Street photography?

[michabo]

Hey all,

I am trying to broaden my phography beyond landscape and some macro/still life. The weather is crumby and won't let up until March and I want an excuse to get out and shoot, so I figured I'd try my hand at street photography.

Today was my first day and got some pics I'm happy with. Not the best, but good for first day.

Does anyone here do much street photography? Have you ever had any problems with safety? What do you think of the experience?

I rather enjoyed it, and I'm going to try to find some books on it, to see if I can see what other people have come up with. In the meantime, here are a few pictures.

If you've got any of your own, please share.

 

[Piano Player]

A "safe" place to start street photography is to go to parades and special events. Nobody seems to mind having their picture taken on St. Patricks day, or similar event.

I really like the first one you took. The empty space in the photograph emphasizes the loneliness of the subject.

 

[michabo]

I would like to be able to shoot at any time of the year, even if there aren't parades. I'm not really worried about most people getting hostile if I take their picture. If they do, and a friendly wave doesn't placate them, then I'll definately stop. I'm more thinking about walking alone down strange streets with an expensive camera where there are a lot of disturbing people around me. It's a sort of problem: the places with a lot of interesting people also have a lot of possibly dangerous people.

 

[fisherman2]

first i must say all the pictures were very good, #1 was my favorite, #2 would have been better with out the images on the wall, and#3 i did not like the man walking by, but just my opinion.Everyone has an eye for what they like, i like your subjects, and i like the black and white, keep it up. I like your subject matter, i my self like to take pictures some what like yours of the homeless or those down on their luck, it really shows life, real life. You did an excellent job., Keep posting, i would like to see more...Good Job.

 

[michabo]

#2 would have been better with out the images on the wall, and#3 i did not like the man walking by

Interesting, thanks. I need to get a bit more distance as I'm somewhat attached to my images right after shooting, but I will give them some thought.

I had about three pictures of the crew in the doorway, and I chose the one with the guy walking by, but I think I see your point. We don't need to see people looking at them, it just clutters. Thanks.

 

[michabo]

Fisherman,

Is this any better?

 

[Ouch]

I like that one better, and I agree, the 1st one is my favorite as well!

 

[Piano Player]

I would like to be able to shoot at any time of the year, even if there aren't parades. I'm not really worried about most people getting hostile if I take their picture. If they do, and a friendly wave doesn't placate them, then I'll definately stop. I'm more thinking about walking alone down strange streets with an expensive camera where there are a lot of disturbing people around me. It's a sort of problem: the places with a lot of interesting people also have a lot of possibly dangerous people.

Some photography is very risky. I once read a book (I think it was called "The Bang-Bang Club") about phtographers during the South African civil wars. Imagine grabbing your camera and rushing to an ongoing shooting incident! These phtographers took extreme risks for their news phtography. Some were killed.

I remember a street photographer suggesting an old Leica M3 as a camera. The small rangefinder takes excellent photographs, and in a well used state, doesn't look as valuable as a typical SLR. Its legendary quiet shuttter also helps you blend in a little bit. If you don't want to go to the expense of an old Leica, there are other rangefinders available.

I cannot suggest you go into dangerous situations for the sake of your photography. Is the end result worth the risk? Only you can answer that question. For all our sakes, please use common sense.

 

[fisherman2]

Yes, i like it now, with out the fellow walking by, you have a good eye, keep it up , really, really good for your first time out. thanks for posting...

 

[BlackRain]

the first is really good! i love street photography.

 

[eviltangerine]

yea, I'm going to have to agree with everybody, really like the first one, and I think your additional (fourth?) one is better than the third...we can see more of what they're doing..although it's still difficult to ascertain (It appears they're smoking something, with the black and white it seems to drift to the illicit, but I don't like to speculate )

in contrast to fisherman, I really like the images on the wall, their contrast is awesome, and the person there gives it life. Unfortunately it's a little dark/lacking additional contrast (for instance, if that wall was textured, it'd be nice to be able to see that texture, or the slats in a fence (should it be a fence) etc), but I like the signs in the back

Overall? I dig it.

 

[traingosorry]

right on! street shots, good stuff

You know... I seem to be alone on this one, but the thrid shot is my fave of the three ( four incl.revised photo.) and I happen to like the man walking past, because whether this was deliberate on your part or not, it represents us looking in on something that isn't familiar in our own lives and something we simply cannot ignore(homelessness, drugs, street community), whether we would like to or not. And he is obviously on his way somewhere which adds to the 'street' part of the shot.
So even if this was intentional or not, I quite like it.

 

[michabo]

and I happen to like the man walking past, because whether this was deliberate on your part or not, it represents us looking in on something that isn't familiar in our own lives and something we simply cannot ignore(homelessness, drugs, street community)

Initially, that's exactly what I liked. A sort of voyeurism, of someone insulated and distant from them just walking past but staring. I'm thinking that there are much better ways to convey that. The next time I go out (I'm working from another city right now) I'll see if I can't take that shot, but these are a bit catch-as-catch-can

Thanks for your comments, you're very kind.

 

[philemon4_7]

Wow you all make me happy. i dont feel like such a dork for taking random pictures!


http://tinypic.com/view.html?pic=1j11kl

http://tinypic.com/view.html?pic=1j11ra

http://tinypic.com/view.html?pic=1j127a

http://tinypic.com/view.html?pic=1j12fk

http://tinypic.com/view.html?pic=1j140j

http://tinypic.com/view.html?pic=1j14p5

http://tinypic.com/view.html?pic=1j1578

i hope you like em! some of um dont have people in em though :S none of them are extremely wonderful pictures, but just for fun.

 

[Ouch]

I like that picture of the tree that you took in the side-mirror. It frames the tree nicely. Grood stuff!!

 

[philemon4_7]

thank you <>))< GB

 

[MQTA]

cool pics

 

[mrcrow]

great atmosphere in the streets...look what lartigue did in his day with a rangefinder 35mm and some discrete methods

heres my street shot in valette on the island of malta

 

[holdencaufield]

good work .

 

[philemon4_7]

today with my close friend amy. shes my 'model'. please dont use unless you ask. other wise go ahead Gb <>))<