Comments on: The Essence of Street Photography: The Paparazzi http://www.photographybay.com/2009/08/11/the-essence-of-street-photography-the-paparazzi/ The latest in digital photography and camera reviews, news and rumors for Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olympus and more. Sun, 14 Mar 2010 23:07:19 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Tom Stappers http://www.photographybay.com/2009/08/11/the-essence-of-street-photography-the-paparazzi/#comment-179611 Tom Stappers Sat, 19 Sep 2009 22:19:18 +0000 http://www.photographybay.com/?p=6846#comment-179611 You are calling paparazzi "The essence of street photography"? Are you joking, or just posing ignorant to get a lot of reactions? If there is such a thing as "the essence of street photography" at all, have a look at the work of Garry Winogrand(much as he disliked labeling). My advice to anybody reading this: If street photography is still not your thing or you don't get it, go shoot sunsets, everybody happy... You are calling paparazzi “The essence of street photography”? Are you joking, or just posing ignorant to get a lot of reactions? If there is such a thing as “the essence of street photography” at all, have a look at the work of Garry Winogrand(much as he disliked labeling). My advice to anybody reading this:
If street photography is still not your thing or you don’t get it, go shoot sunsets, everybody happy…

]]> By: Chris http://www.photographybay.com/2009/08/11/the-essence-of-street-photography-the-paparazzi/#comment-177256 Chris Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:30:35 +0000 http://www.photographybay.com/?p=6846#comment-177256 Hey Robert, I couldn't agree more with you. I always keep my camera in AV mode and ISO 800 to get the fastest shots possible. When I heard that I was like, "What? How is he that quick?" Then I realized that it's possibly his lens. It's huge. I shoot with a 24-105mm F4 so I'm forced to get in closer. He's probably got a little bit more time to take the shot because he's so much further away. I got mauled by Drew Barrymore's guards the other day. My agency told me that the day before she came out of her trailer flanked by all five with a black umbrella in front of her blocking anyone. Totally ridiculous when you consider what we do for them. Hey Robert,

I couldn’t agree more with you. I always keep my camera in AV mode and ISO 800 to get the fastest shots possible. When I heard that I was like, “What? How is he that quick?”

Then I realized that it’s possibly his lens. It’s huge. I shoot with a 24-105mm F4 so I’m forced to get in closer. He’s probably got a little bit more time to take the shot because he’s so much further away.

I got mauled by Drew Barrymore’s guards the other day. My agency told me that the day before she came out of her trailer flanked by all five with a black umbrella in front of her blocking anyone. Totally ridiculous when you consider what we do for them.

]]> By: Robert Moore http://www.photographybay.com/2009/08/11/the-essence-of-street-photography-the-paparazzi/#comment-177254 Robert Moore Fri, 14 Aug 2009 13:57:58 +0000 http://www.photographybay.com/?p=6846#comment-177254 The chap in the video said that he left his camera on manual however in my experience you can easily under/over expose your shot if you are in a hurry so I prefer to keep my camera set on AV (aperture priority) with the ISO set on 400 to insure I get a good shutter speed which I find is a good setting for most daylight situations. The chap in the video said that he left his camera on manual however in my experience you can easily under/over expose your shot if you are in a hurry so I prefer to keep my camera set on AV (aperture priority) with the ISO set on 400 to insure I get a good shutter speed which I find is a good setting for most daylight situations.

]]> By: Justin http://www.photographybay.com/2009/08/11/the-essence-of-street-photography-the-paparazzi/#comment-176946 Justin Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:11:54 +0000 http://www.photographybay.com/?p=6846#comment-176946 I'd say that while there is a general definition of "paparazzi" that can extend to those doing genuine photojournalism, the most common impression is usually the right one; hoards of photographers mobbing a "celebrity" in public, shouting, beckoning, reaching and pressing to get a shot of a person (cause that's really all they are, just a person) getting a coffee or going into a bar or shopping. There's nothing aesthetic about a washed out shot of some pop stars underwear (or lack of, as they always hope for) as they exit a car. There is no element of art or vision or thought in these shots aside from hoping you frame something up well enough to turn a quick buck for some rag to throw a big yellow headline over. Somehow including this cheap, invasive and often abusive technique with "street photography" seems wrong. There's no gratefulness toward the subject, no respect and no human element. Yes it fills a niche and they say they're "just giving the public what it wants" but that hardly seems like a valid excuse. The public only wants what's bad for them. I’d say that while there is a general definition of “paparazzi” that can extend to those doing genuine photojournalism, the most common impression is usually the right one; hoards of photographers mobbing a “celebrity” in public, shouting, beckoning, reaching and pressing to get a shot of a person (cause that’s really all they are, just a person) getting a coffee or going into a bar or shopping. There’s nothing aesthetic about a washed out shot of some pop stars underwear (or lack of, as they always hope for) as they exit a car. There is no element of art or vision or thought in these shots aside from hoping you frame something up well enough to turn a quick buck for some rag to throw a big yellow headline over. Somehow including this cheap, invasive and often abusive technique with “street photography” seems wrong. There’s no gratefulness toward the subject, no respect and no human element. Yes it fills a niche and they say they’re “just giving the public what it wants” but that hardly seems like a valid excuse. The public only wants what’s bad for them.

]]> By: Nick T http://www.photographybay.com/2009/08/11/the-essence-of-street-photography-the-paparazzi/#comment-176919 Nick T Tue, 11 Aug 2009 12:27:25 +0000 http://www.photographybay.com/?p=6846#comment-176919 One of the defining features of the 'street photography' form is the lack of a subject or issue, this is what makes it quite different to photojournalism or reportage, the paparazzi photographer specifically seeks out and photographs celebrities which means he is a photojournalist rather than a street photographer. The street photographer reacts to random events or happenings rather than pursuing a series of pictures 'about' something. You are perpetuating a common misperception that any photography made in a public place must be street photography, when in fact the phrase 'street photography' has come to mean something much more specific. One of the defining features of the ’street photography’ form is the lack of a subject or issue, this is what makes it quite different to photojournalism or reportage, the paparazzi photographer specifically seeks out and photographs celebrities which means he is a photojournalist rather than a street photographer. The street photographer reacts to random events or happenings rather than pursuing a series of pictures ‘about’ something.

You are perpetuating a common misperception that any photography made in a public place must be street photography, when in fact the phrase ’street photography’ has come to mean something much more specific.

]]> By: Ilan http://www.photographybay.com/2009/08/11/the-essence-of-street-photography-the-paparazzi/#comment-176903 Ilan Tue, 11 Aug 2009 11:38:17 +0000 http://www.photographybay.com/?p=6846#comment-176903 I think it's a bit.. not fair, to compare paparazzi to photojournalism. Photojournalism focuses on the situation, on the human factor, on the elements around our 'hero'. Paparazzi, while also 'hunt' for people, tend to ignore any other elements when facing the celebrity. Nowadays paparazzi are all about the 'yellow' shots, the more ridiculous the better. I love candid shots of people. Which I guess might be called a distant relatives of paparazzi. Here is a shot I took in Barcelona few months ago - http://www.ilanbresler.com/2009/04/bona-petit.html - Yes, it might be a bit 'yellow' and not very flattering, but there is also a big importance to the surrounding, which lacks today's paparazzi shots. I think it’s a bit.. not fair, to compare paparazzi to photojournalism.
Photojournalism focuses on the situation, on the human factor, on the elements around our ‘hero’.
Paparazzi, while also ‘hunt’ for people, tend to ignore any other elements when facing the celebrity. Nowadays paparazzi are all about the ‘yellow’ shots, the more ridiculous the better.
I love candid shots of people. Which I guess might be called a distant relatives of paparazzi. Here is a shot I took in Barcelona few months ago – http://www.ilanbresler.com/2009/04/bona-petit.html – Yes, it might be a bit ‘yellow’ and not very flattering, but there is also a big importance to the surrounding, which lacks today’s paparazzi shots.

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