C&C my street shooting please

[ristretto]

The 'third on the left' in my crop contains three people. In yours it contains two people.

I'm not getting into an argument about who's crop is better, I posted to explain my decision process.

There's no argument. We have an assertion from you, and two cropped pictures to validate/invalidate that assertion.

 

[chuasam]

Here is a good read
http://****myphotoprofsays.tumblr.com
Specifically
"You did NOT photograph a homeless person.
Didn’t I say no bums? This is someone who does not seem to share your white supremacist views. They are people YOU have power over and I told you not to photograph them. And you were a coward about this shot. You think you’re going to get away with that?

Give him a bell, just for being a prick.

If you’re interested in photographing people of color or people who live out on the street then you’re going to have to pay the price to tell us something about them. GET IN THEIR FACE. Show us that you’re moved. GET IN THEIR FACE. Show us their face. "

 

[The_Traveler]

I agree with Lew for two reasons.

1. He is right.

2. He bought me lunch.

Money well spent.

Also gonna agree with Lew. And he didn't even buy me lunch.

Runnah was here and he was crying because if he paid his children wouldn't be able to have shows for the winter, so I really had no choice.:violin:

 

[sashbar]

You do not need a big pair of brass balls to shoot people from close range. It Is a myth. I do it all the time. And I do not have brass balls.

 

[sashbar]

I didn't mean that you have to be in someone's face a la Bruce Gilden. Just that you have to get in there and be able to mix it up elbow to elbow. It's all subjective, of course...but to me, that's the difference between "meh" street photography and good street photography: distance. I agree that some scenes are contextual, but there are a lot of street togs who just take photos of people looking at fruit at the market or crossing the street. Be close enough that they make eye contact with you, and 9 times out of 10, it will be a better photo.


View attachment 81896

I wonder if the photo is supposed to be an example of "close enough" ? Because in my book it is far from it.

 

[keyseddie]

Sashbar, I like your "feathers."
After absorbing all the differing comments, both here and by following some of the links provided, I apparently titled the thread incorrectly. "Street photography" is much more involved than I thought and I applaud the efforts of those who pursue it. I see that it's not for me. I'm all done trying to change society, minds, or illustrating sadness or pain. I surely see the value of shooters like Alex Webb and marvel at his abilities.
I have been quite successful conveying positive emotion and appreciation though the kind of artwork I have produced since about the turn of the century. I'm just a pretty picture kinda guy, I suppose, and I am fascinated by the history of the European countries that give birth to much of my work. I do have a "slice of life" sector of my work that includes people and is patterned after the American artist Norman Rockwell, both visually and in content. I have three book projects in 2015 and need about 10-15% to illustrate daily life. An example below. The Il Campo is one of the most visited piazzas in Europe. This is the fountain area. The concept was to show each person doing something, being lost in thought, selfies, shooting, chimping, whatever. I have even moved a few prints of this, which surprised me.

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So, I wish to thank all who offered their opinions and critique. Now, can I delete my original shi**y images?

 

[sashbar]

Oh, well, to deter you from street photography was most certaily not my aim But I like the fact that you aim high and have high standards for your own work. With the above Il Campo being a perfectly good street shot, I hope you are not yet entirely lost to street shooters community. Good luck with your projects.
And thanks for "Feathers".

Yes, and if I judged my photos on Alex Webb I would have smashed my camera with a hammer today.

And street photography is not always about social issues, sadness and pain. That would be extremely boring. Very often people think that I shot a scene because there was some social context etc, whereas in fact I could not care less and just like the colors and lines and composition. With "Feathers" there is, of course a lot of sadness and even pain if you start thinking about it. But you can always shift your focus and replace sadnees with irony. Same person here, but a different mood and even some hint at humor. (But I a weaker shot, of course)

 

[chuasam]

The il campo shot is awesome. I like it.

 

[The_Traveler]

After absorbing all the differing comments, both here and by following some of the links provided, I apparently titled the thread incorrectly. "Street photography" is much more involved than I thought and I applaud the efforts of those who pursue it.

It's nice that you tried but it is definitely not for everyone.

 

[W.Y.Photo]

Here is a good read
http://****myphotoprofsays.tumblr.com
Specifically
"You did NOT photograph a homeless person.
Didn’t I say no bums? This is someone who does not seem to share your white supremacist views. They are people YOU have power over and I told you not to photograph them. And you were a coward about this shot. You think you’re going to get away with that?

Give him a bell, just for being a prick.

If you’re interested in photographing people of color or people who live out on the street then you’re going to have to pay the price to tell us something about them. GET IN THEIR FACE. Show us that you’re moved. GET IN THEIR FACE. Show us their face. "

DUDE, I know the person who made that site!! And I had the professor for Photojournalism!! lmao

Sashbar, I like your "feathers."
After absorbing all the differing comments, both here and by following some of the links provided, I apparently titled the thread incorrectly. "Street photography" is much more involved than I thought and I applaud the efforts of those who pursue it. I see that it's not for me. I'm all done trying to change society, minds, or illustrating sadness or pain. I surely see the value of shooters like Alex Webb and marvel at his abilities.
I have been quite successful conveying positive emotion and appreciation though the kind of artwork I have produced since about the turn of the century. I'm just a pretty picture kinda guy, I suppose, and I am fascinated by the history of the European countries that give birth to much of my work. I do have a "slice of life" sector of my work that includes people and is patterned after the American artist Norman Rockwell, both visually and in content. I have three book projects in 2015 and need about 10-15% to illustrate daily life. An example below. The Il Campo is one of the most visited piazzas in Europe. This is the fountain area. The concept was to show each person doing something, being lost in thought, selfies, shooting, chimping, whatever. I have even moved a few prints of this, which surprised me.


So, I wish to thank all who offered their opinions and critique. Now, can I delete my original shi**y images?

Please. Do not just give up on the images you want to create just because someone tells you they have to be a certain way. Though the classic version of street photography may not be to your liking you can still make great images in your own style.

These crits, though sometimes harsh are not meant to push you away from your work they are meant to make you more critical of your own work so that you can improve yourself. If you take an image you think is absolutely astounding, wait a few minutes and look at it again with the intention of meticulously picking out every little flaw in it to the point that you hate it enough to go retake it, I guarantee that you will come back with an image 10x better than the first during your reshoot.

Even if all you want to do is make it a pretty picture, go ahead and do that, but do it in the best possible way!! Don't just conform to a style because someone else tells you too, but you also shouldn't just tell yourself you can't do something well enough and give up on it.

 

[chuasam]

I'm so envious! I would have loved to have had Thomas Roma as a photography instructor. My fav street photographers are Martin Parr, Gary Winogrand and Jacques Henri Lartigue.

 

[W.Y.Photo]

Ahh!!! I was so wrong about that. Sorry, I'm thinking of a different tumblr that's inspired by that one with quotes from Owen Butler. I'm just so used to seeing his I saw ****myphotoprofsays and immeadiatly thought it was the one on him. I'll post a link when I find his.

Owen Butler Bio Im the meantime this is who I meant.