Street Photography for the PuristI've been intending to write about street photography for some time now...because its been a very misunderstood genre and because i've seen a number of photos posted here as well as on other forums trying to pass off as "street photography".
I dont blame the people who've posted them - If you google "street photography" there's a huge amount of misleading information that you'll end up with. For some reason, there just isnt enough accurate information out there. Google Landscape photography or portrait photography and you'll get more or less tips and stuff that will get you started. But sadly not for street photography.
I've seen photos posted on the forum which are like snapshots taken on the road - that is not street photography..."street" is a niche genre that is difficult to master but very very rewarding.
There is no manual or instruction book that you can read which will make you a street photographer. I'm sharing the little that i know inter-spaced with some extracts from the book. Its also very difficult to explain what exactly is meant when we say that a photograph has to have a "story" and why this story is an essential element in street photography.
So the next best thing i could think of doing was to
write a short review on this fabulous 160 page Free ebook by the amazingly talented Chris Weeks in the hope that you will read this book and understand:
- What exactly is street photography
- What is meant by getting close to the subject
- Why black and white and why not colour
- What is meant by having a "story" in the photograph
- How do you train yourself to be a street photographer"Street Photography is easy. And it is difficult.
It is easy because you find your subjects virtually everywhere. You don?t need to go for the extraordinary. Far from it.
The ordinary, everyday-thing is our matter of interest.
It is difficult because the line to taking snapshots is very thin.
Snap-shooters produce pictures, but don?t take photos.
Snap-shooters just direct their camera to whatever comes in sight and press the button.
The gear is not important for this matter.
A snap-shooter with a Leica is still a snap-shooter.
Street Photographers work differently. Their photo has been created in their mind - long (seconds or milliseconds) before they release the shutter"The book has an amazing collection of photographs infact the book is filled with them and has small bits of write-ups by street photographers who are patient enough to explain the nuances of this genre -
look at each and every single photograph carefully and try and search for the story...- look at what you think is the subject..then look again...
- look for what's missing..try and understand why its missing...look for emotions..
- look at how there is an emotional contrast between the subject and the surroundings..
- re-look at all the photos again and feel each one of them.
- Dont look for sharpness....train ur mind to look for stories instead. This genre is not about technical accuracy...its about people & their stories narrated in b&w by master story tellers."You never know when that circumstance will look lovely.
Well-composed.
Maybe not the sharpest.
Maybe there?s a lot of grain.
Maybe it?s even slightly out-of-focus. Never stopped Mssr. Cartier-Bresson! 
But it works.
I don?t forgive a lot of mistakes with other photography but with street just its imperfect roots lend some forgiveness."The book is a bit "old school" err..like me.
And Chris wants you to understand whats the big deal about using a rangefinder and not an DSLR. He also talks about why an SLR with a long zoom lens is not the same as going close to the subject and being part of the "moment" with a fast 50mm / 35mm mounted on a rangefinder.
He explains how you need to enter the subjects comfort zone...
How photos need to be taken without the subject knowing that they are being photographed -
there's a difference between a subject who's looking at the camera but doesn't know he's being photographed vs someone who does. Learn to understand how this difference makes a difference to your street photos."If you don?t feel well in public places, if you happen be the autistic type of guy, Street Photography is probably not for you. If you think that using a 300mm makes you a Street Photographer, you are dreaming.
Get close, be part of the scenery, visible or unnoticed, but don?t behave like an intruder or bully.
If you still carry the manual of your camera with you in your bag, come back when you are able to operate it blindfolded and/or from your hip. Butif you feel that your camera is an organic part of your body and the lens your third eye, go out and play.
HCB once said: ?Photographers are like butterflies. They flutter from photo to photo.? Be a butterfly"
The book forces you to understand the meaning of the word stealth..and how classical street photographers "shot from the hip".
Chris talks about doing things the old way - writing down exposure values on a piece of paper...try it out..it really works. Those of you who've shot with me know that i can fairly accurately predict shutter speed and aperture by guesswork without using a camera meter ....its because i have actually written stuff down in the good old days. It takes a bit of practice but you'll get the hang of it.
This book is powerful enough to make you go and buy a rangefinder (no..mine are not for sale so what if they're not Leica's).
Well you may not really buy one...... but it sure will make you look at things differently and it sure will either make you give up sloppy attempts at street photography or renew ur passion and make you take the plunge and open up a whole new dimension in your journey towards photographic artistry.
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Chris weeks is a free lance editorial photographer based in Los Angeles. He's shot commercially for Rolling Stone, Instyle, People etc etc. Some of his work can be viewed here - http://www.chrisweeks.net/
Street photography is something he does over and above his commercial work. His ebook specifically mentions that it may not be hosted anywhere else so I've not put it up here on the forum.
You can however download the ebook from its original location till Chris feels it okay to keep it up there - http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs11/f/2006/227/e/2/street_photography_for_the_purist.pdf
ps - Chris, incase you ever happen to come across this post - a genuine and heartfelt thank you for putting this ebook together and putting it up on the internet. Take a bow
