To be more specific as time passed I’ve noticed a shift in the way I approach street photography, in the earlier days I’d be more open to photograph people on the streets and while I still do, I’ve adjusted to taking photos from more of a distance or ideally from angles where their faces aren’t directly in the frame. Feels a bit weird at times because you’d think that as you shoot more you get comfortable with these scenarios. Maybe it’s a form of growth to respect peoples personal space, a bit more but I also just prefer that look. I don’t think there is a right or wrong way to handle street photography but curious to hear what others have experienced over time.
Yes. It is about environment telling story about people not the other way around.
I don’t think my approach has changed too much over time, I’ve probably always been this way. But for me, the scene/frame is the most important thing. If there’s a person in it somewhere, that’s cool but that’s not what I’m seeking out. In other words, I’m not specifically looking for people. But I’m not running away from them either. I’m just looking for interesting compositions, whatever that involves.
I’m not specifically looking for people. But I’m not running away from them either. I’m just looking for interesting compositions, whatever that involves.
I try to keep that mindset too. But there’s definitely a division between people weirded out that you’re taking their picture, and others who don’t mind and do a cheesy pose.
Random aside - I feel like community events are open game for candid compositions.
Not if I can help it - for the most part I think people are far more interesting than static objects or settings.
My journey has been very similar to yours.
I just don’t feel comfortable anymore taking photos where you can clearly identify the person.
IMO it’s more challenging to take a compelling photo this way anyway so I feel like it’s making me a better photographer
So weird. I took a break from photography (not that I was ever any good) after my daughter was born, but going back, I realised I no longer feel comfortable taking pictures of people without consent. Previously, I was all for taking photos of people as long as they were in a public space.
I often wonder if this shift in my thinking is due to becoming a dad or if it’s just me getting older.
I haven’t changed, but I have always preferred taking photos where you can’t identify people. Like this:
This seems like a good approach to me. I’ve largely stopped including strangers in my photos, but when I do they’re usually unrecognizable, and if there’s a chance they could be recognized, I make sure it’s not a situation that could hurt their dignity at all
Yeah, that’s cool, I always loved Moriyama for doing similar in a much more violent and grungy way. That’s how you really capture a scene
Yo ! That’s Bobby !
IMO it’s not good street unless you’re up close and personal. Ideally shot with a 24mm to 35mm full frame equivalent.
I wouldn’t go that far but I will say, to me street photography is as much about the people as it is the street, architectural photography is fun but you can decide to show up at good light, with people, to me, it’s one of the purer distillations of photography: capturing a specific moment in time that due to every circumstance cannot happen again.
That’s not even to mention the fact that people are just interesting.
street photography is as much about the people as it is the street
Huh? Street photography, while poorly named, has nothing to do with streets. It can be done in malls, on trains, on hiking trails, and a million other places with no streets.
Yes of course, I just meant it’s just as much the people as where those people are, so yeah it doesnt have to be a street, but people understand ‘Street Photography’ generally more than having to explain “Photography in any public place”, I wasnt trying to infer that it had to be a street
You’re correct. Which means you’ll be heavily downvoted in this sub. More proof that the idea of being a street photographer is something a lot of people here love, but when it comes to actually doing it they’d rather move the goalposts than do the work.
/r/gatekeeping
I prefer to shoot at a distance and when I’m traveling where I’m just seen as a tourist taking in the sites. Eg: https://flic.kr/p/2p8NTpb and https://flic.kr/p/2p8V6aC
I call myself a street photographer and I rarely take photos of people and more streetscapes. I just love taking shot of empty places and found the beauty of the objects and compositions in the shots.
My approach changed wildly when I moved from the US to Germany when it became apparent how different the culture is about privacy rights in public spaces. Add that my German is spotty at best, so I can’t easily explain/defend what and why I am doing what I am doing. I still take street photos, sure, but I am hyper aware of making sure that the people remain anonymous, if there even are people present. Also, my portrait work got even more intimate and precious - sometimes I wait months before I ever make a photo of the person I want to document.
This is how I’ve always approached it. I don’t like showing faces. I think it takes away from the photo. The mystery of anonymous figures is way more interesting as a composition tool imo. Also a respect thing for me too. Street photographers like Bruce Gilden blow my f***ing mind with how obnoxious and inconsiderate they are.
I’m in the exact same boat. I’ve become more aware of the ways photography exploits people and more hesitant to participate in the exploitation. Taking photos without regards for the subject’s feelings seems a lot less problematic in a world where cameras were rarer and you had to be edited and curated in order for those photos to be seen. Now anyone can use anyone else for a few likes. Feels cheap to me.
In talking to people about this, I’ve learned that as a general rule the people most strongly opposed to being used in this way are also often those most marginalized and powerless in society. Not always, not universally, but it happens. Personally, I want to do my best to not punch down on people who are marginalized.
In addition, the value of street photos in a world where there are half a dozen cameras on every corner seems increasingly dubious to me. Too many moments, not enough composing.
All that said, I’ll defend in-your-face street photographers and their right to do what they do until you pry my overpriced Sony from my cold, dead hands. The few who do it well and use it to comment on the world in a unique way will continue to impress and inspire me. The value of street photography in documenting and commenting on the world over the last century plus is incredible undeniable - so my thoughts on its current power waning may be way out of line. But it’s no longer my goal, and it’s rare I find photos of strangers interesting these days.
yes, same
Yep!
I tried to do up close street photography but 1) I never liked being that up close, and 2) human subjects are boring to me. This eventually led to explore urban photography, which I love more.
Perhaps give urban photography a try. The way I see it, it’s exploring the living legacy of people, where the urban landscape is the subject. Not the people. Shifting to having people becoming a passing element has made me enjoy photography a lot more since I’m no longer concerned about getting in people’s faces and spaces.
You’re limiting yourself. For me street photographers are capturing life so everyone can look back in time later. It’s not about the person in the photo, it’s about how people live today and capturing it.
I haven’t had any issues and in my experience most people don’t mind or even notice, some ask for a street portrait because photographers take good photos.
seems like there is a distinction between like, scenic street photography (capturing the mood of a city and focused on overall enviroments) and candid street photography (much more focused on the individuals and their life situation). I made up these categories but thats two different ways people tend to choose.
