Issue 162 of the SNYC Newsletter
Greetings everyone! Summer is almost over in the Northern Hemisphere and while I used to love summer, the heat was really overwhelming here at times. Autumn colors and light are fabulous for photography and I’m looking forward to it.
As well, September is when the back-to-school mode sets in. It’s time to get back into a regular routine again. Summer vacation is over. The cycles of the seasons have an affect on photography and it’s good to get into rhythm with them.
A big thank you to all the new and returning customers. Also, to everyone who is subscribed to my newsletter. And to those who have written reviews. It’s never too late to write one and it helps others to know what I do and if my workshops and tours are a good fit for them.
As always, Happy Shooting!
Upcoming issue will be refreshing your routine with different methods & styles.
The real act of discovery consists not in finding new lands but in seeing with new eyes. Marcel Proust
Are you a subscriber of the Shoot New York City Newsletter? It’s easy and free.
What is Street Photography?
Street photography has become increasingly popular over the last 10 years and it shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon. But what it is?
Many people think of street photography in very narrow terms. It has to be this or it can’t be that. Lots of chatter. Photogs would like to be crowned the leader of the pack.
Many stereotypes are created by following these people who are perhaps better at social media than in actually assisting you in the journey.
Is it important that you call your photography street? Do you shoot to fit into the category? Or does the category happen to be a good description of what you do? You should be able to breath in it. Not feel constrained. It should be an organic path.
Street photography is a really big category and there’s room for all kinds of methods and styles within it. Many people who take my workshops are hesitant to call what they do street or they are afraid to try it out. My job is to help them discover or further their style while feel comfortable doing it.
There are only 2 things that a photo must be to be considered street photography.
Street photography must include a human element &
Street photography must be candid.
That’s it! No mystery. Anything after that is perhaps about personal preferences of style and method.
Street photography is an art. There is no paint-by-number method that will make you the next hot photog. The best artists in any category develop their own style. They don’t imitate others.
Art and street photography can be compared to hip hop music. You sample a little bit of this and a little bit of that. At some point you are able develop your own style. And continue to develop it throughout your practice of it.
There is no point when you have arrived at the height of what can be obtained. I am always striving for the new and better even if they are merely tweaks here and there. Other times they are shifts in focus, method or style.
A human element & candid. Really, that’s all it needs to be. Those two things by themselves do not mean that every shot is a masterpiece. It is merely the starting point.
These two elements are the principles of street photography. If you are looking for the rules of street photography, I wrote a post last year that discusses the rules.
The rules themselves are also open to interpretation with one exception. If you are shooting street in New York City or in the United States in general, it is legal to photograph anyone or anything while in a public place. In other countries you will need to check with their laws.
Asking for permission to take a photo is not street photography. Period. It’s a street portrait. That is a genre of photography that is no less valid. But it’s not the same thing.
You can shoot with a film camera, a digital camera, your phone and in fact, a camera is merely a tool. So it doesn’t matter which one you use. Whichever works best for you.
You can process in camera, you can process after-the-fact or you can use the image as is. But the method that you use to set your exposure settings in camera is already processing. Processing is neither a plus or a minus and does not change whether your photo is street or not.
I would like to dispel some of the beliefs that people have about what street photography has to be or can’t be. Yes, you can crop your photos too. Is that ideal? Maybe not. But life isn’t perfect and sometimes you can still use an image in a manner which you didn’t anticipate like my photo above.
Street photography is a journey. I am here to assist you on the journey. You have to do the work. Throw out the theories and put street photography to practice. My mantra which you’ve perhaps heard before is simply to shoot often, experiment and don’t be afraid to make mistakes.
Like all art practices, street photography requires a certain degree of courage. It takes courage to share with others the photography that you are working on. If you approach street photography with a respect for humanity, people should also have respect for your process.
My tours, workshops and the Facebook group for Shoot New York City are nonjudgmental.
Comments
I always appreciate your comments on the newsletter. You don’t need a degree or advanced experience to ask a question or comment on the newsletter. Chances are that someone else also shares your feelings. We can all learn from each other. Thanks.
I love coffee and I love it when I get treated to one :-) But no sweat if you’re unable to contribute. The newsletter is free for all. Thanks to everyone who has bought me a coffee!!! Maybe one day we’ll be able to have a coffee in person again. Mucho love.
Biweekly Photo Assignment -Lines
Lines, lines, lines. They come in many different forms. Zebra stripes, leading lines, geometry, shadows and reflections, etc etc. As always, it’s about having fun and being creative.
This is a voluntary assignment if you want to take part. You can submit your photos to the Facebook group for Shoot New York City and also on Instagram tag @shootnewyorkcity. If you're not a member of the Facebook group yet, all you have to do is request to join.
Further Viewing
Are you looking for some exercises to get yourself out of your routine and discover new possibilities? Another wonderful video by Alex.
Upcoming Workshops
Workshops are a maximum of 5 people Workshops are only scheduled on weekend days. If you would like to have a weekday workshop or a workshop in other areas of NYC, let me know with some lead time and I’ll see if others want to also attend it. Otherwise I continue to provide private workshops on weekdays and in other neighborhoods.