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What is street photography?

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AlwynS

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This past weekend my wife and I went for brunch on Granville Island in Vancouver. While there some shapes and colours caught my eye and I took some random photographs. Back home I started thinking: do these qualify as "street photography"? And as someone who is really much more into nature (and particularly birding) photography: more broadly, really what IS street photography?

And by great coincidence just now I saw the "Using the FX1000..." thread by Portrait. This was the final nudge that prompted me to ask this stupid question!

Some of the shots I took this weekend (and all reduced to 1920 x 1080 before uploading as I thought the concept was adequately shown at this size).

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Houseboats at Granville Island

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680ff86cac15457fb1522646ee23d8bd




aed0988fb7bc400b883f711fffc406c8




12cce2ed84b24539a133754e37a1de33




624814d685d9449fa4592cd0edb0a9fd




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So : what defines/identifies street photography?

Cheers
Alwyn
 
lightgrabber said:
I guess the question is, who gets to decide it is art?
Click to expand...
The people with money i think, a photo is a product to enjoy to day and art is a product for investment to sell later for more money.
lightgrabber said:
And another one for you. Is art in the finished product, or in the intention?
Click to expand...
If the artist is finished with it and sells it, it is finished...... even when it is just a block of concrete with a crack in it. ;-)

I googled "street photography" images and 70% is black and white so, one of the factors is "shoot black and white" or "edit it to black and white".

other factors are people in it who often not aware of the camera, buildings and streets.
 
lightgrabber said:
That does sound like a good strategy to up the chances of getting the shots.

I find I'm still conflicted. Part of me hesitates because I don't want to get punched out...another part, because some of it does feel invasive, to stealthily capture people in some of those moments. And yet, I admit, I do admire and enjoy looking at great street photography.
Click to expand...
Yes, completely agree. Or being labelled as some sort of pervert.

I recently walked past a park bench with 4 college girls in attractive uniforms who were laughing. I didnt have a camera on me but I thought what a great shot it would have made. But if anyone saw me taking a photo, covertly or otherwise, I think would spell trouble. What a shame.
 
MarioV said:
lightgrabber said:
That does sound like a good strategy to up the chances of getting the shots.

I find I'm still conflicted. Part of me hesitates because I don't want to get punched out...another part, because some of it does feel invasive, to stealthily capture people in some of those moments. And yet, I admit, I do admire and enjoy looking at great street photography.
Click to expand...
Yes, completely agree. Or being labelled as some sort of pervert.

I recently walked past a park bench with 4 college girls in attractive uniforms who were laughing. I didnt have a camera on me but I thought what a great shot it would have made. But if anyone saw me taking a photo, covertly or otherwise, I think would spell trouble. What a shame.
Click to expand...
 
Sactojim said:
MarioV said:
lightgrabber said:
That does sound like a good strategy to up the chances of getting the shots.

I find I'm still conflicted. Part of me hesitates because I don't want to get punched out...another part, because some of it does feel invasive, to stealthily capture people in some of those moments. And yet, I admit, I do admire and enjoy looking at great street photography.
Click to expand...
Yes, completely agree. Or being labelled as some sort of pervert.

I recently walked past a park bench with 4 college girls in attractive uniforms who were laughing. I didnt have a camera on me but I thought what a great shot it would have made. But if anyone saw me taking a photo, covertly or otherwise, I think would spell trouble. What a shame.

--
Have a shooting great day,
Mario
http://www.dpreview.com/galleries/8024660727/albums
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mario5200/
Click to expand...
If I see people I would like to shoot, I always ask and almost all are happy to oblige. I hand them my card and invite them to view my images..it's a good comfort level for them.
Click to expand...
before or after the picture taken? (i think before is more natural) and after that asked them if you have delete or not ...

(my wife alway's want to know when i make/take a picture so she can "look nice and pretty" and those are looking always a bit forced, so i shoot first and ask/say to take a picture later and shoot a other one after that, so i can always claim that the first one is the second one... ;-) )

 
Last edited:
cainn24 said:
lightgrabber said:
I guess the question is, who gets to decide it is art?
Click to expand...
Everyone. No-one.

http://mentalfloss.com/article/57501/27-responses-question-what-art
cainn24 said:
And another one for you. Is art in the finished product, or in the intention?
Click to expand...
Accidental art?
Accidental art?

(and an unavoidable pun)

But what if this guy loaded up a new truck with paint everyday and crashed on purpose until things came out "just right"?
Click to expand...
Well that case the guy will definitely loaded with money before he started this way of making art....... hoping it sell good otherwise lots of fun but ending up poor... :-D
 
cainn24 said:
lightgrabber said:
I guess the question is, who gets to decide it is art?
Click to expand...
Everyone. No-one.

http://mentalfloss.com/article/57501/27-responses-question-what-art
cainn24 said:
And another one for you. Is art in the finished product, or in the intention?
Click to expand...
Accidental art?
Accidental art?

(and an unavoidable pun)

But what if this guy loaded up a new truck with paint everyday and crashed on purpose until things came out "just right"?
Click to expand...
Great snap

Not art but good photo journalism

Rags
 
spike29 said:
lightgrabber said:
I guess the question is, who gets to decide it is art?
Click to expand...
The people with money i think, a photo is a product to enjoy to day and art is a product for investment to sell later for more money.
Click to expand...
Not really... I have been purchasing art and enjoying it for a long time. Very little art has resale value. Artist's find it difficult to earn a living... very difficult..

Photographer's used to have a better chance
spike29 said:
spike29 said:
And another one for you. Is art in the finished product, or in the intention?
Click to expand...
If the artist is finished with it and sells it, it is finished...... even when it is just a block of concrete with a crack in it. ;-)

I googled "street photography" images and 70% is black and white so, one of the factors is "shoot black and white" or "edit it to black and white".
Click to expand...
That is the traditional form and many curators like it.

However, that is changing; digital photography is making inroads
spike29 said:
other factors are people in it who often not aware of the camera, buildings and streets.
Click to expand...
Candid street shots are far better than posed... Posed street shots are portraits.

Rags
 
'Street photography', or 'street' if you have designer stubble, is a pretentious and artificial category - it includes any old snapshots or pictures of people you don't know in a public place. Score higher for funny angles and technical imperfections. Any formality of composition is discouraged. Credibility is enhanced by b/w and ritual nods to Cartier Bresson. Poverty, deprivation and the wrinkled faces of the old score bonus points. Double bonus in third-world countries.
 
timo said:
'Street photography', or 'street' if you have designer stubble, is a pretentious and artificial category - it includes any old snapshots or pictures of people you don't know in a public place. Score higher for funny angles and technical imperfections. Any formality of composition is discouraged. Credibility is enhanced by b/w and ritual nods to Cartier Bresson. Poverty, deprivation and the wrinkled faces of the old score bonus points. Double bonus in third-world countries.

--
Tim
Click to expand...
Well there you have it...

A comment from someone who lacks the appreciation and nuance of urban photography in a compact camera forum

Here are some wrinkled faces in a third world country with balanced composition.. I think I get bonus points...

RAG_1835.NEF-X3.jpg




Maybe I get dinged for color here...



i-qndCvDn-XL.jpg




RAG_1055.NEF-X3.jpg


Here is a Havana shot taken a few years ago...

DSC_3170-X3.jpg


Hey man.... get some taste....

Rags
 
ragspix said:
timo said:
'Street photography', or 'street' if you have designer stubble, is a pretentious and artificial category - it includes any old snapshots or pictures of people you don't know in a public place. Score higher for funny angles and technical imperfections. Any formality of composition is discouraged. Credibility is enhanced by b/w and ritual nods to Cartier Bresson. Poverty, deprivation and the wrinkled faces of the old score bonus points. Double bonus in third-world countries.

--
Tim
Click to expand...
Well there you have it...

A comment from someone who lacks the appreciation and nuance of urban photography in a compact camera forum

Here are some wrinkled faces in a third world country with balanced composition.. I think I get bonus points...

RAG_1835.NEF-X3.jpg


Maybe I get dinged for color here...

i-qndCvDn-XL.jpg


RAG_1055.NEF-X3.jpg


Here is a Havana shot taken a few years ago...

DSC_3170-X3.jpg


Hey man.... get some taste....

Rags
Click to expand...
:) It's the categorisation I dislike, not the photos.

--
Tim
 
timo said:
ragspix said:
timo said:
'Street photography', or 'street' if you have designer stubble, is a pretentious and artificial category - it includes any old snapshots or pictures of people you don't know in a public place. Score higher for funny angles and technical imperfections. Any formality of composition is discouraged. Credibility is enhanced by b/w and ritual nods to Cartier Bresson. Poverty, deprivation and the wrinkled faces of the old score bonus points. Double bonus in third-world countries.

--
Tim
Click to expand...
Well there you have it...

A comment from someone who lacks the appreciation and nuance of urban photography in a compact camera forum

Here are some wrinkled faces in a third world country with balanced composition.. I think I get bonus points...

RAG_1835.NEF-X3.jpg


Maybe I get dinged for color here...

i-qndCvDn-XL.jpg


RAG_1055.NEF-X3.jpg


Here is a Havana shot taken a few years ago...

DSC_3170-X3.jpg


Hey man.... get some taste....

Rags
Click to expand...
:) It's the categorisation I dislike, not the photos.

--
Tim
Click to expand...
Fair enough...

But maybe the categories were developed to serve how a photog earns a living.. eg: wedding photographer, sports photographer, portrait photographer, etc

Maybe, street came from photojournalists, who took street shots of interesting things

I don't mind the categories as much as the snapshots of urban events without an interesting aspect to engage a viewer

I'm not suggesting snapshots are bad and every shot should be artful craft... it's really what the photog wants to accomplish

IMO

Rags
 
ragspix said:
timo said:
ragspix said:
timo said:
'Street photography', or 'street' if you have designer stubble, is a pretentious and artificial category - it includes any old snapshots or pictures of people you don't know in a public place. Score higher for funny angles and technical imperfections. Any formality of composition is discouraged. Credibility is enhanced by b/w and ritual nods to Cartier Bresson. Poverty, deprivation and the wrinkled faces of the old score bonus points. Double bonus in third-world countries.

--
Tim
Click to expand...
Well there you have it...

A comment from someone who lacks the appreciation and nuance of urban photography in a compact camera forum

Here are some wrinkled faces in a third world country with balanced composition.. I think I get bonus points...

RAG_1835.NEF-X3.jpg


Maybe I get dinged for color here...

i-qndCvDn-XL.jpg


RAG_1055.NEF-X3.jpg


Here is a Havana shot taken a few years ago...

DSC_3170-X3.jpg


Hey man.... get some taste....

Rags
Click to expand...
:) It's the categorisation I dislike, not the photos.

--
Tim
Click to expand...
Fair enough...

But maybe the categories were developed to serve how a photog earns a living.. eg: wedding photographer, sports photographer, portrait photographer, etc

Maybe, street came from photojournalists, who took street shots of interesting things

I don't mind the categories as much as the snapshots of urban events without an interesting aspect to engage a viewer

I'm not suggesting snapshots are bad and every shot should be artful craft... it's really what the photog wants to accomplish

IMO

Rags
Click to expand...
Unfortunately categories can legitimise sloppy or meaningless photographs. Better to avoid categories and associated pretensions? I prefer to have a photograph of my aunt rather than a portrait of my aunt.

--
Tim
 
timo said:
ragspix said:
timo said:
ragspix said:
timo said:
'Street photography', or 'street' if you have designer stubble, is a pretentious and artificial category - it includes any old snapshots or pictures of people you don't know in a public place. Score higher for funny angles and technical imperfections. Any formality of composition is discouraged. Credibility is enhanced by b/w and ritual nods to Cartier Bresson. Poverty, deprivation and the wrinkled faces of the old score bonus points. Double bonus in third-world countries.

--
Tim
Click to expand...
Well there you have it...

A comment from someone who lacks the appreciation and nuance of urban photography in a compact camera forum

Here are some wrinkled faces in a third world country with balanced composition.. I think I get bonus points...

RAG_1835.NEF-X3.jpg


Maybe I get dinged for color here...

i-qndCvDn-XL.jpg


RAG_1055.NEF-X3.jpg


Here is a Havana shot taken a few years ago...

DSC_3170-X3.jpg


Hey man.... get some taste....

Rags
Click to expand...
:) It's the categorisation I dislike, not the photos.

--
Tim
Click to expand...
Fair enough...

But maybe the categories were developed to serve how a photog earns a living.. eg: wedding photographer, sports photographer, portrait photographer, etc

Maybe, street came from photojournalists, who took street shots of interesting things

I don't mind the categories as much as the snapshots of urban events without an interesting aspect to engage a viewer

I'm not suggesting snapshots are bad and every shot should be artful craft... it's really what the photog wants to accomplish

IMO

Rags
Click to expand...
Unfortunately categories can legitimise sloppy or meaningless photographs. Better to avoid categories and associated pretensions? I prefer to have a photograph of my aunt rather than a portrait of my aunt.

--
Tim
Click to expand...
Lots of ramblings. Do post some of your images so we can decipher what you are trying to say.
 
I think what I meant by the second question is, does someone have to be intentionally trying to create 'art' for the result to be considered art.

If I'm checking camera settings, and accidentally hit the shutter release, and capture a picture of a couple on the street having an argument, or picking someone's pocket or...whatever... that turns out to be a rather striking shot, is that art? Or is it just an accidental capture that turned out well. Does there have to be an intention to create something for it to be art?
 
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