Street Photography Research

The picture above is Vivian Maier

Vivian Maier
She was a very private person, She didn't always like other peoples company. But when she takes her photographs it looks like a celebration of peoples lives. Her subjects are often caught looking straight at the camera looking like they are making eye contact. But Vivian used a Rolleiflex which is a box shaped camera you have to look down into the view finder. So she still avoided people in that sense. After all her negatives were found in a house for auction. They found out that she use to be a nanny for well to do family's. and these were contacted the children now adults remembered her and her camera and how she was a private person. It is thought that she never showed her photos to anyone only a few children. When she was out taking photos she had no time for people and their airs and graces. Her photos are up there with the greats of her time.

The pictures above are by Vivian Maier

When all the lights go out

Well today was my first time in a dark room for over 16 years and I have repressed all dark room memories, all I remember is how to work the coil to get the film wound on. So waiting to go back  into that dark dark room was a bit nerve wrecking. But while I was waiting to go in I kept checking my equipment
1- development tank........check
2- spiral..........check
3-spindle........check
4- 2pence ..........check
5-film 1...........check
6-film 2........chec...oh hang on that's an empty  film case that could of been a bad thing to find out in the dark dark room

6- film 2.......check.....phew

so it was my turn to go into the dark dark cupboard. I placed all my equipment where I was hoping I could find in the dark and was finally handed my scissors then I shut the door and locked it and it was the blackest of black. I patted my hands around on the desk looking for my roll of film and my 2 p so I could crack open the film. FOUND THEM!!
I then broke open the film and then patted round for the scissors FOUND THEM!! I then felt for the end of the film and carefully cut the film hoping my fingers where not in the way. I then started to thread the film onto the spiral which went on easily thank god. Then after patting around the desk again to find the spindle knocking the film tubs on the floor I FOUND IT!! Feeling very proud of myself I then realised I had another roll of film to do. I then repeated the whole thing including the patting around in the dark and playing hunt the film cos I dropped it onto the floor. After all was complete and safe in the development tank I felt...... like a photographer ninja!!!! nothing could stop me .......except the lock on the door which took me longer to find then doing the task all together.

Reasons why you should carry a camera round at all times

Now while I am doing my street photography, I am trying my best to find the perfect shots of street life, but while I was wondering round with the camera the other day I found moments like these hard to come by. Yet while im in my car and am not able to get the camera I seem to find the best moments. The other day when I was driving home, when I drove past a gang of lads hanging about looking up to no good shall we say. When I noticed one of the lads had a chicken suit on including hood with red feathers........I seriously thought about pulling over in the middle of a lane to take his photo but came to the conclusion that I may panic them if a car suddenly stops and a crazy lady with a camera jumps out.........(but I came very close to being that crazy person). Then I was giving my brother a lift today as his band was playing in Middlesbrough live and I didn't bother taking my camera. So my brother was unloading his gear from the car with no help from me I might add. I found myself looking around at the people walking past when my eyes came to rest on a lady who was sat by the side of the road snorting coke.......typical!!. Lets just say I need a camera on me at all times.

Street Photography Research

The photo above is Bruce Gilden doing his flash method

Bruce Gilden is a street photographer that is still taking pictures he was born in 1946 and he is known for his work in new York. When he is out taking photos he looks for what he calls characters which to me says he wont take a picture of anyone unless he feels that they are unusual. He uses a flash that lets people know he's there. Then takes their photo, which I do like the sound of , But I find taking photos of people quite scary and if I did it this way I may have a panic attack in case I got hit by someone. The way he does it I think is great as he's being bold and not hiding.... in a way. Although the photos he takes I think would not capture natural images just a surprised one lol. He likes to get up close and personal as well for his pictures. He has taken pictures of Japans Yakuza, the homeless, prostitutes and biker gangs. Apparently he was fascinated with the double lives these people lived. He is also a member of magnum since 1998. A lot of photographers do not like he's approach to street photography but I feel fascinated about his method and may try something like this as an experiment when I feel brave enough of course.

All photos above are by Bruce Gilden

Street Photography Research

Street photography is a type of photography that catches situations in public places. I've read that it doesn't have to be in a street or even in an urban place, it doesn't even need people in it. Timing can be everything sometimes to create the perfect moment/picture. Street photography can also be used for documentary .Street photography was made in the era spanning the end of the 19th Century through to the late 1970s; a period which saw the portable cameras. During the course of its evolution, street photography has provided a diverse and detailed record of street culture. The advent of digital photography, combined with the exponential growth of photo-sharing via the internet, has greatly expanded an awareness of  the photos and the photographers

I've also read that Paris is widely know as the birth of street photography. Eugene Atget is thought to be the father of street photography and this is only because of his popularity in the subject. He helped to promote the city streets of Paris in the 1890s-1920s. He didn't take pictures of people very often he preferred the buildings, stairs that type of thing.
John Thomson  he was Scottish and taking photography of the streets of Paris but he was never as popular as Eugene Atget.
John Thomas was the person who made the change from photographing higher class people to the street photography.

 

The above 2 pictures are by Eugene Atget                                                                                        

 

 

Henri Cartier-Bresson had a reputation the same as Eugene Atget he was a 20th century who liked to take the actions of people he was the one responsible for taking photos at the ideal situation. He's interest was in traditional art  and this was an influence for him, this comes through in his timing and technique.

        The photo above is by Henri Cartier-Bresson

 

 



Street Photography Research

Now Im quite a happy, sunny, giggly person and I must admit some of the street photography I see, I find quite depressing, sad and dark. So I have decided to look into street photography that makes you smile instead of feeling sad, Pictures that have an ironic twist to them that makes you laugh or smile I love things like that. Everyone likes something that makes them smile.





The picture to the right is called SLURP from a photographer called Hughes Leglise-Batailles and I must admit I found very funny. He has unfortunately died in 2011 in Brazil but very talented.

The photo above is from Matt Stuart

The photo above is from
Maciej Dakowicz and taken in India. This is another picture that made me smile and makes me wonder how long these photographers waited to get these images or weather it was a spare of a moment type of thing. I would really like to incorporate things like this in my street photography.

First attempt at street photography

Well the last 2 days have been my first time out doing some street photography, and boy did I get some wired looks. I couldn't tell weather I was going to get a slap or my camera stolen at some point. But on the plus side I have met some lovely people and never laughed so much. Today I was walking round stockton market were I found the stall holders giving me very worried looks and watching every move I made, It started to make me feel very uncomfortable, untill one stall holder shouted me over and asked if I worked at Income support to which I laughed and answered no she then told her husband he could come out from his hiding place lol

Street Photgraphy Research

When it comes to doing street photography i think of the old photos of women in the 60s with their head scarfs and their aprons on chating over a brick wall, always looking like they have had a busy morning cleaning and kids playing on the streets looking dirty and enjoying themselves. I love these type of photos as they always look like everyone has been hard at work and even though life is hard they are happy. I would like to bring this element to my photos and catch that part of their lives.

The photograph above is from John Bulmer from 1960 and is known for how he captured the north and wanted to show the hard times that the north suffered in a commissioned piece from the Sunday Times intittled the north is dead.

Hello

My name is Donna Marie Green i am currently studying a ba in photography and this will be a blog of my work