Author: deandradesees

Instagram Street Photography

 Here’s what’s involved:

1. Complete the readings for 9/24. These are short but important! Pay particular attention to Cartier-Bresson’s theoretical definitions of a strong photograph–our class Instagram account takes its name from his writing–and to Jardin’s practical tips for taking photos in an urban environment today.
2. Start taking photos! Use your phone, or a digital camera so that your pictures can be uploaded to Instagram easily.
3. Spend a few days taking frequent photos as a way of framing your experiences of the city. Consider what subject matter you’re drawn to: are you taking portraits? Photos of people aware (or unaware) that they’re being snapped? Or are you more drawn to images of storefronts, or urban vegetation, or signage? Do you like to take pictures in the subway, or are you drawn to open-air spaces, like parks? Do your images highlight contrasts—a trash mound waiting for pickup in front of a row of upscale buildings, say—or are they suggestive of narrative scenarios: a kid’s birthday party in the park; a person feeding a duck; a group of tourists looking at public art? Do you like to be up close to your subject matter, highlighting texture, shadows, light? Or do you step back, to create a composition made up of multiple elements? NOTE: You don’t have to set out with a pre-conceived notion of what kind of photographer you are. But, as you work, notice the kinds of pictures you’re creating.
4. After a few days, choose some photographs you’d like to share with the class. Be selective—choose your best work (whatever your criteria for that might be). Post your chosen photos to the class Instagram account: www.instagram.com/nycdecisivemoment/. (The password will be emailed to you). After you have a sense of yourself as street photographer, you may start posting as soon as you know you’ve taken a great photo, or you may save up a bunch of photos in order to select the strongest ones later.
5. Make sure to include a photo credit for yourself: traditionally, a camera emoji followed by a colon and your name, or your own Instagram handle if you have one. E.g. ?: Miwon Kwon. Use hashtags and tag your location, to say something clever about your picture, and to invite a wider audience. And feel free to caption or title your photo.
6. By Sunday, 9/29 you should have posted 5-7 pictures to the class Instagram. By Sunday, 10/6, you should have posted between 10 and 15, total. Remember to post to the class account, but to identify the photos as your own.
7. In class on October 15, you will give a brief oral presentation—a spoken “artist’s statement”—in which you describe your photographic practices: your subject matter, style, and methods. In your presentation, you will discuss your practices as a photographer, and you will illustrate this discussion with images. You must cover the following three areas:
   1. VISION. What is your goal, as a photographer? What motivates you to take pictures? What subjects do you seek out, and what do you want your spectators to notice, or take away? Illustrate this part of your presentation with an image or two that best captures your photographic artistry.
   2. PROCESS. How do you work? Do you take hundreds of photos, and select just one? Do you crop? Use filters? Do you go on long rambling photo walks, or do you go to a specific spot to take pictures? Illustrate this part of your presentation with images that demonstrate your process–including at least one image that did not make it to the class IG page.
   3. INFLUENCES. Please discuss at least two influences: one reading (Jardin, Barthes, Cartier-Bresson) and one photographer or photograph. What in the reading inspired you, or challenged you? What photograph or body of work shaped the way you see–and the way you take pictures?

NOTE: Your presentation will be brief–5 minutes only! (We have to stick strictly to the time limit to make sure everyone has a chance to present). Keep your notes to about a page, and choose 4-6 photos to illustrate. Stick to the three points outlined above, and limit the number of photos you use to illustrate each. And, above all, practice your presentation–and time yourself practicing it!!

I will make sure the projector is up and running before class, but please let me know if you have any special technology needs. I recommend using powerpoint for this assignment. You may email me your presentation in advance for easy classroom access.