these streets will make you feel brand new...

"These streets will make you feel brand new;

big lights will inspire you, let's hear it for New York." 

This New York City anthem from 2010 (although a little overdone) is a great song.  And it's true, these bustling streets can be inspiring and make you feel alive.  Maybe I am biased, but New York City provides the ideal backdrop for street photography.  It is the perfect synergy of people, architecture, traffic, diversity, fashion, action and culture.

I planted myself on the corner of Broadway and Howard Street on a beautiful spring-like day last week. There were crowds of interesting people coming towards me and I had to be discerning, fighting the urge to just shoot everything.  I am always looking a good 20-30 feet ahead, scanning the crowds for something visually interesting.  And suddenly, there it was.  The hat.   As she moved towards me the crowd just kind of parted, giving me the opportunity to take her photo without a lot of distractions in the frame.  I love her vintage look, her stride, her shadow, her shoes. I followed her with my camera for a moment, and in my next shot, dealt with one of the perils of crowded street photography.  Then I saw this guy coming towards us and I waited because I just knew his eyes were going to be drawn to her...like this.  Gotcha.

I love lizzard_nyc's photo below, perfectly capturing this moment on Fifth Avenue.  These women look much more contemporary than mine above, and I wonder where they are headed--out to lunch?  back to NYU? out for a day of shopping?  And what are they talking about?

Urban street photos can be gritty and raw.  They can be bright and beautiful. There is no pre-set agenda in street photography and you never know what you are going to end up with.  I love to venture out, choose a neighborhood, stake my place on my chosen corner, and click away...

~christy of urban muser

the walk on 5th avenue by lizzard_nyc

street reflection

Here is a slice of what the street looks like around my house.  Lots of snow, and no SIDEWALKS!  It is a little annoying at times, especially with little kids but we make do.  We love to go on walks, especially when we get a nice taste of spring with 60 degree weather for a day, woot!  2 plus feet of snow + 60 degree weather = lots of puddles and one happy 3 year old :)  The puddles and perfect light resulted in some fun reflections and had me itching for spring to be here for good!

I love this shot by PiecesofmeJen.  She captured beauty in garbage and waste with a stunning reflection of the clouds.

Thank you for sharing all your beautiful street scenes!

April of april newman photography

in the clouds by piecesofmejen

hitting the streets

As soon as I knew we were doing street photography I was reminded of the master of this genre, Garry Winogrand. Winogrand liked to use a 28mm wide-angle lens on his Leica M4 camera, always looking in the viewfinder to frame his shot rather than shooting from the hip, and often taking a year to process his pictures. Having replicated these basics (apart from the waiting a year to process my pictures), I then went onto the streets and snapped away. I can't say I liked this technique immediately, but I certainly grew to enjoy it more as I walked, taking my pictures. As I finished my session, I noticed a young male photographer who I had passed several times, on the same bridge. We smiled as he changed his roll of film and I wondered what Winogrand would have made of these digital times. I had taken a hundred pictures in just ten minutes and knew there might be just one good one in there, if I was lucky, but I suddenly knew how he must have felt to have got that one good picture. While my own picture isn't a Winogrand, it's a start and I will be trying this technique again. I encourage you to try it, too.

Laura Louise's picture manages to capture that feeling of motion, that moment that makes one wonder what this young man's story is. And the reflection of the wintry tree makes it all the more poignant.

And I'm looking forward to a hopefully more relaxed type of photography next time, in the form of still life.

kirstin
x

onward by Laura Louise

night time in the city

I live in a small town, but I'm located very close to a 'big' city. Not that St Louis compares to the 24/7 hustle and bustle of New York or other large cities. But St. Louis does offer world class music and theater performances. The Fabulous Fox Theater and Powell Symphony Hall are on the same street just a block apart. I always get excited when I have tickets to a performance at either venue and look forward to the energy of the evening; the marquees and the streets lit up at night, theater goers dressed up for the special occasion rushing through the traffic, the buzz of excited patrons inside the lobby as they grab a playbill and make their way to their seats.

When I saw Lenore's photo it reminded me of that little rush of excitement in anticipation of an evening's performance.

xo maureen from Cottage 960
 

downtown by alphabet soup studio

never assume

From an early age, I've always enjoyed people watching. As a result, most people thought I was severely shy (and I was). It seems that I was much more interested in watching and listening than I was talking to others. Unfortunately, those traits carried over into adulthood. Moreover, while I absolutely love being behind the camera...and even photographing other people, to ask a stranger if I could take their picture would be completely out of my comfort zone. Besides, my mother always told me not to talk to strangers.

Therefore, as a photographer, I am often left with only a photograph and my imagination to tell the story that I was too afraid to ask. For example, in the image above, I was a bit intimidated by this man walking down the street. He walked with such confidence, and yet the shirt wrapped around his head and muscular build was a bit frightening. I later found out that this man had been a burn victim and only wore the shirt around his head to avoid the hot sun.

I had a similar reaction when I saw pixolga's photo below. The high contrast black and white is quite captivating...and that puff of smoke really draws me in. I'm especially intrigued by the look on his face. I wonder what he's thinking about. I could easily assume a number of stories but as I've learned...you can never assume.

Until next time,
Ashley of Ramblings and Photos

La fumée by pixolga

street colour

I am slowly working my way toward being brave enough to do the kind of street photography seen in the amazing body of work discovered by luck in an auction bin just over a year ago.  Vivian Maier was a nanny in Chicago, unassuming and private, and over the course of 40 years she amassed thousands of images of her walks around the city and they are exquisite.  (See her story and images here.  If you haven't seen them yet you are in for a treat.)

My intention today was to skulk around the city and find someone who looked friendly, hopefully with sassy fashion sense, who would afford me the opportunity to leisurely capture them doing something intriguing.  On a street with character.  It's not too much to ask, right?  Cue the downpour.  So I scuttled from corner to doorway to alley with my umbrella balanced on my head and captured the amazing colour in the Mission district of San Francisco instead.  Not a bad trade at all, although I will muster my courage and return another day.

I'm in love with Stephskimo's image below, taken in London.  The wall art is bold and graphic.  I want to know what's happening just out of frame to the right.  My daughter thinks it looks like people helping each other, which seems appropriate given the person sharing the frame.  Stephanie has created a collection of her street art photographs and it is well worth a visit to her photostream.

What street photographers inspire you?

cheers,
mosey of mosey along

stik mural 1 by stephskimo

candid street scenes

People on the street always fascinate me. I wonder where they are going, what kind of life they have,
if they are happy...
What I really like about street photography is that you'll never know what you are going to shoot before you leave the house. You'll never know which people you might meet. Which light you are going to get...
I like street photography. For it's sense of being candid, raw and pure. The picture just conveys what happens around you and I like to watch the world around me.
The picture of  Pink Scarf  holds for me that unexpectedness, that happens when you just do what you love.

See you in 9 days!

Love,
suki of sukiphotographyblog

When the fog rolls in at sunset by Pink Scarf

street personality

Strada. Via. Rue. Calle. Rua. Avenida. Straße. Straat. Weg. Ulica.

Whatever the language, they all mean street. Streets are the lifeblood of any neighborhood, whether old or new. In neighborhoods like this one, the Alfama district of Lisbon, the streets have been witness to centuries of lives since the Moors settled this place. Languages may change, cultures may change, pavements may change but the paths that people walk have remained the same. Over time streets take on a personality of their own, layers of history and lives lived out in their presence.

I got the same feeling, of layers of lives, from this photo by Stephanie~Floopse13 from Chinatown in San Francisco. The street may be newer than those of Lisbon, but it has developed a personality of its own. Can you feel it?

Kat of The Kat Eye View of the World

Chinatown Street Art by Stephanie ~ Floopse13

driving down the street

I am sure you have all done it. You are driving down the street when you spy something photoworthy.  In your mind's eye, you already have the picture completely composed and processed.  It may mean scaring the pants off of your passenger, mastering the 25 point turn on the narrow streets of Savannah, and shooting from inside the car but you are determined.

What street scenes make you slam on the brakes and have your family suggesting that a warning sticker, CAUTION: Photographer on Board, be placed on your car? Does the hustle and bustle of urban streets get you clicking or is it blissful moments in the country like PKK49's shown below? 

Until next time.

xo tammy lee of bliss and folly

Rear View by PKK49

and the next theme is... street scenes

flutter by urban muser

Street Scenes... It is the hustle and bustle of the inner city, moments along a quiet country lane, or sidewalks in suburbia. We are looking for photos that capture life from your streets. 

Tomorrow morning, we start musing on Evidence of Love. It is going to be a very special nine days as we "share the love." As a way to further build the Muse community. We will be turning over our muse days to those we love... our beloved friends and followers. We have selected nine wonderful guest muses.  They will be musing on love and selecting companion photos from the flickr pool. 

This "sharing the love" idea is very important to me and an integral part of my 2011 one word choice... purpose.  Online collaboratives, such as the Mortal Muses, are my passion. Each day, I try to make my journey online a way to support all the talented women that I have met over the past year... photographers, artists, writers, and dreamers. I love these groups of women that have come together to inspire and support each other.  We are much more than our individual talents. Together, we are a community.

Make sure to visit each day and give them your support. Stay sweet and have a wonderful Valentine's Day.

♥ tammy lee of bliss and folly

{day 82} by Suki_Photography