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

Beginnings and Endings

I am going to create an intermission within my series of summer photos entitled, "Here Comes Summer".  I will share one final photo within that series next week, but for this week. I wish to seize on a more timely topic --- back to school time.  

While summer extends well into September, the headline for these final days of August has been the return of children to school.  As I thought of that topic, I grabbed my camera and visited a nearby elementary school where I captured the photo featured in this week's blog.  Back to school time is truly a ritual (an event representing deeper religious, social, or cultural meaning) mixed with nostalgia and emotion.

The photo above is open to many storylines depending upon each viewer's personal experience. That smile on mom's face may be an expression of the pride she has in preparing her youngest for his first steps into formal education.  The smile may have been an unconscious response prompted by her older children who once were part of this same ritual. It may also be reflective of the time when she recalled the pride that her mother and father felt as she entered kindergarten many years ago.  The red haired boy is ready for kindergarten and is excited to enter a new stage in his life.  As with any new experience, it is good to travel with a bit of home such as a teddy bear to clutch in case the unknown becomes a bit scary.  Brother and sister look on as they welcome him into this annual ritual that includes getting new tennis shoes, art supplies and backpacks.  They are now his older sophisticated caretakers which makes them feel smug about no longer needing the teddy bear. 

As a retired school principal and lifelong parent, I have witnessed and experienced this scene many times during my lifetime.  I fondly regard it as being akin to a sacred ritual taking place in a public space.  The mom who is smiled so encouragingly in the face of her child may return to her car and collapse into tears of satisfaction that she courageously has taken the first step in releasing her child to walk within an unpredictable, larger world as a prelude to adulthood.  That tension between letting go and holding close is the greatest challenge and joy of parenthood.  Here's to parents and the kindergarten class of 2025!

PS  As I wrote this week's blog my heart kept returning to the parents and children at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis.  To say that I will pray for them sounds cliche given how many times people repeat those words as if they are distancing themselves and ready to move on.  But in the face of such horror, all I can manage is, "Oh my God".  Pushing past the horror in this moment, my considered response is to make a consistent effort to resist apathy and personally initiate reponses that show mercy and undeserved kindness to strangers I encounter.  It is not the answer to this stupid violence but is one step I can take to push back at its evil core.

 

 Summer Sandcastles

        History is a child building a sand-castle by the sea, and that child is the whole majesty                

 of man's power in the world.

Heraclitus

This week's photo may be my favorite photo that I have taken in 2025.  This photo was taken mid evening during an intermission at a water ski exhibition. Since I anticipated shooting skiers and power boats skimming across the water, I brought my longest lens, the Nikon 200--500 f5.6.  For the majority of my frames that evening this lens was a perfect choice.  It was during the intermission, when the all activity on the water briefly paused, that I took the best photo that evening.  As I think back on my photography experiences, I am so grateful for the wonderful pictures that came to me when I least expected to see them. There are a multitude of classes and videos that can help you become a better photographer, but there is no way to cultivate serendipty.

When I saw the little girl at the water's edge trying to reconstruct her sandcastle, I was immediately drawn to the solitude and serenity she exhibited as she sifted through the sand for its missing pieces,  Her sunbleached hair and the summer sundress in the soft evening light made her a compelling subject.  The setting sun had turned the water to a golden tone with a few speckled strands of silver dancing through it.  Even before I squeezed the shutter button, I could see the final picture developing in my mind. 

I took two quick snaps of this scene knowing that children do not hold genuine poses for long.  For one shot I zoomed in and other I backed out to bring in more of the scene.   It's the later one that I felt offered the most compelling story.  The story within my mind was not about a little girl but about a child's innocence while exploring a bigger world.  In fact, that was the very reason for choosing the image showing more of the scene and for adding a warm glow filter to soften the child's features and smooth the water.

This photo made me think about the informal process I use to tell a story with a photograph.  Recognizing what is before me even when I may be searching for something else is the first critical step.  Stories sometimes just unfold unexpectedly.  To capture the moment, I took two photos because I didn't know then which option would speak to me more when I reviewed it later.  (Sometimes I don't know what I am seeing at the moment other than my mind prompts me to act on what is happening right now.)  Step two took place in post processing after making the decision on which photo to publish.  At that moment, I began to focus on how to best share my feelings about the image.  To make sure that the viewer would be lead to a similar feeling about the photo, I began to eliminate any elements within the photo that were not necessary and identify which areas to enhance that would strengthen my storyline.  The third and final step was to review the nearly final result to determine whether I had remained consistent to the scene and my feelings about what I viewed as the theme.  I look for additional subtle cues which my viewers may need to understand my story or build a similar story for themselves.

For me, this photo is about exploring our world with childlike innocence.  There is an aloneness in childhood that is critical to their development.  This aloneness is not to be confused with loneliness.  These periods of aloneness allow a child to ponder peacefully the world on their terms and to explore some of mysteries within their environment.  Sandcastles are a magical and imaginative structures to build, but they are not a structures to be remodeled once the waves sweep their pieces back into the waters. However, with a bit more experience and knowledge, newer versions of future sandcastles can be built, but this time with the understanding that they are ephemeral structures to be cherished in the present state before they return to their natural form --- grains of sand on the beach.  This little girl will learn that special joy that comes from building sandcastles which is an activity unlike gathering and collecting seashells. And when the waves once more reclaim the beach it is not perceived as a melancholy experience but a mutual understanding about waves of change that carry us through life making these serendipitous moments exquisite as they welcome us to new places yet to be explored.

Here Comes Summer Series #4

Water, Wind, and Waves

Here is a slice of midwest surfing to showcase summer's energy. The water featured in last week's blog portrayed a soothing view of summer but this week the water portrays a source of summer excitement challenging the body and energizing the spirit.

This week's photo was taken at a local ski event one evening this past week. My challenge in shooting that evening was that the sun was fully setting directly in front of me prompting me to be cautious of blowing up highlights which isn't my preferred style. The sun's position limited the variety of shots I could take. The water's blue tones transformed slowly into golden tones as the sun continued to sink into the horizon. Actually, I was suprised to note how quickly our summer days are growing shorter. Summertime is flying by and the kids will be returning to their schools next week. By 8:00 PM. this evening, daylight was nearly gone signaling that summer's exit is drawing nearer. 

For me, photographing water skiing is all about the splash and motion. To avoid background issues and to minimize highlight blow outs from the intense setting sun, I needed to hold a tight crop on the subject and only photograph the subject using certain camera angles. Because I like to get the athlete's facial expression in any sporting event, the tight cropped shooting fit my style.  Her shades added style.

What scene could better express the essence of summer than jumping across the waves while being chilled by their spray?

Here Comes Summer Series #3