STREET PHOTOGRAPHY
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“Everybody Street illuminates the lives and work of New York’s iconic street photographers and the incomparable city that has inspired them for decades. The documentary pays tribute to the spirit of street photography through a cinematic exploration of New York City, and captures the visceral rush, singular perseverance and at times immediate danger customary to these artists. Covering nine decades of street photography, “Everybody Street” explores the careers and influences of many notable photographers––a number of whom have never been documented, featuring: Bruce Davidson, Elliott Erwitt, Jill Freedman, Bruce Gilden, Joel Meyerowitz, Rebecca Lepkoff, Mary Ellen Mark, Jeff Mermelstein, Clayton Patterson, Ricky Powell, Jamel Shabazz, Martha Cooper, and Boogie, with historians Max Kozloff and Luc Sante."
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Rebecca Lepkoff
Rebecca Lepkoff is an American photographer. She worked as a dancer in the 1939 worlds fair, and saved enough money to buy a second hand Borlander camera. Fascinated by the area where she lived she first photographed Essex and the streets of Hester which she recalled as "full of pushcarts". Her photography captured people in the streets, especially children, as well as the buildings and the signs on store fronts . |
Image Evaluation
In this image I think that the children are playing a game with toy guns and muddy water. There are three children in this image two who are sitting on the pavement and one who is crouching in front of them. This image is in black and white. I think that if this photo was in colour it would look weird because it might take away the attention form the boys to the colour. The composition in this image is very calm there isn’t much movement in the photo, not chaotic at all. The photo also seems organised/planned but it also has a natural look. I think that the photographer was crouching low and was quite close to the subject. I think that the photographer was standing still while taking this photo because in the photo there’s no movement. I think that the photographer has used a lens to draw us closer to the subject rather than the background. If I had to give this photograph another name I would name it, Young Days, I would name it this because the image is about children playing without a care In the would just minding their own business and playing and that when they are older they might not have the chance to do this again. If I could ask the photographer 2 questions to help me understand the photograph more they would be, what made you take this photo? And did you plan to take the photo like this? |
Street Photography 1
I think that this image is one of my best ones. this image was took in the concorse of our school. In this image the subject is the girl in mid jump with her arms spread out wide and her red hair shining in the sun. The girl in the image is very central. the girl is in a calm composition, there is nothing much going on in the background, all you can see is trees grass, lamppost and the sun. in this image I am standing to the side of the girl jumping. I am looking straight on at the girl and I was standing still. This image is a moving image the girl is not standing still. The suns rays are hitting the girl jumping making it have lines on the girl.
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I think that this image is one of my bad ones. This is another image that was took in the school. I think that this image subject is the boy standing there. This image is bad because the whole image is very out of focus. There is too much of the background meaning that they boys are not very noticeable. When I took this image I was standing on the links. The boy in this image is looking at the camera but I dint tell him I was taking a photo of him. if I had the chance to take this photo again I would go closer to the subject of the image so we can see the facial expression of the boy.
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Cropped
Shadows
Why street photographers use cropping and shadows
Street photographers use cropping because it makes the viewer question and wonder about the picture, it also makes the viewer want to see the whole photograph as it is only a part of an image. The photographers might want the viewer to just focus on that part of the image. Street photographers also use shadows because it might tell the viewer something about what the person is doing in the photograph, if you can’t see the whole photograph. They might also use shadows because the shadow in the image is weird and not matching the person in the image making the photograph have two point of views.
Street photographers use cropping because it makes the viewer question and wonder about the picture, it also makes the viewer want to see the whole photograph as it is only a part of an image. The photographers might want the viewer to just focus on that part of the image. Street photographers also use shadows because it might tell the viewer something about what the person is doing in the photograph, if you can’t see the whole photograph. They might also use shadows because the shadow in the image is weird and not matching the person in the image making the photograph have two point of views.
Shadows and Reflections
From the set of images above I think that this image is the most absurd image. As the shadow of the subject is very jagged, making it seem very odd and almost as if it wasn't a shadow of a human. The jagged edges of the shadow are really sharp and clear making it stand out and the centre of attention. However due to the fact that the shadow is slight left from the centre, it makes it seem as if there should be something to the right of the photo to make the image seem more full. The shadow in this image is really dark making it stand out against the light grey stairs. However one thing that I would have changed would be to make sure that the image was only of the shadow rather than the shadow and the person in the bottom left hand corner.
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School Life
We watched the starting if 'Everybody Street' which gave us more understanding of street photography. We learned that we have to be independent, taking the photo from your point of view, focusing on one point and to don't think to much about it. After we watched the starting of the movie we had to go around school and take images independently. We had to go around the school by our selves taking images of our daily school life. We was told to taking images of 6 formers but I didn't because I was scared to so I just took images of students walking, but just their feet so it was cropped. I also took images of some students who had a cycling lesson out in the basketball court. From the movie we watched i have learnt that in street photography you have to be the observer and not the particiaptor. The deeper you go the better images you take. quoted from 'Boogie'. I want to take more images so my photography skills will get better and my images will be good.
I think that this image is very good and one of my favourite because its just capturing the bicycle and half of the man. The subject of this image is the man and the bicycle, which was just passing by. Even though the man and bicycle isn't blurred form the movement you can still clearly see that its moving. This image is cropped because you can only see the bicycle and half of the man. The man and bicycle are very central to the image, making it the centre of attention. Around the man there is a lot of empty space to edit.
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Own images: Street Photography Styled
For homework we had to take a series of 10 street photography images. We had to go around the place where we live and take photographs in the style of a street photographer. We had to remember that:
-Be alert to what is going around you
-Be brave and capture an image, captue a moment in time
- Gasping opportunities, the image which you see will not come around again
-Make your subject feet comfortable for you
-"The deeper you go the better images you get " Boogie
-Be alert to what is going around you
-Be brave and capture an image, captue a moment in time
- Gasping opportunities, the image which you see will not come around again
-Make your subject feet comfortable for you
-"The deeper you go the better images you get " Boogie
I think that this image is one of my best images because this was the only image that is close to the subject, which in this case is the hooded man. in this image there is a hooded man walking toward the camera towards the left and towards the right there is a girl and a dog walking away form the camera. in this image you can see a triangle in the composition. the man is far away form the girl and dog so that might suggest that they are strangers. this image has a calm feeling to it because there is no movement in the image. the image is blurry because when I got close enough I got scared and didn't focus properly making the image blurry.
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Triangles
When analysing an images based on the element composition, there are many things in a certain image that can reflect this. one of the best compositional techniques is 'triangles'. Triangles are a great way of grouping together three points of a photograph and organising them so they portray a certain feeling such as stability, aggression, instability. photographers use this technique to fill the frame of the images and also to add balance and movement to the image. they are also a great way to add other elements to the image eg: lines. they might also use triangles because they might want to group interesting points in the photograph . |
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Rules Of Thirds
What is 'Rule Of Thirds' ?
Rule of thirds is a guide line or an imaginary gird that can help you take better images. The image is divided up into 9 segments by lines placed one third and two thirds across the surface. |
What I have learned
The rule of thirds is a good way of making interesting compositions. it helps me to think about the spacing in the image and where things are placed. it makes the image less predictable when the subject of the image is not in the centre but of to the left/right side. |
This image is a good example of ‘The Rule of Thirds’. You can clearly see the nine boxes. Each of the girl’s bodies is in two different boxes the girls are also spread out in equal spaces. Making the image look neat and composed. The girls are in the foreground of the image; in the background you can slightly see bare trees and the light blue sky. The girls are also very central to the Image, making it the first things you see in the image when you look at it
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I think that this image is one of the least successful images I have taken within the ‘Rule of Thirds’ part. Within the middle column it is very busy. There are 3 objects; people within that column making it look crowded. The column to the right is just right to me not too much but not too less. However in the column furthest to the left it looks empty. There are no objects; people in the column except from the building in the foreground. Which you can clearly see it’s a school building .
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Image evaluation of Rebecca Lepkoff 'Rule of Thirds'
This is a Rebecca Lepkoff image. I think that is image is using the ‘Rule of Thirds’. There are 3 people in this image and you can clearly see that each of them is placed in each of the 3 columns. This has made the image look neat and organised, even though we know that this is a street photography so it was no planned or organised. In this image you see 2 boys playing on the streets in front of a very old looking building. Left to the middle boy you can see someone standing looking over the 2 boys playing. You can clearly see if the person standing up is an adult of or another child. This image is in black and white making the image look older
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RULE OF THIRDS CHAllENGE
Use the guide opposite to help you collect photos using a range of Rule of Thirds compositions. Note: The pink section represents the subject, an area where our eyes might be drawn, the main part of the image. The white section should be of less interest, an area of open or negative space, which supports but doesn't dominate the main subject |
I took this image as a response to the challenge by ensuring that I framed it at an angle. There is no dominant part of the image therefore it does not fit into any part of the rule of third rules. There are many things in this image that makes it look interesting and catches your eye, making you look at more that one thing in the image. Because that image was taken at an angle, it gives the images a unique feeling as it does not look normal to the eye.
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I think that this image does not fit into the rule of thirds because there are no dominant parts of the image making ti not fit into the rule of thirds. there are 3 parts to this image, the bench, the small black big and the big green bin. You can see the shadow of the big green bin looming slightly over the little green bin. making you eyes wonder over the image not just focusing on one main point of the image
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Diagonals
Street photographers often think about the dramatic situations or view points in their photographs. Drama is created in images in lots of ways but using dramatic diagonals lines is one technique often used my street photographers. Diagonal lines are the strongest and most fundamental compositional elements-something that we all know well. There are 3 types of main lines; horizontal, vertical and diagonal. the diagonal line is the most dynamic of all 3 of the main lines. in nature anythings that is diagonal is far more unstable than both horizontal things and vertical things. A diagonal line is something that is literally about to tip over.
EXAMPLES
OWN IMAGES
EVALUATION OF OWN IMAGES
Overall I think that my diagonal composed images are ok but could be improved. I think that I should take diagonal images of a more interesting subject so it created a better story line for the image. I should also think carefully about what I am taking to make sure that I am actually taking an image with diagonal within the image and not just a normal image. What I think that I done well is that most of my image have diagonal lines within them but maybe not as noticeable.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST
Similarities
Both of these images are in black and white, this suggests that they are fairly old photos. Both of these images are taken in a public place, with many people around. The images have also been taken of groups of people not just one person. Both of the images are taken outside with buildings around them suggesting that they are in the streets. The composition of both of the images is very hectic because in the images there are more people walking or sitting. These images look very old so that suggests that it was taken a long time ago and not in the modern day. Another similarity is that they both are classed as street photography because in the images the people don’t look posed also because they look like they are taken without the people knowing. In both of the images you can clearly see that it was taken in the day because you can see the light shining on the people’s faces and on the pavements and buildings.
Both of these images are in black and white, this suggests that they are fairly old photos. Both of these images are taken in a public place, with many people around. The images have also been taken of groups of people not just one person. Both of the images are taken outside with buildings around them suggesting that they are in the streets. The composition of both of the images is very hectic because in the images there are more people walking or sitting. These images look very old so that suggests that it was taken a long time ago and not in the modern day. Another similarity is that they both are classed as street photography because in the images the people don’t look posed also because they look like they are taken without the people knowing. In both of the images you can clearly see that it was taken in the day because you can see the light shining on the people’s faces and on the pavements and buildings.
Differences
There are also some differences in the images above. For example in the first image it was taken of a group of girls and in the second image it was taken of a group of boys. In the first image you can clearly see that it was taken in the open streets whereas in the second image it looks like it was taken in a secluded place but still in a public place, streets. Another difference is that the first image is darker than the second image this might suggest that the lighting was not right when it was taken making the images lighter/darker. In the first image the image is not that crowded however in the second image it is more crowded. Also in the first image you can clearly see 2 groups of people in the Image the group of girls walking towards the camera, who are the main attention of the image, and you can also see a second group in the right hand side, which is a group of children sitting on a bench with one grown up. Also in the far left hand corner you can faintly see a person in a wheelchair slumped over. Whereas in the second image you cannot make out groups but all you can see is one big group mixing together.
There are also some differences in the images above. For example in the first image it was taken of a group of girls and in the second image it was taken of a group of boys. In the first image you can clearly see that it was taken in the open streets whereas in the second image it looks like it was taken in a secluded place but still in a public place, streets. Another difference is that the first image is darker than the second image this might suggest that the lighting was not right when it was taken making the images lighter/darker. In the first image the image is not that crowded however in the second image it is more crowded. Also in the first image you can clearly see 2 groups of people in the Image the group of girls walking towards the camera, who are the main attention of the image, and you can also see a second group in the right hand side, which is a group of children sitting on a bench with one grown up. Also in the far left hand corner you can faintly see a person in a wheelchair slumped over. Whereas in the second image you cannot make out groups but all you can see is one big group mixing together.
Final Pieces
Cropped
This is one of my favourite images that I have taken in the 'CROPPED' challenge because I like the way that it is only focusing on the bag and the bottom half of the person and nothing else to take the attention away form the bag. I also like that the background of the image blurs out so much that you cannot make out anything else. The thing that stands out the most is the bright violet 'Tate' bag that is being carried. This image was take when we went on the 'Tate Morden' trip I would love to go again so I can take more amazing photos
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ShadowsThis is my favourite image out of the 'SHADOWS' challenge. I like this image because you can clearly see what the person is doing in the shadow, you can see that she is holding something small and rectangular, probably taking an image on a device. I also like this image because all you see is the shadow nothing else. This image was taken when we had a 'SHADOWS' challenge to do, it was taken on the school grounds. |
LinesThis image is my most favourite image in the 'LINES' challenge. I love this image because I have just captured my friend in mid jump. you can clearly see the lines of the light coming through her body. I also like that when she jumped I have captured her in mid jump with her arms spread and hair flying in the air. This image was taken within the school grounds. |
Rule Of ThirdsThis image is my favourite form the 'RULE OF THIRDS' challenge. I like this image because you can clearly see the rule of thirds. I also like this image because of the girl standing beside the tree making her very small so you can clearly see the height difference. You can also see the shadow of the girl, in front of the tree making it look connected. this image was taken when we had to do the rule of thirds challenge and this image was taken on school grounds.
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Final Challenge
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The main focus of this video is a man called Chris Porsz. Who is a paramedic but in his free time his is a street photographer. He photographs his home streets of Peterborough. He has created a unique collection of photographs showing the fast changing face and faces of the town. When he photographs he creates a bond with the subject by looking them in the eye and also by starting a conversation with them. This also created a bond with the photographer and the viewer because the view can see exactly what the photographer was seeing and also because if the subjects was staring at the camera you can clearly see the emotions in the persons eyes. I think this video is interesting because he says how much photography has changed his life, saying that he has grown as a person. " I have become more sociable and more relaxed with approaching people now whereas years ago I was shy".
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