Reader's Comments - Index of - Free

Street Photography
-- Jeff Warner, March 8, 2001
Trevor Hare talks about "gaining a bit of empathy before shooting your victims", and accuses Phil of
"hit-and-run" photography. I wonder if he would consider Cartier-Bresson a hit-and-run photographer.
HCB never tried to interact with his subjects or "get to know them". He didn't bother considering
whether they would "like" the way he chose to photograph them. Based on the historical record, I'd say
he pretty much INVENTED Street Photography. HCB devoted most of his effort to blending in, like a
"fly on the wall", so he could get pictures of people WITHOUT DISTURBING THEM. I think being
inconspicuous and unobtrusive is the most important thing in street photography. You must travel fast
and light: no photo vest, no camera bag, one small camera and a small prime lens or two, no flash. If you
really want to emulate the greats (Cartier-Bresson, Robert Frank, Winogrand, Evans), use a meterless
camera and learn to evaluate the light yourself.
-- Ian Cruikshank, April 5, 2001
I moderate a STREET PHOTOGRAPHY dicussion group where we share photos and ideas with each
other...
http://www.geocities.com/photomoderator
Take a look if interested
-- Dave Ramirez, April 13, 2001
After having HCB recommended to me so many times (I have 2 books of his work alongside books of
numerous others so I am familiar with him) i found this article interesting to read. Yes HCB, himself,
does NOT like having his picture published and is taking legal action against it happening!! What was
good for his 'subjects' is unacceptable to him....
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4135295,00.html
I am not going to take too rigid a stance on this but it does point back to my comments, above, about
putting yourself in your 'subjects' shoes and how would you react in their place.
-- Trevor Hare, April 28, 2001
Why exactly street photography must be black-and-white, taken with wide-angle lens close to the
subject? What a religious approach. This page contains great pictures and I specifically like that they are
in color and are DIFFERENT from what I've seen. I am glad that it is not yet another traditional BW
street photo gallery.
http://www.photo.net/photo/street-photography (13 of 31)7/3/2005 2:18:44 AM