I've decided that I would
like to focus on street photography within different places. This idea was
photo-journalism and travel inspired, as during this topic I plan to travel to
different places such as Bishops Stortford, Epping, London - such as Stratford,
Oxford Street, Big Ben, Train Stations etc., Brighton - such as the Lanes,
Beach, the Pier, as well as my home town Harlow, and also I plan to shoot some
photos whilst on holiday in Menorca this summer.
I'd like to begin this
subject with shooting 'what people do in certain places/situations', such as,
if it rains, people put up umbrellas, in restaurants people eat, on the beach
people sunbathe and swim in the sea etc. This is also a good starting point
because it means I can shoot in Harlow during lessons as well, as I can shoot
up the town where people will be shopping, or in parks where people walk their
dogs etc. So I wouldn't always have to be travelling, however if I plan to
travel somewhere for a particular shoot, I will do so before my next lesson, so
I can then spend my time in lesson editing photos I have already taken prior to
that lesson.
I have researched different
styles of street photography, and have found familiar photographers that I have
already studied before, as well as new photographers such as Henri Cartier-Bresson,
Robert Frank, Joel Meyerowitz, Lee Friedlander, and Martin Parr. Most of these
photographers shot in the olden days, which is evidenced in the photographs
from the clothes people are wearing, cars that were driven and also most
photographs are black and white which leaves that particular olden feel. Martin
Parr will be my inspiration in holiday because he has shot on the beach, and of
people eating and playing on the beach, which is what I will try to capture as
well.
I plan to approach this
project by shooting the monumental, clique aspects of each place. Such as
London's Big Ben and the London Eye, as well as the Pier and Lanes at Brighton.
This would be through an architectural approach, as I would be focusing on
buildings. However, I could also approach it by shooting mainly people, and
their natural expressions in day-to-day life in the street, at restaurants, at
the beach etc. But I could also shoot people's reactions to certain situations
like change of weather or traffic.
Whilst researching
photographers, I came across a few photographs that have also influenced me as
well, such as the images below:
I liked this photo because
of the reflection in the puddle on the wall, where you can see silhouettes of
the three people walking away from the camera. This photo has influenced ideas
I had when shooting in the rain as I could shoot people in their reflection in
puddles and rain drops as well as them holding up umbrellas and of people
running to shelter.
I also really like this
photo on the right because of the graffiti on the concrete wall, of a man's
face. This is also a prime example of street photography actually shot in the
street, as it doesn't always have to be to shot in an actual street. I like the
depth of the path and walls getting smaller towards the background. As well as
how the photographer captured the person walking along the path.
This is the type of image I
hope to take of the London Eye when I visit, as well as a front facing image
too. I like this photo because it is black and white, which has made the clouds
darker, and straight away I associate that with cold, dull and wet weather,
which makes me feel like I’m actually there whilst the photo is being taken.
Also, I like that the Ferris wheel is directly in the center of the image, so
it is the first thing that catches your eye.
This photo was inspiration
for the type of images I could shoot on holiday, as people tend to pay for
people to create silly art of their faces and couples pay for drawings of
themselves whilst on holiday. I like this photo because nobody is looking at
the camera, so they are oblivious to the photo being taken.
This photo is influence for
my 'train station' style photographs that I plan to shoot when I go to London.
I could also take similar shots in Harlow as in the town there are a few
musicians who play music or sing on a regular basis, like the person in this
photo. I like the depth in this image, making the train station look empty.
I liked this photo because
of the bright lights from the lampposts and cars. I also like that the three
people crossing the street are in the center of the image, and the lights have
formed their shadows behind them. This is a very busy street photograph, which I
like and could shoot similar photos in home shoots late at night.
This is also influence for
my London visit shoot, as it is people holding onto the barriers on a train. I
like that the background is blurry, so that the closer people's hands are the
sole focus. I also like that this photo clearly represents the busyness of
London trains as you can see a blurred mass of people in the background.
I liked this photo because
of the depth, shown through the 'Costa' sign along the wall, leading to a man
standing alone in front of the coffee shop. From the bright reflection on the
ground, I gathered that this photo was taken during rainy weather, which
inspired me also. The black and white edit mimics the feel of the weather as
well.
