Hi Pentaxian friends,
We hear a lot about Street Photography these days. Wikipedia defines street photography as follow: "Street photography uses the techniques of straight photographs in that it shows a pure vision of something, like holding up a mirror to society. This genre of photography is present in contemporary times and is usually done as black and white photographs."
Look at any of the forums (example) on photography, and you will see plenty of "Street Photographs" posted all over. You will also realize that everyone has it's own definition of what street photography is. Some photographers like to take photos of people in secret, like voyeurs, using large telephoto lenses. Some use the "right-in-your-face" approach. Although it may make some unusual photos, it might also bring some unusual black eyes as well. Others like to photograph events in general, while including people in the frame and cropping the images to isolate interesting subjects later on. I don't think that black and white has anything to do with street photography. Black and white makes the images look like they were taken many years ago.
Personally, I would never use the "right-in-your-face" approach. I'm getting a little too old to fight for a photograph, and I think it shows an extreme lack of respect. I like to use a little of all the above, but I always ask permission before I include a stranger in any of my photograph. Sometimes it costs me a few dollars, but what I'm looking for is real people, in their elements, just as they are everyday, and willing to share that with me. I would feel like I was looking down on someone by taking a picture of an embarrassing or weak moment. We are all created equal and all deserve to have our privacy respected. I don't take pleasure in photographing a passer-by with his finger up his nose or someone falling on their behind, etc.
I think that pictures, with the subject's permission, can still render good "street" photographs. I cannot judge my own images, but here are a few I took in New York and in Mexico. The subjects' character can still be revealed without me having to play voyeur or get in someone's face.
We hear a lot about Street Photography these days. Wikipedia defines street photography as follow: "Street photography uses the techniques of straight photographs in that it shows a pure vision of something, like holding up a mirror to society. This genre of photography is present in contemporary times and is usually done as black and white photographs."
Look at any of the forums (example) on photography, and you will see plenty of "Street Photographs" posted all over. You will also realize that everyone has it's own definition of what street photography is. Some photographers like to take photos of people in secret, like voyeurs, using large telephoto lenses. Some use the "right-in-your-face" approach. Although it may make some unusual photos, it might also bring some unusual black eyes as well. Others like to photograph events in general, while including people in the frame and cropping the images to isolate interesting subjects later on. I don't think that black and white has anything to do with street photography. Black and white makes the images look like they were taken many years ago.
Personally, I would never use the "right-in-your-face" approach. I'm getting a little too old to fight for a photograph, and I think it shows an extreme lack of respect. I like to use a little of all the above, but I always ask permission before I include a stranger in any of my photograph. Sometimes it costs me a few dollars, but what I'm looking for is real people, in their elements, just as they are everyday, and willing to share that with me. I would feel like I was looking down on someone by taking a picture of an embarrassing or weak moment. We are all created equal and all deserve to have our privacy respected. I don't take pleasure in photographing a passer-by with his finger up his nose or someone falling on their behind, etc.
I think that pictures, with the subject's permission, can still render good "street" photographs. I cannot judge my own images, but here are a few I took in New York and in Mexico. The subjects' character can still be revealed without me having to play voyeur or get in someone's face.
I'm poor but at least I'm honest. That will be two dollars.
Heroes get tired too.
The way things are now, You or I may be next.
Life has been a long and hard journey for this old man. You can see it in his weathered face.
Best friends. I used to have a best friend at that age "Pierre Lavigne".
Who said you had to be grown up to be street smart?
Thanks for reading,
Yvon Bourque
2 comments:
I have a different view of street photography from you, Yvon, although we share a dislike of the "in your face" style of camera mugging. For me, street photography is capturing life on the street or in public as it happens, hopefully in an interesting way. The moment you ask someone if it's OK to take their photograph, you've stopped capturing life on the street as it happens and started influencing it. Your pics are great but I'd put them in the category of environmental portraits rather than street photography. That's just my own view, however, and I know there as many definitions of street photography as there are street photographers.
For those who might be interested, I posted some of my own street images on my blog: http://pentaxk10dblog.blogspot.com/2007/03/street-photography.html
Hi Bruce,
You are right,the moment I ask permission, the natural is gone. However, They can't change their faces, clothes, the location, etc. I'm not holding up a mirror to society, I ask society if I can hold the mirror. The spontaneity is gone, but I figure I get a snapshot in time that was not entirely planned, and capture the life of our era. As you know, I have been watching your blog for almost two years now, and nkow that you do great street photography.
Best Regards,
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