Photography Street Photography 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Robert Frank's landmark book 'The Americans' (1958) was groundbreaking primarily because of its:
- Technical perfection and razor-sharp images
- Raw, candid portrayal of American society with unconventional compositions (Correct answer)
- Exclusive use of color photography throughout
- Studio-based celebrity portraits
Correct answer: Raw, candid portrayal of American society with unconventional compositions
'The Americans' was revolutionary for its honest, often unflattering depiction of American life using a spontaneous, unpolished visual style that broke conventional rules.
Question 2: What shutter speed range is generally recommended to freeze typical pedestrian motion in street photography?
- 1/15 to 1/30 second
- 1/125 to 1/500 second (Correct answer)
- 1 to 2 seconds
- 1/4000 second exclusively
Correct answer: 1/125 to 1/500 second
Shutter speeds of 1/125 to 1/500 second are fast enough to freeze normal walking or moderate movement without motion blur.
Question 3: What does 'working a scene' mean in street photography?
- Setting up artificial lighting on a street corner
- Staying in one location and photographing multiple moments as the scene evolves (Correct answer)
- Editing a batch of images from a single street shoot
- Hiring models to pose at a street location
Correct answer: Staying in one location and photographing multiple moments as the scene evolves
Working a scene means staying at or returning to a promising location to capture different moments, changing light, and varied subjects over time.
Question 4: For rapidly changing lighting conditions on the street, which metering mode is generally most reliable?
- Spot metering on the subject's face
- Center-weighted average metering
- Evaluative or matrix metering (Correct answer)
- Highlight-weighted metering
Correct answer: Evaluative or matrix metering
Evaluative or matrix metering analyzes the entire frame to produce a balanced exposure, making it reliable when lighting conditions shift quickly.
Question 5: The 'Sunny 16 rule' is useful for street photographers because it:
- Limits shooting to f/16 aperture for maximum sharpness at all times
- Allows manual exposure settings in bright sunlight without checking a meter (Correct answer)
- Recommends shooting for 16 hours on clear sunny days
- Specifies a 16-megapixel minimum for print-quality images
Correct answer: Allows manual exposure settings in bright sunlight without checking a meter
The Sunny 16 rule states that in bright sun, correct exposure at f/16 uses a shutter speed equal to 1/ISO, letting photographers set manual exposure without a meter.
Question 6: What technique involves holding the camera at waist level and pressing the shutter without using the viewfinder to remain inconspicuous?
- Panning
- Blind metering
- Hip shooting (Correct answer)
- Spray and pray
Correct answer: Hip shooting
Hip shooting involves holding the camera at waist level and firing without looking through the viewfinder, allowing candid captures without making obvious eye contact.
Question 7: The 'golden hour' lighting condition is preferred by many street photographers primarily because it:
- Provides harsh overhead contrast ideal for dramatic shadows
- Offers flat, even diffused light that eliminates all shadows
- Creates warm, soft, directional light with long shadows that add mood and depth (Correct answer)
- Produces cool blue tones that work well with urban architecture
Correct answer: Creates warm, soft, directional light with long shadows that add mood and depth
The golden hour—shortly after sunrise or before sunset—provides warm, low-angle light that enhances mood, creates long shadows, and adds dimensionality to street scenes.
Photography Street Photography 2
Robert Frank's landmark book 'The Americans' (1958) was groundbreaking primarily because of its: