of them ever studied Photography or Art.

 

Daidō Moriyama

For me, photography is not a means by which to create beautiful art, but a unique way of encountering genuine reality.

 

 

Oh Gianni, this sentence at this place could be perceived as a provocation....

;-))

 

 

Harry, Art needs to be provocative in order to work (at least for some, most people on the planet have more urgent needs)

Daido Moriyama is not the only one who "cancels" in a way the value of Art:

 

“We all know that Art is not truth. Art is a lie that makes us realize truth, at least the truth that is given us to understand. The artist must know the manner whereby to convince others of the truthfulness of his lies.”

 

Pablo Picasso

 

Hey, Gianni...I suppose you mean mean good, honest reality as opposed to bogus, phony, spurious, mock pseudo or synthetic reality.

...not that there's anything wrong with that.

 

Hey, long time no see King, I am glad you came around and

...yes, this is exactly what I mean, but again "reality" can be subjective...a different angle or light, a change in perspective or a split of a second sooner or later can make a different reality. I do care a lot about it though, particularly since I was a photojournalist I realized...Truth is hard to swallow...in a way nobody wants to face it...in another way, we all try to give it a lift (in PP) LOL

 

Yes... my photography is My reality, the way I see things, no matter if it's beautiful, ugly, bizarre or ordinary, I am not pretending to be an artist, I take photos of subjects that agitate or disturb me.

I think this is what Daidō is talking about...to be honest with yourself and your intentions.

 

 

I agree...but this Artist has to be able to convince me... "of the truthfulness of his lies.”

take care

 

Gianni

 

 

 

Glad you guys liked the 'Everybody Street' documentary. For me the best thing of it is that they just didn't focused on photographers that were consciously working on the 'street photography' genre so they could provide with many different ways of approaching the street and also using their photography for different purposes... creating art, documenting live in some neighborhoods, raising awareness of social issues or even as an instrument for social change... My biggest grasp from it is that, different people with different personalities take very different approaches which shows up in their final work at the end (and after a lot of time working)

I agree Alonso, it's not strictly "street", it's wider than this and I think every photographer could benefit from the different approaches presented...also from some wonderful photos shown...I found it inspirational.

 

Gianni

Oh, common guys! They are bad photographers in that movie, their processing is awful, beginners for local standards, thus not good photoshoppers, it's just pictures! (I learnt the music, started to sing it now :-), obey!)

 

Bruce Davidson, Joel Meyerowtz, Jill Freedman, Elliott Erwitt, Bruce Gilden, Jeff Mermelstein, Martha Cooper, etc... yeah!, pretty bad photographers indeed!

 

 

I have to agree with that, almost all of them shot with film...

:-) am totally with you, but that's real SP and Photography, I must not get angry if my processing is bad, am a beginner, as one of the crew (wanna be SP Pro, not one of those beginners who can't over process, mentioned in your previous answer) here told me: move on (in the sense go elsewhere for SP and Photography, so I Obey)

ah, ok, didn't get the irony of your previous comment...