Personal ethics clash with Street photography

[kentwong81]

Maybe...I'm not sure if he is the 3rd person or act as "customer" :bsmilie:
Anyway, most of the time the process or "behind the scenes" are not relevant. People only care about the final results. I salute his work.

Scott seems to have lots of hip shots in the streets but likely got access into the room action with a price..hence had time to compose.

 

[lancey]

Maybe...I'm not sure if he is the 3rd person or act as "customer" :bsmilie:
Anyway, most of the time the process or "behind the scenes" are not relevant. People only care about the final results. I salute his work.

IMO, the final results in the streets is nothing spectacular. back shots, hip shots? please. Walking man across the road? common. No faces of the girls? right.

If the room shots are paid or negotiated, then he had a way of getting access, which is an asset he could use in future. But the room shots themselves are mediocre at best.

Just saying.

 

[kentwong81]

I definitely disagree if you think street photography is not as spectacular as others like landscape, portraits, etc. It really depend how you shoot and PP to bring out the story to the viewers.

http://imghost.1x.com/38425.jpg

http://1x.com/photo/35085/

IMO, the final results in the streets is nothing spectacular. back shots, hip shots? please. Walking man across the road? common. No faces of the girls? right.

If the room shots are paid or negotiated, then he had a way of getting access, which is an asset he could use in future. But the room shots themselves are mediocre at best.

Just saying.

 

[lancey]

I definitely disagree if you think street photography is not as spectacular as others like landscape, portraits, etc. It really depend how you shoot and PP to bring out the story to the viewers.

http://imghost.1x.com/38425.jpg

http://1x.com/photo/35085/

I meant Scott's final results in the geylang streets. Not street photography in general.

 

[ed9119]

great discussion topic.... but no photos from TS..........moved to Kopitiam

 

[MRSAMO]

Hi guys,

As I've seen many street photographs myself, I feel like taking a few too. So occasionally 5-6 years ago, while having my compact camera, I'll go out and shoot...

Now, I looked back and realised that most, if not all of them are just snapshot and show nothing more of what a street photograph should capture (emotion, mood of people). So I decided to retry my attempt again, this time into capturing emotions and such...

But then, 3 attempts passed and I'm terribly disappointed with myself :cry:

My street photography philosophy to set is: To capture the moments, the emotion at that single instinct

My personal ethic: Not to take photo of people if I do not have permission, it's consider rude and inconsiderate...

So, what happened these 3 times is that, whenever there's something in front of me, I'll take out my camera... and..... hesitated... -_-;; Many a times I missed the moment, many a times I did not press the shuttle button... such a failure :cry:

Can anyone offer me their advise on street photography? Feel quite shitty about it

I don't do much street photography for the same reason as you (too shy) but here's a tip I would follow for myself and it's quite simple,

Take street shots of people you know. Do you have kids? let them do their stuff, bring their friends and tell them to forget about you and just shoot whatever. Do you have friends? Tell them to model for you or something. Do more of that and I think you can be confident later.

PS. My other advice is not to take on too many fields of photography at once, it's too overwhelming.

 

[MRSAMO]

I find this photo extremely powerful:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5050/5351006417_6275812ec6_z.jpg











But of course it's mine LOL

 

[PaulKami]

great discussion topic.... but no photos from TS..........moved to Kopitiam

Thanks for moving it to the right place ^_^;;

I don't do much street photography for the same reason as you (too shy) but here's a tip I would follow for myself and it's quite simple,

Take street shots of people you know. Do you have kids? let them do their stuff, bring their friends and tell them to forget about you and just shoot whatever. Do you have friends? Tell them to model for you or something. Do more of that and I think you can be confident later.

PS. My other advice is not to take on too many fields of photography at once, it's too overwhelming.

Thanks for the tips I don't have kids but I do take my nephew, as well as friends during events such that photos with weird/funny/what-ever-you-name-it expression comes up. Well, it all eventually ended up in the bin cause it seemed 'insulting' to them to share that around, and again... my personal ethics on not to share those photos without permission :cry:

But then again I do agree with you at times... How I wish I'm invisible so that people will just ignore me while I'm shooting... People tell me to get a zoom lens instead so that people won't noticed you while you're far... But I can only feel that feeling when I'm near...

 

[sinned79]

But then again I do agree with you at times... How I wish I'm invisible so that people will just ignore me while I'm shooting... People tell me to get a zoom lens instead so that people won't noticed you while you're far... But I can only feel that feeling when I'm near...

thats when a pns or rangefinder is useful. cos its compact and not obtrusive unlike the big black chunky DSLR + big lens / small lens.

 

[Royale With Cheese]

Well, it all eventually ended up in the bin cause it seemed 'insulting' to them to share that around, and again... my personal ethics on not to share those photos without permission :cry:

But then again I do agree with you at times... How I wish I'm invisible so that people will just ignore me while I'm shooting... People tell me to get a zoom lens instead so that people won't noticed you while you're far... But I can only feel that feeling when I'm near...

I respect your ethics decision but until you can overcome these personal ethics, street photography(with human elements), I'm afraid is something you wouldnt be able to do well for now.

 

[sinned79]

I respect your ethics decision but until you can overcome these personal ethics, street photography(with human elements), I'm afraid is something you wouldnt be able to do well for now.

waiting for you to organise a street shoot outing so can see u in action ;p

 

[MRSAMO]

Well, it all eventually ended up in the bin cause it seemed 'insulting' to them to share that around, and again... my personal ethics on not to share those photos without permission :cry:

Maybe you should stop taking insulting pictures?

 

[Royale With Cheese]

waiting for you to organise a street shoot outing so can see u in action ;p

lol!

Street shooting better to be in small groups or shooting alone actually.

I got not much action to look into la, just use camera shoot lor

Here is me "in action lor" hahahaha
http://www.flickr.com/photos/agnosticgary/4543366159/

 

[sinned79]

lol!

Street shooting better to be in small groups or shooting alone actually.

I got not much action to look into la, just use camera shoot lor

Here is me "in action lor" hahahaha
http://www.flickr.com/photos/agnosticgary/4543366159/

yeah i know ... make it a 2-3 person group shoot

 

[bonrya]

wondering if anyone ever got beaten up? must have some out there.. :sweatsm:

i'm very surprised the pedestrians were so mild mannered towards him. could be one of his good days i guess? or maybe people just take him for a random hobo? :think:

:bsmilie: i suppose singaporeans will act differently too hey?

/random musings

 

[Leong23]

Maybe you should stop taking insulting pictures?

:bsmilie::thumbsup:

 

[sfoto100]

thats when a pns or rangefinder is useful. cos its compact and not obtrusive unlike the big black chunky DSLR + big lens / small lens.

haha.. i use my heavy 70-200 for streets... bcos i have yet to reach tungtong's level of courage yet.. and one thing good about using tele lens is that u can catch them not noticing you, which is good sometimes.. if they are aware, then you might miss something interesting.. and of course soemtimes it is that look or their being aware of your presence that helps alot... street photography is fun... haha...

 

[elgkh]

waiting for you to organise a street shoot outing so can see u in action ;p

Me too. I would love to observe some of the seasoned street shooters in action, especially in Singapore. Not for their technique, but to see how their subjects react.

So far, I have not experienced any adverse reactions. Most people are either unaware, or too busy getting out of the way. I've also found that Little India is friendlier than Orchard Road.

I need to practice more, my confidence reduces the longer I go without shooting.

 

[ed9119]

I take shooting people on the 'streets' as more a social activity than photography

Usually the first thing I do is .... strangely enough....... PUT THE CAMEA away to one side .... get to know people first ..... THEN if it happens.... it happens.....

Walking away with some photos is ONE thing.......... walking away with an UNDERSTANDING/Appreciation of a situation and maybe a STORY that is beyond skin-deep and superficial ..... is another

I've tried in my early days to approach these types of street shooting with a purely photographic perspective ...... u know, just get the pics..... I just wasnt any good nor got anywhere with that approach

 

[PaulKami]

Walking away with some photos is ONE thing.......... walking away with an UNDERSTANDING/Appreciation of a situation and maybe a STORY that is beyond skin-deep and superficial ..... is another

Yes... my sentiment actually...

I just can't shoot strangers really, without knowing if they mind or not... I guess I have to start working with interaction...

PS: For 'insulting' photos, let's not misunderstood that I took them deliberately, rather, the shutter click + something happened at millisecond = something that looks really weird = something that doesn't tell a story, but rather a freeze frame that look ugly/insulting/not wanted/people will scream you to delete... Hope that clears up the air