PRACTICAL APPLICATION, STREET PHOTOGRAPHY STREET PHOTOGRAPHY: AN OLD GENRE’

1. PRACTICAL APPLICATION, STREET PHOTOGRAPHY
STREET PHOTOGRAPHY: AN OLD GENRE’
All Photographs are from my Nikon FE with a Nikon 24mm f/2.8 AiS and Fuji
Neopan 400 developed in Rodinal 1:50 at 20c
Many of us have seen photographers whip out their camera and snag a candid
photo of someone walking by, or doing something that somehow records a slice of
life. It could be an expression, a hand gestures, or a combination of things that got
their attention. The thing about street photography is that it requires a bit of
boldness, and a constant eye for what is going on around you. Your camera [must]
be ready instantly to take a photograph, and the settings you use are your choice.
Many Street Photographers use Aperture Priority mode to control Depth of
Focus (DOF here after), and a higher ISO to allow a fast shutter speed under most
conditions. You will encounter sunlight, open shade, deeper and shaded areas
where people are milling around. ISO 400 is favorite among many film
photographers, and ISO 400 can be very useful as long as your camera has shutter
speeds to at least 1/2000s. In a bright area, shooting at f/11 with a wide angle lens
mounted, and a shutter speed between 1/500s – 1/1500s in not uncommon at ISO

2. … But, a y readi gs will e arou d / -1/500s. And in the shade, open up
to f/8, this will still give an action stopping shutter speed of 1/125 – 1/250. If you
go below 1/125, you risk a little motion blur. Which could work also.
The history of Street Photography goes back to Henri Cartier Bresson (Many call
the Father of Street Photography), from around 1940’s or so. A French man, who,
as a child had an interest in Photography and also sketching. He dabbled with
4×3 camera . When he was 19 in 1927, he entered a private art school to learn
Classical French Painting. Although he learned the art of painting, he was moved
by the Photographic Realism movement of his time. The Photography Revolution
began, Crush tradition.. Photograph things as they are . By 1930’s, after a few
life’s experiences, Henri, returned to the Photographic Surrealism movement, he
became inspired by a photograph taken by Martin Munkacsi, of 3 naked African
Children caught in a near silhouette. Henri said after this photo, The only
thing which completely was an amazement to me and brought me to photography
was the work of Munkacsi. When I saw the photograph of Munkacsi of the black
kids running in a wave I couldn’t believe such a thing could be caught with the
camera. I said damn it, I took my camera and went out into the street . (Quote
from Wikipedia)

3. From that day on, he took photography seriously. He finely understood that
Photography could fix eternity in an instant. Picking a Leica with a 50mm lens, he
took the next several years working along side Martin. As time passed, he was a
reporter for WWII, and had many excellent photos that where published all the
world. HCB also worked with other media companies, and his work was becoming
recognized. By 1952, HCB had achieved international recognition, and published a
book. Images à la sauvette , the English Title was The Divisive Moment which
a e fro a 7th Ce tury Cardi al de Retz… Il n’y a rien dans ce monde qui n’ait
un moment decisif ( There is nothing in this world that does not have a decisive
moment ). Cartier-Bresson applied this to his photographic style. He said:
Photographier: c’est dans un même instant et en une fraction de seconde
reconnaître un fait et l’organisation rigoureuse de formes perçues visuellement
qui expriment et signifient ce fait ( Photography is simultaneously and
instantaneously the recognition of a fact and the rigorous organization of visually
perceived forms that express and signify that fact ) (Quote from Wikipedia).

4. A quote from HCB about the difference between Painting and
Photography... Photography is not like painting, Cartier-Bresson told the
Washington Post in 1957. There is a creative fraction of a second when you are
taking a picture. Your eye must see a composition or an expression that life itself
offers you, and you must know with intuition when to click the camera. That is the
moment the photographer is creative, he said. Oop! The Moment! Once you
miss it, it is gone forever . (Quote from Wikipedia). I think this quote sums it
nicely, you have an instant to react and capture the moment, if you miss, it’s gone
forever.
I have to be candid with you about this Decisive Moment . By the time you react
to a situation, it is gone! You have to read the scene ahead of time , and try to
predict what may happen in the next few seconds. I’d say that most of our best
photos, are a surprise to use when we see what we [really] captured. My 1st

5. photo in this article was a surprise to me, because when I was ready to take it (just
a millisecond in response time), the man on the right was looking at me!, Not to
the right. But, the less than 1 second response time was not fast enough. (and I
was using a Nikon FE in Aperture mode, Focus was preset for 5′-INF). So, the moral
of this story is that you keep taking photographs. You are bound by the odds
that by the more you try to get that Divisive Moment , the more keepers you will
have. Even, if, the moment is a tad late.
The E-M5 can can make a great Street Camera. The AF is super fast, and the
added aid of the touch scene to use as a shutter release along with the focus point
[you] want in focus is a big plus for candid street photography. And, add, that the
E-M a follow fo us with Fa e Dete tio o … is a dou le plus. I guess I should
mention the 9fps is available to you can get you ore keepers… I re o e d
short bursts though.

6. Different laws are in effect in different countries, so, make sure you know the laws
in area for photographing people in public places. I do not recommend, and it is
illegal in all countries, taking candid photos ON PRIVATE property.. (That is,
without permission from the owner) that is, you are physically standing on private
property while taking candid photos of others on private property. That is
trespassing. (An Outside Mall is Private Property, In the USA, this is Strip Malls
and Malls that build their own little shopping quadrants with 2 or 3 private
roadways that cut through it) Public Property is property that is owned by the
Town or City or State or Government. Malls, (indoor and outdoor), Parking Lots,
are Private Property with public access, just as other Privately owned bushiness’s
are.
Keep Downtown, and on city streets and you should remain hassle free,
photographi ally speaki g o your day out.. ostly… they’re always a few over
aggressive officers looking for trouble, where non exists. Always Nod to an officer
when you see them, and don’t try to be stealthy. Wear casual cloths, that don’t
scream Hoodlum or Drug Addict .
Have fun, and remember to be friendly and meet a few new people while you are
at it.