personal project #2: Street photography
"Everybody street" 'illuminates the lives and work of New York's iconic street photographers and the incomparable city that has inspired them for decades. The documentary pays a tribute to the spirit of street photography through a cinematic exploration of New York City, and captures the visceral rush, singular perseverance and at times immediate danger customary to these artists.
Covering nine decades of street photography, "Everybody Street" explores the careers and influences of many notable photographers- a number of who have never been documented, featuring: Bruce Daidson, Elliott Erwitt, Jill Freedman, Bruce Gilden, Joel Meyerowitz, Rebecca Lepckoff, Mary Ellen Mark, Jeff Mermelstien, Clayton Patterson, Ricky Powell, Jamel Shabazz, Martha Cooper, and Boogie, with historians Max Kozloff, and Luc' Sante.http://vimeo.com/ondemand/everybodystreet/70639661 I really like this photo by Elliott Erwitt. This is because by the angle of the camera, the dogs legs look like someone else is standing next to the lady. As the camera is cutting out the dogs hind legs, and as the dog is tall, it really draws the audience into the picture. All of Elliott Erwitt's photos are in black and white, I think it suits the style of pictures he takes. This particular picture is very calm, not much is going on but it is very interesting at the same time, although There is more then one main part to the picture. This is one of my favourite pictures of his, because it gets the audience questioning, and wondering about what would the full picture of been like.
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All of these pictures featured in the slideshow, are all produced my Elliott Erwitt A well known street photographer. Elliott Erwitt takes unusual photos including animals, mainly dogs. When using dogs in his work, what Erwitt really focuses on is the angle at which the camera is focused at. However although the photographs included in the slideshow are comical, Elliott Erwitt also focuses on everyday things, from the past and the present.
" I appreciate simplicity, true beauty that lasts over time, a little wit and eclecticism that make life more fun."
stylish strollI decided to name this photo Stylish Stroll because, the chihuahua is dressed in a jumper, with a matching hat, whilst on an outing with another dog, and its walker.
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What i learned about street photography from the film 'everybody street'
How do street photographers behave?
Street photographers are balletic and patient, they don't wait for the perfect photograph, they hunt to capture a picture in the moment. In some cases they risk their lives just to take a photograph of a true situation, however because they have good communicating they create bond with their subjects. Street photographers see what other people might think as boring, but they turn it into something unique.
What kind of equipment do they use?
Mostly small, silent rangefinder cameras (e.g Lecia). Some use SLR's. They use wide angle lenses and sometimes telephoto lenses.
What kinds of subjects interest them?
The subject depends on the photographer. For example some street photographers enjoy the subject of crime and police, where as others are inspired by chaos, or just random people on the street in an interesting position.
Why do they like photographing on the street?
Anything can happen on the street. It's edgy and surprising.
Street photographers are balletic and patient, they don't wait for the perfect photograph, they hunt to capture a picture in the moment. In some cases they risk their lives just to take a photograph of a true situation, however because they have good communicating they create bond with their subjects. Street photographers see what other people might think as boring, but they turn it into something unique.
What kind of equipment do they use?
Mostly small, silent rangefinder cameras (e.g Lecia). Some use SLR's. They use wide angle lenses and sometimes telephoto lenses.
What kinds of subjects interest them?
The subject depends on the photographer. For example some street photographers enjoy the subject of crime and police, where as others are inspired by chaos, or just random people on the street in an interesting position.
Why do they like photographing on the street?
Anything can happen on the street. It's edgy and surprising.
"Balance of light is the problem, not the amount. Balance between shadows and highlights determines where the emphasis goes in the picture...make sure the major light in a picture falls at right angles to the camera."
Photo challenge #1- way of seeing
Shadows and reflectionsCropping |
Looking downOver the shoulderwalk on by |
photo challenge #2- diagonals
The idea for this challenge comes from Eric Kim's great photography site. Street photographers are often about dramatic situations or view points. In lots of ways drama is created in pictures however using strong diagonal lines. That is one technique often used my street photographers.
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Here are my own pictures of diagonals using an Ipod app
Here is my second attempt at diagonals on a cannon
This is one of my favourite pictures I took. I really like the fact that the fain colour focused on, is a range of creamy colours, then there is a bright electric blue sky. I like the fact, that if someone saw this picture they wouldn't guess is was apart of Thomas Tallis. Another reason I like this photo, because it meets the objectives of what the photograph was meant to be, as the diagonal in this is clear and defined with a black, bold line.
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This is another one of my favourite photographs, because there are a lot of examples of diagonal lines, and I didn't have to change the camera angle to capture them. Also because you get to see the whole location, as well as shadows.
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Photo challenge #3- Rule of thirds
The rule of thirds (which is more of a guideline than a rule) is am imaginary grid that can help you make better photographs. In the diagram to the left, the image is divided up into 9 segments by lines placed on this and two thirds across the surface. However on some cameras they have a option to turn these grid lines on in the viewfinder.
The idea is to compose your shot using the gris lines, the segments and the places where the lines cross to help you. The slideshow below, were my first attempt at taking pictures, using the rule of thirds. |
Here is my first try at making photographs using the rule of thirds |
Here is my second try at making photographs using the rule of thirds |
Easter holiday
I really like this photograph, mainly because it is quite colourful. I also like the fact that it was taken up in London so it shows the different types of graffiti shown to the public. However I think this photo is more exciting than the other photograph (the photo to the left) because there is more to look at in this picture than just the graffiti, for example my friend standing in the middle. |
I like this photograph I took, because it only had one main subject of it, the man picking his nose. Although all of the colours are different shades of brown I think it makes the picture interesting to look at mainly because of the strange pose the man is doing, because of this I think the photo works well with the face, that there aren't any bold colours that stand out, but just simple shades of brown.
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