Great video, full of wisdom. I would add to "b&w doesn't make a bad picture good" "film/analog doesn't make a random scene great". You've got a new suscriber
Great episode Brian. I do street photography simply for myself. I do not have a Facebook, Instagram or TikTok account at all. I just share it with my friends and family and I am happy with what I do. The images may be rubbish, but at least I get to enjoy myself, get out and about instead of being a couch potato, continue to develop and refine my style and improve incrementally. It helps to keep my fitness and mental health in check too. My main street photography camera is an Olympus E-M5ii with a 14mm/2.5 Panasonic lens or a 19mm/2.8 Sigma lens. They are great for street, and split roughly 45%/55%. The key to using any lens is to get into the groove of seeing the scene with the appropriate angle of view. It takes a while, but when I get it, it becomes intuitive.
how do you start street photography?im afraid to pullout my camera and point it to people..at last i use my camera for landscape and wild photography...just for my collection so my daughter have somthing for her to see when im gone
@@backyardmicrobiology There are quite a number of YT channels advising on how to approach the subjects without causing alarm, etc. Try StreetSnappers for a start. Brian specialises in street. My own advice is not to use a large camera (looks intimidating), keep the gear simple and approach your subjects openly, not by stealth. If I want to take a portrait, I simply ask. 90% of the time they will say yes, and I often show them the results and offer to email them. I just did it today in Lincoln and both of my subjects were delighted to give me their details. Hope that helps.
@@backyardmicrobiology may I suggest you walk around with your camera in your hand pretending to be a 'tourist' and take snaps (or pretend to) of buildings, using the lcd helps as it can look similar to using a phone (especially if the camera is small). Also - be confident, you will be less likely to be challenged, the more you do it the easier it gets, have fun.
@@backyardmicrobiologyI started one week ago, today was my second day on street. I use my lcd in the way I could put my camera low, I pretended I was shot a building or shop, and shot the person, sometimes I stop in some place, where the composition has potencial so waiting someone cross and shot.. Mostly of people are busy, going to work because was early... This help too... They don't care about you
So glad I found you here on TH-cam. It's been really helpful hearing an experienced guy talking about something I've just started to get interested in (at 63!) to balance the endless content from the younger set on social media. I've gone for micro four thirds, Olympus E-M10 as my main camera and Panasonic GX880 as my pop in the pocket camera; interestingly of the 3 lenses I bought, apart from the 14-42 kit lens) I find I'm using the 14mm, 28mm equivalent the most, on the GX880. It's half the cost of a Ricoh GR for a similar size and setup.
Good to see you back Brian. I was a tad upset about the switch of Fuji ambassadors more so when you look at the work from the replacements, maybe they have linked up with Urth filters, but the pics you see on their sight are a little odd and I wonder who they are trying to impress? Very good filters though. So the genre of street, hence why I shoot Streetish, a bit of everything. Like you I do it for me and have nothing to do with instaforgotten, the two second mini gallery. The quote at the end, I can live with that lol. Arcadia in the USA do mono chrome versions of the X Pro series!
Welcome back. Thank you for passing along what I consider to be invaluable information to those of us, such as myself, who aspire to one day be successful photographers. Your channel has become one of my favorites. You have a gift. Thank you for sharing that gift with every single one of us.
Thanks! Finally, somebody talks photography and not gear. I feel Years of real street experience out of Your each sentence. Looking forward to be member of this Club.
Thanks for this. I have just started following you. I find your words very wise. I like the comment about gear does not matter. I have a lot of choices with the cameras and lenses I own. And they do nit include Fujifilm of Leica or Ricoh GR3.
Terrific revised video format Brian. When I shot a lot of street in London back in the late 60's, early 70's my lens of choice was the 28mm. I occasionally jumped up to 50mm but always landed back on the 28, it just totally involved me in the scene rather than left me as an outsider. Thanks for posting.
You covered a lot of ground in this video. Good points -- thank you. In regard to the 28mm width, it is wonderful when it works. The issues are when the subject is a distance beyond where you are at the time the moment happens. When up closer, there is more chance of bruising the scene, as you become more a part of that scene. The camera, when tilted, unlike 50mm view, as you know can really go wonky, whereas the geometry and framing is easier for 50mm. I wonder if Henri Cartier-Bresson liked the 50mm due to the frame and good geometry without distortions? I like subjects near the edge and have to rethink just how far to go with 28mm, as not to distort too much. I do love just how much the width covers, and that deep look. The only prime I have in 28mm FF, is the Lumix 14mm f2.5 lens. MFT is a very forgiving camera format to use, as no matter how fast you choose when opening up, unless you go crazy, you taken in the background with ease. I have shot with 35mm on FF, and it is interesting, and seems wide to me. I am thinking only because I am so use the 50mm, that I see 35mm and 28mm as interesting, yet more of a challenge. I do love to mix things up now and then, and even go 90mm, which is great, unless the close shots get away --- life is that way. I enjoy the wide lenses, and some close work, but seem to gravitate back to 50mm. Maybe I see that section of a scene as the most relevant? At times I want for the wide or a zoom, as to take-in a broad scene, like the string of buildings. Mostly it is about the more immediate and trying not to bruise the scene in the process. I shoot in smaller cities, so having a camera with me, people think I am a tourist or professional, I am thinking. Maybe just a crazy old man? It is laughable that people are concerned about someone with a camera, when all people with phones have a camera, and could be sending off photos in seconds. I would be more concerned about big brother government or technocrats wishing to photograph my every move. This is the year 2023 and people worry about someone with a camera? I just smile, and most times, it is all A-OK. Take care, Loren Schwiderski, in California
Great to see you back. I just joined the Facebook group because it's good to have a face to put to the group, rather than an anonymous group. I hope I can do it justice with some of my images.
New Sub here, loved hearing your commentary and it resonated with me. Looking forward to catching up with your past videos and what you have coming up! Thank you.
Just loved it Sir. I am new to this genre and you have answered many of the thoughts that are passing through my mind. Looking forward to learn from you and practice it in the field
Agree with your view on 28mm. I started my street photography journey with 50 and 135mm because I didn't want to get too close, but as people are the key focus of my work it didn't satisfy or give me what I was really after. I moved on to 35mm but eventually bought a 28mm full frame equivalent lens and it changed everything. It takes me way out of my comfort zone because of being in such close proximity to my subjects, but (my opinion) my pictures just got so much better in terms of context, layers and composition. The focal length challenges me every time I use it.
Brian - Thank you, excellent video. I am an "amateur street photographer" and shoot because I LOVE photographing people. I totally agree with you about gear, use what you have, know your camera. My BEST day would be to go and walk for hours and see what I could possibly capture.
Glad to see you back Brian. I got rid of Instagram - not for any reason other than it was holding me back. Im happy to accept that the process is what I enjoy - I don't do it for likes. Looking forward to more videos.
Stumbled across this channel by accident. I don't do "street photography" but living by the sea and going for a bike ride every morning, I take a lot of photographs every week. Leaving aside the word "street", pretty much everything said here applies to all photography, excellent chat :)
I bought a Leica Q2, believe it or not my wife persuaded me to do so. It has changed my photography so much, both in style and in the amount of shooting I do. The camera goes with me every time I go out the door. Yes I love the 28mm
What a good episode and come-back! I watched a lot of street photography clips on TH-cam and Street Snappers are still my favorite. 28mm is a very interesting focal length where I could not use well for years. But last year I used an Elmarit for 2 months until I got a 75mm. I know we should try to stick to one but sometimes switching view points helps revive the desire to hit the streets!
Thank you - very inspiring. It’s great see you back. I’d suggest to the lady from Philly that she shoot portraits or event gigs to support her street photography. BTW I lived there 17 yrs & it’s a fabulous city for street photography.
So great to watch a new video. I’ve binged watched most of your earlier videos and picked up your Street Photography Workshop book - thanks so much for the great content, it’s really helped improve my street photography.
I enjoyed your video. I enjoyed your photos. I think you should show more of YOUR work. When you're listening to another photographer talk about 'street photography,' until you see examples of his work, you're always skeptical. Too often when I'm watching videos of other street photographers' work I'm thinking to myself, "What were you thinking when you took that photo?!"
Great to see you back after the slight absence, and glad all is well. I do have some issues with street photography having constructs, or rules, or anything like that, especially when you state later on that we should be shooting for ourselves. If I'm shooting for myself, then that lunch photo that you may not be SP might very well be something I'm very happy with, so what label to I apply to it? I never thought of the photography I did in NYC and elsewhere in the 70's/80's was 'street photography' as it was just taking photographs. And I enjoyed myself immensely while doing it and never felt I had to put the work into it, it just was there. I think if you asked 100 street photographers to describe what 'it' is, you'll get 110 different answers. And that's what makes it so great!
One of my best experience was when my brother offered me a Canon AE1 and I decided to try it out, so I loaded a film and I went to a neighbourhood where I like to shoot. I had a great day shooting. The next day, I tried to rewind the film and remove it to have it developed and realised that it was never loaded properly and no exposures were made. I felt a bit bad and a bit sad, that's all, still great memories, and I realised that I do this for the experience, not for the result. BTW I usually shoot 35mm. It's like a compromise between 50 and 28. I'm aware that watered down compromises are usually bad in photography. However I often don't have the time or will to swap lenses - 35 is pretty general purpose.
Thanks for being here..I am in NYC, and shoot in street scenes here and elsewhere..I use a Pentax K1Mk2,and it has never been to imposing, never been boring, and because of the build quality, I can shoot in ALL weather. Fuji shooters here are some amazing shooters and LOVE, not like their cameras. I do not worry about those who comment nor the creators who get slick at the mouth,because all those keyboard warriors/creators who cheerleader for brands/formats, are NOT prepared to have that same energy in person...My avatar is a shot I took right in front of the house..
Very well said Brian. Concise and informative as always. Confrontation and rejection is all part of it. I’ve been shooting for about 2 years now and I’m feeling I’ve reached a bit of a plateau so I’m going after some different shots within the context of the project I’m shooting. Wanna try to get more moments. Ive been critical towards my own “work” lately. I’d like it to be a bit more varied. Really needed to hear lots of what was said in this video. Thanks so much for uploading Brian!
Great content. Although I already have committed to high-failure endeavors like coding and skateboarding, and even golf on occasion, I'm very familiar with high-failure pursuits. So why not add one more! Anything worth doing is likely going to be difficult. I just got a GR iii a week ago. I almost got the 40mm but didn't want to limit myself right off the bat. I figure I can always get one later or spend more on a q2 if I prove to myself I can commit to this with just a gr3 for a while.
Wonderful video, thank you - I bought a Fuji x100v, not realizing it didn't have IS, so I have to sell it. It is brand new and hopefully will not lose too much. The 28mm lens was interesting and the next one I buy (with IS) will be a 28 to see what I can learn and do. And, I will continue to watch your vidoes to learn! (You need to do a workshop in NY 😁 )
I like the new format Brian and see how it links to the reconfigured facebook group. Most of what you say is linked to motivation. I agree that if ones motivation is externally based on likes from Instagram and other social media disappointment is likely. You are not just chasing people but also an algorithm . Street is not only misunderstood by Joe Public but by the photographic community at large hence the need for support from our self-defined clubs communities or collectives. Having had a camera in hand for decades as a hobby I got interested in street or as I prefer to say candid photography about 2010. What really got me going was the discovery by John Maloof in a garage sale of the late Vivian Maiers work. That she had done street for nearly 50 years without recognition whilst working as a nanny was really inspiring. Her motivation and drive was entirely from within an almost compulsive desire and need to carry on doing what was obviously a personal pleasure. That she had a somewhat quirky peronality played its part but that can be said of of quite a few that get into photography and street in particular. The need to discover and follow ones own personal drive is neatly summed up in Joel Meyerowittz current book "How I Make Photgraphs" Its the process that happens in ones minds eye- the idea -the pre-visualisation, setting the scene, the being out there and sensing the moment; the Making of an image before Taking the shot with whatever gear you happen to have. . Personally I find the question "What camera did you use?" very tedious along with the need to bite my lip before replying. Too many let their gear get in the way.
Great vid. So nice to hear you're saying things I've been thinking about too. The great photographers (Bresson, Doisneau etc) succeeded because each picture avoided being confusingly detailed but still contained enough substance to give the viewer pause to think. There was always something evocative. People balanced brilliantly either with each other or with the environment. Often with a pleasing hint of humour. Meanwhile, current photographers usually hide behind leading lines, rule of thirds, wide angle distortion, filters, film simulations, black and white, stupid amounts of clarity etc ... like a factory churning out modernist bathroom tiles. I've walked 30 miles in London in the past three days, keen to find some interesting scenes. I took almost no photos, as it's flippin' difficult :) But I've no regrets as I still feel firmly behind the wheel. I just have to be a bit more nosey and enjoy what I see as a world of experiences.
I shoot with a Nikon full frame. I bought the 40mm a couple of years ago because it's a good compromise between the 35mm and 50mm. I really like that lens. It's one of my favorites. I bought the 28mm around Christmas last year and now it stays on one of my cameras. I usually use it on my z6 II. My z8 is just a little too big and heavy to walk around with with the way I shoot. If I had bought the 28mm first I may not have bought the 40mm. I like walking right by someone up close and taking a photo of them without them knowing. I'll either have the camera hanging from my neck or around one shoulder and let the camera hang a bit lower. I can turn the camera in portrait view that way very easily and hold it in one hand. I do have a wrist strap but I don't really like it that much. I use zone focus and I'm getting better at angling the camera in the right direction and angle without having to have the camera at my eye. Sometimes I'll hold my camera high close to my right shoulder near my chin. I can angle it inwards to point out at someone to me left. I can walk down the sidewalk and take the photo as I pass by our as I meet someone. The 28mm let's you be really close and still get a lot of things in the background in the frame unlike the 40mm. I think a wider angle lens is more forgiving because it has a wider depth of field even at f/5.6. I never thought I would get into our like street photography. I mainly shoot landscape and milky way photos. I find street photography to be more challenging. It's always different when you go out even if you're walking the same streets. I have an IG account but I don't post as much on it. I'm fact it's private. There's too many fake accounts with links to porn sites always trying to follow me. If I made it public I would have to go through the followers every day to block those accounts so they wouldn't have access to my other followers. My photography is just for me. I mostly post on fb.
Really nice video, I enjoyed watching you very much. And the "gear is not important" comment is a very important. Especially for hobby photographers like me 😂
Hi Brian , hope you are well . I so agree with your points . I feel that a good 90 % of so called street photography online nowdays is no more that very average snapshop of people walking in the street or, just a graphic light trick under a bridge . In my opinion , even some of the new generation guys , who took the genre by storm on social media especialy in UK are falling in this trap unfortunatly . It is funny that so many people admire Magnum photographers ( myslef included ) but rarely apply the rigueur of work those guy put into their work . subject , context , provoking questions and emotions then light, colours composition to help re-enforce the subject itslef ...for that reason I force myself to go a bit more docu style , to teach myself that subject ( real one, not a random person walking in front of a bilboard ) is more important than anything else . I guess I passed stage one of the Dunning Kruger Effect and that's a good thing 😂
Hi Brian Nice to hear from you again I agree with all you have said, I’d like to add if anyone expects to win club competitions with street photography you’ll find that you will be lucky if you do. The person you should be photographing for is yourself and if someone else likes it great!
Been shooting street, etc for over 50 years and I enjoy your conversations. Yes, I have thousands of useless images, but I do not delete them as I often go way back in time to see what I did right and wrong. Also we move on so sometimes I no longer like my old images and sometimes the bad ones I deleted years ago I now like better today. I like to shoot wide (24 or 28), but for some reason since COVID I tend to stay further away from my subjects and often shoot with a 50. I still like a 35 lens too. I refuse to engage in social media as I consider it a waste of time. I'd rather be out shooting during my most liked time of day or processing images at night.
Loved this video, Brian, everything you said is so true of Street Photography! I feel the same as you, like I'm just getting back into Street after the last three years!
Organisational behaviours implicit in modernity translates into recreational activities that can in a sense be a driver for social categorisation as a photographer which divides photographers into two camps. Those that adhere to a community and the solo or self categoriser. So the elephant in the room is the social identity the photographer hooks into for self esteem.
Love the 28mm focal length for travel, and as a general-purpose walk-around lens. But when I know I’ll only do street photography, I prefer something between 40 and 45mm, generally zone-focusing. Favorite camera for the streets of the world? Olympus E-M10 Mkii, even after all these years…
Chock full of fine points Brian, I love shooting street style people pictures, it's always nice to hear your take on things. Just applied to join your FB group. I've tried Insta and didn't get much joy for the effort I put in so deleted it, I'll stick to the TH-cam channel I enjoy that far more. I was always a 35 or 50mm shooter but since getting a Q2 I'm absolutely loving 28mm it makes me get closer which adds impact love it.
Always carry a small fast 28mm equivalent lens camera and get in close. I use a Ricoh GR digital from 2005 8 megapixel CCD sensor. Learn to see and anticipate.
Hi, Really enjoyed your video, I'm not a camera gear video guy I am more into the process and improving and find your videos very informative with interesting format.
Very informative. I've been learning the ropes for a few months now and its taken that long, just to feel comfortable amongst people. I find that focusing with one thing at a time for eg, composition, light, zone focusing etc, works well, otherwise it can be a bit overwhelming
Excellent range of points and thoughts, good to see you back.! Thank you for your time and effort.The plans you have sound great.. I do like Black and white and colour, but If I plan B&W then Iset that to what I see through the viewfinder/screen when shooting…I think B&W does make getting a good subject and composition even more important so I totally endorse your point about post production etc. I also find some of my most satisfying shots are from My simple Ricoh GR3…or my iphone! ( Timing, being “there” and aware is by far the most important thing!Plus luck too!)
Nice to see you back, it’s good to see you after listening to your podcasts. Great video and good points, I look forward to seeing how the series progresses. I didn’t get on with the V and took advantage of its 2nd hand popularity to buy one of its more expensive rivals. Moving away from daily posts on IG I now post a video at the end of the month of the month. I would love a monochrome camera as I do only shoot without colour but feel conflicted with shooting in colour raw and converting. After your video I may try mono jpeg for this month as my editing is minimal anyway. Best wishes and take care
Great video, totally agree with all you said. In particular I agree with your take on Instagram. I signed up a while back and left after a couple of months. I found myself taking pictures that I would not normally take but was taking because I thought they would work on Instagram. It started to change the pictures I was taking so I dumped it. I'm happy again taking pictures just got me.
I sincerely appreciate your advices and vision about street photography. This is the way it goes , it’s a journey and de quote from Kydonakis is absolutely true and relevant. Thanks for giving us the opportunity to share your expertise
I have shot street photos in Vancouver and Victoria BC and have loved the experience. However now I live in a smallish town and I haven't done anything here. One reason is that in Vancouver and Victoria my favourite time to shoot street photos was at night and in a perfect world at night after a decent rain, the colour saturations are wonderful. If I were to copy this behaviour here, the streets would be empty, everyone home or out socializing but not definitely in town. I have watch some videos of small town street photography but it would be great if you could cover some time. There are street photographers you can call upon in Jolly Old E.
@@StreetSnappers So I did watch your video about street photography and small towns. Probably the most helpful suggestion for me was to shoot more art style abstracts. By the way, you talked about shoot street photos with a buddy (I did hear you say you prefer to shoot alone) and I've tried it. But what happened is we split to shoot on our own then meet up at a certain time. I don't have to tell you shooting street work is..well...work. I'm thinking framing, the right moment, shutter speed and ISO (which I now leave on auto), etc. I prefer to shoot at night so the subjects are walking in and out of light, changing light of various colours. And all this ""stuff" is whirling around in my brain as I get set to press the shutter button.
I like your candor. There’s little money to be made with street photography for most people. Do it for the fun. Be friendly. Don’t equate Instagram likes with skill. 28mm definitely invites you to get closer. What are your thoughts on post processing? I see a lot of folks morphing their images to be “cinematic” but sometimes the result feels contrived and inauthentic. Do whatever photo art you like, I suppose, but is it still street photography? Candid shots of life at a certain place and time?
Another great video Brian. Loved it so much. I found it very difficult to do street photography in UAE as the rules are very strict here. But i am trying my best 😊
Another good video Brian. You always remind me to get out on the street! I still don’t have confidence to take observational shots of the wider context for fear of the possible confrontation mentioned by some others here. Instead I default into asking people if I can take their photographs. This has become a project for me - fashion in London in 2023 but I hope to get more confident to take the sort of candid pictures others can do. Any tips?
i bought a secondhand canon camera to try streetphotography lastyear..but when im on the street im afraid to pullout camera...people i usually see on the street suddenly feel like they are total strangerS...months later i bought another canon camera with powerfull zoom..in mind i can take picture from distance...but still i have no courage to do that.till today i never do street photography.
Great video, full of wisdom. I would add to "b&w doesn't make a bad picture good" "film/analog doesn't make a random scene great". You've got a new suscriber
Thanks for the feedback - and yes, I completely agree with your comment about film / analogue - spot on!
Great to see you're back on TH-cam! Looking forward to your future videos.
Great episode Brian. I do street photography simply for myself. I do not have a Facebook, Instagram or TikTok account at all. I just share it with my friends and family and I am happy with what I do. The images may be rubbish, but at least I get to enjoy myself, get out and about instead of being a couch potato, continue to develop and refine my style and improve incrementally. It helps to keep my fitness and mental health in check too.
My main street photography camera is an Olympus E-M5ii with a 14mm/2.5 Panasonic lens or a 19mm/2.8 Sigma lens. They are great for street, and split roughly 45%/55%. The key to using any lens is to get into the groove of seeing the scene with the appropriate angle of view. It takes a while, but when I get it, it becomes intuitive.
how do you start street photography?im afraid to pullout my camera and point it to people..at last i use my camera for landscape and wild photography...just for my collection so my daughter have somthing for her to see when im gone
@@backyardmicrobiology There are quite a number of YT channels advising on how to approach the subjects without causing alarm, etc. Try StreetSnappers for a start. Brian specialises in street. My own advice is not to use a large camera (looks intimidating), keep the gear simple and approach your subjects openly, not by stealth. If I want to take a portrait, I simply ask. 90% of the time they will say yes, and I often show them the results and offer to email them. I just did it today in Lincoln and both of my subjects were delighted to give me their details. Hope that helps.
@@backyardmicrobiology may I suggest you walk around with your camera in your hand pretending to be a 'tourist' and take snaps (or pretend to) of buildings, using the lcd helps as it can look similar to using a phone (especially if the camera is small). Also - be confident, you will be less likely to be challenged, the more you do it the easier it gets, have fun.
@@backyardmicrobiologyI started one week ago, today was my second day on street. I use my lcd in the way I could put my camera low, I pretended I was shot a building or shop, and shot the person, sometimes I stop in some place, where the composition has potencial so waiting someone cross and shot.. Mostly of people are busy, going to work because was early... This help too... They don't care about you
I'm glad to having found your channel and books😊 Thank you very much for sharing your expertise with us.
So glad I found you here on TH-cam. It's been really helpful hearing an experienced guy talking about something I've just started to get interested in (at 63!) to balance the endless content from the younger set on social media. I've gone for micro four thirds, Olympus E-M10 as my main camera and Panasonic GX880 as my pop in the pocket camera; interestingly of the 3 lenses I bought, apart from the 14-42 kit lens) I find I'm using the 14mm, 28mm equivalent the most, on the GX880. It's half the cost of a Ricoh GR for a similar size and setup.
Enjoy your new freedom for using other exiting gear aswell. I like your honesty and your view on photography. A new member in your club ;-)
Thank you!
I will tell you that I really love this lens, the 28mm. It suits me!
It is really very flexible!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us
Is great to see you back.👏
Thanks for the great tips Brian-I enjoy your videos.❤
My pleasure - thanks for tuning in!
Great to see you back!
Thanks Roger - lots more to come!
Good to see you back Brian. I was a tad upset about the switch of Fuji ambassadors more so when you look at the work from the replacements, maybe they have linked up with Urth filters, but the pics you see on their sight are a little odd and I wonder who they are trying to impress? Very good filters though. So the genre of street, hence why I shoot Streetish, a bit of everything. Like you I do it for me and have nothing to do with instaforgotten, the two second mini gallery. The quote at the end, I can live with that lol. Arcadia in the USA do mono chrome versions of the X Pro series!
Thank you for coming back!
Thanks Kirill - lots more to come!
Welcome back. Thank you for passing along what I consider to be invaluable information to those of us, such as myself, who aspire to one day be successful photographers. Your channel has become one of my favorites. You have a gift. Thank you for sharing that gift with every single one of us.
Thanks so much for the feedback, Warren - much appreciated.
Great video , glad your back looking forward to your chanel , I can't see episodes on your podcast ? Guessing g it got held up
good to see you back !!
Thanks Ines!
Oh finally you’re back!! :)
Looking forward to the new format! :)
Thank you! Please stay tuned - lots more to come!
Thanks! Finally, somebody talks photography and not gear. I feel Years of real street experience out of Your each sentence. Looking forward to be member of this Club.
Great feedback - thank you Ivan!
Excellent video, I really like this format! It feels like part of a high quality online course.
Nice video Brian. Some interesting points there (love the comment on what “bangers” are lol). Felt like I was back on one of your workshops : )
Haha, thanks Jonathan - nice to hear from you :-)
Welcome back, Brian. We've missed you!
Thanks for this. I have just started following you. I find your words very wise. I like the comment about gear does not matter. I have a lot of choices with the cameras and lenses I own. And they do nit include Fujifilm of Leica or Ricoh GR3.
Thank for commenting, Chris. I think camera choice is irrelevant / use what you have and enjoy it!
Terrific revised video format Brian. When I shot a lot of street in London back in the late 60's, early 70's my lens of choice was the 28mm. I occasionally jumped up to 50mm but always landed back on the 28, it just totally involved me in the scene rather than left me as an outsider. Thanks for posting.
You covered a lot of ground in this video. Good points -- thank you. In regard to the 28mm width, it is wonderful when it works. The issues are when the subject is a distance beyond where you are at the time the moment happens. When up closer, there is more chance of bruising the scene, as you become more a part of that scene. The camera, when tilted, unlike 50mm view, as you know can really go wonky, whereas the geometry and framing is easier for 50mm. I wonder if Henri Cartier-Bresson liked the 50mm due to the frame and good geometry without distortions? I like subjects near the edge and have to rethink just how far to go with 28mm, as not to distort too much. I do love just how much the width covers, and that deep look. The only prime I have in 28mm FF, is the Lumix 14mm f2.5 lens. MFT is a very forgiving camera format to use, as no matter how fast you choose when opening up, unless you go crazy, you taken in the background with ease. I have shot with 35mm on FF, and it is interesting, and seems wide to me. I am thinking only because I am so use the 50mm, that I see 35mm and 28mm as interesting, yet more of a challenge. I do love to mix things up now and then, and even go 90mm, which is great, unless the close shots get away --- life is that way. I enjoy the wide lenses, and some close work, but seem to gravitate back to 50mm. Maybe I see that section of a scene as the most relevant? At times I want for the wide or a zoom, as to take-in a broad scene, like the string of buildings. Mostly it is about the more immediate and trying not to bruise the scene in the process. I shoot in smaller cities, so having a camera with me, people think I am a tourist or professional, I am thinking. Maybe just a crazy old man? It is laughable that people are concerned about someone with a camera, when all people with phones have a camera, and could be sending off photos in seconds. I would be more concerned about big brother government or technocrats wishing to photograph my every move. This is the year 2023 and people worry about someone with a camera? I just smile, and most times, it is all A-OK. Take care, Loren Schwiderski, in California
Great to see you back. I just joined the Facebook group because it's good to have a face to put to the group, rather than an anonymous group. I hope I can do it justice with some of my images.
New Sub here, loved hearing your commentary and it resonated with me. Looking forward to catching up with your past videos and what you have coming up! Thank you.
Thanks for your support, Ray!
Thank you. Listening to folks who do this well is worth gold to me as I start out.
Thanks Brendan - that’s too kind :-)
Brian great to have you back on the Tube. Again another information filled video.
Thanks for the feedback Terry - much appreciated :-)
Loving this new format Brian. Looking forward to the next one! 👏👏
Just loved it Sir. I am new to this genre and you have answered many of the thoughts that are passing through my mind. Looking forward to learn from you and practice it in the field
Thanks very much Ram!
Welcome back, Brian, you’ve been missed! Excellent video, looking forward to more.
Thanks very much Jules :-)
Love the new format! Looking forward to the critique and zines! Please keep them coming :=)
Agree with your view on 28mm. I started my street photography journey with 50 and 135mm because I didn't want to get too close, but as people are the key focus of my work it didn't satisfy or give me what I was really after. I moved on to 35mm but eventually bought a 28mm full frame equivalent lens and it changed everything. It takes me way out of my comfort zone because of being in such close proximity to my subjects, but (my opinion) my pictures just got so much better in terms of context, layers and composition. The focal length challenges me every time I use it.
Thanks for your comment, Simon, and I completely agree with your reasoning for using the 28 :-)
Nice episode Brian. Also enjoyed the way you lit and exposed the video. Gives depth to the colour and shadows.
Thanks very much :-)
Brian - Thank you, excellent video. I am an "amateur street photographer" and shoot because I LOVE photographing people. I totally agree with you about gear, use what you have, know your camera. My BEST day would be to go and walk for hours and see what I could possibly capture.
Thanks for the feedback Tanya!
Glad to see you back Brian. I got rid of Instagram - not for any reason other than it was holding me back. Im happy to accept that the process is what I enjoy - I don't do it for likes. Looking forward to more videos.
Thanks for the feedback, Bob :-)
Great video - again Brian!
Your passion for street photography is contagious 👌👍🔝📸
Thanks very much Peter!
Stumbled across this channel by accident. I don't do "street photography" but living by the sea and going for a bike ride every morning, I take a lot of photographs every week. Leaving aside the word "street", pretty much everything said here applies to all photography, excellent chat :)
Thanks John :-)
I bought a Leica Q2, believe it or not my wife persuaded me to do so. It has changed my photography so much, both in style and in the amount of shooting I do. The camera goes with me every time I go out the door. Yes I love the 28mm
Great camera, great lens. All you could ever need! (great wife too)
What a good episode and come-back! I watched a lot of street photography clips on TH-cam and Street Snappers are still my favorite.
28mm is a very interesting focal length where I could not use well for years. But last year I used an Elmarit for 2 months until I got a 75mm. I know we should try to stick to one but sometimes switching view points helps revive the desire to hit the streets!
Thanks so much for the feedback! I also vary the lens sometimes - I love the 90mm when I’m pretending to be Saul Leiter!
Thank you - very inspiring. It’s great see you back. I’d suggest to the lady from Philly that she shoot portraits or event gigs to support her street photography. BTW I lived there 17 yrs & it’s a fabulous city for street photography.
Thanks Ben - great tip :-)
You said it’s been a while since your last video, but hey, it was worth waiting for.
What a great, inspiring and thought provoking video.
That's very kind, Roger - thank you!
So great to watch a new video. I’ve binged watched most of your earlier videos and picked up your Street Photography Workshop book - thanks so much for the great content, it’s really helped improve my street photography.
Thanks very much for the feedback, Adrian - please stay tuned!
I really enjoyed the new video and nice to see you here again !
I am an accountant and don't often get a chance to talk to photographers. Listening to conversations like yours, really helps me to think. Thank you
This is quite good. I'll look forward to more. Thanks.
Welcome back Brian, I enjoyed the new video format. Looking forward to watching more.
Nice work and well done.
Neil M
I enjoyed your video. I enjoyed your photos. I think you should show more of YOUR work. When you're listening to another photographer talk about 'street photography,' until you see examples of his work, you're always skeptical. Too often when I'm watching videos of other street photographers' work I'm thinking to myself, "What were you thinking when you took that photo?!"
Great to see you back after the slight absence, and glad all is well. I do have some issues with street photography having constructs, or rules, or anything like that, especially when you state later on that we should be shooting for ourselves. If I'm shooting for myself, then that lunch photo that you may not be SP might very well be something I'm very happy with, so what label to I apply to it? I never thought of the photography I did in NYC and elsewhere in the 70's/80's was 'street photography' as it was just taking photographs. And I enjoyed myself immensely while doing it and never felt I had to put the work into it, it just was there. I think if you asked 100 street photographers to describe what 'it' is, you'll get 110 different answers. And that's what makes it so great!
Great points, Gerry - thanks for commenting. :-)
One of my best experience was when my brother offered me a Canon AE1 and I decided to try it out, so I loaded a film and I went to a neighbourhood where I like to shoot. I had a great day shooting. The next day, I tried to rewind the film and remove it to have it developed and realised that it was never loaded properly and no exposures were made. I felt a bit bad and a bit sad, that's all, still great memories, and I realised that I do this for the experience, not for the result.
BTW I usually shoot 35mm. It's like a compromise between 50 and 28. I'm aware that watered down compromises are usually bad in photography. However I often don't have the time or will to swap lenses - 35 is pretty general purpose.
I sympathise - the mis-loaded film thing has happened to us all. But I agree that is as much as out the experience as it is the result :-)
I have only just come across your site, what a great introduction 👍 now subscribed and looking forward to the next edition.
Thanks for being here..I am in NYC, and shoot in street scenes here and elsewhere..I use a Pentax K1Mk2,and it has never been to imposing, never been boring, and because of the build quality, I can shoot in ALL weather. Fuji shooters here are some amazing shooters and LOVE, not like their cameras. I do not worry about those who comment nor the creators who get slick at the mouth,because all those keyboard warriors/creators who cheerleader for brands/formats, are NOT prepared to have that same energy in person...My avatar is a shot I took right in front of the house..
Thanks for your comment Michael and I love your attitude! Pentax is a great brand by the way- and often under rated.
First time viewer. Really enjoyed your advice and insight. It’s excellent and inspiring and as well as grounding. Glad to be a new subscriber.
Many thanks Walter - great to have you aboard!
Very well said Brian. Concise and informative as always. Confrontation and rejection is all part of it.
I’ve been shooting for about 2 years now and I’m feeling I’ve reached a bit of a plateau so I’m going after some different shots within the context of the project I’m shooting. Wanna try to get more moments. Ive been critical towards my own “work” lately. I’d like it to be a bit more varied.
Really needed to hear lots of what was said in this video.
Thanks so much for uploading Brian!
Thanks very much for your comments. Good luck with your street photography - keep at it and all will be fine!
thank you! the quote at the end is my perfect shoe.
Thank you Brian , love the new format..must go now and get on to the street
Thanks Andrew - no excuses now!!
Great content. Although I already have committed to high-failure endeavors like coding and skateboarding, and even golf on occasion, I'm very familiar with high-failure pursuits. So why not add one more! Anything worth doing is likely going to be difficult. I just got a GR iii a week ago. I almost got the 40mm but didn't want to limit myself right off the bat. I figure I can always get one later or spend more on a q2 if I prove to myself I can commit to this with just a gr3 for a while.
Welcome back!
Thanks Hany!
Wonderful video, thank you - I bought a Fuji x100v, not realizing it didn't have IS, so I have to sell it. It is brand new and hopefully will not lose too much. The 28mm lens was interesting and the next one I buy (with IS) will be a 28 to see what I can learn and do. And, I will continue to watch your vidoes to learn! (You need to do a workshop in NY 😁 )
Ooohh love this new format Brian, with reference to 'your zines/books/images'.. how does one go about submitting for feedback?
Thanks Robin! Please email me at brian@streetsnappers.com in the first instance :-)
Good to see you again.
"When I was in school, bangers were sausages."
Haha, cheers ;-)
I like the new format Brian and see how it links to the reconfigured facebook group. Most of what you say is linked to motivation. I agree that if ones motivation is externally based on likes from Instagram and other social media disappointment is likely. You are not just chasing people but also an algorithm . Street is not only misunderstood by Joe Public but by the photographic community at large hence the need for support from our self-defined clubs communities or collectives.
Having had a camera in hand for decades as a hobby I got interested in street or as I prefer to say candid photography about 2010. What really got me going was the discovery by John Maloof in a garage sale of the late Vivian Maiers work. That she had done street for nearly 50 years without recognition whilst working as a nanny was really inspiring. Her motivation and drive was entirely from within an almost compulsive desire and need to carry on doing what was obviously a personal pleasure. That she had a somewhat quirky peronality played its part but that can be said of of quite a few that get into photography and street in particular.
The need to discover and follow ones own personal drive is neatly summed up in Joel Meyerowittz current book "How I Make Photgraphs" Its the process that happens in ones minds eye- the idea -the pre-visualisation, setting the scene, the being out there and sensing the moment; the Making of an image before Taking the shot with whatever gear you happen to have. . Personally I find the question "What camera did you use?" very tedious along with the need to bite my lip before replying. Too many let their gear get in the way.
Great vid. So nice to hear you're saying things I've been thinking about too.
The great photographers (Bresson, Doisneau etc) succeeded because each picture avoided being confusingly detailed but still contained enough substance to give the viewer pause to think. There was always something evocative. People balanced brilliantly either with each other or with the environment. Often with a pleasing hint of humour.
Meanwhile, current photographers usually hide behind leading lines, rule of thirds, wide angle distortion, filters, film simulations, black and white, stupid amounts of clarity etc ... like a factory churning out modernist bathroom tiles.
I've walked 30 miles in London in the past three days, keen to find some interesting scenes. I took almost no photos, as it's flippin' difficult :) But I've no regrets as I still feel firmly behind the wheel. I just have to be a bit more nosey and enjoy what I see as a world of experiences.
I shoot with a Nikon full frame. I bought the 40mm a couple of years ago because it's a good compromise between the 35mm and 50mm. I really like that lens. It's one of my favorites. I bought the 28mm around Christmas last year and now it stays on one of my cameras. I usually use it on my z6 II. My z8 is just a little too big and heavy to walk around with with the way I shoot. If I had bought the 28mm first I may not have bought the 40mm. I like walking right by someone up close and taking a photo of them without them knowing. I'll either have the camera hanging from my neck or around one shoulder and let the camera hang a bit lower. I can turn the camera in portrait view that way very easily and hold it in one hand. I do have a wrist strap but I don't really like it that much. I use zone focus and I'm getting better at angling the camera in the right direction and angle without having to have the camera at my eye. Sometimes I'll hold my camera high close to my right shoulder near my chin. I can angle it inwards to point out at someone to me left. I can walk down the sidewalk and take the photo as I pass by our as I meet someone. The 28mm let's you be really close and still get a lot of things in the background in the frame unlike the 40mm. I think a wider angle lens is more forgiving because it has a wider depth of field even at f/5.6. I never thought I would get into our like street photography. I mainly shoot landscape and milky way photos. I find street photography to be more challenging. It's always different when you go out even if you're walking the same streets. I have an IG account but I don't post as much on it. I'm fact it's private. There's too many fake accounts with links to porn sites always trying to follow me. If I made it public I would have to go through the followers every day to block those accounts so they wouldn't have access to my other followers. My photography is just for me. I mostly post on fb.
Really nice video, I enjoyed watching you very much. And the "gear is not important" comment is a very important. Especially for hobby photographers like me 😂
Thanks - glad you agree!
Hi Brian , hope you are well . I so agree with your points . I feel that a good 90 % of so called street photography online nowdays is no more that very average snapshop of people walking in the street or, just a graphic light trick under a bridge . In my opinion , even some of the new generation guys , who took the genre by storm on social media especialy in UK are falling in this trap unfortunatly . It is funny that so many people admire Magnum photographers ( myslef included ) but rarely apply the rigueur of work those guy put into their work . subject , context , provoking questions and emotions then light, colours composition to help re-enforce the subject itslef ...for that reason I force myself to go a bit more docu style , to teach myself that subject ( real one, not a random person walking in front of a bilboard ) is more important than anything else . I guess I passed stage one of the Dunning Kruger Effect and that's a good thing 😂
That flowed really well. Good advice!
Cheers Mark! Ah-haaaaa!
Hi Brian
Nice to hear from you again
I agree with all you have said, I’d like to add if anyone expects to win club competitions with street photography you’ll find that you will be lucky if you do.
The person you should be photographing for is yourself and if someone else likes it great!
I love your videos. I´d really like to live in UK to attend to your workshops. Congratulations Mr. Brian.
Been shooting street, etc for over 50 years and I enjoy your conversations. Yes, I have thousands of useless images, but I do not delete them as I often go way back in time to see what I did right and wrong. Also we move on so sometimes I no longer like my old images and sometimes the bad ones I deleted years ago I now like better today. I like to shoot wide (24 or 28), but for some reason since COVID I tend to stay further away from my subjects and often shoot with a 50. I still like a 35 lens too. I refuse to engage in social media as I consider it a waste of time. I'd rather be out shooting during my most liked time of day or processing images at night.
Loved this video, Brian, everything you said is so true of Street Photography! I feel the same as you, like I'm just getting back into Street after the last three years!
Love the new format and excited for the direction of this channel! Expect confrontation. My favorite takeaway from this episode 👍🏽
Good video Brian and a compelling quote to end on.
Great vid Brian and an excellent reminder about the fickle insta approvals
Organisational behaviours implicit in modernity translates into recreational activities that can in a sense be a driver for social categorisation as a photographer which divides photographers into two camps. Those that adhere to a community and the solo or self categoriser. So the elephant in the room is the social identity the photographer hooks into for self esteem.
Hi - thanks for your comment. I’m not sure I understand what your point is but thank you for making it!!
PS. What's your VLOG setup? That's a heck of a shallow depth of field and the camera is tracking you incredibly well considering.
Thanks - it's a Leica SL2-S with Simga Art 35mm f/1.4 (set to f/2)
Love the 28mm focal length for travel, and as a general-purpose walk-around lens. But when I know I’ll only do street photography, I prefer something between 40 and 45mm, generally zone-focusing. Favorite camera for the streets of the world? Olympus E-M10 Mkii, even after all these years…
Chock full of fine points Brian, I love shooting street style people pictures, it's always nice to hear your take on things. Just applied to join your FB group. I've tried Insta and didn't get much joy for the effort I put in so deleted it, I'll stick to the TH-cam channel I enjoy that far more. I was always a 35 or 50mm shooter but since getting a Q2 I'm absolutely loving 28mm it makes me get closer which adds impact love it.
Always carry a small fast 28mm equivalent lens camera and get in close.
I use a Ricoh GR digital from 2005 8 megapixel CCD sensor.
Learn to see and anticipate.
Hi, Really enjoyed your video, I'm not a camera gear video guy I am more into the process and improving and find your videos very informative with interesting format.
Thanks for the feedback John :-)
Loved your video. It just made me want to go out and shoot. But it’s already 10.40pm!!
Very informative. I've been learning the ropes for a few months now and its taken that long, just to feel comfortable amongst people. I find that focusing with one thing at a time for eg, composition, light, zone focusing etc, works well, otherwise it can be a bit overwhelming
Good points, Philip - thank you!
Great video Brian. 👌🏻
Thank you Dan!
Wonderful, thank you!
Thanks for watching!
Excellent range of points and thoughts, good to see you back.! Thank you for your time and effort.The plans you have sound great.. I do like Black and white and colour, but If I plan B&W then Iset that to what I see through the viewfinder/screen when shooting…I think B&W does make getting a good subject and composition even more important so I totally endorse your point about post production etc. I also find some of my most satisfying shots are from My simple Ricoh GR3…or my iphone! ( Timing, being “there” and aware is by far the most important thing!Plus luck too!)
Nice to see you back, it’s good to see you after listening to your podcasts.
Great video and good points, I look forward to seeing how the series progresses.
I didn’t get on with the V and took advantage of its 2nd hand popularity to buy one of its more expensive rivals. Moving away from daily posts on IG I now post a video at the end of the month of the month.
I would love a monochrome camera as I do only shoot without colour but feel conflicted with shooting in colour raw and converting. After your video I may try mono jpeg for this month as my editing is minimal anyway.
Best wishes and take care
Great video, totally agree with all you said. In particular I agree with your take on Instagram. I signed up a while back and left after a couple of months. I found myself taking pictures that I would not normally take but was taking because I thought they would work on Instagram. It started to change the pictures I was taking so I dumped it. I'm happy again taking pictures just got me.
I sincerely appreciate your advices and vision about street photography. This is the way it goes , it’s a journey and de quote from Kydonakis is absolutely true and relevant. Thanks for giving us the opportunity to share your expertise
I have shot street photos in Vancouver and Victoria BC and have loved the experience. However now I live in a smallish town and I haven't done anything here. One reason is that in Vancouver and Victoria my favourite time to shoot street photos was at night and in a perfect world at night after a decent rain, the colour saturations are wonderful. If I were to copy this behaviour here, the streets would be empty, everyone home or out socializing but not definitely in town. I have watch some videos of small town street photography but it would be great if you could cover some time. There are street photographers you can call upon in Jolly Old E.
Hi Rick - I made a video about doing street photography in a small town - please have a look!
@@StreetSnappers So I did watch your video about street photography and small towns. Probably the most helpful suggestion for me was to shoot more art style abstracts. By the way, you talked about shoot street photos with a buddy (I did hear you say you prefer to shoot alone) and I've tried it. But what happened is we split to shoot on our own then meet up at a certain time. I don't have to tell you shooting street work is..well...work. I'm thinking framing, the right moment, shutter speed and ISO (which I now leave on auto), etc. I prefer to shoot at night so the subjects are walking in and out of light, changing light of various colours. And all this ""stuff" is whirling around in my brain as I get set to press the shutter button.
Really enjoyed that Brian .
Thanks Graham - hope all's well with you :-)
I like your candor. There’s little money to be made with street photography for most people. Do it for the fun. Be friendly. Don’t equate Instagram likes with skill. 28mm definitely invites you to get closer. What are your thoughts on post processing? I see a lot of folks morphing their images to be “cinematic” but sometimes the result feels contrived and inauthentic. Do whatever photo art you like, I suppose, but is it still street photography? Candid shots of life at a certain place and time?
Thanks John. I completely agree about this 'cinematic' stuff looking contrived and inauthentic: when did you last walk down a green street?!!
Excellent video. Joined the Facebook group too
Thanks Sean :-)
Welcome back.
Thank you Scott!
Another great video Brian. Loved it so much. I found it very difficult to do street photography in UAE as the rules are very strict here. But i am trying my best 😊
Hi Teddy - yes, it must be difficult in the UAE. Is street photography prohibited or just ‘difficult’?
@@StreetSnappers It’s not prohibited. But it’s very difficult 😞
I’ve had a x100v too and just could not connect with that camera. I love 28mm, 35mm and 50 is way to tight for the streets around here.
Me too Steve - it's a great camera but for me it wasn't a joy to shoot with.
Looks like I better delete all my cat on a wall photos then! :D Good to see you back Brian!
less than a minute in i already love to is guy and immediately subscribed
Thanks so much!
Love your comments on the Fuji X100V I feel exactly the same way.
Another good video Brian. You always remind me to get out on the street! I still don’t have confidence to take observational shots of the wider context for fear of the possible confrontation mentioned by some others here. Instead I default into asking people if I can take their photographs. This has become a project for me - fashion in London in 2023 but I hope to get more confident to take the sort of candid pictures others can do. Any tips?
i bought a secondhand canon camera to try streetphotography lastyear..but when im on the street im afraid to pullout camera...people i usually see on the street suddenly feel like they are total strangerS...months later i bought another canon camera with powerfull zoom..in mind i can take picture from distance...but still i have no courage to do that.till today i never do street photography.
Just keep practicing - the more you do it, the easier it gets.