Street Photography isn't the same thing as travel photography...
I haven't done street photography in many years, more than I'd like to admit, considering it was once one of my photographic passions. As I'd shifted into travel photography, I'd stop shooting street photography, thinking, "well, travel photography is basically street photography abroad," but really they're very different disciplines, and its taken me going back to San Francisco, a city in which I've spent a lot of time, to fully internalize that fact.
Street Photography...
Street photography differs from travel photography in its focus and approach. Though they both involve capturing the essence of a place, street photography is spontaneous and often centers on candid moments, human interactions, and the raw energy of urban life. It aims to capture the unfiltered, everyday stories unfolding in public spaces. Street photography doesn't seek to encompass or convey, it seeks to communicate directly from the heart of a place.
Travel Photography...
Travel photography, on the other hand, is broader, highlighting not just people but also landscapes, architecture, and cultural landmarks. While street photography thrives on unpredictability and fleeting moments, travel photography is more about documenting and conveying the totality and experience of a place, mixing planned and spontaneous shots.
Can the Genres be mixed...?
I'm not sure. I think one thing I've always struggled with, in terms of street photography while traveling, is the privacy laws specific to each country. Where I spend most of my time abroad, France, it is unthinkable and also illegal to photograph and publish some ones likeness on your website or social media without their consent. I've always felt uneasy doing street photography in France for this reason. But, being in San Francisco and practicing street photography again has made me realize just how much I miss it, and I plan on doing it far more often.
