The Photographers' Corner 2013-2020

[Major Tom]

Mind you, people don't need to figure prominently in street photos, or even at all. Sometimes, I'll use people just to create a sense of scale, a type of dynamic, or even as a sort of whimsical counterpoint to the inanimate objects in the frame. It's also quite interesting to me how a scene consisting entirely of inanimate objects can convey a sense of pathos, humor, or a wide range of other feelings. Like everything else to do with photography, my efforts fall woefully short, but when the mood strikes, it's fun trying -

[RonBoyd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Major Tom Mind you, people don't need to figure prominently in street photos, or even at all.

Very true... however, Garry Winograd would not be my idol if not for. <grin>

https://luminous-landscape.com/on-street-photography/

[Major Tom]

People in public settings are unpredictable. I think that's part of the attraction. When a moment does happen, it's fleeting, and capturing it is a gift. It's entertaining and informative to watch YouTube videos of good street photographers working. They make it look so easy - until I go out on the street and try to replicate their methods!

Agreed about Garry Winograd, and all the usual suspects - Cartier-Bresson, Willy Ronis, William Klein, and all the great Magnum photographers. Also, there are some really good street shooters, who are not as acclaimed as the greats, but whose work is well worth looking at. Maciej Dakowicz is one of my favorites -

Street Photography Around The World | Maciej Dakowicz

British photographer Matt Stuart is another -

COLOUR | MATT STUART | PHOTOGRAPHER | SHOOTS PEOPLE — MATT STUART | PHOTOGRAPHER | SHOOTS PEOPLE

Zack Arias comes to mind too. There's so much good street photography out there, and the internet makes it so easily accessible.

Thanks for the link to the Luminous Landscape article. I used to read that site a lot more regularly, before they started charging a subscription fee. I'm not cheap, but if I had to pay a few dollars for every single thing I enjoy online - well, I might just have to go back to work :-)

[RonBoyd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Major Tom Agreed about Garry Winograd, ... ... Luminous Landscape article. I used to read that site a lot more regularly, before they started charging a subscription fee. I'm not cheap, but if I had to pay a few dollars for every single thing I enjoy online - well, I might just have to go back to work.

Nobody said photography was low cost. <chuckle>

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RM9...R2OGQxsUqTCkeT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etjWrZlUQHw

and much lower quality (technically) but still quite interesting:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tl4f-QFCUek

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Zk1nkZ3-kE

In the mid 70's. I found this book, "Women are Beautiful," in the "markdown bin. I was blown away and, to tell the truth, my love of photography began at that moment. Even today I, periodically, pull it out and look at all the photos again. I had no idea that it was worth this much:

http://www.amazon.com/Women-are-beau.../dp/0374292779

[Major Tom]

What astounded me when I first saw the videos of Garry working, was how fast he worked. His technique of fiddling with the controls, glancing at the camera, glancing away and looking a bit confused, as a way to divert the potential subject's attention away from him, is quite novel.

Good stuff.

It was William Klein who first did it for me. There was an article about him in a photography magazine I subscribed to as a teenager. The photos jumped out at me. He was up close to his subjects with a wide angle lens. The frames were filled to the edges and bursting at the seams. Engaging and dynamic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnN9LMvjM7Y

[Ronstar]

Major Tom - I really like the "Party this way" photo. Lots of great compositional elements - leading lines of the driveway, perspective of the house, the leaning balloons, etc. And the sign makes it.

[Major Tom]

Thank you Ronstar. I thought the old Caddy was rather humorous too, in a questionable sort of a way. Ideally, it would have been more beat up and looking as if it was on it's last legs, but I think the image worked.

I enjoy taking pictures with a wide angle lens. Unless you're shooting with a very wide aperture and close to the subject, the depth of field is big, and almost everything is in focus. It forces me to consider everything in the frame.

[Chuckanut]

Sadly, I have heard the news that Michael Reichmann has died.

https://luminous-landscape.com/sad-d...ous-landscape/

[Major Tom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuckanut Sadly, I have heard the news that Michael Reichmann has died. https://luminous-landscape.com/sad-d...ous-landscape/

That's sad. I didn't know much about him personally, but used to read quite a lot of his articles, and appreciated his passion for photography.

[RonBoyd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuckanut Sadly, I have heard the news that Michael has died.

There are those who quietly do great things. Michael was one of those. He will be missed.

[Major Tom]

On reading the article about Michael, I learned that an oft-used phrase of his was "There's no shot here", and it got me to thinking about the importance of editing. I edit my "work" heavily (it feels a bit presumptuous to call what I do "work"). There's no point in exposing folk to the all of the absolute bilge that usually comes out of my camera. By choosing what I consider my better shots, I'm showing respect for the viewer, by not wasting their time with the full breadth of my mediocrity :-)

Michael's saying got me to thinking to another aspect of editing - actually being discerning in what you shoot. Sometimes, I feel that if I were a good enough photographer, I could make a worthy shot in almost any place and with almost any subject. I suspect that many of us are tempted to think that way. Perhaps it's true, but for most of us mere mortals, it's a more practical approach to know when to give up - to say, "There's no shot here", because doing so frees us up to spend our valuable time in more promising locations with subjects that will give us a higher chance of success.

[NW-Bound]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Major Tom ... By choosing what I consider my better shots, I'm showing respect for the viewer, by not wasting their time with the full breadth of my mediocrity :-)...

Then, I would not have anything to show. Everything I took was mediocre.

But I show more to my family than the forum here, so y'all are safe.

[Khan]

Looking for fish.

Sent from my SPH-L720T using Early Retirement Forum mobile app

[Major Tom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NW-Bound Then, I would not have anything to show. Everything I took was mediocre. But I show more to my family than the forum here, so y'all are safe.

The shots for family and friends are the best. I really enjoy looking at the snaps my friends and family post on Facebook - seeing them, and seeing what they are up to. You should post something and besides, I'd like to see a photo of your Class C RV

I tend not to post many pictures on photography forums because well, it sounds a bit rude, but I'm not that interested in what strangers think of my photographs. I'm also not that good, in the big scheme of things. I take pictures for my own enjoyment, and to share with family and friends. However, everyone is friendly here, and no-one's into heavy critique, so I'll probably post a few snaps from time to time.

[NW-Bound]

No, no photos of us or our RV. We like to travel incognito.

PS. I have not been to any photography forum, even to lurk, because I am not a photographer. My artistic skills, in everything and not just photography, on a scale of 0 to 10, rate about a -2.

[Major Tom]

That's OK NW-Bound. I always enjoy your comments on RV'ing

Then there are the grab-shots. I don't even know if they're any good, photographically (probably not), but they're a bit goofy, and goofy is good -

[Ronstar]

I like shooting landscapes and architecture, and sometimes they can be street photos.

[RonBoyd]

Here is a list of current "street" photographers (chosen by popularity):

Vote for the 20 most Influential Street Photographers of 2016

Quote:

The original list of 21 Street Photographers the Street Hunters team recommended has now grown to 115 Street Photographers thanks to all of you! Wow 115 Street Photographers!!!

Quote:

... we would like to tell you that we filtered out many names that didn’t meet the criteria of this project. [not influential] ... Also, while we appreciate we can all be influenced by the great masters of street photography, the purpose of our list was to feature street photographers that are working and influencing today. For that reason we are removing Seul Leiter and Garry Winogrand from the voting list.

[Ronstar]

Ron - thanks for the link!


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[explanade]

Where is that sculpture? Chicago?