What is Street Photography?

Street photography is a type of documentary photography that features subjects in candid situations within public places such as streets, parks, beaches, malls, political conventions, and other settings.

Street photography uses the techniques of straight photography in that it shows a pure vision of something, like holding up a mirror to society. Street photography often tends to be ironic and can be distanced from its subject matter, and often concentrates on a single human moment, caught at a decisive or poignant moment. On the other hand, much street photography takes the opposite approach and provides a very literal and extremely personal rendering of the subject matter, giving the audience a more visceral experience of walks of life they might only be passingly familiar with. In the 20th century, street photographers have provided an exemplary and detailed record of street culture in Europe and North America, and elsewhere to a somewhat lesser extent.

Source of Information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Street_photography

Any examples?
http://www.flickr.com/groups/realstreet/pool/

Is it legal?
It is usually not illegal, unless it is stated clearly that "No photography is allowed" or you are in some military base

Is it ethical?
Definitely not 100%. It's an argument between art and privacy. How many of the people being photographed would like their pictures to be posted in websites? But again, I think it also depends on the intentions of taking the photos (e.g. whether it's for commercial purpose) and the culture of the place / country. It's something remains to be discussed

Should you ask for permission?
If you ask for permission for the person to be photographed, it's no longer considered "street or candid photography" IMO, it's more like street portrait (even though the person didn't intentionally pose for the photo). To me that's considered another category of photography.

20 Street photography tips
http://digital-photography-school.com/20-q...hotography-tips

From ayamkambing - thanks for sharing :


Purpose of this thread?
To help forumers know more about street photography, to discuss about whether it is ethical or not, and to share the tips and techniques.

This post has been edited by samurai1337: Jul 19 2010, 02:44 PM

thanks for clearing the thoughts in my 2pid brain

Since this is continuation of the photo gallery thingy...

My 2 noob cent is that there's a difference between candid portrait and street photography.

It doesn't have to be a tack sharp image of a stranger's face to tell a story.

rule of street.

1. no dslr fag. seriously. please stay away. go shoot flower or something.
2. serious compact or range finder is a must.
3. BW.
5. Don't be rude. Smile always.
6. ask permission before take pictar.

Though these terms are used often interchangeably, I think candid photography is more like taking pictures of some people without those people knowing. Street photography I guess tells more story and has a strong purpose behind it

This post has been edited by samurai1337: Jul 19 2010, 02:21 PM

thanks for the info...
its helpful...

Rightt.. And who defined the rules? You? Last two I can agree with, but the first three is just ridiculous.

seriously, someone should ban you for trolling.

you go restaurant take food photo lor.

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Added on July 19, 2010, 2:32 pmyou know what fav cam for street?

leicas

This post has been edited by masahito: Jul 19 2010, 02:32 PM

Good points... Just some of my comments:

On point 1, I guess micro four thirds cameras (like GF-1 pairing with 20mm pancake) are perfect for street photography. They don't look that intrusive compare to a D3X with zoom, I've nothing against the DSLR users but if you carry a big camera with you, those people will definitely be more hostile - it's just a general impression

On point 6, It somehow defeats the purpose of street photography to ask for permission in every pictar you take. The photo is not natural anymore as the person knows he / she is being photographed. What I think is, try to be friendly and don't obstruct or distract whatever the person is doing. If you are noticed and asked for the photo to be removed, do it - and apology. Depending on the situation, it is also good to approach the person after you have photographed him/her and share the photo with him / her - in a friendly way

This post has been edited by samurai1337: Jul 19 2010, 02:35 PM

Rules = Cliche

That's not what candid/street is all about.

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Added on July 19, 2010, 2:37 pmHell yeah.. if got NEX-like tilting LCD then perfect di.

This post has been edited by sniper on the roof: Jul 19 2010, 02:37 PM

A fav cam doesn't make it a must cam.

Street photography need not be totally unplanned. I know of people who visits the same street, hang out with the folks there (usually vendors) for a week before they start shooting. That way, when they carry their "big" DSLR in, it does not give the hostile impression.

It is in the approach, not the gear you carry that gives the impression.

lol.

when you bring p&s to shoot street, people are less likely to notice it.
when you bring your bloody farking big dslr and wear your jacket and sling bag with big canon/nikon logo on it, people think you are the journalist and give you duck face.

damn true?

It's not a bad approach, but not possible for frequent travelers like me - there's no way I can hang out at the same place for 1 week just to build relationship.

And rather than just shooting snapshots of landmark while traveling, I love street photography more - it reflects the culture and lifestyle (I'm no way a good street photographer though)

This post has been edited by samurai1337: Jul 19 2010, 02:55 PM

-deleted-

This post has been edited by MingKAI: Jul 19 2010, 03:28 PM

I find your street photos inspiring lor.

aiyo..if so scared then get a 300mm lens..that person sure won't know he/she is being shot...

That's sniping liao...

i bet there are more iphones on the street than leicas

Now available with EF mount

http://iphonedslr.com/blog/archives/73fb

Not all dslr users bring a mountain of lenses, and wear big canon/nikon logo on it. Are you saying that there are no good photos from people using DSLR in street photography?

I am not saying that being discreet is wrong, I am just against a blanket rule that says DSLR users have to stay away from street photography and that compact or ranger finder is a must.

Not to mention, your ruel

I was just pointing out an approach, not that everyone has to use it. Of course I know that it doesn't work for everyone. It doesn't even work for me and I love street photography when I travel as well.

But I don't find ppl giving me the grumpies or the middle finger with my dslr with 50mm/35mm attached. It doesn't have to be bulky all the time.

I guess those 3 rules jst annoyed me.

Regarding SLRs are more suitable or not it doesn't really matter, the point is u gotta get a nice Street/Candid pic regardless of wat type of camera u are using...

Malaysia have bunch of Street/Candid photogs... Chot Touch is one of the founder of Street/Candid shooters and he is only using 50mm f1.8 and UWA lens and yet, he produce lotsa awesome Street/Candid shots... And he did sell T-Shirts with words like "Street Candid Is Not A Crime"

I think we can learn from him... Lol...

Hello Sir,

Street ain't about good picture of whatever.
For you information, It is not the same as you go to restaurant, you order some food and you compose and snap it again and again. Street is about capture the good moment. Fast and unpredictable. It require street photographer to shoot fast.
They train their eye ready for that next decisive moment.

Street photographer doesn't care much about the noise in the picture like you do. Noise can be beautiful.

Street photo has a story inside that picture.


The camera is just a tool. Right?

Q. Why street photographer prefer pro P&S(Ricoh GRD, GX, Canon G9,10,11, Sigma DP1) and rangefinder(Leica, Voigtländer)?
A. It is damn small, fast, quite and doesn’t get many attention from people.
Unless you are pusssy using 300mm lens.

^ you wanna define who's a street photographer? One that shoots exclusively street? Or someone who shoots the street casually?

The first thing your posted in this thread is about 'dslr fag'. See photography is not exclusive to SLR users, so if you think the streets is an area that should be reserved for non-SLR users because you think they need a place they can shoot free from the intrusion of a big black thing called an SLR camera, no, it is not.

I get that insecurity. I came from a PnS.

It's like saying the normal road is not for supercars like a Ferrari F430 because other road users will be wary of it. See even in Sepang track they say a Volks Beetle can participate in their track day.

Ok maybe the analogy is a bit stretched but I hope you get my idea.

No joke, I have yet to see an SLR user wearing shirt with a brand embossed big big on it with a big bag with the brand name embossed big big on it. The most I see is one lugging tripod.

And SLR users don't normally wear that vest thing that is oh-so associated with photographers.

This post has been edited by DJFoo000: Jul 19 2010, 08:55 PM

Street with big azz medium format. Myth busted?

oi hiro, where have u been? missing u lo~! hahaha


there is no rules unless we set ourselves. its about art. its about abstract~!

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Added on July 19, 2010, 11:47 pmif this can consider candid, then dats my job when i was 2nd photographer


This post has been edited by Isepunye: Jul 19 2010, 11:47 PM

Masih ada . Aku dok tunggu akak kau Miss Tranny post tapi tak de pon. Lantak le apa camera nak guna atas jalan (street photo). Janji gambar cun.

hahaha cis da hilang geng gelak surang igt g mane merajok surang2 haha aku PM tranny tgk ape reply dier nnt

ye betol~! aku sukung~! tak kire gune camera ape pon, janji dpt output yg kite bayang kan~!

Hello Sir,

If the camera is just a tool, then why in the world are you saying that DSLR users stay away and a rangefinder/compact is a must? Contradict yourself much?

And nowhere did I say a good picture is one without noise, with focus spot on, observing the rules of third, with a straight horizon line etc. So stop assuming and stop trying to fit all DSLR users into a mould that you have pre-determined.

It's definitely not a "rule" saying that DSLR must be avoided during street photography.

It's just a general impression by the people that if you carry a big gun with you, you must be some journalists (I know many of the DSLR users want to argue this, but unfortunately it's true to some degree)

It's just like finding a balance between taking good photograph and making the people feel comfortable - and many believe that a serious compact is the perfect balance

This is not entirely true though, I guess DSLR users just have to try to be casual - wear casually, use a light prime lens and be friendly. Having said that, even if you carry a Ixus or LX-3 but you still act like a pain in the ass, you'll still offend people

Depend on area also... if I go walkabout in some touristy area in Taipei, people won't really notice or give 2 hoots whether I'm shooting with compact or small dslr (those monster dslr with big white lens is a diff story la) but at the same time, if its some lorong belakang thingy, even shooting with a muted compact will arouse suspicion.

who the hell wears a jacket nowadays ?

1. DSLR? haha. seriously. i see you're saying DSLR being being. have you seen how small a 350D / D40 with 50mm lens look? it's not that much bigger than a pro-sumer (hard to find those nowadays).

but more importantly, do you know how many people are using SLR + prime lens for street shoot?

2. NO. there's no rule on what you should use.

3. BW? since when? LOL. 3 points down, your understanding of STREET photography is skewed badly.

4. some how you missed point #4. typo or what, LOL.

5. this one applies to every area of photography, you're just mentioning the obvious.

6. not necessarily. if you're shooting a mamak making teh tarik, then it's good idea to ask but if you're just randomly shooting at the street of people waiting for bus with no focus on any particular person's face as a subject, are you gonna get everyone's permission?

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Added on July 20, 2010, 3:59 pmshould ask empire23 on his AUS case. they're pretty strict, especially if you're like sitting at the park holding long lens shooting randomly.

parents can call the cops to check on you.

1D3 + long lens = not a good idea + Empy is a lil "different"

For angmo countries... shooting in touristy area + "I'm a tourist" dress code is alright.

Street photo doesn't mean have to dress like photographer or gangsta rebel artist yada yada. Since getting my camera, I also lepak shooting everywhere and everything in the city in shorts and sneakers... nobody kacau also.

good point there. empire23 being Malaysian in cold weather place, sure lagi arouse suspicion.

Would like to share on privacy and legal issue of street photography / or any photography, i would like to recommend this book "Legal Handbook for Photographers: The Rights and Liabilities of Making Images" written by Bert Krages.

http://www.krages.com/lhp.htm

From my perspective , this book offer basic guidelines for photographer regarding issuee such as the photographer right, access to property, subject restrictions, publishing & licensing and etc.

I know you dslr user. You don't have to butthurt so much.

I know d40 size. still big. i prefer my grd3 tho.
fast fixed lens. small size to put in pocket. good in low light. that's what i need.

for you no 4

using DSLR in street / candid is no wrong.. DSLR is common nowadays.. a lots of people are able to afford it take it as their camera use..

Off topic here..... Do you have to be so rude all the time?

i dont know why ur not even given a vacation yet, ur obviously trolling /k/-style in a non-k thread.

now now, don't have to go all mean just because all your points got countered. and countering your points doesn't mean i butthurt either.

you prefer your grd3, good. that's YOUR preference. others can go around with SLR for street photography with no issues.

and no, i don't need your #4. that link won't help you with your missed numbering but it's ok. small matter.

in some circumstance, i still prefer my D90 + 1750 + speedlite (sometime attach only not even on) to do candid or streetphotography. i dont know its wrong or not. but do u care about what it? but i do. coz i always want the best for my every single click so i use the best of what i have.
and clearly can see that im prefer sour and u prefer sweet. we have different taste.

Another thing to remember when out on the streets : make the shot count !

once you spot a subject , try and compose it mentally 1st instead of "tracking" it with your lens

wow... entirely interesting topic to discuss...
its good...
well... personally, i would think that it would be good if you've actually taken someone's photo as a main subject... probably a very clear view of the person's face or features.... you could let them know LATER/AFTER you've shot as a sign of respect and so things wouldn't get ugly later. then again, its just a gesture.

well... having a slightly longer focal lens, or learn to shoot from your hips or shoot using live view is a good choice for street photography? many of us do this during our travel or vacation. just so happen there's this particular school of photography focusing alot on "street photography". DSLR or pro-sumer or range finder or even your pns... what matters now is that you get your shot and it means something. train your eyes to look around with a framing in mind so you would have got your shot straight away. most of the time i would would just hold my camera without the strap over my shoulder. people wouldn't notice my camera until i'm near them or communicating with them. having a telephoto / zoom would be good if you do not have a specific set of photos to get as you might not be able to compose with a prime but i personally like the confinement of a prime lens so it would allow you more room to work on a particular theme or principles you've in mind.

all and all... i do think that... the b/w is not necessary as i've seem tonnes of colored ones... or monotonous....

let's move on to different points my fellow forumers... haha.... let's not counter counter lo... kekeke...

iphone [ +1 ]

Leicas [ 0 ]

I agree, street photos look well even in colors sometimes, many people do it in B&W doesn't mean it has then become a rule


http://www.flickr.com/photos/cubagallery/4...in/photostream/


I am tempted to get UWA lens too, I think is pretty cool for street photography too as it gives some entirely different perspective - like these:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/american-psycho-uk/3735318569/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/deejey/3251680584/

But it's challenging task because you often have to get quite near to the subject to make that impact

This post has been edited by samurai1337: Jul 22 2010, 02:31 AM

you guys should check out Trent Parke, if you wanna be inspired

i use UWA for street also. better still, i shoot without looking into the viewfinder! outcome can be rather interesting.

this gallery for example, http://www.flickr.com/photos/goldfries/set...57614390788908/ - 1/3 the photos were taken below waist without me looking into viewfinder.



i didn't compose that image. it's as it is, walking and random shot.

street doesn't mean need to have people inside. doesn't mean have to be BW.

i'm still learning about 'street photography'.. can someone tell me is the picture above street photography??
in my noob eyes the photos is just a beautiful colorful photo of a street with human subject in it..

i always thought street photography is always about telling a story, a specific moment in time, where you may not come across it again in your lifetime,
where it will haunt you everyday of your life.. (i'm exaggerating here.. )

can someone shed a light on me of what is the story of the above photo??
how can we differentiate between a 'street' photo and photo of a street..

Million thanks..



This post has been edited by blurr33: Jul 22 2010, 09:29 AM

Errr.. mmmm... turns on the serious-deep-thought mode.

street (strt)
n.
1.
a. Abbr. St. A public way or thoroughfare in a city or town, usually with a sidewalk or sidewalks.
...........
...........
...........
5. The common public viewed as a repository of public attitudes and understanding.

So.. some people see's street as taking picture of streets... with people on it.

or/and

some people takes picture of life... not necessarily on a street.

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Added on July 22, 2010, 10:30 amIt's a beautiful colorful dark and dangerous backalley.

I wonder if Lorong Haji Taib can look like that?

This post has been edited by sniper on the roof: Jul 22 2010, 10:30 AM

Wah. Now I confius. I though street photography must have some human element in the photo. As a minimum small animal like dog, cat, pigeon, or rat. Something alive la . Or is anything photographed on the street can be considered street photography?

well... in my humble opinion is that street photography would be define simply by being able to to document a part of a city/life/street and it would prompt thoughts, ideas or even feelings.

what gold fries shown wasn't common and yes i would say its considered a street photography shot as it includes him taking a journey through the town/village or city and capturing something in angle that prompt a thought to him in which we don't understand.

like i've previously mentioned, photography is an art. photographers are artist. we paint with our camera and view life through the viewfinder just like how artist paint with brush and view life through their own eyes in their own perspective. generally, an artist would have a specific theme or title or a phrase/word to accompany an art they have done as to give the viewer an hint on the direction of his perspective.

how each and everyone of us view an image is different, some may be same as we're influenced the same way but even if we maybe thought the same we would still have a different output. most of us went through the malaysia's public education syllabus, taught by teachers but we each went through it differently and we get to feel the same thing differently.


as referral to the color image of a lonely guy in the backalley with wonderful colors in it... i think it brings a thought to my mind, how a person can look so sorrow and how a BACK alley can look so colorful when most of us would perceive back alley to be dark, dirty, black, and filthy?


how we include a living object in a shot to portray a story is something each of us view differently, how one shot of totally nothing could mean something?

20cents this time.... no more 2cents... aajaja

yup mr josh, you did give me some idea regarding the back alley image..
the irony of the image, why didn't i think of that..

thanks bro..

mr blur33... you're most welcome... i guess we're all blur at times like this...

more than willing to share whenever possible

I assume you guys already read Street Photography for the Purist, am i rite?

ehh if you read my post, i stated that I did that while i was doing street photography.

that is one example of a shot that

1. i did not compose
2. i didn't even look through viewfinder
3. shot below waist level, random angle.



there are humans in other photos within the series.

some places have lesser human activity that others, you still can get nice shots from those areas. you can shoot items that show sign of human activity.

Shot thru windows of a moving tour bus.



This post has been edited by peterscm: Jul 22 2010, 11:07 PM

Uhhhh, this one can pass as street photography?




Attached thumbnail(s)

@masahito....pfft~

Read it last night. Interesting article. According to him ...

- Only Rangefinder. All other brand suck except leica.
- Only black and white.
- Only People shots with no eye contact.
- Only film. No digital.
- Hates Ken Rockwell.

ha ha. I think he now shoots color with M9.

I think he's right about the bold part
If the M9 is priced at NEX, M43, consumer dslr level... won't everyone buy one?

ini macam ada gaya street ka?


"Lonely"


This post has been edited by Isepunye: Jul 23 2010, 08:56 PM

M9 full frame yet so compact. plus the body built, the red dot
sell 5k also consider cheap

Not a bad try, I love the colour of the background - maybe you can work more on the composition

Is this considered as street photography?



I know I'm bad to capture people's unfortunate moment...

I did the similar thing in the picture in first post as well, yes I felt guilty too.

But I know at least we are not making fun of the person or making any revenue from it

Kinda afraid he will turn his head and see me shooting at him, and then get chased by him.
While walking quickly chik chak and kept my camera away when passed by him...

go down with his level...

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Added on July 24, 2010, 10:42 pmlike this


This post has been edited by razuryza: Jul 24 2010, 10:42 PM

Err.. I admire your courage.
I scare he will do something to me, after all he is not doing something that he enjoys doing...
I'm a girl only...

Took some pics today.. comments?

SS self portrait... took this while playing around with the idea of manual focusing shooting from the hip


Blaming it on the rain...boy was ranting aloud why he can't go play in his friend's place. Hmmm.. I used to rant-aloud


Tourist on tourist


This post has been edited by sniper on the roof: Jul 25 2010, 03:35 AM

I was expecting some action from the roof...wait, Is that a Canon 550D? Congrats for finally dumping your S90

This post has been edited by samurai1337: Jul 25 2010, 04:34 AM

why you all like to snap beggars?

don't have better subject?

come on.

Since you talk like Chris Weeks, perhaps you should show us how its done. Post YOUR pics so that we can see the light.

Simple, it's our hobby to snap beggars.
None of your business, like seriously.

What action? You should post more man... but yeah, got a 550D some weeks back but I seriously dunno how to use the damn thing.

Still keeping and prefer my little compact though so these days I carry both out

More candids.. this time using the PnS for tight places.

the bra seller



I seriously don't understand why some folks insist on riding into this "sardine can" of a wet market.




masahito: show us the "light" if you may.

thx. actually it was a crap photo. color sux. too yellowish until it blend all togather as 1.

yaya my compo still sux. need to more work on it. thx again

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Added on July 25, 2010, 9:15 pmstreet style photoshoot.
actually this is my frens holding my bags. shoot him while my customer take a 5



This post has been edited by Isepunye: Jul 25 2010, 09:15 PM

What's with the quicksilver thingy?
Its technically a nice sharp portrait of a hemsem fella but it's too posed/composed to really be a candid I think.

i think the skin tone is a bit too orange.

Sniper - he was staring at one sexy girl haha

dvlz - yeah i know. purposely done it. i dont know why but i like it

^ then where's the photo of this sexy girl?!

i don't see a problem taking photo of beggars, it's the opposite of taking photos of beautiful celebrities.

my photo was featured here (last image) http://www.problogdesign.com/uncategorized...ty-in-pictures/

IMHO, there are really no rules, there no technique and surely there are no ecthics that specificly caters to street/candid shot.

its rules, technique and even social ecthics are just the reflection of the surrounding society.

too deep...? .

in layman term, we make the rules, we consider which techique is suitable and we will use the method that are acceptable to us in getting the picture. surely some of it will change overtime but currently we will used what best for us.

how to shoot street / candid if we're going to go around asking for model release forms to be signed?

You sound like a thug bro.

I guess in a way.. the normal rules for photo-geeks doesn't apply for candids since there's no time or is it possible to do a lighting setup, check WB, take test shot, blah blah blah... everything's by estimation.

Speaking of which, recently tried manually pre-focussing first and shooting from the hip. In that way, there's no guarantee of sharp sharp accurate focus but I kinda like the result and angle.

was that inspired by my random below hip blind shooting?

More towards my own inability to use a dslr properly for candid situation .. raising the camera or even the AF confirm beep is like sounding a klaxon to the crowd. Manually pre-focussing also eliminates this.

Example: This happened during the weekend on my walkabout.. once my eye touches the VF, the corner got these fellas....no choice lor...turn.. saja snap.. and show them pic later lor. I was about to shoot something else.

cheh i was hoping to inspire.

haha. for me it was simple, i just wanted to get something that's NOT from my thought process and i was surprised at what i could get.

and in fact, part of the reason was as what you mentioned - "raising the camera or even the AF confirm beep is like sounding a klaxon to the crowd." so i decided to go low and see what i could get.

here are a few more things you can do
1. disable beep
2. set AF to auto, let the camera decide. manual pre-focus is does things differently though it's another option if suits your liking. i prefer to have it random camera decision.

can my shot accepted as part of street photography genre?

i don't see why not?