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Some advice from shooting this genre for some 20 years now. And having looked through the works of decades by others. Do not narrow your focus - when shooting. Narrow your focus - when editing your work. You want your pool of work to be broad - like your mind. And you want your edits to be narrow and focused - like a good argument. When Meyerowitz put together his book Wild Flowers (yes, flowers), it's not because he went out to shoot and narrow his focus on flower motives out and about. He shot everything that attracted him and put together a narrow focus subject matter body of work out of a broad pool of images as he recognized a pattern in his image pool. Same with his red heads. Same with Erwitt's dogs. Don't narrow your focus when shooting. Have a broad mind and curiosity for everything. Build a broad pool of images - over a large amount of time. THEN edit it down to focus.

@GeorgeHolden

Жыл бұрын

Yes good point, as I said to shoot other interests too - while keeping in mine a focus if you're developing a project over time. Some projects may appear retrospectively but I think being proactive is always valuable

You are telling truths in this video, definitely! In my opinion, if you want to do a deep dive into street photography you need to embrace a few things. First and foremost, the indifference of the others or, to put it simply, the loss of likes, comments and followers on social media. The unique nature of street photography makes it less palatable to the masses in relation to (let’s say) landscapes or portraiture. I used to shoot and share golden hour landscapes and cityscapes for years and I had a 70% loss in likes after the first 2-3 street photos I posted. It made me skeptical at first but now I really don’t give a s**t. It’s very difficult to grow your following with street photography even if you manage to target a group of people that shares the same interest you. The meaning of street photography is very personal and difficult to communicate to others sometimes. Another obstacle is the difficulty to find places and people that can accept a stranger with a camera aiming at them. Sure, you can shoot nice street moments in almost every city or town but… metropolis like NY, London, Paris, Tokyo provide unparalleled frames in every corner! You can’t find this in a small city of a small country without big crowds and tall buildings. (There are numerous cities with historical interest and traditional buildings but there the subject may change from pure street to a cityscape if you want to incorporate it to the composition). And, if you are new to street photography, you can find it difficult to confront the people (that’s dependent on the character sometimes). Let aside the fact that street photography is prohibited in some countries. But that’s part of the beauty! For me, roaming around the streets with my camera is a spiritual relief. You can spot things or facets of the daily life that was passed unnoticed in the fast tempo of the modern society we live in. Just make sure you are shooting for yourself and you will find your way soon (and that’s rewarding).

@GeorgeHolden

Жыл бұрын

That's great to hear, thank you for sharing. The spiritual relief is definitely a massive benefit shooting street in a busy city.

Seems like every shoot day is filled with some dogs, or even a cat, which beg to be in a lovely photo. At a certain point I just added a yearly folder on my photographic site dedicated to dogs, cats, and their friends. You can get some great shots of happy people, as they are ever so proud of their dogs and enjoy the thought of them being photographed and a star on the Internet. Got to the point where I believe it too easy. Every time I go out I look for backdrops for someone to walk into, or try to predict a reaction about to happen to shoot the human interactions. At times it is just about how it would look in a photo. At other times it is trying to preserve a precious moment in time. After the switch to mostly street photography over the latest few years, I have yet to really focus on one segment within the street. At times it is an interesting building, other times simply a beautiful girl, and then there is the stages of life, from the young at play, or the old couple holding hands and walking the park. Maybe I am looking in a way at documentary of how it was, and not so much the reflections in puddles, and store windows. Yes, now and then reflections can be funny or tell a story, but the rest are just stuff done over and over again, like someone cares. But no matter what happens, when we see an opportunity to capture what will look great in a photo, no matter the meaning, or lack thereof in significant meaning, the photographer in us says, snap it -- it looks good to the camera. Like you said, we can do this in-between the shots we set-out to do. The faces, the way people dress, and those lovely expressions, are irresistible takes. Take care, Loren

@GeorgeHolden

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Loren for leaving such a thoughtful comment, great to hear your experience!

@lorenschwiderski

Жыл бұрын

@@GeorgeHolden I updated my website for the May show today.

I needed to hear this. Great content on your channel. Thank you!

Thanks again Georg for this great video 👍👍 I understand focusing on a particular genre or even subject. But photographing more things, so a wider scope, does makes me think again and again on how to create the best in that situation. So it’s never dull or boring… This is also a way how to look at photography and keeps the variety so the fun. But you are right, focusing gives more depth which can be great too. It’s just another approach I guess… 🙋🏼‍♂️

PPPHHHWHATSUP George Holden!! Awesome to see you find your groove 🎉

@GeorgeHolden

Жыл бұрын

PPPPPFFWWhats up Pete 🤣 Cheers buddy!

Thank you for another great video. Your point is well made. I find it fascinating that as an artist matures, the work produced becomes more focused and simple. Anything superfluous is eliminated. In architecture, form follows function; in great photography, the key is not just to see, but to observe and understand and to be able to communicate to others that experience through the picture. If you don’t feel it, neither will people seeing your work. Thanks again for a great video and sharing your progress as an artist.

@GeorgeHolden

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching, that's a great comparison with architecture and appreciated you sharing!

Thanks for making this. It is exactly what was bothering me this past month and I felt unmotivated to go out to shoot. I am now down to try again with this perspective so thanks :)

@GeorgeHolden

Жыл бұрын

That's great to hear, good luck with your next shoot!

Aargh my brain hurts... you've got me thinking again ;-)) Completely agree, follow what interests you. Needn't be just one thing, I have a small handful of subjects that draw my attention regardless of what else I may be shooting. Some of these are ridiculous and will only be of interest to me, but so what I'm enjoying it. Dogs? So many more dogs around these days and if you're a dog person the dogs seem to know. They do make good subjects and for me, that's especially so together with their owners. Nice one, cheers.

@GeorgeHolden

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Trevor! Yes I think dogs for me especially where I live now party a small part in demonstrating the status of an area, completely different to where I grew up so to me it feels like I have to capture them while I'm here

One of the best videos you have made recently Keep up the good content Street photography is getting bigger and bigger We need to embrace it and enjoy doing street photography because SP can be easy and fun without any complexity….

@GeorgeHolden

Жыл бұрын

I really appreciate that and yes I completely agree, thanks for sharing!

channels like yours are what help me to be a better photographer, no shade to mckinnons channel and the like but they are definitely mainstream and are mostly there for the wow factor entertainment. its rare that I immediately watch a video from a channel like his as soon as its posted. I like that your content is thought provoking and really something I look forward to watching. I have not been disappointed since I've subscribed! cheers🍻

@GeorgeHolden

Жыл бұрын

Really appreciate that, it's good to hear these videos are working for you. I'm the same, I enjoy odd videos from entertainment-focused channels but at times they can feel overwhelming with energy 😂

love your work man, hope that someone one day enjoys mine like i enjoy this channel!

@GeorgeHolden

Жыл бұрын

Thanks so much! Your comment was previously held for review for some reason

Great insight in this video, thank you for sharing

@GeorgeHolden

8 ай бұрын

Thank you!

Thank you George! You inspired me to pursue a new Street Photography project. 🎉

@GeorgeHolden

Жыл бұрын

That's awesome to hear! 🙏

Nice content man! I see your videos every time, and the reason it’s the subtitles! And if you have time to answer me, how do you set a lot of subtitles in your videos?

@GeorgeHolden

Жыл бұрын

Thank you! Which language do you speak natively? KZread has an auto translate tool, so I upload the English subtitles and then translate into popular languages 😊

@rawnato

Жыл бұрын

@@GeorgeHolden ohh Nice, I will check this! My native language it’s Portuguese!

Urban details in Texture is my obsession

@GeorgeHolden

Жыл бұрын

Nice!

Once again, excellent advice in this upload, I wish you were around when I started shooting street, around 2013. I've been feeling a bit down lately regarding the future of photography due to the amount of AI images that have started to circulate. Not sure where this is all going, but I hope for the best... ps. There is one really important thing that you've missed out from your upload… Citeh or United?… 🙃 Keep on keeping on from a Chelsea fan… (yeah I know, I know)

@GeorgeHolden

Жыл бұрын

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the video and hopefully the down period doesn't persist for you, AI is nothing to worry about in my opinion. And lucky for me I support neither! My only sport is F1 and Mercedes are far from winning at the moment 😅

Excellent channel 👍👍👍👍

@GeorgeHolden

Ай бұрын

Thank you sir!

Did not expect the Mercedes reference. Please just get Lewis a car that can win races! Great video!

@GeorgeHolden

Жыл бұрын

Cheers! And yes, Baku let's go 🙏

Nice video! I have been taking photographs since 1969. I take my images as "I see it" like it or not!

@GeorgeHolden

Жыл бұрын

Thanks and good to hear!

Hi, I have been following your chanell since a while😊 and I really enjoy your dog's pics 🤩 for that kind of photography do you use zoom or prime lenses?

@GeorgeHolden

Жыл бұрын

Thanks! For all the images in this video I'm using a 28mm prime lens with manual focus

@Jack_beginner

Жыл бұрын

@@GeorgeHolden Wow, manual focus😱 kudos 🤗 and sensor is apsc or full frame ?

@GeorgeHolden

Жыл бұрын

@@Jack_beginner the images in this video are 35mm film using IlfordHP5 - but other videos you'll see a mix of full frame and apsc 😊

@Jack_beginner

Жыл бұрын

Sure, as you show in your channel you try various gear. Thank you for your answers and I am looking forward to more inspiring and thoughtful content❤

My street photos are decent, they're just ok for someone who doesn't really do it very seriously. However, as soon as someone asks me to take a photo of them posed, every ounce of photographic ability and creativity drains from my body down the nearest storm drain. I realised I suck at posing people for a photo, but I can identify and capture those mildly interesting scenes going on around me. Maybe it's time I go around asking people if I can take a photo of them.

@GeorgeHolden

9 ай бұрын

Would love to see your work, feel free to link your IG

Boy i really don’t worry about getting chewed out by people anymore. Some people are gonna give you a hard time and we can’t possibly play defense against every random ash hat. I take photos. I get confronted sometimes. It doesn’t matter.

@GeorgeHolden

Жыл бұрын

Good for you!

Certainly paws for thought there George. *I’ll get my coat*

@GeorgeHolden

Жыл бұрын

Wowzas, are you fur real?

@derrenleepoole

Жыл бұрын

@@GeorgeHolden yeah man, feline okay really.

@GeorgeHolden

Жыл бұрын

@@derrenleepoole hmmm, dunno, you sound a bit ruff

@derrenleepoole

Жыл бұрын

@@GeorgeHolden like I said, feline purrfectly fine.

@GeorgeHolden

Жыл бұрын

@@derrenleepoole a meowculous recovery

I just cannot agree with the focus in thing.. 🤷🏻‍♂️.. i travel full time in an RV and love the variety of cultures, people, streets and attitudes. I use silent shutter 90% of the time and take candid shots.. not 'street portraits'.. i would get so bored too being focused on a single theme... YMMV...🙏❤️👍

@GeorgeHolden

Жыл бұрын

I agree with you, it's more to develop a focused body of work - but there's nothing wrong with shooting anything you like

did not expect the mercedes F1 stray bullet 🤣

@GeorgeHolden

11 ай бұрын

always expect the unexpected, like a Hamilton pole 😅

@SpicyMcMeatballs

11 ай бұрын

@@GeorgeHolden How he got it, god knows. I also wanted to say I really enjoyed your content! It feels the most "human" photography KZread channel I've come across, if that makes sense!? Great shots, sensible takes on relevant and interesting points, really well presented. No Leica q3, no VIP passes to crazy events (yet, I hope you'll get one, one day), no stupidly expensive equipment. Which means we can actually relate more to the content. Thank you and keep going!

@GeorgeHolden

11 ай бұрын

@@SpicyMcMeatballs don't think I've cheered that hard at home ever than when he got that pole! And thank you, I really appreciate that - hope to continue for a long time!

If you don't know what you would like to photograph, paint or drawn, subscribe Netflix or video games there is no cure for you... :-)

Oof, that F1 clapback took me OUT lmao

@GeorgeHolden

Жыл бұрын

Eyyy, had to be done

@hafuridotus

Жыл бұрын

@@GeorgeHolden Tbh, I'm tired of Verstappen season so much I've started rooting for Alonso 💀💀

@GeorgeHolden

Жыл бұрын

@@hafuridotus watching quali atm just hoping there's a mix up at the top!

We bloody yanks 😂also refer to the trash can or rubbish bin as file13 but we do use the terms rubbish bin or dust bin as well as the trash can it just depends on what part of the country you're from and you're ethnic background.

@GeorgeHolden

Жыл бұрын

That's good to know! I lived in Chicago for a bit and found everyone found "bin" to be an odd word 😂 same with referring to the trunk of a car as the boot

@alvinmorris5404

Жыл бұрын

@George Holden well it's even stranger up in the Canadian colonies were the rest of the English speaking world says about they say aboot I'd imagine the first few times a visitor from the queen's island would hear them saying that they'd be wondering what the Canadian fascination is with car boots. But the Canadian people are a different lot, I bet they will tell me that's the pot calling the kettle black!🤣 I hear the KZread police coming they're going to bust me for being racist!🏃💨👮‍♂️🚔

Hi George, do you make a living out of street photography?

@GeorgeHolden

Жыл бұрын

Hi, I don't at all, I have plans top produce a small photography project to sell in my local area but most proceeds would go to charity anyway. I'm a freelance videographer professionally

You can hardly monetize it and you have to pay your bills, that's why.

@GeorgeHolden

10 ай бұрын

It ain't a job

The English! How is your imposter syndrome?

@GeorgeHolden

5 ай бұрын

Run, the English are coming! Imposter syndrome is alive and well, yours?

Where are you based George? Manchester? What’s your insta?

@GeorgeHolden

Жыл бұрын

Got your DM!