Buskers - Street Photography

Buskers can be a real gift for street photography.

They themselves are interesting. People, from various backgrounds, have skill, motivation and opportunity to perform out in public. 

Perhaps they are students, are supplementing the income from another job or are simply busking for fun. They might even be seen by a talent-spotter. Who knows?!

By their nature they capture people's interest and can create pure "story" and drama. Crowds gather to be entertained and various reactions and expressions occur, just waiting to be photographed.

This lady was more than happy to be photographed and was quite content to perform as I took this image. Of course I donated some gold coins. Only fair, for music, a smile and a nice little photo!

Accepting You Will Get Dirty Looks - Street Photography

This man is a fairly well-known news reporter in South Australia. 

I saw him and his camera crew making some footage in Adelaide and thought I could get a great shot.

I remember walking around so I was facing them, but not so I was interrupting them. The camera man was actually swinging his camera around, I think to establish the path he would follow when panning around. Anyway, I'm not knowledgeable about these things.

I snapped this photograph. I'm not sure it's clear from this image, but this man was not happy - really not happy. I would suggest "disgusted" would describe how he felt with my photographing him. A man who makes a living in front of a camera to react like that was quite odd. I smiled and walked away quickly. 

I know people in public life deserve a private life, I wouldn't suggest anything different. However, he was working, not buying milk and bread on a day off, dressed in his dressing gown and slippers. In fact, he was stopping people on their days off, interrupting their lives - for a moment - to interview / record them for TV. 

So I found his reaction quite odd.

Getting dirty looks when photographing strangers can be expected though. But so can looks of surprise, joy and a myriad of other expressions. That's partly why street photography is so fascinating.

Confrontation - Street Photography

Not a technically great photograph by any means, I thought I would post this image, again because of it's story.

That's part of the power of photography - story telling and memory keeping.

I thought this man was a really interesting character. He was a large, powerful chap, marching very quickly down the street. Quick, powerful, large and dressed in a suit he looked important.

I wanted to capture that impression.

But what happened next wasn't what I planned for at all.

This man confronted me and wasn't shy about it at all. He demanded to know why I was taking his photograph and without really waiting for the answer demanded that I delete his image as it had been taken illegally without his permission.

I tried in vein to explain that in a public space I can legally photograph people (although I believe Aboriginal people can't be, here in Australia). I also tried to explain that I had taken one image, but every shop and CCTV camera he walked by that day would have taken countless images of him - I was simply more honest about it.

Well, he was a powerful man, one that tried to bully me. I have a fair amount of personal power too, and yes, still have the image. 

The reason I post this image is not to embarrass this man, but to highlight that photographers have rights and a level of protection too - though check in your own country what those rights are.

In Australia, the UK and America, I believe as a general rule, if you are in a public space you can legally take a photograph of anything you see. But there are always exceptions and there will be times when police, for example, might take your camera if it might have an image that can be used as evidence in an investigation.

My message is, do some research and know your rights.

I remember I once took a lady's photograph and she asked me in a firm but pleasant way to delete her image as she wasn't comfortable. I chose to delete the image. It wasn't a big deal. I'd rather not upset people. But that doesn't mean allowing yourself to be bullied or forced to do something you don't want or have to.

When you take a photograph, make an image, it is your property! 

Have you had similar experiences? Or are you worried about a street photographer taking your photograph?

Timeless Adelaide Man - Street Photography

Hello again!

You came by just in time for me sharing this image!

This is one of my own street photography favourites. 

On Pulteney Street in Adelaide, I had crouched down and looked up at this man and as I took his image this was his expression. 

Along with his style of clothing and with whatever that is around his neck, I just find him so interesting. I bet he has many stories to tell.

In fact, I could imagine him on the cover of a CD cover (do people still by those?)...he looks like he has stepped slightly outside of time. 

What do you think?

Scruffy Intellectual - Street Photography

Okay, you got me. This image wasn't taken in the street, but it's a candid shot nonetheless.

This man was working / volunteering in a museum in Adelaide, giving directions to a couple of younger men.

He was such an interesting character. After I took this image he gave me such a filthy, almost exasperated look, I left fairly quickly.

He came across as a scruffy, intellectual type...you know, like a popular teacher you might have had at school, who only pretends to be grumpy but actually is a sweet, even if slightly cantankerous gentleman.

With his short sleeves, pen in his pocket, surrounded by the smell of dusty books, peering over his glasses...he would be a great character in a novel. 

One day I might write that novel.

Thanks again for popping by!

Candid Photography Informing Your Spiritual Journey

I wasn't sure if I should post these images, but in the theme of being authentic and true, to myself and my work, I've decided to share them. And it isn't so much the images, but the story they hold.

I was out shooting candid images and had been trying a new approach. I had read someone's take on street photography, about the spiritual aspect it potentially can have for some photographers and how they can better serve and engage with the community they belong to.

One element of this was approaching the people you were photographing and simply having a conversation. This would be reaching out to a stranger who is only a stranger because you haven't met them yet. Photography has the uncanny capacity to let you gain insight into a person's character and actually speaking with them can help you get a fuller understanding of who they are.

As my confidence was growing in photographing people, I approached these men and explained I was taking candid images and I asked if they felt okay with this. This opened up an interesting dialogue. It turned out they were both from the UK. One lived here, the other was visiting. 

They had been friends since they were children.

Then the conversation turned in a way I never anticipated. The friend had made a visit to Australia because the man living here wasn't well. Indeed, he didn't have much time left.

A lump in my throat, I didn't have a clue what I should say. To be honest I can't remember what I did say. But there we were. It was all too evident how much these life-long friends meant to each other and how difficult life was for them both, in "that time and place".

After some parting words and thanking them for speaking with me, I fired off a few shots of other people, giving these lovely men some space. I then noticed my image below, over-exposed. To me it looked like people walking from Earth to Heaven, into the light. Sounds silly to some maybe, but that's how I saw it and how I still see it. 

The conversation I had was very important to me. 

I have seen all too many videos on youtube of street photographers leaping wildly from person to person, taking (stealing?) images, being almost aggressive and confrontational, snapping away, flashes going off in people's faces...But this conversation reminded and highlighted for me that people are emotional entities with their own story, who should be respected. I don't ask every person I shoot if it is okay. There are many reasons for that. However, I think street photography is at it's best when the subjects are respected as people.

I am thankful to these men for sharing their story with me and for how that has informed my own spiritual journey in a very real way. 

I hope they have both found peace.

Pretty Lady In A Crowd

 

I've found in street photography, when I want to catch candid shots of people, it can be interesting to identify the energy and flow of a crowd, see where the attention is focused and then it is easier to catch people in their natural expressions.

Such was this example, above, of a street entertainer. This handsome chap is doing his thing, charming the crowd. He spots me and smiles. Lovely. He expects to be photographed and isn't phased.

In fact I think he kinda liked it!

Then, I turned around, with my camera ready, not quite sure what I was looking for.

Then this lovely lady, below, turned to me and smiled. Everyone else is oblivious.

In the image it's half a smile you see. She has one of those gorgeous, wide, slow smiles. Beautiful! 

We connected for an instant. Warmly. Then, after the image was taken, she sort of remembered herself and looked away.

I'm grateful to her, because regardless of what you think of the image,  my taking the image meant I connected with someone, even just for a second, who I could appreciate was a kind and loving soul.

Special.

Thank you, pretty lady.

The Men, Fishing - Street Photography

Hello! Welcome to my little old blog. 

I have been interested in photography since I can remember (arranging toy dinosaurs for a composed series of photographs is my earliest memory of realising the power in taking photographs).

I have also blogged elsewhere, on and off. Mostly off.

But here we are. Anew. 

I wanted to share my love of photography with you (whoever you are) and thought, to begin with, I would post this image.

I took this image in Adelaide, Henley Beach. A while back. 

I really enjoy Street Photography. I enjoy portrait photography, but I do kinda love street images and candid shots. And black and white images do tend to make me feel all kinds of warm and fuzzies. The good kind.

I take great pleasure in seeing others' street work and really like when my own work leads to images like this one.

The men, fishing, are aware I am taking their photograph and you can see their reactions.

I don't ever set out to make people feel ill at ease. I simply like people, am fascinated by their expressions and gestures and want to document what people are doing "in this time and place".

The chap closest to me knew I was snapping and turned away, while the men furthest away are curious as to what I am doing.

It's a candid shot. My preference would be that to make it more natural, they wouldn't have reacted to me being there. Unfortunately, like in ethnographic research, the presence of the observer can alter only too well that which is being observed.

An alternative would be to take the photograph with a zoom lens from a great distance, but that feels wrong somehow...dishonest.

Anyway, let me know your thoughts in the comments!

I'll be sharing more images and so please look out for upcoming posts.

Thanks for popping by!