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Street Photography
"Desaturate" in Photoshop, with the images on this page, to see what I mean. A good colour image will
nearly always be poor in B&W (and vice-versa, if you go to the bother of colouring it). UNQUOTE
In my world, a good image should work in both Colour & B&W, i.e. desaturate and it's still a good
image. Now, a mediocre colour image might not work as a B&W....
-- Paul Alford, April 16, 2004
"i have also used a telephoto from a vehicle, because if i had been seen taking the picture, i would have
probably gotten into a fight or worse." This was written by Perry on Jan. 30th. This is an example of
what future street photographers should not do. Perry's pathetic tactics illustrate what is wrong with
street photography. I am a social worker who serves the homeless mentally ill in Detroit. I also do street
photography with this population. I approach them respectfully and I intend to use their images for their
benefit in the form of advocacy. Peep show voyeurs like Perry do not respect people. I'm not surprised
that some one might be offended when he is shooting from a car window like a nature photographer
taking a picture of a bison. Photography can be used to acheive wonderful objectives and also can serve
to make some morally crippled individual feel good about himself/herself. The way Perry and many
others approach photography makes the camera a barrier between people rather than a bridge. People do
have a right not to be photographed. It doesn't matter if they are in a public place or not. If they do not
consent to the photograph, your are shamefully violating their privacy. Some people might be surprised
to find out that when you approach a person like a human being they usually consent to being
photographed. Perry likes the seemier side of life. Perry likes the dirty underworld. The lower socioeconomic
classes are so heavily photographed because the upper classes have denied them the basic
human tenets of individualism, privacy and autonomy. They are, to Perrys of the world, helpless fish in
the barrell waiting to be 'shot'. It should be noted that the more priviledged classes have never been
photographed in the way that the poor have because they have the financial and social means to remain
hidden. Access to their world is exclusive. Access to the poor is viewed as a right to Perry, not a
priviledge to be granted by the subject. Perry should know that these poor people are fathers, cousins,
uncles, friends, co-workers and neighbors to some one. People in their lives care about them. People
who know them care about them. If you want to photograph some one get to know them, even if for 10
minutes. Ask them their name, what they like to do, and so one. You know what is really sad? Many of
the people I have met as a social worker and as a street photographer are more ethical and respectful that
the disgusting Perrys of the world. They are often victims of circumstance, crime, systemic prejudices,
unemployment, mental illness, substance abuse, and a crumbling social welfare system. They try hard to
keep their head up and keep trying despite the odds. They hope, pray and beg for a better future. They
try, fail, and then try again. And when they are on their back at their lowest moment a car pulls up, a
lens comes out and...
-- John Gallagher, May 3, 2004
"People do have a right not to be photographed." You're an idiot. The supreme court has already ruled
http://www.photo.net/photo/street-photography (21 of 31)7/3/2005 2:18:44 AM