Everything I Do is Street Photography

In this class, photographer Mel DiGiacomo discusses how to know the light, how to learn the vocabulary of your lenses, and how to put aside the technical aspects and keep thinking to a minimum to keep your shooting instinctual. Mel looks for human behavior, whether on the street, in a classroom, at a wedding and follows the advice of Walker Evans, ’Stare, pry, listen, eavesdrop. Die knowing something. You’re not here long.’ Mel will gets you thinking in different ways to help stretch your photography muscles.
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[@jeffberg8663]

wow.... that was the best hour and a half i spent on youtube for a long time. I love the style Mel shoots, thanks for sharing! I didn't take pictures for months "because i was lacking motivation"but after 15 min watching i already started taking the empty battery pack out of the camera to recharge it lol! now i can't wait to get my butt out there again and fill the memory card! Thanks for the inspiration!

[@antiniasmith8715]

My camera sat idle for a few months until i saw this too, im glad im not the only one.

[@conanliquid]

Otto and Gomez Agreed!!!

[@conawayjb]

I honestly believe that Mel has surpassed all the"greats" in street, his images are amazing. Thanks B&H for bringing this to youtube.

[@melchiordigiacomo4989]

you're right he replied modestly. a little hyperbole never did any harm. one suggestion,don't get caught up in the hype.theo only thing to believe in is what you're doing.

[@melchiordigiacomo4989]

***** I NEVER,,EVER CONCERN MYSELF WITH BEING BETTER THAN MY ANTECEDENTS.BEING A GOOD AS MIGHT BE IS FINE.THAT SAID,I’M NEVER SATISFIED,NEVER TOO FULL. THANX MIKE FOR THE COMPLIMENT.

[@slyarsenal]

haahaha you obviously haven't seen works from Henri Cartier-Bresson, Brassai or Vivian Maier. This guy is quite average actually. Shocking compositions, too much complication in his photos and there's no directional draw in most of his photos. These are very snapshot-like material.

[@conanliquid]

Red Would love to see some of your shots. I respect your opinion, but you do seem to put so much emphasis on HCB yet you have obviously missed HCBs motivations and attitude to art. If you did understand it you would not make such a passing statement about another photographers work. Ok yes, HCB was THE master of composition, but comparing this guy to him is ridiculous. How do you feel about your shots compared to HCB?

[@moeblisss12]

I just started photography about a year ago. I shoot as much as I can during the day and watch videos, such as this one, at night. This content is amazing, I’m learning so much from Mr DiGiacomo.

[@Conversus]

His Film-Era photographs are so much better. And you can tell by the way he talks of his recent photography style why that is. He's a great guy and I loved every single one of his B&H Videos. Kind regards from Berlin.

[@johnkraemer5505]

Outstanding presentation! I loved it and walked away with several new ideas! I like Mel's ideas of getting in the middle of the action. Also his comment .... Don't point the camera down, get down to take the pic! I would enjoy seeing additional talks & presentations by Mel.

[@roccotanto]

Thank you Mr. DiGiacomo for a wonderful class and look into your world, I enjoyed this very much and learned quite a few things!

[@diforbes]

Festivals and other such "public" events where there are already lots of photographers and people taking selfies are good ways to ease into close candid photography. After that, it gets hard.

[@mazdaman1980]

Brilliant video, great story and great man. Thank you for sharing.

[@esppics21]

Great guy...Loved listening to his stories...great street work.

[@brianramnath1575]

Pleasure to watch this Mel. Great stories from a super talented photographer.

[@drezdogge]

I cant wait for Mel's next talk, I find him to be an engaging speaker, somewhat self deprecating, which is a beautiful contrast to his steady imaging. I dont see how this isnt "street photography" as its photography on the street, he never claimed they were candids. I watched this 3 times and have gotten something new each time.

[@jluvnklee]

Amazing! Glad someone has been there and done that and laid it for down me out here in love with photos, but struggling for direction!

[@margaretprice7468]

Amazing photography and world view. Terrific hour and a half!

[@glaucoscheffel]

Thanks for this great class.

[@antiniasmith8715]

I would love to meet him and say thank you for the inspiration. I was drawn to street photography when I started but was afraid to try now I rarely shoot anything else. Thanks again

[@petermartin1884]

These are the kind of photographs that need to be printed and observed, not simply scrolled through on a screen

[@petey202]

Peter Martin i agree

[@Siftedheart]

Thank you ! I loved this ❤️

[@ozmediamike8346]

Thanks for sharing this. A really interesting presentation!

[@gaochuanqing]

我喜欢您的风格，谢谢您对街头摄影的大师班。 I like your style. Thank you for your master class in street photography.

[@petermartin1884]

incredible photography..

[@gasbike100mpg]

great pictures and brilliant ability to catch those opportunities. Wondering why only a few color photos.............is it as simple as B&W looks better?

[@rolfcasparius6972]

Really nice work!

[@jeffvaillancourt3067]

Thanks for the feature. Much appreciated.

[@alsaulso1332]

REAL PHOTOGRAPHY!!!! 100% LOVE IT

[@AliZee909]

Probably the best lecture at B & H I've seen here at youtube in a while. The man has a life time of knowledge, pictures and memories. Got me excited about street photography, any tips for someone who just got his first crop sensor dslr yesterday? :)

[@donncha1]

Thank you for a look inside your brain and talent. Inspiring.

[@laurencereeves8052]

Thanks Mel, You got me to pick up the camera again. Hope all is well.

[@tallaganda83]

I had not heard of Mel before this video, but i checked out his website, and he is amazing, i really like the style, im looking to devolop my own style, and have never really leaned towards street photography, probably due to the city i live in, is not very interesting for this type of photography, but would love to learn a style of street photography that allows me to be close without ambushing people, and being rude.

[@palinode]

Being unobtrusive with a camera like the 5D III is no small feat.

[@xperience-media7396]

Wonderful

[@jon8080]

what a brilliant mind!

[@pixiedixie3682]

London is awesome for street photography also.

[@feints7714]

His camera had a built-in flash which the 5D mk III lacks. He probably had more than one camera on him, but the one in that photo is probably a 70d or such

[@AgnostosGnostos]

Nice old fellow. Very funny and informative.

[@Dahon5]

In the Indian Festival, where you afraid to get powder on your camera or lens? How did you deal with that issue? Which tattoo convention did you go to shoot those photos?

[@melchiordigiacomo4989]

yes,you get powder on your camera.the canon 5d mark 111 is solid as a rock.i wiped it clean with a mild,damp cloth and dried it when i got back to my gallery.i covered the camera and lens as best i could but it’s not air tight and you go get some leaks.one of the hazards of the game.

[@bikram9492]

Can anyone help me with the name of the painter that he was talking about..some karaberzo. pardon my spelling mistake

[@aquilifergroup]

carravagio?

[@UniverseFlier]

what a cool dude

[@fotochico6196]

Cool

[@absolute1020]

I don't agree with him that 50 is too tele for the street, just look at the distortion by the edge of those 21 and 28, I'm not saying there's anything wrong with the 21 and 28. Getting close and 50mm has no conflict at all

[@sagepandini]

No influence by Elliott Erwitt?

[@melchiordigiacomo4989]

I’VE BEEN INFLUENCED BY EVERY VIAUAL ARTIST I’VE EVER SEEN.FROM FRENCH CAVE PAINTINGS TO DAVID BURNETT THEY ALL TEACH ME SOMETHING.

[@sagepandini]

Thanks for that. He's my hero.

[@bbilmem]

please add subtitles in English?

[@26ymcmb86]

i think he's behind the times to be honest. Kids on instagram are killin the game.

[@26ymcmb86]

Matteo Prezioso lol k

[@hotcrossbones]

If you say use a 21mm then I'll use a 35, 50, 85, and 135mm.....I have NO desire to take the SAME photos street photographers have been taking forever.

[@mr.oppenthunder2527]

35 till I die

[@JuanCalderon54]

I was about to watch the video when the speaker belittled Los Angeles, thinking New York is so great. That's when I stopped.

[@ecksluss]

Juan Calderon Don't cry.

[@miamiredbird]

1 Hour to edit 1 pic ? So he didnt get it right in camera..........

[@melchiordigiacomo4989]

IF YOU DON’T THINK THE MASTERS DIDN’T WORK WITH DODGING,BURNING,CROPPING,BLEACHING,TONING ETC.YOU HAVEN’T BEEN DOING YOUR HOME WORK.STEIGLITZ,OUR FATHER OF PHOTOGRAPHY, ONCE CROPPED A HORIZONTAL TO A VERTICAL. PITY THIS GENIUS DIDN’T GET IT RIGHT IN THE CAMERA.

[@JorgeLetria]

Melchior DiGiacomo Henri Cartier-Bresson had this terrible habit of making big statements on how photography "should be made". The "get it right in the camera" is just an echo of his thoughts. I love the masters and I admire and study their work, but that doesn't grant any of them the right to dictate how other people should practice their art. Loved the talk, thanks for the enormous privilege.

[@JohannesLabusch]

+miamiredbird Snarky comment using a cheap cliché? So you didn't even look at the results he got...............

[@splootan]

Good pics! but not very ''modest'' os he lol but I guess he is Italian that explains it.

[@AgnostosGnostos]

He should have explained some technical things about composition, camera settings and lenses he used in every photograph. He is funny but a little lazy to explain the technical matters.

[@JorgeLetria]

Teaching photography technical bases isn't what he's here to do... The point was to expose his work and the creative drive behind it and he spent one hour and a half doing it marvellously. And you get to watch it for free, so to call him lazy for missing your misguided expectations is an unfair and tasteless thing to do.

[@slyarsenal]

That's because he has no compositional direction or purpose. His photos are very ordinary tbh. Look at Henri Cartier-Bresson and that is a proper master of photography. Enough said!