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Response to "New" Street Photography

from Tony R. (rowlett@alaska.net)
Yep, malls must be one of the factors that contributes to the "street photography is dying" notion. But it's the amount of street photography done, not the opportunities or potential for it, that leads some to feel that SP is dying. The same opportunities exist now as they have for decades, but I am no living proof of this as I find SP difficult and challenging. There is a good thread going on the SP list server regarding "confrontations."

I take my camera to malls every so often and find that success is more of a challenge than it is on the street. But even though it's more difficult to shoot in malls because reduced ambient lighting forces opening up more which hinders zone focusing, and slower shutter speeds resulting in increased unsharpness, there are so many great opportunities for excellent candid photography that I'm surprised that mall photography (MP) isn't more prevalent. I long for a decent shot of an argument over the difference of $.19 on some sale price, or the suspicious expression of a store clerk stocking a 14 year old suspected shop lifter in action.

Fast food restaurants are perhaps more challenging as you attempt to capture the impatient expression of the lady with six young restless kids behind you in line at a McDonald's. Time, however, seems not to be a factor as it takes forever to get served anymore, except for a McD's in Times Square once where they asked for our order before the door closed, and by the time we reached the counter our food was ready. There were so many people crammed into the place that you would have to raise the camera above your head and shoot downwards -- great wide-angle opportunities. At some fast food chains you might be able to capture the eyes rolling, the fingers tapping, and the impatient *sigh* when you take longer than two seconds to decide what you want from 493 different items (not counting the value meals) illuminated in 12 point text on overhead menus.

I have not been overly successful photographing people in cars stuck in traffic, but I have tried this numerous times. I find that cars, period, are difficult to photograph and make interesting. I find that a lot of my street photography has a car zooming by in the frame which mostly detracts from the picture. This is difficult to avoid during the day in some areas, even in Alaska. By the way, I think Alaska must be sort of the same as Florida in that both seem very touristy, surely a candid photographer's advantage. People often treat me as a tourist when I'm out and about with my camera. The restauant people often ask where I'm from and seem surprised that I'm just a local.

(posted 8737 days ago)

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