The difference between street photography and documentary photography

Street photography and documentary photography is not clear boundaries are common in many places (), even no accurate definition, but in fact, there are some differences. Although I often say what street photography definition is not important, the important thing is to go out and take pictures), but actually define very important (in water is especially important when blowing). After all, we need a clear definition to make sure we are talking about the same thing, and define helps us to better communicate, to understand the world better. Language is, after all, language, has its limitations. Nassim Taleb referred to in the book the fragile a very interesting and very practical point of view: more than half of the things in life are not to be named. However, this does not affect our daily life, because we have other way, such as sight, hearing, etc.) To understand these things which have not been named? And even if the language, there are differences between different languages. In this article I say "Street Photography" and "Documentary Photography is based on" English "Street Photography" and "Documentary Photography" means, after all, Photography is an import.

There is no doubt that the essence of photography is documentary records (reality), which is why when photography was first invented to everyone that painting to disappear, the painter should be the cause of unemployment ─ ─ because photography can more "objective" to record reality than painting, at least the camera itself is not "subjective", the painting is ultimately created by artist subjective canvas prints. Photography in the documentary, of course, it's not absolute "objective", after all, photography this behavior need to push through the photographer to subjective ─ ─ no matter what to shoot, how, when, where, the factors affecting the result of the photography is ultimately determined by photographer, and photography to create pictures after all is just a moment of the reality, the reality of a moment how can objectively reflect the reality?

For example, such as a photo I got on the train: a lonely old man sat near the window, went to the scenery out of the window. If viewers to look at this photo, may feel that the old man in the photo is very lonely, but in fact I have seen in the train the children of the old man is sitting beside the old man is accompanied him, and I just took the old man just looked out of the window of that moment. Indeed, the old man is really have the moment looked out the window, this is the reality of objective existence, but the old man is not lonely, but I didn't take his children captured images.

Although photography is both objective and subjective, but I think the street photography and documentary photography on there is a difference between subjectivity and objectivity ─ ─ I think street photography is relatively subjective, and relatively objective documentary photography. Or you can say so, street photography more appearances (subjective perspective), and documentary photography more substantial (objective reality). With one of my favorite photographers Bruce Gilden, for example, I think Bruce Gilden is street photographer documentary photographer, his canvas prints works towards the street photography style and preference style of documentary photography, for instance his those classic street snap is in New York to street photography style, because his New Yorker is a more subjective intentions (not objectively reflect the state of New York life), he also use flash light to achieve a kind of visual effect, full of energy, tension, in my opinion, he created this series of classical street snap is quite subjective, reflects the New Yorker his eyes.

His photography and Bruce Gilden in Japan (Go), relative to the style of documentary photography, although he has applied to flash at this moment, but he didn't have too much into their subjective perspective, but relatively objectively presents some dark side of Japanese society (underworld, tramp, MOBS, etc.). In the above mentioned Bruce Gilden when shooting street photography to use flash to show people all sorts of attitude, New York, then he use flash light is more as a kind of technique of expression; while when filming documentary photography is more real by flash.

Again, for example, e.g. in street photography, we often use parallel, comparison and reference, repetition, gold composition technique of expression, and the technique of expression in documentary photography is relatively weak (though use), but at least not so pay attention to technique of expression as street photography. Such as Henri Cartier Bresson - in the 1930 s and a lot of use of the parallel (two men standing), reference (skip the puddles of men), gold (spiral staircase and cyclists') composition such as expression should be classified as street photography, the photography instead of documentary photography. And he taken to India in the 1940 s, China photography (photography, or maybe we can call it news photography) should be classified as a documentary photography, rather than street photography.

From which we can clearly see that documentary photography with a strong purpose, and street photography is relatively random. So, it is not relative objectivity, street photography and documentary photography is relatively subjective (with contradictions, above)? Well, even though it look as though I hit your face, there is no, blame I didn't make it clear, should say so: subjective in street photography shooting results (express ideas), objective intent (random) were taken. Documentary photography subjective intention (purpose) in photography, and objective results in photography (real).

For example, suppose the street there is a street photographer and a documentary photographer, they walked on the same street, they shoot is likely to be different. Street photographer see oneself want to take things will take, and documentary photographer is to select the subject will be according to your own purpose, assuming he is going to take a special feature about the "old man", he probably will specially take the old man in the street, not like a street photographer saw want to take things.

I think street photography pay more attention to shoot a single great canvas prints, and documentary photography focus more on long-term projects. So Magnum Photos most of the photographer is documentary photographer (although there are some photographers in recent years towards art photography style), and only part of the photographer is a street photographer.

And we are in reality most like to sweep the street photographer should be a street photographer, rather than a documentary photographer. Why is that? Because most of us are sweep the street just to get some great single street photos, rather than with specific ideas to photograph a photography project. Documentary photographer is usually according to their own goal to create a long-term project.

So, although most of maag south photographer to shoot documentary (or individual) for the long term project, but there are also some pay attention to the photographer, shooting a single excellent works such as Henri Cartier Bresson, Elliot Erwitt, Richard Kalvar, etc. Here with Elliot Erwitt as an example, Elliot Erwitt style of photography to street photography is famous for its take photographs in the streets of some humor, satire. He doesn't like many of his fellow photographer for the purpose of publishing photography creation shooting project for a long time, he is in a single street photography took a lot of work after his work to collect classified into several topics published, such as his Dogs, Regarding Women, Paris, such as photography, but his Best single photographs are included in the Personal Best, there is no doubt that the Personal Best of photography is clearly biased style of street photography.

Of course, if is in the documentary photography (especially news photography), I think the auxiliary use English can still. Documentary photographer Matt Black is famous for its film reflects some poor areas of the United States, he often use some words and figures to auxiliary instructions for his picture, and then show a more objective reality, for people to poverty have a further understanding of the United States today, but even if he does not use the data to assist, we can still see his photo reflects reality (even if we can only guess his intentions).