Street Photography Tips
There's a lot that goes into successful street photography. I'll try to open up a few subjects, for your consideration.
Awareness and Focus
I'm in a zone when I street shoot. I'm looking for slices of life, expressive moments, odd juxtapositions, funny scenes, interesting people. I'm totally focused on the scene, I'm part of it as I'm walking through it. Constantly watching, looking, peering, seeing. In my opinion, you cannot "street shoot" in 15 minutes. For me, it takes me a while to get "in the zone," and then once there, I hope for the best - I've said it before that we make our own luck by being there. Others have said "f/8 and be there!" -- same concept. So when I'm in the zone, I hope that I find some of the above criteria met - and I usually do, but some days I have to look harder than others. make mental note as you ply your streets... there's a shot I'd been wanting for months, but i was never near this "standpipe" when someone was sitting on it... well, patience paid off and I got it.
What makes this shot for me, is the indifference of the subject (hey, i'm just sittin' here, reading my newspaper...), his reflection, and the reflection of the cab. And of course, the irony of the "sitting" on the "stand" pipe....
People in Context
People shots are great, and I live for my street portraits. I really try to put people in context. So, rather than tight up to the cab driver, I waited weeks to find the right cabby (facial and other "attitude" character), the right light, and the right scene (again, I had this shot in my mental inventory before i even took it.
What works for me here is the fairly wide angle view of the street, the cab and the Waldorf-Astoria... and the absolute cooperation of the subject. I simply told him "hey, you look great, may I take your photograph? This was a one-shot-shoot, I popped in a little fill flash to get some twinkle, chatted him up a bit, asked him his name (Henri), shot, smiled, thanked him, gave him my card and was on my way all in less than a minute or two.
More "in context" and one of my favorite street portraits, is the "suit seller" who actually approached me first trying to lure me inside the men's store to buy a suit... I stopped, did a button-hook, and went right up to him... "hey, you look great here, in front of your store like this, may I take your photograph?"
Again, what works for me here is the absolute clarity of subject/environment, it's clear that he's in front of men's clothes for sale. I adore his expression, and his eyes. This shot is on my wall. In this gallery you'll find many more examples of people in context. Take a look at the chess players, for an example of some street people that i spent quite a bit of time with, they became comfortable with me, and i shot them up without disturbing their games.
Confidence
Street shooting requires confidence.. *you* are doing nothing wrong, so don't sneak around! Put away that tele, and stick a fifty or thirty-five on your DSLR, or set your digicam's zoom to the wider end of things, and see the scene "normally," up close and personaly. This may be strange for some of you, but I assure you it gets easier after your initial trepidation wears off. The worst that can happen is people say "no, I don't want my photo taken," and so you smile and move on! The wider angles offer so much more to the viewer in my opinion, that they're worth the extra effort in becoming more comfortable ...
Readiness
Learn your camera's controls, shoot in a way that let's you shoot quickly! I'm always pre-set for the most part (choice of iso, aperture) and I typically shoot in aperture priority mode. I also learn the hyperfocal distances of my lenses, so that I can shoot comfortable within a distance range. Watch the lighting, which can change by 8 or 9 stops just by turning a corner! It's really important to have all your senses focused on the job at hand. Maybe that's why i have to stop for food and starbucks so much
Attitude
If you have a confident attitude, learn your camera inside and out, focus on the lighting, the scenes, have a mental inventory of shots you want, put people in context, show an interest in your subjects, and work swiftly and politely, you'll be rewarded with good people shots and street photos.
Enjoy Street Photography.
Awareness and Focus
I'm in a zone when I street shoot. I'm looking for slices of life, expressive moments, odd juxtapositions, funny scenes, interesting people. I'm totally focused on the scene, I'm part of it as I'm walking through it. Constantly watching, looking, peering, seeing. In my opinion, you cannot "street shoot" in 15 minutes. For me, it takes me a while to get "in the zone," and then once there, I hope for the best - I've said it before that we make our own luck by being there. Others have said "f/8 and be there!" -- same concept. So when I'm in the zone, I hope that I find some of the above criteria met - and I usually do, but some days I have to look harder than others. make mental note as you ply your streets... there's a shot I'd been wanting for months, but i was never near this "standpipe" when someone was sitting on it... well, patience paid off and I got it.
What makes this shot for me, is the indifference of the subject (hey, i'm just sittin' here, reading my newspaper...), his reflection, and the reflection of the cab. And of course, the irony of the "sitting" on the "stand" pipe....
People in Context
People shots are great, and I live for my street portraits. I really try to put people in context. So, rather than tight up to the cab driver, I waited weeks to find the right cabby (facial and other "attitude" character), the right light, and the right scene (again, I had this shot in my mental inventory before i even took it.
What works for me here is the fairly wide angle view of the street, the cab and the Waldorf-Astoria... and the absolute cooperation of the subject. I simply told him "hey, you look great, may I take your photograph? This was a one-shot-shoot, I popped in a little fill flash to get some twinkle, chatted him up a bit, asked him his name (Henri), shot, smiled, thanked him, gave him my card and was on my way all in less than a minute or two.
More "in context" and one of my favorite street portraits, is the "suit seller" who actually approached me first trying to lure me inside the men's store to buy a suit... I stopped, did a button-hook, and went right up to him... "hey, you look great here, in front of your store like this, may I take your photograph?"
Again, what works for me here is the absolute clarity of subject/environment, it's clear that he's in front of men's clothes for sale. I adore his expression, and his eyes. This shot is on my wall. In this gallery you'll find many more examples of people in context. Take a look at the chess players, for an example of some street people that i spent quite a bit of time with, they became comfortable with me, and i shot them up without disturbing their games.
Confidence
Street shooting requires confidence.. *you* are doing nothing wrong, so don't sneak around! Put away that tele, and stick a fifty or thirty-five on your DSLR, or set your digicam's zoom to the wider end of things, and see the scene "normally," up close and personaly. This may be strange for some of you, but I assure you it gets easier after your initial trepidation wears off. The worst that can happen is people say "no, I don't want my photo taken," and so you smile and move on! The wider angles offer so much more to the viewer in my opinion, that they're worth the extra effort in becoming more comfortable ...
Readiness
Learn your camera's controls, shoot in a way that let's you shoot quickly! I'm always pre-set for the most part (choice of iso, aperture) and I typically shoot in aperture priority mode. I also learn the hyperfocal distances of my lenses, so that I can shoot comfortable within a distance range. Watch the lighting, which can change by 8 or 9 stops just by turning a corner! It's really important to have all your senses focused on the job at hand. Maybe that's why i have to stop for food and starbucks so much
Attitude
If you have a confident attitude, learn your camera inside and out, focus on the lighting, the scenes, have a mental inventory of shots you want, put people in context, show an interest in your subjects, and work swiftly and politely, you'll be rewarded with good people shots and street photos.
Enjoy Street Photography.
0
Comments
What about model releases though...do you need them?
Thanks!
You've effectively (and eloquently) categorised 90% of the 'street photography' images posted here as being little more than snapshots, and unworthy of critical inclusion within the genre!
Amateurs walking along footpaths (sidewalks) waving cameras about are not street photographers per se, IMHO, even if they present the resulting images in monochrome!
Flickr
Smugmug
As I understand it, you should have a release or consent form for any images of recognizable individuals you intend for commercial release. It gets a little "gray area" if you cannot recognize the individual.
All of the agencies (Corbis, Getty, etc.) that I am aware of require a signed release form for the individual, signed by the individual or signed by a legal guardian.
Posting and selling images of minors is especially sensitive and you should be twice as careful and respectful of images of minors.
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
Surely it's what comes out of the box that matters, rather than the status of the operator and the exact technique(s) used?
pp
Flickr
However, it's said that if you put enough monkeys at enough typewriters, one of them will type the Bible! In the same way, if you wave a camera (any camera) around enough while walking down the street, a good street photograph could, theoretically, result. However, if you go about the process in a planned and deliberate way, the odds improve dramatically!
Think it was the generalised way 'amateur' was used in the original post that implied all members of this group used something other than an organised / thought through approach ... that caught my eye
pp
Flickr
Thank you for your wise advices, as hnjngo, I suffer the same "problem", I love the street photography side of things, but I find my self, many times, inhibiting my self of thanking that, very wanted, photo, "afraid" of the subject reaction, so my question to you is in line with hnjngo.
Once again, thank you very much for your collaboration!
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
In the text, he says 50mm or 35mm.
I love your shots, and the idea of having a plan in your head before going out is great. Thanks!
"They themselves are makers of themselves"
I've done a bit of NY street photography.
Some mixed into a couple of galleries here: http://ajl.smugmug.com/Street-Scenes
This is my first post on this site. I love all kinds of photography but street photography is probably my favorite. Like the lives they reflect some of those images can be a bit difficult to look at it.
Appreciate your post.
Please visit our Shots - Documentary forum, where Street and PhotoJournalism photography have a home.
You may also have an interest in the other forums of the Shots section too.
Feel free to visit the entire site and please do share. We have extremely talented people in these halls, sharing and learning too.
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
Here's my local rendition of "Humans of New York"
Humans of Nelson BC
www.photographyontheside.com [My blog about creating a part-time photography business]
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I am feeling rather shy to take a shot that close from a "stranger" especially if first I am not gonna explain him what I am shooting and why. I have lost many great shots lately because of that.
I find my case though to be kind of "special"
I live in Germany but I do not speak German (I am working in an English speaking university) so I was always wondering how I should handle that.
1. I try some simple German to introduce my self
2. I try only in English
Hardest part still would be though how to respond if someone expects from me to reply to him in German(especially if he gets angry)... What do you think I should do? I am willing though to take the "pain" and practice a bit my social skills.
Regards
Alex