Street photography?

There isn’t a subject in the world I’d less rather tackle than people.  They’re so tricky and they just won’t sit still!  And they get in the way of my beautiful compositions!  I’m that person who waits patiently (or not) until someone has taken the hint and moved along, out of frame.  But there are some places you have no hope of getting all to yourself, and I confess to trying to make an appealing picture of the above.  Lovers and Paris!  They go hand in hand, don’t they?

Maybe better when the subject doesn't move

Can I count this as street photography? It was on the street.

And I'm not averse to spying from my bedroom window

Nor am I averse to spying from my bedroom window!

Barcelona now- that’s a city for fun.  And FULL of people!  But I avoided as many as I could.

I've always like this harbour shot

I’ve always liked this harbour shot

And a statue is an easy target

And a statue is an easy target

But I struggled mightily with the bubbles

But I struggled mightily with the bubble makers and shakers

I think I’d better go and practise some street photography and report back, don’t you?  But I’m sure Yvette would agree it’s all about the fun, and I do try to have that.

Join me at Paula’s place for Thursday’s Special to see how it should be done.

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129 comments

  1. i think both cities are great for street photography and your photographs are just lovely. i like all of them specially the harbor shot 🙂

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  6. Well I’m not sure you can call this street photography in the ‘true’ sense, but it is certainly photography on the street and I think you have to include people in a city as that is what makes a city; the people. And as usual you show us your talent of seeking out the detail in a shot. (I wish you could have got closer to the couple in the background at the Louvre though, that first image is beautifully framed)

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    1. I’m pretty sure you couldn’t either, Jude. I’m a well-known cheat 🙂 Yes- I would have liked a clearer shot of them but I have to admit that I was more interested in their surroundings. (isn’t that an awful thing to say- but there were SO many newly weds in Paris. Hard to take a photo without! Though I did badly miss the boat at one point. I was focused on the lovely sculptures on the bridge and apparently a Japanese couple had all the traffic on the bridge stopped. I was totally oblivious. Me- unobservant? You have to be kidding!)

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      2. Was that long ago, Jude? I think it’s become very much the ‘done thing’ these days. I rather liked it. Might even have been a tiny bit jealous 🙂

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  7. Say no more, Jo! I have the same reservations. Just knowing some people do not want to have their picture taken casts a damper on my attempts at street photography altogether.

    Against that backgraound, I think you did a great job … and I am kind of itching to try it myself.

    (That’s one of the best things about having found your – and Paula’s – blog: It is always inspiring, if not right away, then often in the long run. Thanks for that!)

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    2. I didn’t set out to take ‘street photography’ with these, Tobias (with the exception of the one out of the window, the Ramblas and I suppose the bubble blower 🙂 ) I was looking for a likely source to meet this challenge and these cities were very obliging. I’m so much more about the story than the photograph. Paula is the expert in that direction. Many thanks for your company and your observations. I’ll look out for your response to the challenge 🙂

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    1. A couple of these were lucky shots, Ann. I’ve never even thought of ‘street photography’ as something I wanted to do but I’m sometimes impressed by other people’s efforts. I spotted a fisherman working on his boat today and thought it might make an engaging shot, so I asked if I could. I haven’t seen the results yet but he shrugged nicely and carried on working. 🙂

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    1. I had to dig through my collection, Indah, and they’re still much more about place than people… but I don’t mind confessing my weaknesses. 🙂 Thanks hon!

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  11. Wonderful Paris – reminds me of a quote in The Week – The best advice I ever received as a politician was: “If you find yourself really stuck, find a way of blaming the French” – Sir Alan Duncan 🙂

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  13. They looked rather a glamorous couple from afar Jo ! Like the Paris Ooh la la … don’t suppose you saw too much in the way of that for real 😉
    Clever you catching a fountain inside a bubble !

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    1. Imagine a Paris wedding, Poppy? But then, us Brits are probably a bit more restrained. No, definitely no ‘ooh, la, la’- just spying hopefully from bedroom windows. 🙂 It was a complete accident, Pops- you know I’m not a photographer.

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      2. I’m taking my ‘craft’ to a place called Skinningrove today. (horrible name!) No people- lots of rocks. I’m safe! I promise to practise later. Take care. 🙂

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  17. I like that harbour shot too, Jo – great silvery light and nice shadows. In fact I spent some time taking photographs of precisely those shadows the other week.
    I love street photography and generally speaking I now try to include people in my shots. But it depends on the shot.
    I’m late with my Look Up Look Down post this week but you may have inspired me. I’m off to look at some photos!

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  18. Pingback: Guest challenge: Street Photography/Portraits | Lost in Translation
  19. Pingback: Thursday’s Special: Street Portraits (response to Guest Challenge) | Lost in Translation

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