The Hmmm of Street Photography

My photo for this week's blog concerns street photography. The photo was taken at a local farmer's market. I noticed a group of women approaching me carrying fresh flowers while laughing with eachother.  As they grew closer, I hesitated to get a clear shot due to a passerby suddenly crossing in front of the group. This hesitation caused me to be noticed, so I struck up a conversation with them, remarking that they looked like a wedding procession on Main St. They quickly replied that they were on a girl's trip to celebrate the wedding of one of their group next weekend. I asked to take their photo, but the group quickly pushed the bride-to-be to the front where she became my subject for street portrait.

My experience with this soon-to-be wedding party along with my viewing of photographs that others have labeled as street photography, causes me to say, "Hmmm!" My current view is that street photography is a real thing, but I am afraid that much of what is being labeled as street photography is random shooting in search of a meaning.  How many more photos are needed showing a person walking down a street with a nondescript background? Very few of the photos posted on social media under the heading of street photography feature a "critical moment". Few contain any preconceived thought/question from the photographer for the viewer. The concept of street photography is baffling to me because it reminds me of a sleazy politician who proclaims to be all things to all voters. In my mind, it is either something or nothing.

  

This week's photo is an example of that confusion. While many would consider it an example of street photography, I do not. My first attempt to photograph this group of women prior to our conversation may have been an example of street photography. It would have captured the authentic, unscripted joy they were experiencing in the moment against a background of vendors hawking their products. (Kind of a play on the "can't buy me love" concept). Instead, our short conversation changed my photo from an unscripted photo to a posed portrait even though I offered no posing instructions. The presence of my camera tacitly conveyed a message to pose. Consequently, I came away with a nice street portrait of an attractive young woman and her bouquet.

Another concern I hold regarding the practice of street photography relates to the process of photographing people (and especially minors) in public places. One part of my concern deals with ethics regarding the protection of children.  The other part deals with privacy concerns as presented within our current culture which is rife with  distrust of others. Courtesy and transparency help reduce suspicion.  Understanding the current  environment is vital as it relates to our future access to photograph within various venues.

I wish I could tell you what street photography is instead of describing what I believe it is not. In some ways, my thoughts about it may be similar to what former Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart said about pornography, "I cannot describe it, but I know it when I see it." Presently, I view street photography as a huge ball of tangled Christmas lights that need to be untangled before they become components within a meaningful scene.

I will close with a list of characteristics that I believe are present in my definition of street photography. My list is not offered in order of importance nor is it comprehensive. It's emerging.

-Conveys a decisive moment experience (thought/concept) to the viewer

-Treatment  favors realistic rather than idealistic 

-Taken within a public area preferably a street or plaza

-Can be black and white or color reflecting photographer's intent

-Contains people or animals (to me an empty street or Buckingham Fountain is urban landscape) It is the presence of human response within that setting that is key

-Background, setting, and life blend to create a relationship allowing any of those three elements to play the lead role

-Viewers of street photography may need to be more attentive to relationships with the photo to appreciate it's artistry

 Taking a Different Look

This weekend, I had the pleasure of attending one of the few auto shows left this year. As a proud owner of two collector cars, I genuinely appreciate the passion and heartache that come with ownership. These shows resonate with me not only as a car collector but also as a photographer. There’s something exhilarating yet challenging about capturing the essence of an auto show. You really have to adapt to the environment; the layout of the cars, the crowd, the unique signage, and the backgrounds all influence the shots you can take. I’ve learned to embrace tight cropping and to experiment with low and high angles. And when an entire car doesn’t tell a compelling story, I focus on capturing details that spark interest.

It made this visit even more rewarding having my fourteen-year-old grandson by my side. Being a part of the video game and smartphone generation, he views the world through a different lens—literally and figuratively! He’s an amazing kid and his fresh perspective brought a new energy to our outing. I let him take the reins as we meandered through the show, and he had a ton of insightful questions about the older cars. To him, they all seemed ancient—even our 1992 Fox Body Mustang that we drove there!

Following his curiosity led us to cars I might have otherwise overlooked. We stumbled upon a fascinating 1912 electric car with a tiller steering and then to the awe-inspiring "Hillbilly Caddie" that caught his eye. He was fascinated by this quirky Caddie’s stance, with its custom duelly rear wheels and a huge diesel stack sticking out of the fender. I could imagine the Cadillac dealer shaking their head at the modifications, but my grandson was all in. His excitement for those unconventional features opened my eyes to their charm—elements I might have dismissed as odd in the past.

Now, for those who might not know, this Caddie falls into what’s known as the rat rod category. In simple terms, a rat rod is a highly personalized car that prioritizes functionality over flashy looks. It reflects the creativity and thriftiness of its builder, often pieced together from parts spanning several decades of automotive history. Think of them as the creative rebels amid a sea of polished show cars—bringing a sense of fun and individuality to their owners and the spectators alike.

It’s easy to see why my grandson was drawn to this kind of vehicle. It feels like a creation straight from the imagination of a teen—bold, expressive, and utterly unique. Rat rods push back against conventional norms, representing a kind of freedom that resonates not just with teenagers, but with anyone holding on to their youthful spirit.

In all, it was an eye-opening experience for both of us—a wonderful day filled with connection, curiosity, and good old-fashioned admiration for the art of the automobile. I can’t wait for our next adventure and to see what other hidden gems we might uncover together!

If you wish to see other photos taken at this show go to

https://www.flickr.com/photos/minolta102/

 The Doughnut Maker

While too early to pick corn or soybeans, September is prime time to visit a local apple orchard and enjoy the sweet taste of Galas, Goldens, and Red Delicious apples.  For many years it was our family tradition to visit the orchard and ride on a horse drawn wagon to pick a bushel of apples.  After the picking, we would retreat to the apple barn to enjoy a bag of hot apple cider doughnuts which were bathed in a mixture of sugar and cinnamon.   I would be hard pressed to choose whether the aroma of french fries at McDonald's  or the mouth watering fragrance of hot apple cider doughnuts is the most tantalizing.

My photo was taken through a screened window separating the doughnut kitchen from rest at the apple barn.  (Placed there to prevent customers from rushing the doughnut maker, no doubt.)  How mesmerizing it was to watch the hopper sway side to side dropping perfectly formed donut batter into the cooking oil while the newly created doughnuts marched side by side down the cooking line like toy soldiers on parade.  At the mid point the doughnuts perform an about face as they are turned to their opposite side creating that crispy outer layer housing that soft, melt in your mouth center.  This parade goes on all day throughout the weekend dropping out 57 dozen an hour. If only my camera could capture the scent of frying doughnuts along with the image!  Scratch and sniff photos could be the new frontier in photography.

(As a nod to Ms Studebaker, my for English teacher, I have chosen to spell donuts the way she would have embraced.)

 One Final Summer Scene

Milwaukee Harbor

This week's blog photo is the final in the series, Here Comes Summer.  Nothing says summer like the freedom that comes with sailing across a blue lake on a summer breeze. I took this photo about two years ago while attending an event on the shore of Lake Michigan.  What caught my eye at that time was the monchromatic shades of blue that provided a feeling of relaxation, stillness, and tranquility.  The color blue holds mystery because it can convey stillness and peace but can re-appear within the same setting as white capped waves on steel blue swells pushed by stormy blasts.  Pschologically, the color blue can transform our peaceful feelings of relaxation and harmony to their polar opposites triggering thoughts of anxiety and loneliness. 

As I reviewed the five photos selected for this series, I was surprised to note that four of the five featured water. This was a completely an unconscious choice leading me to reflect on my motivation in selecting water as a common feature.  Perhaps I chose it is because water is ever changing in its color and texture depending, and on the sun, clouds, wind, and reflections from objects surrounding it.  Following this thought, I may have chosen water because summer is the season when water displays its full character enticing us to look and dance with it knowing that it will one day stealthfully recede into fall's chilly touches ending our dance but leaving behind warm summer memories.  Old Blue Eyes said it best when he crooned, 

"The boat rides we would take

The moonlight on the lake

The way we danced and hummed our fav'rite song

The things we did last summer

I'll remember all winter long."

Here Comes Summer Series #5