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09/12/2006 01:31:15 AM · #1 |
Thought this might be a fun post, and a good learning experience for people through some shared work. Personally I find that street photography has some of the most interesting stories behind it. I recently got into a discussion in a photography class ast to what extent photography is ethical or not, and if there is a way to draw a line. I personally find there is a line, but the only person who knows whether or not it is being crossed, is the photographer himself (even if it is coming from a legal standpoint). When you are out on the streets, how do you go about taking photos? What equipment do you prefer and why? (ie. lenses) Would love to see what work and thought goes into some of the pictures here. I think To start out... Ill go into a few details on one of mine. Feel free to comment on my questions, or just post your own.
I took this photo in Rome with a 50 mm. I’m normally pretty held back when it comes to photographing people in the streets. (I would like to overcome this, and am hoping this thread goes in a bit of a different direction than the others on street photography have so far) Normally I would prefer to use a telephoto lens to document this, as not to disturb the image by provoking a reaction from the subject to my camera. (And though I don’t like to admit it, to avoid confrontations). However, with this shot, the cover over her head made me feel more comfortable taking the photo. I was standing in a shady spot outside of the colosseum, where it must have been over 100 degrees F. This beggar woman was wearing several layers of clothing, and not once was I able to see her face. At the moment I couldn’t help but think of where I was and what I was doing. Whether or not her behavior was a “performance” to aid her in begging, or a reality, I wasn’t sure of. I couldn’t help but notice the hundreds of people paying ridiculous sums of money for a cold drink, while she inched her way around the colosseum in this heat begging for spare change. Though I thought of naming this shot “arched” I decided to go with SPQR which stands for Senatus et Populus que Romanus. (Senate and population of rome) SPQR is the coat of arms for rome and somehow seemed to contradict what I was seeing. I had an ambivalent feeling towards the tourists as an element in the background, but prefer having them in it as a contrasting element to the subject, that also marks my position as a photographer looking in, as oppose to getting involved and interfering with my observations.
Anyhow, I found the process of taking this photo to be quite an emotional learning experience that raised some ethical questions for me. And moved as I was, I felt I had to spend my change a few feet further down for a cold water. Where does this put me as the photographer? Hope this doesn’t sound like a tired pre-sleep ramble, but I’d really like to hear if other people have taken photos that had more personal weight on them than others they take, or whether they view them as pure aesthetics?
Don’t feel like you need to answer any of the questions I raised through my photo… I just kinda wanted to show where I came out of this experience, and how my concept of photography changed completely. I guess this was the first time I realized how we have to look at the photography not only as documentation, but also a process that holds the possibility to make the photographer take a deeper look into the scene.
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09/12/2006 02:35:43 AM · #2 |
This guy was inside a cigar shop, playing Xbox, not too happy about being photographed, but I was 99.9% certain that if he came outside to chase me, I could outrun him easily.
To me, this just says "Italy", or at least the Italy I saw when I was in Varese last year.
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09/12/2006 03:05:12 AM · #3 |
2006 Harley Bike Rally to raise funds for charity. Hundreds of bikers from around the area participated. |
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09/12/2006 07:22:44 AM · #4 |
This is by the River, but it might be called 'Street Art'. This is their street and their home.
I took this shot from a bridge in a fishing village in the Dominican Republic. This place was absolutely the poorest place that I have ever been to.
What struck me as odd was that admidst the garbage strewn backyard of their home, these girls were clean, well dressed, well groomed, and most of all...happy.
They were thrilled that I was taken their picture and they giggled and leaned over to speak in hushed tones and continued fishing in that nasty river using a handheld, short piece of fishing line. |
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09/12/2006 07:58:35 AM · #5 |
Here's a few of mine.
I won't comment on all of them, but I will say that I love this type of photography the most - but it's very hard for me to do. I'm not really comfortable with it, yet. |
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09/12/2006 09:12:54 AM · #6 |
 
I love doing street photography, but I feel very uncomfortable doing it -- I just can't feel inconspicuous with a 20D in front of my face. I've tried "shooting from the hip" with mixed results -- mostly a lot of shots of the sidewalk in front of my victims.
Many years ago I used to use my dad's Exacta. It had some sort of a viewfinder that popped up and you looked down into it. That was really good because you could sit on a park bench, hold the camera on your lap, and with a little cool, you could take pictures without anyone knowing what you were doing.
My Canon S60 is good for this, because you can turn the shutter sound off and shoot in silence. It drives me crazy, though, because I'm never sure that I've gotten the picture. Actually, it's never failed me -- I'm just conditioned to hear a comforting "click".
Message edited by author 2006-09-12 09:55:05.
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09/12/2006 09:24:11 AM · #7 |
Pretty much all the shots in my Candid - B&W and Candid - Color were exactly that - Candids.
It's not easy and can it can be a very awkward thing to point a camera at someone, especially with all the privacy issues people are paranoid about (thank you internet)
This is perhaps my luckiest form of Candid street photography and take a minute to read the comments section on how it was done. It's by far my very favorite shot I have ever taken, and I don't really think the story ends with the image. I believe somehow I will meet up with him someday, or a someone will recognize the image and set a chain of events in motion.
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09/12/2006 09:31:10 AM · #8 |
I came across this guy (Chris Weeks) on deviant art and really like his stuff.
He has quite a bit of unapologetic attitude which comes off in varying degrees of pomposity and honesty.
Here is a 160 page pdf he put together of street photography.
He shoots mainly film, (has a Leica fetish), I think most of the shots on this were shot w/ Leica MP.
Street Photography for the Purist (10MB pdf)
cweeks.deviantart.com Gallery
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09/12/2006 09:36:30 AM · #9 |
| Brad, that's a great story ... it's also nice to know that other photographers have the same reservations as I do when it comes to street shooting ... I see interesting people all the time and feel uneasy about just taking their picture without permission ... mostly because I know I'd be upset if someone did it to me ... I'll be leaving for Peru on the 22nd and desperately want to get over my "street shooting" issues before the trip ... I really hope to come home with some great shots of the local people ... |
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09/12/2006 09:55:53 AM · #10 |
I've seen this scene in Rome too. They are a gang of Eastern European gipsies dictating the rules there. I asked the one near Colosseum in Romanian if she was from Romania and she mumbled something like it was none of my business.
I also took a pic of her I just can not find it but I keep looking for it.
Till I find it there is another one, this one taken in Piaza di Spagnia.
Also taken with 50/1.8
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09/12/2006 10:05:52 AM · #11 |
I caught this candid at one of the DPC GTG's here in new york
for Spazmo99's shot I still love that 1st shot of yours I remember you posting i sometime ago, that shot is hilarious to me
Message edited by author 2006-09-29 11:23:50.
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09/12/2006 10:12:05 AM · #12 |
yep ... I've been following this guys work for some time now. He's an excellent photographer, but if you don't understand him, you may not like him. He'll shoot you straight regarding his opinion :)
He also has a blog here.
Originally posted by rswank:
I came across this guy (Chris Weeks) on deviant art and really like his stuff.
He has quite a bit of unapologetic attitude which comes off in varying degrees of pomposity and honesty.
Here is a 160 page pdf he put together of street photography.
He shoots mainly film, (has a Leica fetish), I think most of the shots on this were shot w/ Leica MP.
Street Photography for the Purist (10MB pdf)
cweeks.deviantart.com Gallery |
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09/12/2006 10:13:58 AM · #13 |
This is a subject/style, near and dear to my heart. I'm pressed for time at the moment, so I'll let the images speak for themselves but there are a few cool stories attached to some of them...
  
  
  
  
Message edited by author 2006-09-12 10:26:10. |
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09/12/2006 10:48:16 AM · #14 |
For some reasons I can not access the page. Can you pls check one more time?
Thanks
Tibi
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09/12/2006 10:50:35 AM · #15 |
I will be the first to admit that I find street photography difficult for me to come to terms with as I am not sure of the boundaries. At the London GTG I took two shots that could be described as street - both shown below - that I wanted to use as part of my "Modern Cities: Contrast & Contradiction" project. I posted the second set of two shots on my smugmug site and then, 24 hours later, removed the one with the sleeping tramp as I felt I had robbed him of his personal dignity as he could be easily identified.
original street shots
 
posted shots - second one withdrawn
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09/12/2006 10:52:17 AM · #16 |
Originally posted by Tiberius:
For some reasons I can not access the page. Can you pls check one more time?
Thanks
Tibi |
Not sure why it doesn't work for you, Tibi.
Here is a link to the page that has the download link.
Look in the upper left side of the page for "download".
//www.deviantart.com/deviation/38038974/
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09/12/2006 11:01:42 AM · #17 |
Originally posted by Tiberius:
I also took a pic of her I just can not find it but I keep looking for it.
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Got it!
I do not usually give money to this kind of beggars. But this one, being a superstisious man and being afraid of not being cursed by her, got some change. I said to her in Romanian: Here, for you. And she answered in Romanian: Thanks!
Message edited by author 2006-09-12 11:05:35.
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09/12/2006 11:09:15 AM · #18 |
@rswank
Thank you. It worked.
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09/12/2006 12:24:37 PM · #19 |
[quote=obsidian] I will be the first to admit that I find street photography difficult for me to come to terms with as I am not sure of the boundaries. At the London GTG I took two shots that could be described as street - both shown below - that I wanted to use as part of my "Modern Cities: Contrast & Contradiction" project. I posted the second set of two shots on my smugmug site and then, 24 hours later, removed the one with the sleeping tramp as I felt I had robbed him of his personal dignity as he could be easily identified.
Carl-I belive the important thing to consider is your motive or knowing what you are trying to convey with these images. If you are trying to embarrass your subject or if you are trying to shine a light on their plight are clear differences to be considered.
I have consciously been trying to bring a dash of dignity and humanity to my subjects as of late. Moreso than I did in the past. Sometimes we win...sometimes we lose but I still feel that marking these moments has value. For example, showing a poster for a glamour advertisment with a homless person sleeping right underneath it is somewhat sobering and it kind of keeps things in perspective.
Message edited by author 2006-09-12 12:30:33. |
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09/12/2006 12:30:51 PM · #20 |
here are a few
some of my stuff-explanations are on the photos
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09/12/2006 05:23:29 PM · #21 |
Originally posted by pawdrix:
Carl-I belive the important thing to consider is your motive or knowing what you are trying to convey with these images. If you are trying to embarrass your subject or if you are trying to shine a light on their plight are clear differences to be considered.
I have consciously been trying to bring a dash of dignity and humanity to my subjects as of late. Moreso than I did in the past. Sometimes we win...sometimes we lose but I still feel that marking these moments has value. For example, showing a poster for a glamour advertisment with a homless person sleeping right underneath it is somewhat sobering and it kind of keeps things in perspective.
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Steve - I was trying to contrast the superficial sense of what some believe are "essentuals" versus what the street guy would see as "essential" in the montage. I thought it worked but... I wasn't too sure. I guess that, because the street guy didn't know about the shot that I felt I had intruded but I still think that by making my statement through pictures I would push someone into thinking about the plight of the street folk. I knew I wasn't going to reach too many folk with the shot but... mighty oaks from acorns grow.
Appreciate your feedback, Steve, as I think you are one of the best "soul of the street" photog's out there! |
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09/12/2006 05:27:27 PM · #22 |
Originally posted by danica22:
here are a few
some of my stuff-explanations are on the photos |
Really liked the shots. Reminded me of parts of Jo'berg I was taken to a few years back - they only told me later that it wasn't really that safe :-O |
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09/12/2006 06:31:26 PM · #23 |
edit for d@%#%d double post. It took forever to post and then it did it twice when I retryed.
Message edited by author 2006-09-12 18:51:47. |
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09/12/2006 06:44:48 PM · #24 |
Originally posted by obsidian:
I will be the first to admit that I find street photography difficult for me to come to terms with as I am not sure of the boundaries. |
Speaking of boundaries...pretend that you are the photog and then tell me what you would have thought the boundaries were in this picture before you read the details.
I spent the night in this fishing village in the Dominican Republic so that I could get some moonlight shots and the sunrise in the morning. It turned out too cloudy for either one. Instead, I walked along the beach before the locals woke up and took a lot of pics of their neighborhood.
I was getting some shots of the colorful fishing boats on the shore using my Tokina 12-24mm when I saw this young boy squatting a ways down the beach just beyond one of the boats. It looked to me like a great 'National Geographic moment'; young local with his chin resting in his hand, arm resting on his thigh, thoughtfully watching this strange intruder taking picture after picture.
I motioned to him with one finger pointed up to try to communicate "just another moment" as I took shot after shot of him. Using my wide angle lens, I wasn't getting the closeup of him that I really wanted, but I wasn't about to rush towards him either because I thought I might frighten him off. I kept moving toward him, stopping and crouching again and again to at least get a good shot at my next best position each time. I wished I had my 70-200 on my camera, but I didn't want to chance him suddenly leaving while I changed lenses.
Continuing to motion with my hand and saying "Uno momento" I eventually got to within eight feet of him and was about to take my closest shot of this boy with the ever so thoughtful expression, his chin still in his hand, when a larger than usual wave crashed on the beach and water rushed towards us. He and I both looked toward the water and then he bolted away leaving a mushy pile behind.
I was overcome with embarrassment. I looked beyond the boy as he was running towards the corrugated tin and palm frond huts that made up his neighborhood to see his parents watching me. Again I was extremely embarrassed and sheepishly waved at them.
If I had had any idea that I was intruding into this boys privacy and stomping all over his human dignity, I would have left him alone, to hell with my 'National Geographic moment'. |
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09/12/2006 07:00:23 PM · #25 |
Originally posted by yakatme:
Originally posted by obsidian:
I will be the first to admit that I find street photography difficult for me to come to terms with as I am not sure of the boundaries. |
Speaking of boundaries...pretend that you are the photog and then tell me what you would have thought the boundaries were in this picture before you read the details. |
OK -looking at the picture I sense a degree of interest being shown by the little guy but I am wondering why he is there alone. Noting that, where are his parents, the guys who should be looking out for him? Feels a little weird to me, just something not right and the little guy is dislocated in some way from his normality. Bottom line: I could not take the shot. End of summary :-)
Now I have read the detail. Man, I feel for your predicament! No way I guessed what he was doing (OK, it did cross my mind for a fraction of a second but not a serious thought) but even worse to have discovered the parents watching your every move. I guess I was right about the dislocation, just did not see the defecation!
Chuckle - thanks for this.
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