Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2007/08/19
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]In a message dated 8/19/2007 2:49:27 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, lug-request@leica-users.org writes: The street photographs that get the most accolades seem to be those in which the photographed subjects do not show awareness of the photographer. I always find that unsettling. Why is this? Is there some philosophical basis, or is it just habit? Brian ------------------------------------------------------------------ Brian, It's been my experience that in street photography the scene is changing so rapidly that there isn't time to relate to the subject in formal portrait terms. The fact is that I use a preset Leica or -- Minox 35 -- with a 50 or 35mm lens. I never focus for fear of missing the vital moment. Usually the subject is doing something that involves him or her or it to the scene. If you delay shooting you miss the action. And, remember, the light is constantly changing as well. In effect, street work is not portraiture. It is really news or an existential form of art photography. The only control the photographer has is his innate ability to swiftly respond to a dynamic environment. Once the subject is aware of the photographer we're back to human interest and a form of interview reporting. The moment of revelation is lost. The subject is popped from the living stream of time and place and becomes -- as usually happens -- a mere self-conscious actor, with artificial emotions and appearance. Best, Bob ************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour