The documentary "Everybody Street" directed by Cheryl Dunn, takes a look at New York street photographers. The film interviews several well-known street photographers and shares their images they have captured over the years. Before watching the film, I was not sure how street photography worked nor did I know how ethical it was. There are several types of street photographers. According to the website Urbanpicnic, "Street photography are mirror images of society, displaying "unmanipulated" scenes, with usually unaware subjects." There are the photographers that just get in your face, take your picture, and walk away like photographer Bruce Gilden. Then there are the photographers that live in the environment that they want to document. In the film, the photographer Boogie talks about the time he spent with junkies and gangsters. He placed himself in the middle of their lives and soon they trusted him. This allowed him to take some powerful images that we would not be able to see in our day to day lives.
Street photography simply fascinates me. It is the idea that one can capture real life in all its forms. Having images that no longer exist. It also makes me think if I would ever have the courage as a photographer to take pictures of total strangers. I would be afraid that the people would have a negative reaction or even a violent reaction. I guess its the chance you take to get the images that most people wouldn't even attempt. It is truly an art form. Most, if not all, street photographers use analog photography and do not edit their images. That is something to admire when we have so many editing tools that can completely change what was originally seen through the lens.
It makes me wonder how long street photography will last. Social Media has allowed people to take photos wherever they are and share instantly with everyone and most of those pictures are enhanced in one way or another. I personally would never want street photography to die and I am truly grateful for those who have given us true images of life. So the question I ask you, "Do you believe street photography is an art form or an invasion of someones privacy?"
3 Comments
I loved your article on stretchers photography. I have photography as a hobby myself and the deeper I get into the art of actually learning about my camera and how it takes photos I long to dive into the older, lesser known forms of photography. Because I appreciate street photography as an art I do not feel it is an invasion of privacy. We walk around every day and are taped and recorded in many forms from stores and government. As an art, I have a right to use my camera as a tool to capture the world around me, specifically the people. My question for you is do you think this type of art can thrive on social media like instagram or tumblr? I think it would be a good disruption to the heavily edited version of street photography being found on these platforms right now. I'd love to see a hashtag "#streetphotography" showing the art in its true light.
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Amanda Kodumal
9/20/2017 09:24:38 pm
Great use of visual media in your blog post, it really compliments the content. It was an interesting read, being from New York I've always seen street photography but never put much thought into it.
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Michelle Richie Borre
10/20/2017 04:49:20 pm
Love the article and also wonder what social media will do to this type of art. Street photography stirs up all sorts of emotions in me and I can get lost looking at these types of photographs. I do not feel that it is a violation of personal space if the photographer is intending to capture a moment, feeling, environment that surrounds the person. Thanks for sharing!
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