The Bookshelf #14 - The Art of Street Photography - Sean Tucker and Joshua K. Jackson
The Art of Street Photography
Sean Tucker and Joshua K. Jackson
Published by Ilex
Available on Amazon from £30.00
I am very aware, for a landscape photographer, I buy, read and post a lot about street photography. It seems like a bit of antithesis, but the truth is I LOVE street photographer. I like to look at it, enjoy it and do it; I’m just not very good at it. I don’t know if that’s down to a lack of patience (but as a landscape photographer, I feel like I have this in bucket loads!), the fact that I am easily distracted or if it’s just not something I am ever going to get. All of that said, there is something about it that really appeals to me; I love the work of people like Martin Parr, William Eggleston, Saul Leiter and of course Henri Cartier-Bresson as well that of contemporary practitioners such as Mike Chudley, Allan Schaller and the two authors of this book that I am about to talk about.
There are many books written about how to do street photography and of course, there are countless YouTube videos about the same topic. When you want a quick fix, head to YouTube, but if you are looking for something more intentional and slower paced then you should absolutely be reaching foray of this wonderfully written and beautifully produced book.
The Art of Street Photography takes you through 7 “stages” - Mindset, Camera, Presentation, Composition, Approach, Themes and Perspective. The chapters are littered (in the very best way) with images that have been reproduced in the most stunning way; the bright white paper really compliments all of the images that have been selected - one of these is one of my all time favourite images and can be found near the back of the book - I will leave you to decide which one you think it might, but for me, it captures a lot of what being a street photographer in London (or just living in London) can be about.
The blurb on the back of the book, does an excellent of job of summing up what you can expect (I know this is the job of the blurb, but it’s a good one):
“Expanding the scope of street photography from its traditional reportage route, here, photographers Joshua K. Jackson and Sean Tucker present a more interpretive and artistic approach to the genre”
This book is a guide, but it’s not a step by step one. It’s a guide to the art form as well as to the process, but don’t expect to be told what camera settings to use or anything like that. Instead, expect expertly written, well informed and well researched information which encompasses not only photography, but other art forms as well. There’s at least one reference to J.M.W. Turner. and how he put his paintings together.
The great thing about reading this is that swathes of it are anecdotal and come from the experience of Tucker and Jackson, both of whom are, in my opinion, nationally significant photographers whose images will be gazed upon for many years to come. Any of you reading this who are aware of either of them, will know just how knowledgeable these two gents are and we;d all do well to stop and listen to what they have to say. I saw Sean Tucker speak at The Photography Show earlier this year and was hanging on every word; he’s someone who holds a lot of wisdom, which he is keen to share and does so with aplomb in this book.
The authors also address the ethics of photographing strangers, including questions surrounding consent, dignity and the responsibility photographers have towards the people appearing in their images. These discussions are handled thoughtfully and encourage readers to develop their own considered approach rather than treating street photography as a competition to capture the most shocking or confrontational moment.
Although the book contains plenty of practical advice, it is at its best when discussing observation, intention and the development of an individual creative voice. It feels less like a conventional instructional manual and more like an extended conversation with two experienced photographers about why they make pictures.
A central strength of the book is the contrast between Jackson and Tucker’s different approaches. Jackson describes a more active, instinctive method of moving through the streets and reacting quickly to unfolding situations, while Tucker often prefers to find an interesting setting, study the light and wait for the right person or gesture to complete the composition. These “hunter” and “fisher” approaches demonstrate that there is no single correct way to practise street photography.
If street photography is your thing, then this book is a must have and is absolutely a must read - don’t fall into the trap of just flicking through it and looking at the photos, you’ll be doing yourself a real disservice.
You can pick your copy up on Amazon from £30
If you have enjoyed this, then be sure to click on the links below to read the other entries in my Bookshelf Series.
