A Spring Street Photography Project/Contest

Stephanie Brim · 03-11-2008

Roger Hicks recently posted about the fact that a government-run street photography contest would go a long way to promote the idea that street photography is a legitimate form of the craft. I think that we, also, as rangefinder camera users, could do a lot to promote the idea of street photography as art. So I'm going to run an idea by you.

I want to have a combined street photography contest and project.

This contest/project would have 2 main goals:

- To create an online gallery of images (perhaps even off site) of photos taken during the run of the project.

- To create a book of community voted best images to represent the larger body of work in the gallery.

This contest/project would be themeless other the idea of street photography. This way we would be showing the broadest range of street photography we could. It would be open to everyone on the forum. It would be a rangefinder-only project; other than that simple fact, equipment used to take the photo would not be revealed. I want the work to stand on its own merit.

If anyone thinks this idea is complete horse poopy, or if you think it's great, please let me know. Also, I welcome suggestions to make this an even better idea.

I think that it would be a welcome project for a lot of people, and being the contact would give me something to do now that I'm a stay at home mom. I'm ITCHING for something to do.

AusDLK · 03-11-2008

Sounds like fun to me. The fledgling Austin Center for Photography may want to sponsor the event. The ACP is really only a gleam in my eye right now but this could put ACP on the photographic map to some extent even before it gets too far off the ground.

Stephanie Brim · 03-11-2008

Tell me more about this "Austin Center for Photography" you speak of...it sounds very nice indeed.

And I'm seriously interested. I think that it's a really good idea.

Oscar Rubio · 03-11-2008

for me it´s ok, i will enjoy!!

nightfly · 03-11-2008

I love the idea.

I'm in for sure.

How would it work? Could we leverage the Thursday Street Photography thread which may or may not still be alive?

Would it be edited by an individual? A board? By vote? Limit on submissions? Timeframe?

Stephanie Brim · 03-11-2008

I'd like to have a board. If the project goes as I originally envisioned it's a bit large in scale for one person to run on his/her own. The submissions to the gallery would not be limited by anything other than that they had to exhibit the ideals of street photography, but the submissions to the book would be voted on by the entire group. I was thinking at least a 3 month timeframe for photo submissions to give everyone plenty of time to shoot.

The first thing I'd like to do is set up the guidelines of what should and shouldn't be put in the gallery. We'd be setting in stone the definition of street photography for this project that way and no one would get confused.

jbf · 03-11-2008

Count me in. I'd love to participate in this.

lZr · 03-11-2008

Fantastic idea.
I think our BarTender will like it. I remember his participation in DeviantArt site for the same contest.

Stephanie Brim · 03-11-2008

I figured he'd read this and let me know if he wants to help. I'd love any help he could provide.

One other thing that may be useful, if we decide to do this, is a subforum in the projects forum just for this project so that discussion of things is easier. But that can wait until the time comes when there are actually enough people interested to do it.

photogdave · 03-11-2008

Great idea! I'd love to participate.

Rick Waldroup · 03-11-2008

Why rangefinder only?

I shoot a Lumix L1. Would I qualify to submit a photo?

RML · 03-11-2008

Sounds cool. Count me in for now.

Stephanie Brim · 03-11-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Waldroup

Why rangefinder only?

I shoot a Lumix L1. Would I qualify to submit a photo?

I'd like to get back to the roots of what this forum was originally about. Another good reason is because you can pick up a Canonet or a Yashica rangefinder very cheaply these days. I'd like to show the power of the rangefinder when shooting this subject. Really...if not for rangefinders, what are we here for?

Larky · 03-11-2008

Hi. Count me in too. I'm off for a couple of weeks from Friday, but please PM me to keep me in the loop.

I have contacts with publishers (currently writing a book) and printers (used to work for one, send many of my student that way too) and have access to as much printing gear as you could need to proof this thing up and get mock copies sent out.

I also 5+ years InDesign experience and have laid out many a publication.

I don't think I'm qualified at all to judge, but would be happy to get involved.

Also, if you wanted to get the winners in a gallery, my side-business is making giant interactive touch walls (iPhone the size of a wall) which would be great to have in a gallery. I'm at your service.

A.

MickH · 03-11-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightfly

I love the idea.

I'm in for sure.

How would it work? Could we leverage the Thursday Street Photography thread which may or may not still be alive?

Would it be edited by an individual? A board? By vote? Limit on submissions? Timeframe?

THe thread is as alive as you want it to be. It's dead easy to start & seems popular enough once the ball is rolling.. go for it.

I haven't any worthwhile photographs to post, or I'd have done last week's.

Cheers.

MickH · 03-11-2008

Oh.. and by the way I'd also enjoy being involved in this spring project.

Stephanie Brim · 03-11-2008

The more people the merrier!

I'm liking how this is stacking up. I'm excited.

DougFord · 03-11-2008

Limit the participation to RFF members only. Any camera should suffice. Most entries will probably be taken by RF's but I think it's too limiting. All photos to be tagged with the photographer’s name and equipment used.
Absolutely no monetary or equipment offer/reward to entice entrants.
Pending the definition of ‘street photography’ as defined for this project, I’m in.
Usually these projects are started by some stanky, Homer-esque, middle-aged fat guy. So it’s easy to say NO and dismiss the idea.
But who can say no to a 24 yr old brand new mom! It’s not fair.

BillP · 03-11-2008

I'm in.

Oh, and Doug, your post is ILLEGIBLE!!!

Regards,

Bill

Rick Waldroup · 03-11-2008

Oh well.....

I did not know you have to shoot a rangefinder to shoot street.

I've been a street shooter for more than 30 years and have used just about every type of camera you can think of.

jayjee · 03-11-2008

I'm in.
I have plenty of design experience as well. I worked as the head designer of the photo fairs photo L.A. and photo MIAMI and for fine art photography gallery as well. I'd be more than glad to help with this.

A suggestion though would be to allow any camera kit (both film and digi) in order to properly exhibit the broadest range of street photography.

BillP · 03-11-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Waldroup

Oh well.....

I did not know you have to shoot a rangefinder to shoot street.

I've been a street shooter for more than 30 years and have used just about every type of camera you can think of.

Rick, it's a RANGEFINDER Forum. If this was being posted on the Leica Forum, then I'd expect a stipulation to be the use of Leica kit. If on the 4/3 Forum, 4/3rds, on the DSLR Forum, etc...

When in Rome...

Regards,

Bill

Rick Waldroup · 03-11-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillP

Rick, it's a RANGEFINDER Forum. If this was being posted on the Leica Forum, then I'd expect a stipulation to be the use of Leica kit. If on the 4/3 Forum, 4/3rds, on the DSLR Forum, etc...

When in Rome...

Regards,

Bill

Sure, no problem at all. I was under the impression it was a contest about street photography.....

Like I said before, oh well......

SergioGuerra · 03-11-2008

Nice idea... count me on!

crawdiddy · 03-11-2008

I like the sound of this project, but let me mention 1 thing, which I think is the most important thing: participation. Sounds as if some members might be more inclined to participate if not for the rangefinder restriction. That includes me.

Actually, there are some SLR techniques that lend themselves to candid street photography. One of these is use of a waist-level finder, and I just acquired one of these for my Canon F-1n. I'm very interested in trying it out for street shooting.

Anyhoo, I'm not trying to be difficult. Just making a couple of arguments in favor of the evil SLR machines.