Disclaimer: This is my opinion. It is not the be all and end all. You’re probably going to think I’m an elitist bastard after this. Deal with it. Unfollow me, do whatever, maybe go back to shooting macros of your flowers, or bokeh of your bokeh, just don’t for the love of all things analogue call it street photography.

Every time I visit the Street Photography gallery in ClubSnap, it drives me crazy. Not just scowl and a frown and everything is ok. I rage. I hate people who think that a macro of a street sign qualifies as street photography. A picture of a sunset? Yes very pretty but get the fuck out of the street photography forum. HDR? You must be kidding me, HDR has no fucking place in Street Photography. If I wanted wacked out colours, I’d break out my LC-A, cross process a roll of film and call it Lomo, but it’s NOT street photography. I don’t need to hide behind super saturated HDR colours, I like mine monotone.

Street photography for me is (to coin Chris Weeks) to document the human condition. Street photographers aspire to be unnoticed, invisible, as close to a wallflower as one can be so we can blend into the environment and get closer to our subject. Sometimes after I take a photo of a particularly interesting subject, I’ll ask for their story and when I look at my negatives I’ll remember and that picture will have a greater meaning for me. Other times a street photographer will aspire to capture ironies as the world we are in is dynamic and never slowing down for anyone. I shoot street because for me, it’s how I see the world, put into film. Emotions, interpretation and intention all captured in a 35mm frame. I love getting in up close with my subjects and having a laugh with them if they are game. Moments. One moment to the next is the same for a building, statue or car, but on the street, once you miss it, its long gone.

I think some of you out there are thinking “But surely you can use any camera to shoot street!”. Sure, grab your 200mm lens and 5DmkII and fuck off my page. If you use a telephoto lens for street you should burn in photography hell. You are no better than the dirty old men who hide in the bushes taking pictures of pretty girls along Orchard Road. Any pussy can kill a bear with a sniper rifle, kill the thing with your bare hands or a knife, then i’ll be impressed.

Shooting street at night? Let me guess, use a flash? Good luck with your autofocus and your “assisting LED” because your subject will know you are taking a picture of them from a mile away. Yup get a faster lens. 50/1.4 L? My 40/1.4 is same size as your hood. I will focus faster than your autofocus will attempt to. I can hand hold for speeds up to 1/15s, 1/8s if I have a SSR. I don’t own a flash for my RF. I don’t need one. You tell me now that your mirror slap has no effect on your street photography.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for DSLRs and SLRs. I would love to be the owner of a D90 or an FE2, but when someone tells me an SLR is just as good as an RF for street, I’m inclined to think they haven’t shot one for prolonged periods of time before, or worse, have no fucking clue what street is about.

/RANT

Ok i’m done. Taking a deep breath.