Can you plan street photography?

[dtohs]

This topic came about recently during a conversation with a fellow photographer, just thought maybe we could share our thoughts on this.

For me I do have some pics at the back of my head, always waiting for the right elements to fall in place, (if that’s how u call it). I do plan some of my street shots in that sense, cant explain it but I did, and I still do. Please share your view, thanks.

 

[calebk]

I read somewhere that when you are familiar enough with locations you frequent, you'll know how the light falls, how the location frames up and you'll know roughly what sort of shots to expect, but as for specifics of the shot, it's really quite free play. So to a certain extent, you can sort of plan what kind of shots you might like to get from a certain place, but not plan to the exact detail.

On the flipside, familiarity breeds contempt, and you may find yourself stuck in a narrow-sighted approach when you are too familiar with a particular location. You go about expecting only a certain range of preconceived shots, rather than letting yourself be open to the spontaneous. I think it's important to balance both the element of familiarity, with being prepared and spontaneous for anything that can happen.

As a personal rule of thumb, whenever I enter a new area I always meter for that area's light, so I know what to expect in terms of exposure. If it's a familiar area, exposure settings are easier set for me, but I always keep myself open to anything that might happen. Sure I have some preconceived shots, but I don't just stand around waiting and hunting for those.

 

[Yoricko]

Yes and no.

You can get a friend to pose in the scene, use your camera and your actions to influence the actions of other people, predict where the people are walking or moving, look at the way light falls, look up at the sun, get your friend to chase strangers away...

But there is no guarantee that the strangers will move along according to your 'predictions', a rain cloud might just sweep over in a blink of an eye, your girlfriend wants to buy some jewelery and harasses you.

You are never in full control of a street scene. That would make you a dictator.

 

[Thedraperyfalls]

I guess everything can be planned to a certain extent, even street photography.

From planning where you want to go to what time of the day to hit the streets.
And when something happens, planning how to compose - what to include, exclude. Drawing on our influences, experience.
After all, the ethos that we always expound is to think before we shoot, no?

And I guess what sets street-photography apart is that we cannot plan what will happen or appear.
And it is precisely this spontaneity of the street that draws us to it.
We might not be able dictate the happenings. But, we can certainly dictate how we react to it.

 

[paapoopa]

i like this line that you quoted.

"We might not be able dictate the happenings. But, we can certainly dictate how we react to it. "

i think that kindof summaries street photography in a whole for me.

 

[Royale With Cheese]

I got no plan in my head most of the time when I'm shooting.

Only plan is which camera & lenses to use & film. The rest, just take it as it comes. I prefer shooting in un-familar places.

 

[magicianhisoka]

It's possible to frame the background and wait for the right fish to swim up that makes the scene 'perfect'.

But I prefer to treat street photography as a serendipitous activity

 

[virtualme78]

For me, I take what the streets offer.... and I prefer shooting at unfamiliar places as I will be more alert and constantly looking around for interesting happenings.

 

[newghost]

in the army, we used to have this when we want to do some serious planning... :bsmilie:

 

[ZShutter]

I find that you can't really plan for street photography.
From my experience, I can't really get the shot if i chase for it, normally the shots will come to you as you are walking and
it's up to you to capture the moment. If you don't take it, it will be gone forever.
As Henri Cartier-Bresson used to say: It's the decisive moment where the right elements come together in that
time and space.

 

[virtualme78]

I think this is a lil off-topic. I'm not sure if its me but I find nuthing interesting to shoot on the streets (Singapore that is) daily... especially if you are working or living around the area.... Anyone felt the same?

 

[baboonish]

I used to think so too... at first it was sheer excitement over what there is in the street but sometimes it can get mundane and kills your motivation, but at the long run I try to shoot with a theme like for instance, night intimacy or kids and stuff like that.. it kicks in the interest till this day, imo it would be quite satisfying to see your film roll fresh from developing with consistent pictures with what you had expected..

 

[Joohander]

I think this is a lil off-topic. I'm not sure if its me but I find nuthing interesting to shoot on the streets (Singapore that is) daily... especially if you are working or living around the area.... Anyone felt the same?

i felt the same too, for awhile but i was overseas in europe for 5 months and it felt refreshing to shoot new things and new places. when i got back to singapore, i realised that my eye seemed to catch things that i had neglected previously in singapore and i was much more happy with shooting around here. i really doubt that there is such a thing as "nothing to shoot" but rather you may just feel bored of what you see because you keep doing the same thing the same way all the time!

i've not really had the time to actually go out with the sole purpose to shoot but when i do, i have a laundry list of "missions" that i intend to do in singapore - some examples being: photos of doors, people wearing hats and hairy legs! hahaha it may sound random (and slightly weird) but i believe this will bring some focus and purpose to my walkabout and hopefully i may improve as a result!

 

[virtualme78]

I bring my camera out everyday in the hope to capture something interesting on my way to work, during my short 1 hr lunch break or even on my way back home sometimes... I mean i don't do it on a daily basis but i don't seem to find interesting things to shoot anymore especially around my office area. I came to realise that maybe I should shoot less my work area and more other places (that only possible during weekends) or maybe I should come up with a theme/purpose to shoot.

 

[excelsius]

I think planning is not the right word. I think you can anticipate though.

Street photography is about the fleeting moments we see, so anticipating such moments will be a better term. Granted that you can pick a spot, visualize what you want to shoot, but you still need the all important single moment or element to make your photo work.
That's why some photographers choose to stay at spot to look for something to happen, not just walk around looking for something.

Everybody got a different approach to it anyway. That's why it's so diverse and yields such interesting results.

Just my thoughts.

 

[dtohs]

Thanks for all your replies, I started this thread as a reality check for myself, cause I have friends who feel planning/anticipating kills the elements of surprises on the street. I like to think that some of us actually had some of our shots planned unknowingly. The fact that we have a preconceived pic waiting to be taken, to me its a planned process; & it works for me. I believe some of our shots were taken with a preconceived mindset, with the expectation of a certain outcome; however shooting on the street always has its unexpectedness, which adds fun to it. Just want to make certain lest some shooters think preconceived pictures are bad for street. PS: Always a pleasure hearing everyone's view with rgds to shooting on the street, amongst other genre.

flickr

 

[virtualme78]

dtoh... i was going through your flickr. Other than the great pictures you took... i must say i love the illustrations you've done in your moleskin!!!

 

[Benji77]

Yes, we can plan street. In fact, I think we do it all the time!
We plan the focal range, the film, the time we start to shoot. We proceed to compose, and wait for the exact moment we release the shutter.
Like what Excelcius said about the 'anticipation', which is very true. We could walk hours and yet get moderate shots. Or you can wait at a spot for that 'something' to happen. That 'something' is already in your head, which you percieved through the last session where you missed the shot. .

So yes, I believe you can plan street.

 

[Ttloong]

I dont' plan anything. I came I saw I shot.


Singapore Comifest 2011 by TTL!, on Flickr

 

[calebk]

I dont' plan anything. I came I saw I shot.


Singapore Comifest 2011 by TTL!, on Flickr

Good stuff man!