I think the photos you take on the street will reflect the kind of person you are. If you are a respectful person, that will come across in how you choose to photograph people and what you choose to publish. If you're not a respectful person no amount of criticism or advice will help. As our societies give the appearance of becoming less respectful or considerate, while also becoming more aggressive and confrontational it is more or less inevitable that street photography will move in the same direction.
Excellent piece, Neill. Another pitfall of posting/publishing images is that, photographs being photographs people will interpret their meaning subjectively and the comments they leave consolidate and condemn through the power of words and the power of polarisation inherent in social media. I prefer to avoid this and delete certain shots I have uploaded. But of course this is a futile exercise since the effect has already happened. So one lives with the guilt.
You also touch on another current concern. Each time I set out onto the busier streets I notice more and more people doing the same thing. Most are in doorways/static positions with telephoto lenses. I believe this will only inevitably increase until it is noticed and (further) restrictions will ensue on what is lawful. Meanwhile those of us with conscience may have to decide whether what we are doing is tenable.
I think the photos you take on the street will reflect the kind of person you are. If you are a respectful person, that will come across in how you choose to photograph people and what you choose to publish. If you're not a respectful person no amount of criticism or advice will help. As our societies give the appearance of becoming less respectful or considerate, while also becoming more aggressive and confrontational it is more or less inevitable that street photography will move in the same direction.
This is a good point, but I’d argue that the technology and societal expectations influence behaviour as much as individual character.
Very true, though the stronger your character and your values the better equipped you are to recognise and resist those influences.
Excellent piece, Neill. Another pitfall of posting/publishing images is that, photographs being photographs people will interpret their meaning subjectively and the comments they leave consolidate and condemn through the power of words and the power of polarisation inherent in social media. I prefer to avoid this and delete certain shots I have uploaded. But of course this is a futile exercise since the effect has already happened. So one lives with the guilt.
You also touch on another current concern. Each time I set out onto the busier streets I notice more and more people doing the same thing. Most are in doorways/static positions with telephoto lenses. I believe this will only inevitably increase until it is noticed and (further) restrictions will ensue on what is lawful. Meanwhile those of us with conscience may have to decide whether what we are doing is tenable.
Steve McQueen
Thanks Steve!