Street photography: thoughts + tips + analysis
When I’m out taking street photos I often notice the reflection of something before seeing the object that’s being reflected. This is because I’m always on the lookout for elements that bring something extra to a composition. Reflections usually bring symmetry: a quality that enhances photos by adding balance and harmony while helping to fill … Read more
I have a feeling that most people only glance at a photo, then move on to the next one unless something in it catches their eye. So what happens when the picture makes no sense? Will the onlooker be obliged to linger for a few seconds or turn away with a sigh of impatience? Either … Read more
I try every possible strategy to take candid pictures in the street. Sometimes I “work the scene” by finding a subject and concentrating on it for while; at other times I keep walking and take the occasional shot here and there. I’m always on the lookout, calculating the odds, trying to predict people’s movements, and … Read more
Colour is both the joy and bane of street photography. If you get it right you can make a great photo; get it wrong — which is all too easy — and your photo will be ruined. In that case your only option is to convert it to black and white. Digital photographers are burdened … Read more
If ever there was a “vexed question,” it’s this one. Time and again this subject comes up for discussion, not always in connection with street photography but with photography in general. I’ve read hundreds of comments in forums and I’ve taken note of what technical experts have to tell us about the topic and to … Read more
A sheet of plate glass less than an inch thick separates the life of the street from the life of the shop window. When window dressers change their display, they — and their display — become a potential subject for street photographers. Should we accept the challenge? You bet! Window dressing is a great subject, … Read more
As I’ve said approximately twenty times in these blog posts, “contrast” — in the broadest sense — lies at the heart of street photography. So here’s a potential theme with built-in contrast: domestic disputes set against a background of cheerful colours. Ironic, huh? Psychologists often talk about the influence of colour on our daily lives. … Read more
Cameras are magical instruments because of their potential. When you look at a brand new camera, just out of its box, you can imagine all the wonderful photos it may eventually take. You mind completes the equation. That’s why we’re all suckers for a new camera. Now here’s the thing: why not use this extraordinary … Read more
I’ve already written about the desirability of filling the frame in street photography (“Why It’s Good to Fill the Frame in Street Photography“) but on rereading the post I realise I didn’t explain how to do it. You can guess why. The reason is it’s really hard to fill the frame deliberately, and even harder … Read more
Is anything ordinary? Sometimes I look at the world and everything seems in some way exceptional or out-of-the-ordinary. I once looked at the large black telephone on my desk at work and felt as though I were seeing it for the first time, even though I’d used it every day for a year. Seeing the … Read more