If you want to be real photographers you have to learn to take real photography, even on the street
Although social media pushes a trend of street photography that reduces it to a ridiculous flow of visual games and optical effects, real photography lives elsewhere. Yes, even street photography.
If you're thinking this is a polemical post, I confirm it.
When I started this blog, I wanted to offer a break from the blog that preceded it, focusing on my work and avoiding any sort of controversy. Because certainly in exposing yourself with a critical thought regarding today's street photography scene means making enemies. I have seen how in the past having criticized certain trends of street photography that the boom of the same and the viralization through social media has in many cases changed the perception of street photography. . But perhaps the world itself has created this degeneration: to the point that today we have influencers and street photography is now the territory of photography hobbyists who spend a fair amount of money every year to participate in all the existing competitions. This has created the business of awards created specifically to fuel festivals, where a vicious circle is created between the desire for approval and the conventicle.
Many think that the best street photography in the world is the one awarded and promoted by festivals. But that is a window only for those who participate and belong to certain logics.
Counting with over 15 years of experience as a street photographer, I think I can have my say. I say this as a photographer, as a publisher and as a photo coach specializing in street photography. Don't think I do it out of some sort of envy (which doesn't belong to me) or out of a polemical spirit. Rather one thing is true: I do it out of love for street photography, because it really annoys me to see it reduced to an optical effect in many cases.
Only yesterday I happened to see on instagram:
A dog whose eyes have been replaced by car exhaust pipes
A horned man because the legs of a gymnast were sticking out from behind his head
A man with a huge head, the one reflected by a mirror of a motorcycle
So, yesterday I written on facebook:
When exactly was born this bad belief that superimposing something behind someone's head is street photography? Is this stuff even appreciated? Like the photo of the cousin at the Christmas meeting with the horns of the ibex behind…really?
I really don't know when this gigantic game will end, but I hope that as soon as possible you can open your eyes and understand that this kind of photography is really STUPID.
Because by now someone is moving away from street photography, at least from the end, because of these revelers, goliardic visuals, who believe they are phenomenal with this type of stuff. It happens in these times of silly foodporners who advertise shit burgers behind hustlers. Because even street photography must be captured from the cosmic void. And so we were able to see how someone who has photographed a street artist who bends in a certain way is considered who knows what a great photographer. Guys, I have a news for you: once upon a time those who took photographs of street artists and passed them off as street photography were reprimanded that this was a photograph taken on the street but that it had nothing of street photography and its true intentions.. Because there is no ability to photograph a street artist busy in his/her performance. So let’s stop to feed the beast.
And after this rant, let me say a thing: this year I published here a list of the best contempiorary street photographers, so I shut up everyone who thinks I don't support today's scene. You can read it, by clicking HERE.
Now to distinguish the street photography that I love from this bullshit, I'm talking about old school street photography. The photographers I see in Paulie B.'s videos on his YouTube series titled WALKIE TALKIE introduces you very good and talented photographers, making good street photography. That kind of photography is rarely seen in street photography festivals, ask yourself why.
I gave myself an answer: there is a precise choice to create a forgettable photograph, based on superficiality, on a three-second laugh on instagram. How many of the photos awarded in these festivals and awards will be remembered not just in ten years but also in a few months? Have you tried to see the photos of the previous editions of these super pumped festivals? Thing? Too much poison from me? Do you think I talk like this because my photos don't get rewarded? No it does not. Also because to have a chance of being rewarded I should first of all participate. And aside from the fact that by presenting them, they clearly wouldn't even pass the first step, my street photography like that of many photographers in New York and around the world that focus themselves on the real spontaneous everyday life moment, the emotion, the energy, the gestures, the expressions are not going to make points in situations like the ones described.
To end this speech…guys, you have now my 50 street photographers list. Please make a reference to that list when we talk about real street photography. I recently released my first video course where in a 1:15 hour masterclass I explain what is old school street photography and how you can achieve making real street photography, the one that stands the test of time. You will find it available on the shop by clicking HERE.
