With my cell phone I could take as many photos as I wanted to, granted I had enough space on my phone. I could tap my screen until it focused on a person or I could angle the camera to get the perfect shadow falling on an unsuspecting person sitting on a bench. I could buy an expensive camera that is known for its sharpness, pixel number, zoom, accuracy, and smoothness. With this camera I could take careless photos of someone leaning against a fence or eating a sandwich. This camera would make these photos detailed and very close to real life, but they wouldn’t convey emotion or connection with the viewer.
Jonathan Hodder, a street photographer that lives in the Philippines wrote an article about street photography and the loss of emotions in a photo due to technology. In his article, he starts by talking about himself and how, when he transitioned from film, he knew that the digital camera was to change the photography world. Though Hodder enjoyed the instantaneous digital image instead of the “tedious chore” of developing film. As time went on and camera technology advanced, Hodder observed more and more street photographers concentrating on the quality of the image instead of the emotions and questions it evoked. He said photographer could now create the perfect image, but it lacked emotion connection. Hodder then related this to older street photographers who only mentioned the camera they use in reference to the subject. Overall, Hodder stressed the need for content rather than quality.
I think this article provides a new view on technologies’ affect on photography. I had never thought about how people are more concentrated on sharpness and detail instead of what’s actually going on in the photo. This article reminds me of the work of Vivian Maier. She was a street photographer active from around the 1950s to the 1970s. Her work mostly involves street photography. Maier exclusively used film in her photos. She is an amazing example of a street photography because her photos are discrete and beautifully composed visions of everyday life. Vivian Maier probably never thought deeply about what type of camera she was using as long as it conveyed her want for emotions and questions. Her photos clearly show she had great skill when composing an image. This image could have been composed with a less sharp camera, on a bigger scale, or in color and either way convey the emotions she wanted. Henri Cartier-Bresson is also an example of a street photographer. His photos involve a lot of mystery and motion. His photos convey a lot of emotional connection because it evokes questions and feelings. In his photo “The Decisive Moment,” Cartier-Bresson shows a moment of choice and decision. He obviously challenges the idea of product over quality. His photos show great use of geometry, patience, and movement.
Overall, I think there is still a future of street photographer is people focus on content. Technology can help and hinder, so one must be decisive and focus on the image itself.
By T. Barton