I've been pondering about these two topics about photography. Can someone help me differentiate between the two?
Of course, we all know that street photography is a very wide subject and can happen anywhere rural or urban, uptown or downtown. But I'm mainly talking about Street Photography in the suburbs where poverty is obvious.
Another question is how can we take pictures of a situation in that setting but not make it poverty porn but proper art?
I have often mentioned the questionable morality of taking photographs of poor street people and homeless as "art." To my mind, it is pure exploitation. However, I believe that "poverty porn" is a loaded term that is inappropriate and does more to obscure than help.
You find poor people interesting and you want to do their photo and publish the results? Fine. Treat them like any other models:
- Present yourself to your model
- Explain your project and get their agreement
- Negotiate how much you will pay them (could be nothing but get it clear)
- Get a model release
- Do the shoot and as always - respect your model. Make them look good
In street photography, even when you are just getting a chance shot on the fly, you must always be ready to talk to the subject and explain why you want their picture.
I think that's about it. respecting them and making them look good. Giving the viewers a perspective of what their life is and what they do.
Now my only concern i guess is how to do that in a truthful way instead of (for example) what the media can do, altering the truth and stuff. You know what I mean?
One thing I can think of is just being sincere. And with all that, not making it a photograph of sympathy.
What do you think?
This isn't really off topic and should be moved to viewfinder or something
I have been pondering about these two topics and I'm sure most of you have also. This is a discussion about the differences between the two and how to avoid exploitation through poverty porn images
A moderator called "Frog" suggested I move this discussion to the viewfinder forum so here it is.
Please read the original thread. there's only like 6 posts there so far just to get a background. Thanks
Here's the original thread:http://forums.photographyreview.com/...orn-80786.html
Oh ok, thanks Mr. Frog.
I have opened another thread on the viewfinder forum.
Here's the link:
http://forums.photographyreview.com/...tml#post509218
To future readers of this thread, please click the link above and reply there instead
Quote from original thread:
Franglais:
Treat them like any other models:
- Do the shoot and as always - respect your model. Make them look good
Lezeuddocke reply:
I think that's about it. respecting them and making them look good. Giving the viewers a perspective of what their life is and what they do.
Now my only concern i guess is how to do that in a truthful way instead of (for example) what the media can do, altering the truth and stuff. You know what I mean?
One thing I can think of is just being sincere. And with all that, not making it a photograph of sympathy.
What do you think?
I would never go out and photograph poor people. I don't mix with them, I don't go where they live. I'm an amateur. I only photograph what is in my regular existence. I don't have to make a story out of someone else's misery.
If you are ready to go in and mix with them, get to know them, develop trust, maybe even pay them for their time - that's sincere. I would respect that.