Prime for street photography

F

felix

Messages
249
Name
Ian
Edit My Images
Yes
I would like to do some street stuff and would like a good lens. I have a canon 5d.

thanks
 
manualfocus-g said:
Agreed, 50/1.4 is perfect. However, if you want something a little different, look for a 300mm or even 500mm mirror lens. Doesn't look too paparazzi and you can get closer to the subjects without them knowing ;)
Click to expand...

Shooting a 300mm tele in the street, is not "street" photography, 50 is pushing it really..:shrug:
 
joxby said:
Shooting a 300mm tele in the street, is not "street" photography, 50 is pushing it really..:shrug:
Click to expand...

I wouldn't say 50mm is pushing it on a FF or even a crop body..I would happily use the 85mm F1.8.
 
Last edited:
joxby said:
Shooting a 300mm tele in the street, is not "street" photography, 50 is pushing it really..:shrug:
Click to expand...

If he's on a street and shooting photos, how is it not street photography? :)

I've used the 300mm f/4 at distance for full length people shots before, and I almost always use my 70-200mm f/2.8VR at 200mm for portraits these days.

Longer focal lengths work great for people.
 
joxby said:
Shooting a 300mm tele in the street, is not "street" photography, 50 is pushing it really..:shrug:
Click to expand...

I was not aware of there was a legal definition of what contstitutes street photography, care to share it with us or is that just your opinion?
 
Traditionalists do generally say that shorter focal lengths are what "real" (whatever that means) street photographers use. The 35mm 1.4 is probably the traditionalists lens of choice. So I know what John (joxby) is getting at with the remarks he made.

Personally I like using the 24-70 type range and often go for the 50mm prime. Having said that I used the 85 1.4 for the past couple of outings. I think it was because I'd got a new lens to play with and I was feeling a little rusty. I also think my balls had shrunk a bit too if I'm totally honest.

I must admit long focal lengths strikes me more as little too furtive and a bit "peeping tom". It gets the job done and is obviously great for close ups but traditionally street photography is about capturing the subject in the context of his surroundings. Loads on my flickr if you can be bothered.........
 
joxby said:
35 or a 50...:)
Click to expand...

joxby said:
Shooting a 300mm tele in the street, is not "street" photography, 50 is pushing it really..:shrug:
Click to expand...

ryanyboy said:
Traditionalists do generally say that shorter focal lengths are what "real" (whatever that means) street photographers use. The 35mm 1.4 is probably the traditionalists lens of choice. So I know what John (joxby) is getting at with the remarks he made.

Personally I like using the 24-70 type range and often go for the 50mm prime. Having said that I used the 85 1.4 for the past couple of outings. I think it was because I'd got a new lens to play with and I was feeling a little rusty. I also think my balls had shrunk a bit too if I'm totally honest.

I must admit long focal lengths strikes me more as little too furtive and a bit "peeping tom". It gets the job done and is obviously great for close ups but traditionally street photography is about capturing the subject in the context of his surroundings. Loads on my flickr if you can be bothered.........
Click to expand...

Agree. I'd say up to 85mm on a FF would work well really.
 
a1ex2001 said:
I was not aware of there was a legal definition of what contstitutes street photography, care to share it with us or is that just your opinion?
Click to expand...

Well, your classic 20th century street machine is a 35mm rangefinder (Cartier-Bresson, Winogrand, Eisenstaedt, etc.) though others like Robert Doisneau would also often use a Rollei.

300mm lenses don't work well with that type of body. ;)

edit: Nor, indeed, do they work well with the 'keep the other eye open to see what's going on outside the frame' street photography approach. Wider lenses tend to encourage you to get into the action and engage with the subject close-to. A longer lens' perspective is somehow more removed and impersonal.

Each unto his own, etc...
 
Last edited:
joxby said:
Shooting a 300mm tele in the street, is not "street" photography, 50 is pushing it really..:shrug:
Click to expand...

Well, that's your opinion, as others have intimated - if it's on a street and I'm using a camera, it's street photography IMO. I usually go with 50mm on full frame, but have also used the same lens on crop for a more intimate shot (classic portrait length). Likewise, I find 100mm on full frame works nicely as well.

Each to his/her own though eh?
 
manualfocus-g said:
Well, that's your opinion, as others have intimated - if it's on a street and I'm using a camera, it's street photography IMO. I usually go with 50mm on full frame, but have also used the same lens on crop for a more intimate shot (classic portrait length). Likewise, I find 100mm on full frame works nicely as well.

Each to his/her own though eh?
Click to expand...

No need to take offence - joxby was correct in saying that using a 300mm is not street photography in the truest sense of the term/genre. Traditionally shorter focal lengths are what is associated with street photography as musicman pointed out in his post.

Personally I think 300mm is the tool of the voyeur when it comes to street photography. But if it helps I'll answer the OP's question with the answer you wanted to hear:-

"Canon 300mm F2.8"
 
Last edited:
ryanyboy said:
No need to take offence - joxby was correct in saying that using a 300mm is not street photography in the truest sense of the term/genre. Traditionally shorter focal lengths are what is associated with street photography as musicman pointed out in his post.

Personally I think 300mm is the tool of the voyeur when it comes to street photography. But if it helps I'll answer the OP's question with the answer you wanted to hear:-

"Canon 300mm F2.8"
Click to expand...

Without wishing to cause offence further using that lens for a day would be a little heavy ;)

I have to agree about the 300mm being a voyeur's tool in street photography. Use a 35, 50 or 85 and engage your subjects instead
 
I prefer "observational" rather than voyeuristic. Which was always kinda the point of street photography for me. Short focal length and up in their face and you might as well just be going out in the street with a model.
 
50 all day long for me, I always used a 30 1.4 on a crop body and much prefer that sort of length when doing street. I soon lose interest with a zoom as I find i have to put a lot more thought and energy into my shots with a prime.
 
Kaouthia said:
I prefer "observational" rather than voyeuristic. Which was always kinda the point of street photography for me. Short focal length and up in their face and you might as well just be going out in the street with a model.
Click to expand...

agreed with this, personally i wouldn't go shorter than 85 on FF.
 
Kaouthia said:
I prefer "observational" rather than voyeuristic. Which was always kinda the point of street photography for me. Short focal length and up in their face and you might as well just be going out in the street with a model.
Click to expand...

trencheel303 said:
agreed with this, personally i wouldn't go shorter than 85 on FF.
Click to expand...

Yep, fair enough I suppose. Probably simply just 'photography' in that case rather than 'street photography' per se. Of course there is no definition really, but taking photos on a street does not street photography make in my opinion.

Anyway, check these out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRBARi09je8&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Qjym5uliDw&feature=related
 
For street candids I like the 135L.

Phil
 
ryanyboy said:
No need to take offence - joxby was correct in saying that using a 300mm is not street photography in the truest sense of the term/genre. Traditionally shorter focal lengths are what is associated with street photography as musicman pointed out in his post.

Personally I think 300mm is the tool of the voyeur when it comes to street photography. But if it helps I'll answer the OP's question with the answer you wanted to hear:-

"Canon 300mm F2.8"
Click to expand...

No offence taken :) I was suggesting the use of a much light mirror lens though ;)

I guess street photography is what you make of it, to me it's about capturing the moment...people doing what they do. I like to break the rules and create something different if I can, hence why I generally use old MF lenses :)
 
nothing wrong with breaking the rules and being a bit different.
 
3 important points from me:

1. 35mm can be dangerous when you get too close to a dangerous (or sick) person
2. 300mm will most likely make you a great subject for someone else
3. Don't listen to me, I don't do street photography :lol:
 
daugirdas said:
3 important points from me:

1. 35mm can be dangerous when you get too close to a dangerous (or sick) person
2. 300mm will most likely make you a great subject for someone else
3. Don't listen to me, I don't do street photography :lol:
Click to expand...

#1 - that's where your situational awareness kicks in. Don't stand close to freaks and/or loonies... You wouldn't do so normally so why do it with a camera?

Street photography is all about honing your people skills and has nothing to do with long-lens work - which we in the business refer to as 'surveillance' by the way...
Using anything longer than a 70-200 just makes you a photo-sniper in my book and that takes no skill whatsoever...

I watched a video clip of Don McCullin working in Africa in 2009 and he's still out there shooting with a pair of OM-1n bodies with a 28mm for GVs and a 135mm for portraits...and nothing else...
Also he asks the subjects before he photographs them...every time. Wonderful to watch...they might not even understand a word he's saying, but by the tone of his voice he manages to put them at ease and get the shots he wants.
 
Arkady said:
Street photography is all about honing your people skills and has nothing to do with long-lens work - which we in the business refer to as 'surveillance' by the way...

Using anything longer than a 70-200 just makes you a photo-sniper in my book and that takes no skill whatsoever...

Also he asks the subjects before he photographs them...every time. Wonderful to watch...they might not even understand a word he's saying, but by the tone of his voice he manages to put them at ease and get the shots he wants.
Click to expand...

1) Yes, but not always

2) No & No

3) Agreed

1) I almost use my people skills to develop relationships with people in a street setting, but have got some photos that I like without doing so first.

2) A specific focal length doesn't make you a sniper & sniping itself is highly skilled

3) Not everyone might take this approach, but broadly I like the idea of connecting with as many people as possible before photographing them.

An example with a 135L, no relationship with subject, taken at side of street...I guess it might be not a typical street shot but.....


p220526047-4.jpg


Phil
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top