Amen Street

[mknittle]

I could see the first on hanging on a wall. It has a what's happening when you are not there feel to it. If that makes sense.

[purplehaze]

Sam, I'm thinking you have a very refined definition of "street" photography. I think I see the difference in the two main images, but if ever you feel like explaining why the second is not street, I'd be interested. I think your detail of the tourists is terrific, and for me it has great structure. The variety and contrasts are balanced by a wonderful symmetry (four nicely angled rows, dark shirted individuals between two light shirted ones, three hatted men seated between people without hats, a lovely up and down curve defined by the heads in the middle etc.) It is delightful.

[IzzieK]

This is how I think and understand it (for now) -- when you shoot an image in the street, from the street, it is street photography, when one shoot it from an event, even though some things spilled to the street, it is an event photography. Someone please correct me if I am wrong here. I am not good at thinking quick on my feet like Jack (Flashjack) and/or Matt so I do not think I can be a street photographer -- yet. I am still confused with the terminology at some places of the two phrase.

[Sam W]

Sam, I'm thinking you have a very refined definition of "street" photography. I think I see the difference in the two main images, but if ever you feel like explaining why the second is not street, I'd be interested. I think your detail of the tourists is terrific, and for me it has great structure. The variety and contrasts are balanced by a wonderful symmetry (four nicely angled rows, dark shirted individuals between two light shirted ones, three hatted men seated between people without hats, a lovely up and down curve defined by the heads in the middle etc.) It is delightful.

Hi Janis, regarding the differences, for me it has to do with the different approach that I have already elaborated. I am not suggesting this approach is unique to street or required by everyone but was different for me. Where does one draw the line between what is and what is not street? It is easy to find examples of what is and what is not but to draw a clear line that separate the marginal candidates is something I have trouble articulating. For me, the second photo crosses my threshold for what is not street. I would not agree that I have very refined or narrow minded definition but perhaps an alternative view or perspective that reflects what I consider to be street. Would you consider this beautiful photo street photography? https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7022/...9089d276_o.jpg If so, then your threshold is wider than mine and good for you.

I am glad you liked the shot of the tourist shot. I hope you saw the eye of the little boy. Thank you for all your kind comments and thoughts.

[purplehaze]

Yes, a number of the inherent structural elements serve to lead the eye to the little boy.

By "refined", I simply meant that you have evidently given a lot of thought to what makes an image "street", which, until now, I have not. I would agree with you that the image you pointed to does not qualify, but I can't articulate why, and so I was hoping you would do the heavy lifting for me.

As far as technique goes, I am unclear as to what you did differently with the first image. The reason why I feel my image failed is because, by the time I squeezed the shutter, the walker had walked too far into the scene to make what would have been for me a perfect composition. I don't know, but guess, that at least some of the great street photographers anticipate and frame the scene before it occurs.

I keep thinking about you saying you wanted to show the viewer everything, the whole scene. I totally identify with that, that is my impulse, too, but that is the exact thing I have begun to question and I think Neville understands the core of what I was saying. I actually like that that are multiple scenes in this image; that is part of the reality and charm of the street. The thing is, that I think the story is the street life (activity), not the architecture, and the window reflections in the left part of the frame distract me from the people on the left. So, if this were mine, I think I would in my processing try to de-emphasize the reflections slightly, not lose them, because they are interesting for the eye to explore, but just understate them somewhat as they are not the main event. I hesitated being so explicit because I honestly don't know whether it would result in a gain or a loss. I am even less sophisticated in the processing department than I am in the shooting. I tend to be fairly heavy-handed when it comes to processing, but am starting to see how very subtle manipulations can make a big difference.

Anyhow, thanks for your patience. Didn't mean to pick on you, it's just that your image came along at a time when I am criticizing my own work along these lines.

[flashback]

This is how I think and understand it (for now) -- when you shoot an image in the street, from the street, it is street photography, when one shoot it from an event, even though some things spilled to the street, it is an event photography. Someone please correct me if I am wrong here. I am not good at thinking quick on my feet like Jack (Flashjack) and/or Matt so I do not think I can be a street photographer -- yet. I am still confused with the terminology at some places of the two phrase.

Izzie, don't worry about terminology, especially from those self-professed *experts*. If you are outside, in public space and taking photos of people just doing their thing, that's pretty much street photography. If you want to put a finer point on it then, to me anyway, photos that tell a story or asks a question of the viewer, that to me more clearly becomes street photography. A close up photo of someone eating is just that, a photo of someone eating. On the other hand, a photo of someone eating while besides or behind them a riot, fire, argument, UFO landing, person biting a dog, that would be a good street photo. But as I discovered in another post there will be those that not just disagree, but disagree disagreeably. Bottom line, go, do, have FUN!