10 things that make the Street Photographer different from other photographers
In this blog I always said that the street photographer is another kind of photographer. Let’s see why to support this idea.
“There are two types of photographers: those who go to the studio and those who go to the street.” This sentence by Joel Meyerowitz clearly wants to make a distinction, stating in fact that they are two different types of photographers. And yes, the differences exist and I feel different from the typical photographer. To contribute also this idea is that certain art galleries don’t love that much street photographers, unless they are already particularly famous.
But what are the real differences? What makes a photographer a street photographer? What are the typical traits? I made a list. I am not pretending anyone is like that, but in my experience there are some peculiar characteristics. Let’s go!
A street photographer always goes out with a camera and doesn't keep it in a bag, but is always ready to shoot. I know fellow documentary makers or other genres who go out without a camera. This is impossible for a real street photographer to really think. Without a camera I feel something important is not with me. Simply I can’t. While they can: they photograph only for projects, when there is a good reason, but for me there is always a good reason. If you allow this it is a huge difference.
The street photographers work in all light and weather conditions.
A street photographer may think that "wearing" a camera is cool, but not in the same way that other photographers do. A street photographer does not do it to appear as a photographer and essentially does it for himself. The way to carry a camera and also the movements he makes are not to look like a photographer but rather to make it as easy as possible to get the result.
A street photographer is essentially a hipster. And he/she is even before hipsters existed. He/she is so in the dimension of his living photography, still adoring the rangefinders and in the way he does photography, between zone focusing and rolls of film.
A street photographer is usually a no logo dude. Don't imagine how many street photographers cover the logos from their cameras with black tape. Those white writings are a real nuisance for us street photographers.
By extension of this thought, we hate anything that makes you look like an official photographer: the photographer's vests, the straps with the brand logo, etc. perhaps only the Leica brand is a separate matter. And I stress perhaps, because the Leica logo is also often covered with adhesive tape.
Controversial topic: is foul-mouthed the Street Photographer? We cannot generalize but we consider the street photographer a metropolitan animal and clearly this is inevitably reflected. I like to think that they are like me: capable of being in the world everywhere and therefore we are not talking about a schoolgirl but able to speak different languages by discerning the context. And anyway a fuck is OK if you don't nail a shot, no?
A street photographer is not lazy. All true street photographers love to walk. Otherwise what are we talking about?
A street photographer is a flaneur. He wanders without a real destination. He stops, observes, in constant search for an opportunity to take an interesting photo. He/she looks around, back, goes back, swerves, runs across the street for something he/she has seen.
A street photographer is a friendly person, always ready to meet other people and… other photographers. I know there are also introverted people, guys. And the same "job" of the street photographer has a fairly introverted part in its. But this is also something focused on people. We love people.
Guys, let me know your thought on this list. Of course each of us has his own character and this post does not want to validate anything. It is made for fun, exactly like always should be made Street Photography!
