Comments on: Conceptual Street Photography http://2point8.whileseated.org/2007/04/17/conceptual-street-photography/ A wide-open view of the practice of street photography by Michael David Murphy, While Seated. Tue, 21 May 2013 17:02:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: joost burger http://2point8.whileseated.org/2007/04/17/conceptual-street-photography/comment-page-1/#comment-25218 joost burger Tue, 12 Jun 2007 16:22:04 +0000 http://2point8.whileseated.org/?p=184#comment-25218 This is a very interesting article, it made me think about my fundamental aproach to photography. I hope you enjoy flickr's splitsecond group, you are more than welcome! This is a very interesting article, it made me think about my fundamental aproach to photography. I hope you enjoy flickr’s splitsecond group, you are more than welcome!

]]> By: Nils Jorgensen http://2point8.whileseated.org/2007/04/17/conceptual-street-photography/comment-page-1/#comment-18213 Nils Jorgensen Thu, 26 Apr 2007 10:34:07 +0000 http://2point8.whileseated.org/?p=184#comment-18213 As always, an interesting read, Michael. Thanks. As always, an interesting read, Michael. Thanks.

]]> By: Jim O'Connell http://2point8.whileseated.org/2007/04/17/conceptual-street-photography/comment-page-1/#comment-17867 Jim O'Connell Wed, 25 Apr 2007 09:15:06 +0000 http://2point8.whileseated.org/?p=184#comment-17867 Excellent article. There's also a distinction to be made between staged and street photos that aren't completely candid. For a while, working in Tokyo, to get access to certain areas of Kabukicho after midnight, I had to bribe some of the bouncers and gangsters with portraits, followed later with prints. At the time, I considered these throwaways, the cost of doing business, but some of them surprised me—they had merit, artistically. Other times, I'd take a shot after asking. I'd ask to take a shot, then do a few after they thought I was done. Sometimes these worked out well, better than you'd expect. I don't consider these "street" really, but I'm not limiting myself to that. They're people in the places where I shoot, doing what they do. They just happen to know I'm taking their photo and don't pay much attention. I've never staged a street shot, though. I'm not opposed to it in principle, but I can't see how I could make it work, at least in the sort of shots I take now. Could be an interesting challenge. Excellent article.
There’s also a distinction to be made between staged and street photos that aren’t completely candid. For a while, working in Tokyo, to get access to certain areas of Kabukicho after midnight, I had to bribe some of the bouncers and gangsters with portraits, followed later with prints. At the time, I considered these throwaways, the cost of doing business, but some of them surprised me—they had merit, artistically.
Other times, I’d take a shot after asking. I’d ask to take a shot, then do a few after they thought I was done. Sometimes these worked out well, better than you’d expect. I don’t consider these “street” really, but I’m not limiting myself to that. They’re people in the places where I shoot, doing what they do. They just happen to know I’m taking their photo and don’t pay much attention.

I’ve never staged a street shot, though. I’m not opposed to it in principle, but I can’t see how I could make it work, at least in the sort of shots I take now. Could be an interesting challenge.

]]> By: matt http://2point8.whileseated.org/2007/04/17/conceptual-street-photography/comment-page-1/#comment-16591 matt Mon, 23 Apr 2007 22:18:40 +0000 http://2point8.whileseated.org/?p=184#comment-16591 True Dat (I think that's current slang) Klein should have his work in print cause when I think of what he was doing before I was even born, I'm stunned. Some of the Japanese books are fantastic and once again, completely unaffordable. If you haven't seen Ishimoto's "Chicago, Chicago" you must! Total classic... True Dat (I think that’s current slang) Klein should have his work in print cause when I think of what he was doing before I was even born, I’m stunned. Some of the Japanese books are fantastic and once again, completely unaffordable. If you haven’t seen Ishimoto’s “Chicago, Chicago” you must! Total classic…

]]> By: Michael David Murphy http://2point8.whileseated.org/2007/04/17/conceptual-street-photography/comment-page-1/#comment-16354 Michael David Murphy Mon, 23 Apr 2007 12:35:28 +0000 http://2point8.whileseated.org/?p=184#comment-16354 aLong comes through with this season's harvest of links. Thanks, Andrew. I'd forgotten about Metzker, and yes all these links fit, I think. Matt, I haven't gotten around to Klein (or the Japanese, who are linked in my mind, somehow) because a) their books are too expensive or b) I just haven't gotten around to them or c) I don't understand their stylization or d) a combo of any or all of the above. I like Klein a lot, and have spent hours here and there with his work in libraries, but haven't had real time to think about it and write-up anything... Soon? aLong comes through with this season’s harvest of links. Thanks, Andrew. I’d forgotten about Metzker, and yes all these links fit, I think.

Matt, I haven’t gotten around to Klein (or the Japanese, who are linked in my mind, somehow) because a) their books are too expensive or b) I just haven’t gotten around to them or c) I don’t understand their stylization or d) a combo of any or all of the above.

I like Klein a lot, and have spent hours here and there with his work in libraries, but haven’t had real time to think about it and write-up anything… Soon?

]]> By: andrew http://2point8.whileseated.org/2007/04/17/conceptual-street-photography/comment-page-1/#comment-15998 andrew Sun, 22 Apr 2007 17:52:19 +0000 http://2point8.whileseated.org/?p=184#comment-15998 damn, not sure why the a tags didn't work. here are the links: Metzker http://www.temple.edu/photo/photographers/metzker1/ray1.jpg http://www.temple.edu/photo/photographers/metzker1/ray11.jpg http://www.photoreview.org/re_viewing/pages/b15-Metzker_tif.htm http://mocp.org/collections/permanent/uploads/Metzker1982_73.jpg http://www.artnet.com/artwork_images_138991_200643_rayk-metzker.jpg Atget http://www.tunickart.com/atget/images/ap/ap6014.jpg Evans http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/images/hb/hb_1972.742.17.jpg damn, not sure why the a tags didn’t work. here are the links:
Metzker
http://www.temple.edu/photo/photographers/metzker1/ray1.jpg
http://www.temple.edu/photo/photographers/metzker1/ray11.jpg
http://www.photoreview.org/re_viewing/pages/b15-Metzker_tif.htm
http://mocp.org/collections/permanent/uploads/Metzker1982_73.jpg
http://www.artnet.com/artwork_images_138991_200643_rayk-metzker.jpg

Atget
http://www.tunickart.com/atget/images/ap/ap6014.jpg
Evans
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/images/hb/hb_1972.742.17.jpg

]]> By: Ron Diorio http://2point8.whileseated.org/2007/04/17/conceptual-street-photography/comment-page-1/#comment-15825 Ron Diorio Sat, 21 Apr 2007 22:19:31 +0000 http://2point8.whileseated.org/?p=184#comment-15825 I thought Wall's most effective work at the MOMA show was his more claustraphobic interiors like "A ventriloquist at a birthday party in October 1947". His "street" work may have be conceptual but their craftiness seemed to exceed their imaginativeness. I thought Wall’s most effective work at the MOMA show was his more claustraphobic interiors like “A ventriloquist at a birthday party in October 1947″. His “street” work may have be conceptual but their craftiness seemed to exceed their imaginativeness.

]]> By: matt http://2point8.whileseated.org/2007/04/17/conceptual-street-photography/comment-page-1/#comment-15564 matt Fri, 20 Apr 2007 17:40:34 +0000 http://2point8.whileseated.org/?p=184#comment-15564 Off topic, but something just hit me like a ton of bricks! You've got the best site as far as "Street photography" is concerned, and yet there's been no discussion of William Klein, who's the best of all time. I realize as a book collector that his four city books (New York, Rome, Moscow & Tokyo) cost as much as a decent car, but we are talking about the "Babe Ruth" of street photography... Off topic, but something just hit me like a ton of bricks! You’ve got the best site as far as “Street photography” is concerned, and yet there’s been no discussion of William Klein, who’s the best of all time. I realize as a book collector that his four city books (New York, Rome, Moscow & Tokyo) cost as much as a decent car, but we are talking about the “Babe Ruth” of street photography…

]]> By: Michael David Murphy http://2point8.whileseated.org/2007/04/17/conceptual-street-photography/comment-page-1/#comment-15519 Michael David Murphy Fri, 20 Apr 2007 12:48:33 +0000 http://2point8.whileseated.org/?p=184#comment-15519 Hey wait, Bill Sullivan's work definitely fits the bill. Perfect combo of what Andrew mentioned; "bystanding" & "standing by". Should have included it in the post itself. Sorry Bill! http://www.3situations.com/BillSullivanWorks/BillSullivan.html Hey wait, Bill Sullivan’s work definitely fits the bill. Perfect combo of what Andrew mentioned; “bystanding” & “standing by”. Should have included it in the post itself. Sorry Bill!

http://www.3situations.com/BillSullivanWorks/BillSullivan.html

]]> By: Fergus http://2point8.whileseated.org/2007/04/17/conceptual-street-photography/comment-page-1/#comment-15494 Fergus Fri, 20 Apr 2007 07:49:18 +0000 http://2point8.whileseated.org/?p=184#comment-15494 Really interesting post, and it strikes a chord with me as im constantly battling with myself over the conceptual side of street photography. What i mean is, my photography at the moment, to me, just represents a bunch of singles. Street photos, with no concept, theme, or idea behind them, just a bunch of random compositions. Im constantly thinking about concepts, ideas, that i can then go out and explore with my camera, but im always failing in coming up with any answers to my own questions. Its driving me nuts! But through it all i know i must not stop shooting, because just by doing so, something could develop without me consciously knowing it. Really interesting post, and it strikes a chord with me as im constantly battling with myself over the conceptual side of street photography.

What i mean is, my photography at the moment, to me, just represents a bunch of singles. Street photos, with no concept, theme, or idea behind them, just a bunch of random compositions.

Im constantly thinking about concepts, ideas, that i can then go out and explore with my camera, but im always failing in coming up with any answers to my own questions.

Its driving me nuts! But through it all i know i must not stop shooting, because just by doing so, something could develop without me consciously knowing it.

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