The first assignment we received in Project 52 Pros is to Photograph a Stranger. As far as research related to this assignment is concerned, Don gave us a list of photographers as examples: Lee Friedlander (America by Car), Mark Cohen, Joel Meyorowitz, Elliott Erwitt, Ian Berry, Eric McNatt, Eric Ogden (Character Project), Dawoud Bey (Character Project), David Eustace (The Character Project), Richard Rinaldi, Matt Dutile and Robert Frank (The Americans).
I also did a little research on my own to try and find photographers that resonated with me. In my readings, it seems the most important aspect is to relax. Introduce yourself, ask permission then let them go about their business until they forget you are there. Patience.
The takeaways I believe I found out during my research are: I seem to be drawn to black and white for environmental/street photography best, and photos with a darker cinematic, gritty feel next. Street photography should show an aspect of the person's character - whether in their personal appearance or in context with what they are doing. Let your photo tell the story.
Henri Cartier-Bresson:
Henri Cartier - Bresson (1908-2004), a French photographer, was considered a humanist photographer who pioneered street photography. According to Cartier-Bresson there are several aspects to consider when photographing. The lessons he relates to photographers are: the picture-story, the subject, composition, color, technique, and the customer.
Cartier-Bresson states that "our task is to perceive reality, almost simultaneously recording it in the sketchbook which is our camera. We must neither try to manipulate reality while we are shooting, nor manipulate the results in a darkroom...In whatever picture-story we try to do, we are bound to arrive as intruders...the profession depends so much upon the relations the photographer establishes with the people he's photographing, that a false relationship, a wrong word or attitude, can ruin everything. When the subject is in any way uneasy, the personality goes away where the camera can't reach it." So the first lesson I learned from Cartier-Bresson as it relates to photographing strangers is to make them comfortable, talk to them, engage with them in their environment. Make them feel at ease being themselves before you pick up the camera. As a photographer you should make them forget about the camera.
The next lesson is to focus on geometry when considering composition. Doing this makes the photograph interesting, giving it form and life. It is as important as the subject itself. Moving one inch can make the photograph, so move around, find your vantage point. Decisions at this point include not only the composition, but whether its color tones as well. Deciding on whether to use B&W or color images can really make a photograph stand out. Knowing the color relationships of color to your subject and how the image will be perceived is extremely important.
As far as technique is concerned, you must master it to communicate what you see. However, your personal style can only become evident after you learn to "see". You need to be patient, wait for the decisive moment and then capture that moment. Sometimes waiting for the right subject to walk in your frame, or something to happen is the decisive moment.
A few images that really struck me are:
Photo Source: http://content.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1983868_2128539,00.html
Photo Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/295056213063921917/
Both of these images inflect a strong sense of emotion. The first one of eroticism followed by an urge to sustain, an internal struggle. The second of disgust and disdain. These types of images give me something to look for in my assignment of photographing a stranger. I want to show some type of emotion, some type of appeal.
Sources:
Cartier-Bresson, Henri. The Mind's Eye: Writings on photography and photographers. New York: Aperture, 1999. Print.
A Scottish photographer born in 1961 known for his fashion, celebrity and art photography. He was one of eleven photographers who was selected to do a commission of portraits for the Character Project. In this project he journeyed across America and took pictures of the folks and places he met along the way. This particular image of "Ike" from Nevada during his journey down Highway 50.
Portrait Source: www.scottish-gallery.co.uk/artist/david-eustace
What drew me to this image is the dark gritty feel of it. The portrait reveals to me a man who has worked hard, but also shows a softer side by the depth of color of his eyes. It really resonated with me because it shows character, not just a portrait, but depth of who that person really is.
Elliott Erwitt is an American advertising and documentary photographer, who emulates Henri Cartier-Bresson's decisive moment. Lessons you can learn from Elliott Erwitt: just "react to what you see" don't plan so much; wander around, don't be a tourist, wander and watch; take photos that reflect humanity, in one form or another; relax, don't take yourself so seriously - its fun to let loose and take amusing photos; focus on content over form - evoke emotions in your photographs; make time for your photography.
An image that stood out to me while looking through his work is the below picture taken in USA, Colorado in 1955:
Picture Source: (c)Elliott Erwitt/Magnum Photos
This image tells a story. A broken glass, a child with no smile. All things that make my mind wonder - what was going on. Who is that boy and what is his role? It was an intriguing image for me to say the least.