Street Photography? / Street Portrait?
Personally, I think it's a shame that this type of photo is so utterly oversaturated by "street photographers" that point their DSLRs at every single person that crosses their path, despite having no discernible quality whatsoever, that it has become completely irrelevant. I think it's a shame because it forms the basics of street photography and if done well can be pleasing and interesting on many levels.
One of the things I like about street photography is the challenge to portray the ordinary in an extraordinary way. We can't all be compositional masters, but taking the same photo over and over with a telephoto lens of random people walking towards you from the waist up surely can't be in any way fulfilling? It's not even trying.
Nor can it be fulfilling the empty comments that ensue. When the 'depth of field', 'subject separation', 'nice tones', 'good expression' gratuitous comments are exhausted it then follows to comment only on the subjects attributes, because the actual photo has no merit in its own right. It's not a considered photo that has been taken for any reason, it's random thoughtless snapping.
I have read the opinions of a few of these 'random-people-snappers' and they say how shocking it is, the style of Bruce Gilden and (recently highlighted) Tatsuo Suzuki and how they would only ever treat their subjects with respect etc. yet in their bodies of snaps they have hundreds (from their multiple thousands of almost identical captures) of images of disgruntled people staring into the lens angrily and obviously questioning why they are being photographed. I question it also and wonder what purpose these snaps could ever serve.
Some of these 'snappers' even teach street photography! I've always wondered what the conversation / lesson would go like...
Student: What should I do first?
Master Snapper: Buy an expensive camera.
Student: What about the settings?
Master Snapper: Auto.
Student: Now what?
Master Snapper: Point the camera at a person.
Student: Then?
Master Snapper: Press the shutter button.
Student: What about the composition?
Master Snapper: That is the composition.
Anyway, it's just an opinion. It's all subjective, right?
Street Photography? / Street Portrait?
Personally, I think it's a shame that this type of photo is so utterly oversaturated by "street photographers" that point their DSLRs at every single person that crosses their path, despite having no discernible quality whatsoever, that it has become completely irrelevant. I think it's a shame because it forms the basics of street photography and if done well can be pleasing and interesting on many levels.
One of the things I like about street photography is the challenge to portray the ordinary in an extraordinary way. We can't all be compositional masters, but taking the same photo over and over with a telephoto lens of random people walking towards you from the waist up surely can't be in any way fulfilling? It's not even trying.
Nor can it be fulfilling the empty comments that ensue. When the 'depth of field', 'subject separation', 'nice tones', 'good expression' gratuitous comments are exhausted it then follows to comment only on the subjects attributes, because the actual photo has no merit in its own right. It's not a considered photo that has been taken for any reason, it's random thoughtless snapping.
I have read the opinions of a few of these 'random-people-snappers' and they say how shocking it is, the style of Bruce Gilden and (recently highlighted) Tatsuo Suzuki and how they would only ever treat their subjects with respect etc. yet in their bodies of snaps they have hundreds (from their multiple thousands of almost identical captures) of images of disgruntled people staring into the lens angrily and obviously questioning why they are being photographed. I question it also and wonder what purpose these snaps could ever serve.
Some of these 'snappers' even teach street photography! I've always wondered what the conversation / lesson would go like...
Student: What should I do first?
Master Snapper: Buy an expensive camera.
Student: What about the settings?
Master Snapper: Auto.
Student: Now what?
Master Snapper: Point the camera at a person.
Student: Then?
Master Snapper: Press the shutter button.
Student: What about the composition?
Master Snapper: That is the composition.
Anyway, it's just an opinion. It's all subjective, right?