
Or does it?
Sure, most of the great Street Photos do have people in them. Of course…. as Street Photography is mostly defined by photographing people evolving in their usual surroundings.
But the presence of people is not always indispensable.

There’s also the implied presence of people, the traces of their interactions with their world. There are the objects they manipulate, the traces they leave after their passage.

There’s a whole lot more to Street Photography than ‘simply’ photographing people. And I don’t say ‘simply’ because it’s supposed to be easy!
It’s the most difficult part, for me at least, in Street Photography. To face strangers, to risk being challenged, to have to stand up to someone who takes offense at being photographed.

And then there’s the question of color!
Does Street Photography have to be Black and White? Certainly not. We see in color, we live in color. Black and White is a representation of our world, a rendering using light, shadows, contrasts… it’s perfectly great if used wisely as all the great masters of Street Photograph show us.

But there are others among the great masters who taught us to use color. Not to be afraid to use lowly color to picture our world. There’s Fred Herzog, William Eggleston or Sean Lotman who put color to very good use.

Is color good for every photo? You decide in this example:

The Black and White version is quite strong, but in this case….

…I think color adds a lot to the subject.
Any ordinary object relating to the human presence can become a subject for Street Photography.

Can color be the sole defining aspect of a photo? No! Street Photography, as I said is always linked to the human element. It always refers to human presence.
So Is the presence of people necessary? Is a Black and White approach necessary? I really suppose no, it’s a feature, it’s a choice, it’s simply optional… and the other option is definitely less stressful for the timid photographer.

What’s your take on people and color in Street Photography?
Thanks for stopping by!
Love your work! Love the simplicity but that every shot tells a different story! I also do street photography. I just started a blog, and have only posted once with my photography, but plan on posting more and have a link to my Instagram. Would love for you to check it out and tell me what you think!
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Thanks, will stop by!
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Hmmm, can’t see any post on your blog…
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Uh oh, that’s not good…. maybe you have to click the link that says visit site? I’ll have to figure that out! It’s fueledbycoffee2020.wordpress.com
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Thanks for letting me know!
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Film makes you slow down and think.
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I know… but sometimes you got to live the dizzying digital life. But I’m doing it slow too, the film way.
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It all depends.
Sometimes my wife asks me: “What did the photographer want to say” when
she doesn’t understand why I took a photo.
I could ask you the same and the answer could well answer your questions.
Life may be in colour but is colour necessary for the story you want to
tell? In your cases I really don’t know for sure. The religious figure
works in b+w and in colour. What were you trying to say?
Last year I took a photo of someone dressed up for a carnival sitting in
a bakery drinking coffee. To work, the photo needed colour. B+W would
have completely missed the point.
As to people in general: It depends. I can think of a photo I took a
number of years ago of an open box of shoes next to a rubbish bin. It
needed no people because the photo showed there had been some and it
would have added nothing to the story.
If you put a black and white film in a camera and go out and make
photos, you have made a decision and also will need to photograph
accordingly. If, instead, you put in a colour film, or used a digital
camera, you have a choice.
Perhaps you should work on your smile when making photos involving
people?! …
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Ah the smile, the photographer’s most important tool in street photography (apart from comfortable shoes).
You’re right, the use of colour or b&w film predetermines the focus you have (pun intended). Easier with digital where you can change ‘film’ easily.
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Hi Frank, off topic I know but is everything OK with you and those you love? It’s just that there’s been no activity for 4 months and with COVID-19 and the likes I wondered how you are coping in Luxembourg. Especially after announcing you were back.
Ian R
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Thanks for asking, Ian.
We are doing mostly OK, with the usual precautions of course.
I guess my ‘I’m back’ post was a bit optimistic. I’m making photos for the moment… sort of, but the urge to post is not there.
Wonder if it will be ever
Anyways, stay safe!!
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I’m glad you’re all well. I must admit I’ve had a bit of a struggle myself. Especially since I got back to work. Autumn helped with some nice colours. I even took to using my phone to make pictures looking for inspiration!! You stay safe too and keep making pictures, even if nobody else sees them. The getting out and actually taking pictures (in accordance with local health & safety guidelines) is a help in itself.
Ian
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Hi Frank, just dropping by to see if all is well with you and those you love as it has been 3 months since I last dropped by. How’s it going?
Ian
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Thanks a lot for caring. All is as well as possible in these crazy times. Hope you’re OK too.
Glad to report that I was about with a camera again those last days. We’ll see what becomes of the photos…
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We’re as well as can be expected also. I am on furlough again – but at least it gives me additional opportunities to use a camera! I find just being out with a camera helps me to cope, regardless of whether I commit anything to whatever recording medium I am using. Stay safe and take care.
Ian
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