In the last year, I have found myself collecting images almost at random, but recently I have started to focus my attention in a more specific way without overthinking technical factors. We share the problem of media abundance on social media, regardless of our location, so I am trying to find a way to cut through that noise and work on photographic projects that can last longer than minutes or hours. While we may not all get the chance to share our work in a gallery, we can each use our creativity for good and share our work with those who could appreciate it on a deeper level.
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0:00 – Intro
0:30 – Infinite Possibilities
1:31 – Street Photography Relevance
2:03 – Unrepeatable Scenes
3:26 – Giving Life to Your Images
4:46 – My Last Physical Project
6:43 – Create Feeling in Your Work
8:00 – Finding a Story in Street Photography
9:32 – Step-by-Step Story Idea
#streetphotography
Comments
21 responses to “Street Photography Today Is 'Irrelevant'”
The unconventional 'way' of Saul Leiter's street/urban scene photography appeals to me.
He used short telephoto lenses to impressive effect – usually from 85mm to 150mm.
People are free to use whatever camera and lens combo they like – it would be refreshing to see less of the expected though.
Be here, now……………
this topic recently came to my mind.
Some might see street photography as something that is 'overrated'.
Especially for those who don't really see photography as something that is more than just taking pictures.. they might perceive street photography as something.. random? or something that one might say is 'a waste of time'…
I know a lot of people who, when looking at street photographs, might say "I can take such pictures using my phone camera, so what's the point of buying an expensive camera?"… there are also a lot of people who would even try to 'compare' themselves, who are not a 'photographer', to us who likes to bring our 'professional-looking' camera with us.
This sometimes discourages us, especially those who have an interest and would like to get into this unique, beautiful, and fun, yet sadly often, underestimated genre of photography.
in addition to this… a lot of people nowadays see street photography as 'taking portraits of strangers' due to the booming trend in Instagram and TikTok. Not that they are bad influences on the street photography world. Not at all… but sometimes, those little things can change the way people see and understand things.
Love this. I bet most of the images in that photobook wouldn't generate much attention on Instagram, but it's a great thing to do for a friend. Context is everything.
I saw a presentation by Joel Meyerowitz where he said he used to look out of his window every day and see the World Trade Center, and then suddenly one day it wasn't there anymore. The world's always changing, and those things that seem obvious and mundane now will become more valuable in years to come.
I really enjoyed this video George, made me think about the whole printing thing too…
There is another bit of practicality to doing street, expanding your skill set. As you mentioned, every time you go out will be slightly different. But that doesn't stop you from picking one or two technical skills to specifically work on, while also being open to the stories of people around you unfolding at the same time.
There's a reason I will always love candid/street photography.
This is a very good video and obviously thoughtful and provoking. I am aghast when I read the vitriol from some who believe in the irrelevance of this genre. Whoever decides art of any kind is relevant or irrelevant cannot be an artist! Their approach defies the definition. Thank you again George, on behalf of relevant street photographers everywhere. 😅
Yes, "today's photography looks the same", meaningless, boring, pointless Instagram images billions of them, and interestingly the 1% who make kind of "A picture is worth a thousand words", almost all of the quit Instagram or very seldom post a few images. Those guys are the "less is more" kind of people. Sadly, I don't belong to those guys because my images suck, I mean just look like anybody else's. If photography has chosen you, you can get in the 1% otherwise you always be in the 99% who take the same boring images. You know what is interesting, whoever is in the 1%, they don't know or care, but whoever is in the 99% mostly thinks they belong to the 1%. Sorry, George but this was my subjective opinion.
Giving my friends printed photographs is something I recently began to do. Now when they ask me to send them photos on Facebook I just say plain no, you'll get the printed version next time we meet.🙂
How honest can we be when talking about street photography? While many photographers love it, It’s a difficult genre to defend. from the proliferation of cliches in the genre, to the fact that so few street photographers understand or have a relationship with the places they shoot, to how street photography is often aesthetically and conceptually lazy, to the way street photographers treat people as visual fodder, and so on. Folks will continue to shoot street, but almost none of it will be relevant, regardless of the photographer’s intentions. The exception is someone like Darnella Frazier, but I doubt she would ever call herself a street photographer.
People are gonna think I’m a hater, but that’s not the case, I just believe in intellectual honesty and being honest about the state of photography today. There is still meaningful work to be done, but only a tiny number of people are capable of doing it.
Very Nice George, I´ve been photographing everyday for a few months now and it has been so good, I´ve done like 4 years ago but stopped since it was my main work camera and was afraid to take it everywhere and now I see those photos of 4 years ago and get so happy that I did and also sorry that I stopped it, now with a Olympus om10-ii you convinced me to get I´m having so much fun and capturing so many candid fun and intimate moments with friends and family as well as street photography that I start to see again a project coming out of it even if it´s a year from now, thanks George
Thanks for this one!
Art is an end in itself
I like your thought processes… as well as the idea of being overcome by rolls of rogue filmstock!… Keep on keeping on!
You remind me of a young Jamie Windsor… And yeah emotional response.. for me is everything…Kudos…🙏👍🙏
The Butterfly Effect
It is great to dive into algorithms and likes, for some time… But eventually this rush for approval dissolves, and then you pretty much have… Just pictures. They may be pretty, yes, but unconnected. People have limited time, so they like to enjoy something connected for them, that has story, effort, and meaning. So I think it is really cool to build projects that tells their own stories. I photographed for several years already, and when I printed my first images… Man, those pixels felt like Art instantly. Print your work, and be proud of what you create!
I wasn't expecting to witness the Holdenverse 🤯🤯 my poor brain
Your editing and camera trickery is always so satisfying to watch man.
Yes! A thoughtful video which sparks others to think more about purpose in street photography. I am so tired of puddle reflections, and all the rest of the so-called interesting tricks of the trade, so to speak, when story and a bit of geometry is all one needs. Oh, there is the general understanding of how things will look in a photograph, but that all comes in time — practice and more practice. Handing a person on the street and good image you took of them, is priceless, as they give a genuine thank you. A photo of a shopkeeper might be a proud moment in time, and something they can display to others. Things which say I am important, part of, in harmony with this world, that can become a lasting remembrance — priceless. Even the simplest of things, like people and their dogs, or cats — take the shot and put it on the Internet ( your website ) and display those happy times. Be that good neighbor.
Take care, and thank you, Loren Schwiderski
Great video!