Street Photography is Tough

Street photography is tough.  The way I see it, there are at least two approaches by which to achieve success.  One requires stealth, quick reaction time, finely tuned powers of observation and anticipation.  It requires an intimate comfort with your camera of choice. The other method is to engage with your subjects.  Play with them. Get in close.  Get to know them and gain their trust and then ask or feel confident that it’s OK to take a photograph.  This is a much more conspicuous and honest approach.

I recently read the excellent article published right here on 35mmc by Scott Ferguson – Photochemical Graffiti – a play on the similarly titled Led Zeppelin album.  In his article, Scott describes how in his earlier days in this genre, he was too shy, lacked confidence and felt that he was taking too much of the subjects time.  Judging from what he photographed on the day of his street adventure, he’s obviously come a long way.  Check out his article.

Me on the other hand……

I struggle with street photography.  Mightily.  I employ the stealth method.  I’m a coward.  And that unfortunately makes the whole enterprise more difficult.  Last month there was an outdoor music festival in my hometown of Hamilton, Ontario.  I arrived on the scene in the later afternoon poised to take some photographs of people doing what they do.  I loaded up my Leica M3 with some HP5 + and attached a f4 – 90mm Rokkor lens.  A good and proper stealth approach.  I could keep my distance.  As usual however, this led me to feel as if I was stealing photographs.  Cloak and dagger stuff.  I felt that it was I that was being watched and not doing the watching.  Just look at the guy in the photo below!  What was he thinking as I shot this rather innocuous image of a lady shopping his wares?

I continued on that afternoon taking a few more marginally interesting- or perhaps boring shots like this.  But, I WAS being watched! See!

And some like this like this.  Ho hum.

But stay with me as I’m about to change gears here. I hope you appreciate the humour.  (If there’s one thing missing from 35mmc, it’s a sense of humour 😉)

Nearing the end of the film roll I came across the scene as photographed below.  I just couldn’t resist!  Employing all my powers of observation, anticipation, stealth and a certain level of comfort with my gear, I aimed and fired.  So here’s my contribution to the canon of street photography.  In keeping with Scott Ferguson’s play on Led Zeppelin album titles I’ll call this one “In Through The Out Door”.  Please don’t think less of me.

Share this post: