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First Street Photos
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hey, these are my very first street photography photos, dont know exactly whats entailed with it, but have a look and give me some C&C and also some help and ideas.
Hi Sandra.
As someone that knows nothing about street photography, I couldn’t exactly advise on what you should / shouldn’t do, but I feel from looking at these, that there is too much going on, without a particular point of interest. That said, I like the one of the gent looking at the pigeon as the subject(s) are clear to the viewer.My opinions for what they’re worth:-
#5 (guy on the bench with coffee cup & pigeon) is the strongest. There is a story here.
#1 is OK. I can see It is a very tight crop of #2. Might have been better if the woman in the foreground had walked completely out of frame so you could focus on the woman behind.
#4 has some good elements – the people in the foreground walking in step. But the background is very cluttered. (Of course there is nothing you can do about that – such is the challenge in street photography).
In #2, #3, #6 & # 8 I don’t see anything I am supposed to be looking at.
But these are a good effort for your first foray into street photography.
SandraMcPhotography wrote:
…and also some help and ideas.
I’m not sure I can give any advice only to look at other street photographers. Look for books by Gary Winogrand, Robert Frank, Henri Cartier Bresson.
Check out these links for some more contemporary examples.
http://www.in-public.com/
http://www.seconds2real.com/
http://streetreverbmagazine.com/I guess the only real way to get better is to practice more.
Street photography is probably the hardest photography you can do as it does require getting quite close to subjects and being fast, but also about looking for interesting light, shadows etc… The more confident you become, the better your street photographs will become. If you’re awkward or look nervous, people will smell it and you just wont get the shots you want. But this comes with practice and time. But for a first timer you’ve done well, but again follow Dave’s links and this will give you more idea’s.
Also check this out, Joel Meyerowitz..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Qjym5uliDw” onclick=”window.open(this.href);return false;dude with pigeon is the only one that works for me it’s a nice shot, the others seemed to be a little confused as there’s no real focal point to draw the eye, as for tips I’d say loose the zoom lens, loose the wide angle, strap on a 50mm and get stuck in, learn to see and react to whats happening around you fast, a good idea is to pick one spot, be it a street corner or a particular bench in a park or something and wait for the right shot to come to you, I usually walk around in circles in the same part of Dublin for 2 hours or so waiting for something to catch my eye, I don’t know if it’s a problem you have but learn to be bold as brass when taking street shots as you’ll definitely get some people giving you hassle for taking there picture. and keep shooting, if shooting people becomes a problem a big part of street is to shoot the urban environment, google the following names some already mentioned
Robert Frank, Henri Cartier Bresson, Wolfgang Suschitzky, Joel Meyerowitz and a personnel hero weegee. also check out a blog called the thesartorialist if you have any interest in street fashion.It’s nerve wracking stuff! i’m not sure I enjoy it, but it’s worth pushing yourself. Keep it up!
Here is a guy who I admire in this type of work:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewig/” onclick=”window.open(this.href);return false;
Merv.
Perhaps you could crop the 4th to show teh 3 people line abreast – looking very purposeful as they walk through teh station (?).
Dermot1 wrote:
d also check out a blog called the thesartorialist if you have any interest in street fashion.
Street fashion Dermot? I gotta check that out when I get drunk later.
As for this post – nice to see newbies to street, welcome. These don’t really work though, but this genre is damn difficult. Again, I agree with most of the suggetions above. General street rules are little no cropping, zoom lenses are right out (never go above 50mm), get close, look for the unusual and fill the frame with it, be brave, be smart, keep your kit minimal and small and comfortable, and let the street see you. And most importantly, study the masters, all listed above.
Hi Steve
I must respectfully disagree, I see no reason to keep below 50mm.
A longer lens, enable you to be non intrusive, which must be the main goal.
I think there is two ways to go about it, small and light and right in the action or a bit longer and staying in the background.See the first point here for an example: http://blog.epicedits.com/2009/04/29/11-tips-for-candid-street-photography/” onclick=”window.open(this.href);return false;
The purist will still do this with a range-finder and a 35mm set at hyper-focus.
But I do not see that using a tele-zoom takes you out of this category.Just my view.
Kjetil
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