I’ve gone through points in my life where I have loved street photography, and other times where I struggled to pick up the camera. Confidence and comfort was always a big factor in that.
Thanks for that informative video. I can relate allows I tend to push through the crazy anxiety and I take the photo. I’m out of practice now and will start hitting the NYC streets soon. Can you please give a Instagram link to the photographer in the video that you admire his street photo? I couldn’t find it. I would like to watch some of his YT videos. Thanks again!
Don’t forget that Doisneau and Meyrowitz cut their teeth at a time when seeing a camera in the streets was a relative rarity. What they were doing was unusual. Most people would perhaps be photographed once a year on holiday, if that. There were no social networks or internet. The world wasn’t drowning under an incessant tsunami of images and vacuous comment. I’ve worked as a news reporter, photographer and documentary film maker for the past thirty years or so and I’ve found people are generally far more pissed off about being filmed or photographed in public today than they used to be.
Walk and search long enough, you will find many people who want to be seen and heard. Its a matter of purpose. Why are you out there? Having a grasp of that question will lead you to the subjects that make most sense for you, and the rest will follow.
Yeah, the 'why?'... that's the big question. I bought Sean Tuckers book, The Meaning in the Making to try and answer that question but he kinda lost me fairly early on. Perhaps I'll give it another go 😝although I do have a fairly good idea what my 'why' is - to document. To record for posterity. To remember. We all have such little lives, so it's more for me to have some evidence that I existed, that I can say I was here, and this is what I saw.
I focus a lot on street photography in my posts, but really it's not the sort of thing I do normally (i have three instagram accounts that covers where my interestests lie), but it's the one most available to me.
It's hard to explain here, but it's given me an idea for a new post!
" so it's more for me to have some evidence that I existed, that I can say I was here, and this is what I saw. " -- Your words about youself can also be used for the people you capture in the streets.
I think it comes down to the why. Just going into the street and taking pictures of people for shits and giggles, for me that is entertainment at the expense of others. And yes ofc I've done it, many times. But going to those streets with a specific purpose, of trying to understand those people or to document a specific aspect of what's going on, for me that makes it a lot easier.
Thanks, Jennie, for the comment. Yes, the 'why' is always the biggie for me. Why am I doing this, what is it I am trying to say here. If I'm doing a lot of sprayin' and prayin' then it does indeed feel like entertainment at the expense of others, hoping for a bit of luck. I find a lot of street photography has become a challenge to see how close you can get, and a lot of those images don't really make me feel something (this is the thing I look for in an image). We get a lot of demonstratioons here in Amsterdam (I walked into one yesterday) and there I find a purpose, a chance to document something as there's stories and passion everywhere around.
Yeah that's exactly it. The definition of "street" is also pretty broad. It can be anything from portraits with permission to the geometry of light and buildings. Just shoot what you like. It does sound though like you might lean more towards documentary (like me). That said, I'll always be glad of my street photography beginnings, and the understanding of what makes a decent shot, honing camera reflexes etc
Well said and so relatable. These same feelings extend beyond my photography to my writing and that neglected guitar on my wall. All my creative endeavors, come to think of it.
Mi objetivo favorito para la foto de calle es el 18-135 mm, te permite ser invisible. Para perder el miedo de calle lo mejor es entrenar tú sicología en las fiestas populares en esos momentos la gente está más abierta y animada, una vez entiendas el comportamiento humano la foto de calle es más fluida a la hora de tratar con las personas.
I’ve gone through points in my life where I have loved street photography, and other times where I struggled to pick up the camera. Confidence and comfort was always a big factor in that.
Thanks for that informative video. I can relate allows I tend to push through the crazy anxiety and I take the photo. I’m out of practice now and will start hitting the NYC streets soon. Can you please give a Instagram link to the photographer in the video that you admire his street photo? I couldn’t find it. I would like to watch some of his YT videos. Thanks again!
Hi Juliana, do you mean Eduardo? He's at https://www.instagram.com/eortizfoto/. An amazing photographer, someone whose not afraid of getting close. The other photographer you might like is Jonathan Jasberg (https://www.instagram.com/seat1aflyer/), just more amazing stuff.
Good luck getting back out there, look forward to seeing what you come back with!
Thanks so much Seb! Yes you are right. I will check them both out.
Don’t forget that Doisneau and Meyrowitz cut their teeth at a time when seeing a camera in the streets was a relative rarity. What they were doing was unusual. Most people would perhaps be photographed once a year on holiday, if that. There were no social networks or internet. The world wasn’t drowning under an incessant tsunami of images and vacuous comment. I’ve worked as a news reporter, photographer and documentary film maker for the past thirty years or so and I’ve found people are generally far more pissed off about being filmed or photographed in public today than they used to be.
Walk and search long enough, you will find many people who want to be seen and heard. Its a matter of purpose. Why are you out there? Having a grasp of that question will lead you to the subjects that make most sense for you, and the rest will follow.
Hey Mark, thanks for the comment.
Yeah, the 'why?'... that's the big question. I bought Sean Tuckers book, The Meaning in the Making to try and answer that question but he kinda lost me fairly early on. Perhaps I'll give it another go 😝although I do have a fairly good idea what my 'why' is - to document. To record for posterity. To remember. We all have such little lives, so it's more for me to have some evidence that I existed, that I can say I was here, and this is what I saw.
I focus a lot on street photography in my posts, but really it's not the sort of thing I do normally (i have three instagram accounts that covers where my interestests lie), but it's the one most available to me.
It's hard to explain here, but it's given me an idea for a new post!
" so it's more for me to have some evidence that I existed, that I can say I was here, and this is what I saw. " -- Your words about youself can also be used for the people you capture in the streets.
Looking forward to the post this all triggered.
I think it comes down to the why. Just going into the street and taking pictures of people for shits and giggles, for me that is entertainment at the expense of others. And yes ofc I've done it, many times. But going to those streets with a specific purpose, of trying to understand those people or to document a specific aspect of what's going on, for me that makes it a lot easier.
Thanks, Jennie, for the comment. Yes, the 'why' is always the biggie for me. Why am I doing this, what is it I am trying to say here. If I'm doing a lot of sprayin' and prayin' then it does indeed feel like entertainment at the expense of others, hoping for a bit of luck. I find a lot of street photography has become a challenge to see how close you can get, and a lot of those images don't really make me feel something (this is the thing I look for in an image). We get a lot of demonstratioons here in Amsterdam (I walked into one yesterday) and there I find a purpose, a chance to document something as there's stories and passion everywhere around.
Yeah that's exactly it. The definition of "street" is also pretty broad. It can be anything from portraits with permission to the geometry of light and buildings. Just shoot what you like. It does sound though like you might lean more towards documentary (like me). That said, I'll always be glad of my street photography beginnings, and the understanding of what makes a decent shot, honing camera reflexes etc
Well said and so relatable. These same feelings extend beyond my photography to my writing and that neglected guitar on my wall. All my creative endeavors, come to think of it.
Mi objetivo favorito para la foto de calle es el 18-135 mm, te permite ser invisible. Para perder el miedo de calle lo mejor es entrenar tú sicología en las fiestas populares en esos momentos la gente está más abierta y animada, una vez entiendas el comportamiento humano la foto de calle es más fluida a la hora de tratar con las personas.