8 Responses to “Street Photography: Documenting the Human Condition – Part 2”

1. 1 bj September 23, 2010 at 1:42 pm

   Should call this “The Religion of the Rangefinder”

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2. 2 discarted September 23, 2010 at 1:49 pm

   Yes, it was hard to get through those first two interviews especially when many of us do perfectly fine using our giant SLRs. I certainly like part 1 more, too. Let’s see what part 3 has to offer tomorrow.

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3. 3 bj September 23, 2010 at 5:49 pm

   I agree.

   Have you ever read his manifesto? 🙂

   http://cweeks.deviantart.com/art/Street-Photography-38038974

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4. 4 discarted September 23, 2010 at 8:10 pm

   No, but thanks for the link. I will have to read it some time this week. Should I be alarmed?

   All I know is that I do perfectly fine shooting the same block Weeks was on, using my SLR. The loud shutter and the prism suit me well. Plus, I actually want people to know that I took their picture.

   http://www.discarted.com/frames/street_frame.html

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5. 5 bj September 23, 2010 at 8:16 pm

   “Should I be alarmed?” I don’t think so. I haven’t read it in a couple of years but from what I recall is – if you don’t shoot a rangefinder, film and b&w then your not a real street photographer.

   I hate to say it but it really turned me off to shooting street when I was researching getting ready to try it out. I got over it. 🙂

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   • 6 discarted September 23, 2010 at 8:24 pm

     That’s interesting because Weeks is shooting digital and doing a lot of chimping in the videos. I guess his “rules” have changed, but I’m almost a “real” street photographer since I still only shoot film. I don’t even own a digital camera. On the other hand, I would prefer to categorize myself as a documentary photographer. Street is too easy and you waste a lot of film.

     Researching to get ready? That’s crazy talk! Just go out and do it! The first time I ever shot street some guy punch me right in the face and it was certainly not the last time that happened. And it was the same exact corner Weeks is walking all over in this video.

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6. 7 bj September 24, 2010 at 6:43 am

   I research everything – I am a Network Administrator by day. My whole life is learn learn learn then do.

   I studied for a year ( and collecting parts ) before I produced my first VanDykeBrown print. Now I am working on 4 color gum bichromate prints.

   I have been building my 8×10 camera for almost a year now. The act of grinding lens is slowing me down. I hate it. I have 2 of the 4 elements completed.

   “The first time I ever shot street some guy punch me right in the face and it was certainly not the last time that happened” Ahhh – this is Texas and I carry… 🙂

   I am still not comfortable doing street for some reason. I think one part of it is I don’t get the time to do it much. When I do get a hour or two to myself to shoot, I drive down to the local skate park and shoot the kids at night doing their stuff.

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7. 8 discarted September 24, 2010 at 12:06 pm

   Wow, that’s really interesting. Can’t wait to see the final results and the images your camera produces. Maybe we can do a post on it when you’re done. Grinding your own glass sounds extremely laborious, but fascinating.

   I’m the exact the opposite of you though and like to dive right in. I either sink or swim, but struggle the entire time.

   For street you don’t need to research anything, and you should not look at others’ photos so you don’t end up mimicking them or get discouraged. Just be yourself, go out, and shoot. You’ll figure out your own style and gain confidence the more you do it. But you always get the butterflies every time you go out. Those quickly go away after you take a couple of shots.

   I guess you could research self defense techniques or what’s the best way to diffuse a situation if things escalate, which does happen.

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