The popular social video platform TikTok has a new trend where photographers who call themselves “street photographer” are seen wandering around the streets asking passersby for pictures, and then taking their portraits.
This is NOT street-photography. I’m certain Henri Cartier Bresson is turning in his grave as he hears the trendy photographers call themselves street photographers, when they are actually portrait photographers who take images on the streets.
It may sound similar, but the truth is that it’s not. Someone should tell them why the trend is wrong!
@iamjeanblack
♬ Jean Black – Original Sound
The TikTok user, iamjeanblack, may seem like a polite fellow who was kind and took some lovely pictures of the man that he stopped. However this isn’t pure street photography where candid moments are captured on the streets of unexpected people.
In all seriousness, this is a photoshoot or a session of portraits in a public park… NOT street-photography. But the trend doesn’t stop here. Now, hundreds of TikTok members are calling themselves “Street Photographers” and taking pictures in public.
While I am in favor of more people getting into photography I want them to first learn about street photography. Then they can decide that, while it may not be street photography, their photos are still great portraits, and so are portrait photographers.
@ryukstyles
♬ Lovely –
…. It’s not really street photography. The dramatic moments, the candid moments in a split second of life are missing.
The trend of gimmicks and “gimmicks” is not only a joke, but also a blow to those who have spent years perfecting their craft.
This is NOT street photography.