Studying Landscape and Street Photography

Understanding Landscape Photography

A form of photography that places significant emphasis on natural scenery.
This genre seeks to capture the beauty, enormity, and intricacies of nature.
Landscape photography often includes elements such as mountains, valleys, bodies of water, forests, and fields.
A sub-genre includes urban landscape photography, which focuses on city views and urban environments.

Key Concepts in Landscape Photography

Subject: The spotlight in landscape photography is on nature and its various elements.
Lighting: The use of natural light is significant. Golden Hour and Blue Hour are often preferred.
Composition: The use of the rule of thirds, leading lines, and the balance between foreground and background can strongly impact the image.
Focus: As wide-angle shots dominate this genre, maintaining deep focus across the entire scene is important.
Time: Depending on the weather and daylight conditions, the mood and atmosphere of landscapes can vary drastically.

Influential Landscape Photographers

Ansel Adams: Known for his black and white images of the American West, particularly Yosemite National Park.
Eliot Porter: His colourful depiction of nature opened doors for a new concept in landscape photography.
Chris Burkard: Famous for capturing stunning landscapes under extreme conditions, often including adventure and surf.
Fay Godwin: Renowned British photographer noted for her black-and-white landscapes of the British countryside and coast.

Techniques in Landscape Photography

Use of Natural Light: Understanding how to best utilise sunlight, sunset, dawn, or even night-time lighting.
Long Exposure: Utilised for blurring motion elements, such as moving water or clouds, to create a dreamy effect.
Utilising the Sky: Capturing dramatic, cloud-filled skies or starry nights can add a compelling element to landscape shots.
Perspective Control: Use of viewpoint can profoundly impact landscape shots, offering unique perspectives on common scenes.

Exploring Street Photography

A genre that focuses on candidly documenting everyday life in public places.
Street photography often covers a multitude of elements - people, surroundings, interactions, or even objects that tell stories.

Key Concepts in Street Photography

Subject: The subjects are generally unaware public individuals, sometimes alongside urban environment.
Lighting: Natural light in different times of the day plays a key role in setting the mood.
Composition: Strong compositions often involve framing, lines, silhouettes, high contrast, and interesting juxtapositions.
Moment: Capturing the “decisive moment” is crucial in this genre.

Pioneers in Street Photography

Henri Cartier-Bresson: Esteemed as the father of modern photojournalism, he introduced the concept of the “decisive moment”.
Vivian Maier: Known for her striking urban images of Chicago, discovered only after her death.
Martin Parr: British photojournalist known for his humorous and satirical images of modern life.
Robert Frank: Renowned for his raw, unconventional portrayal of America in the 1950s, particularly highlighted in his book ‘The Americans’.

Street Photography Techniques

Candid Shots: The essence of street photography is to capture raw, unposed, real-life scenes.
Layering: Involves incorporating multiple elements or subjects of interest into the frame to add depth.
Street Portraits: Engaging with subjects and taking their portraits in their natural settings can result in powerful images.
Silhouette and Shadows: Playing with light, especially strong, directional sunlight can result in dramatic street photographs.

Interpreting Landscape and Street Photographs

Contemplate on the mood and atmosphere of the photograph. What feelings does it evoke?
Assess the use of light and weather conditions. How do they contribute to the narrative?
Consider the timing of the shot in street photography. Why might the ‘decisive moment’ have been chosen?
Examine the frame composition. How do the foreground, background, and central subject interact?

Mastering these photographic norms and practices while simultaneously recognising renowned photographers and their work is essential for achieving excellence in Landscape and Street Photography.