THE “Rules” for street photography

City View from the Cage. Denver, Colorado, 2014. (Diana plastic camera, Kodak 400TMax film)

Last month, I remember having a wonderful discussion with Jason Paul Roberts at the Lyons Cinema and Photography Arts Center in Lyons, Colorado about how street photography “should be done”. Jason’s work was impressive–a direct reflection of his sensitive, experienced eye and his very personal and introspective approach to “the street”.

So, I was interested in what he had to say.

In our conversation, and on this topic of how “things should be done”, Jason threw out a superb quote he had heard some time before from one of his mentors.

To wit:

“It’s art, do whatever the f!@# you want!”

In that atherosclerotic (is that a word?) vein, I ran across a great blog post by Blake Andrews on this very theme in which he pretty much sums it all up. I highly recommend that all you budding Cartier Bressons do as I did and spend a couple of minutes chuckling your way through Blake’s “The 10 Rules of Street Photography”.

(WARNING: Expect a large, wet, lumpy tongue in cheek.)

Angles. Denver, Colorado, 2014. (Diana camera, Kodak 400 TMax)