Results of the competition Street Photography wsp6 - 3 curated by Michael Ernest Sweet

So many awesome photos were uploaded for the 3rd WSP6 competition, congrats to all who joined!!

Michael curated this competition check out his results!

 

Michael Ernest Sweet: First, allow me to begin with a bit of a rant. I’ve said it before, and I will say it again, there is too much repetition in street photography. Go out, photographer, and push the boundaries, break the rules and capture something different! If I ever see another street photo of a young woman on a cell phone, someone with an umbrella, or a failed attempt at irony by aligning a person in front of a billboard, it will be much too soon. This stuff is dead. Stop making what you think a street photo should be and just make photographs - work from the gut, not the head. Secondly, I also want to point out that street photographs of homeless people are not okay. I don’t care what others say, it’s just not cool. Documentary photography of homeless people, supposing that ethical guidelines have been followed and consent has been received, is another story - but not candid street photography. All that said, there were many great photographs in this competition. I’m happy to say that the winner and special mentions all exhibit traditional street photography aesthetics without compromise.

Curators First Choice

The curators first choice is awarded to Stanislav Sitnikov for the image ''

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Michael Ernest Sweet: This photograph might, at first blush, be seen almost as a painting. The way the stairs and building are painted lend itself to tricking the eye of the viewer. The blurred lines and lack of definition in the backdrop allow the two dogs to stand out in a much greater way than they might against a more defined or busier background. I like that the dogs are alert and “involved” in the making of the photograph but, at the same time, are not actively looking at the photographer or her camera. This simple pose, one that is notably difficult to achieve with animals, adds tremendous strength to the photograph. The two dogs being “twins” of sorts really adds visual interest to the image. The dogs are well placed within the frame too! Good job photographer, you’ve got eyes!

Special mentions

by Fahri Yasar

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Michael Ernest Sweet: This photograph reminds me of a solid, quality street photo from the golden era of street photography. It could well have been made by someone like Martine Franck, for example. The subtle tones, the dramatic framing by way of the human body in the foreground, combined with the animated human action at the end of the labyrinth of archways, which alternate in contrast, all combine to make a very satisfying photograph. Even the lines in the concrete, which dominate the left-most third of the frame, add a certain energy into the image. I like this photography a lot. Bring me more like this, photographer!

Happy Hour by Eric Davidove

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Michael Ernest Sweet: What we have here, essentially, is another very traditional street photograph, albeit a highly effective one. This image is more obviously “dated” or situated in time (for example, the corporate trademarks prevent the image from achieving a “timelessness”) but still speaks to the core ethos of street photography. A number of things in this photograph converge to make it work so well. For example, if the guy had both legs covered, the photograph would not work nearly as well. Additionally, the man in the window on the left is also necessary. If that window had been empty, for example, the image would have a lopsided energy about it. It would be good, but not great. This is the kind of photograph that I imagine will become a “classic” with the passage of some time. It’s a great photo today, but just think of what it will be in twenty or thirty years

The chaotic route in Hong Kong by Idol Good

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Michael Ernest Sweet: I like photographs that force me to stop and think about how they were created. This photo did just that! I mean, could this really be a “live scene”? My initial thought was that the background had to be edited in … look at how flat it appears, virtually no distortion! Yet, I think this was a genuine, unadulterated capture. I’m beginning to shy away from images like this one, as they are becoming too prevalent. Siegfried Hansen popularized this style of photography in modern times and now everyone is copying him. However, this particular example is so well done that I just could not resist. Well seen, perfectly captured!

Untitled by Karlo Flores

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Michael Ernest Sweet: I went back and forth on this image for a long time before deciding to include it. I do believe that some of the technical aspects of the image are weak, but the content is truly amazing. As a photographer who often overlooks technical requirements myself, I was able to excuse the photographer quite easily for these technical elements. Most of the world’s greatest candid photographs are, in fact, technically imperfect - many of them quite so. Yet, it is the subject matter that propels them to iconic status. I’m happy this photographer snapped quick and captured the moment - the resulting photograph tells us a great deal. Look at the woman’s hands, the way her fingers are spread apart in an almost eerie similarity to the chicken feet! Well done!

		Michael Ernest Sweet Michael Ernest Sweet is a Canadian writer and photographer. Michael is the author of two street photography books, "The Human Fragment" and "Michael Sweet's Coney Island" both from Brooklyn Arts Press. His instantly recognizable street photography is known for its gritty up-close depictions of humans in their natural habitat. Michael has been awarded two of Canada's highest civilian honours - The Prime Minister's Award and The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal - for significant contributions to education and the arts. Michael Sweet lives in New York City. Homepage |WSP profil
		The Human Fragment by Michael Ernest Sweet – WSP Recommendation “Like a modern-day Weegee, Michael Ernest Sweet proves conclusively that photography is not quite yet a lost art. Utilizing composition, texture, and depth of field to capture his public and frankly open subjects, his work makes you long for a time when photographers were valued for their style and eye.” – Bruce LaBruce “Michael Ernest Sweet’s photos are not sweet at all – they are rich and investigative, with a unique voice that speaks of presence, mystery, and selectivity – a highly personal vision.” – Jay Maisel you can get this book here (click)

Winner of the 'Viewers Choice' award

'Geometry' By Vasco Trancoso

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Another excellent World Street Photography competition, well done to everyone that entered.

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Street Photography wsp6 (2018 / 2019) - 5

Peace!

Michael Ernest Sweet & Gido Carper

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