Advice on 'street photography'

[BlackDE]

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I have never really done this. I have never really walked up to strangers and took a photograph. What should I watch out for in general? Should I ask permission? Or should I even pay some small money? And for the technical part, should I pre-focus? Or anything else?

 

Please give me your advice and let me know how I could start with 'street photography'.

 

Many thanks.

Bernhard

[azzo]

Many end up just taking snaps of normal slices of life of no real interest. ...

The important thing to do, is to learn to seperate that from the good street photo opportunities. ...

There's no way about it but to look, study and shoot. ...

 

People might be offended or think you're crazy if you were to offer money, so I would be careful.

I also believe that 'street photography' is in you or not. Time only can tell.

 

My quick 2c. Sorry. ...

Edited March 2, 2012 by azzo

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[Lindolfi]

Just a few quick notes:

 

1] if I feel I need to do something in return, it is not money, but PfP, or Posing for Pictures. I always carry cards, so that people can e-mail me later on.

 

2] Street photography usually does not involve preparing the shoot with posing etc. But it can be nice to have had some eye contact or smiles exchanged. It gives some more ease and time.

 

3] It is important to pick up signals from people if they don't want to be photographed. If you see those signals, don't take the picture.

 

4] As for preparing camera settings: very important, especially when the time window is very short in which to expect some action or scene

 

Here you can find some of my street photography:

 

Lindolfi's 365 PhotoBlog Overview

[bill]

I predict this thread will run and run...

 

You may find this helpful: Rangefound: The Invisible Man in the Street

 

or this: Rangefound: The Indecisive Moment

 

To answer your specific questions:

 

Q. What should I watch out for in general?

A. Anything and everything. People, mostly. Look out for coincidences and juxtapositions, for things that catch your eye and make you smile. Look for details and for the big picture. Watch out for your safety as well.

 

Q.Should I ask permission?

A. That's up to you and your personality. I never do. I prefer to capture life as I find it. If I ask, then I am taking an environmental portrait and that isn't what floats my boat. Others will say that you should always ask. Neither is right or wrong per se, but do remember that in general (and it varies by country) people do not own copyright in their own images and if they are in a public place they can have no expectation of privacy. Never be rude, never allow yourself to be intimidated or bullied and don't under any circumstances hand over your camera, film or memory card to anyone.

 

Q. Or should I even pay some small money?

A. No. Never.

 

Q. And for the technical part, should I pre-focus?

A. Yes. But then "tune" your focus as you start to capture an image.

 

Q. Or anything else?

A. There are two pieces of advice I would give. Firstly, get to know your equipment like the back of your hand. Get to the point where you can adjust settings for aperture, shutter speed and focus before you raise it to your eye. Standardise if possible. I always use Kodak 400 CN and I rely upon Sunny-16. I prefocus and previsualise and tailor the three variables (aperture, speed, focus) only if I have time. Secondly, get out there. Have your camera in your hand not in your bag or pocket. Take the shot. Don't hold back. Don't look as if you are nervous or you will communicate that nervousness to your subjects. Be confident and in control. Start in an environment that is thick with tourists and with other people carrying and using cameras. Learn to blend in. Oh, and invest in a decent pair of shoes...

 

Street is not for everybody but it is fun, a great way of familiarising yourself with your environment and of making friends. I take myself off occasionally with my camera and a pocket full of film and just wander about. Sometimes I snap while walking, sometimes I position myself and let the shots come to me - either hunting or fishing, either yields results. Above all, enjoy it. Stop for a coffee, change film or review your shots and relax.

 

Hope this helps. You will get a wealth of advice on this subject. What works for me may not necessarily work for you but read everything and take the bits that suit you and build from there.

 

Regards,

 

Bill

[Paul J]

Take your camera with you everywhere. Shoot pictures if you feel something, don't second look or analyse. The more you do it the more natural and confident you become with the camera and the easier it to photograph, talk and interact with to people. The more you do it the more you adapt and learn.

 

I generally don't ask permission. Most people don't even know I'm taking it. If they do, then I find the best asset in street photography is a friendly smile.

[wda]

Street photography is so much more than just 'poking a camera in someone's face'. That aspect has never appealed to me. Bill has given some excellent advice above.

 

I enjoy engaging with people, usually after my first candid photography attempts. It is the exception to my rule. I do so only if I am genuinely intrigued by what they are doing and judge my approach will be welcome or not worse than indifferent!

 

Much of my street photography has nothing to do with people. The world is your oyster.

 

Don't spend too much time thinking or pontificating. Just get out there, often, and practice! And learn!

[Jeff S]

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Lots of good advice already. Besides working to become comfortable with the mechanics, the most important aspect is to develop your style of 'seeing,' not just your way of shooting.

 

Like any other photographic genre, deciding on b/w or color is but one key factor in your viewing approach. There are many types of street photography, and lots of ways for you to explore others' work to possibly help you determine your own niche. This site provides some examples.

 

Have fun...but if you're not, you won't be the first.

 

Jeff

[johnwolf]

Here are some suggestions that I like a lot: 2point8.

 

Other than what's there and in the posts above, you've just got to go do it.

 

Start with crowded areas where cameras are expected. You'll be surprised how uunoticed you are.

 

John

[Guest WPalank]

Start with a local ethnic street fair in your area. People WANT to be photographed in their colorful costumes.

Allso, parades. Show up early and go into the staging area where the different floats, bands, and dancers are organizing. I heave never been asked for a Press Pass and the people are dying to be noticed and photographed. Cut your chops there to start.

[lars_bergquist]

Will's advice is sound. 'Events' are not only more accessible, but also as a rule more interesting. I do not mean only organised events like street fairs, demonstrations, parades, performances (buskers do usually organise the space around them in interesting ways) but also the unforeseen or impromptu events.

 

Ordinary street life is usually very trivial – people with empty or harassed faces hurrying in different directions – and if it is interesting, it is very often dangerous.

 

The old photojournalist motto now reads: F:8, be there, and survive.

 

And yes: Love people. Not in general and in the abstract, but the people in front of you.

 

LB

[BlackDE]

Many end up just taking snaps of normal slices of life of no real interest. ...

The important thing to do, is to learn to seperate that from the good street photo opportunities. ...

There's no way about it but to look, study and shoot. ...

 

People might be offended or think you're crazy if you were to offer money, so I would be careful.

I also believe that 'street photography' is in you or not. Time only can tell.

 

My quick 2c. Sorry. ...

 

Your comments are very much appreciated, Ivan. Thx.

 

Bernhard

[BlackDE]

Just a few quick notes:

 

1] if I feel I need to do something in return, it is not money, but PfP, or Posing for Pictures. I always carry cards, so that people can e-mail me later on.

 

2] Street photography usually does not involve preparing the shoot with posing etc. But it can be nice to have had some eye contact or smiles exchanged. It gives some more ease and time.

 

3] It is important to pick up signals from people if they don't want to be photographed. If you see those signals, don't take the picture.

 

4] As for preparing camera settings: very important, especially when the time window is very short in which to expect some action or scene

 

Here you can find some of my street photography:

 

Lindolfi's 365 PhotoBlog Overview

 

Thank you for your comments. Bert. Very nice gallery, by the way.

 

Bernhard

[BlackDE]

I predict this thread will run and run...

 

You may find this helpful: Rangefound: The Invisible Man in the Street

 

or this: Rangefound: The Indecisive Moment

 

To answer your specific questions:

 

Q. What should I watch out for in general?

A. Anything and everything. People, mostly. Look out for coincidences and juxtapositions, for things that catch your eye and make you smile. Look for details and for the big picture. Watch out for your safety as well.

 

Q.Should I ask permission?

A. That's up to you and your personality. I never do. I prefer to capture life as I find it. If I ask, then I am taking an environmental portrait and that isn't what floats my boat. Others will say that you should always ask. Neither is right or wrong per se, but do remember that in general (and it varies by country) people do not own copyright in their own images and if they are in a public place they can have no expectation of privacy. Never be rude, never allow yourself to be intimidated or bullied and don't under any circumstances hand over your camera, film or memory card to anyone.

 

Q. Or should I even pay some small money?

A. No. Never.

 

Q. And for the technical part, should I pre-focus?

A. Yes. But then "tune" your focus as you start to capture an image.

 

Q. Or anything else?

A. There are two pieces of advice I would give. Firstly, get to know your equipment like the back of your hand. Get to the point where you can adjust settings for aperture, shutter speed and focus before you raise it to your eye. Standardise if possible. I always use Kodak 400 CN and I rely upon Sunny-16. I prefocus and previsualise and tailor the three variables (aperture, speed, focus) only if I have time. Secondly, get out there. Have your camera in your hand not in your bag or pocket. Take the shot. Don't hold back. Don't look as if you are nervous or you will communicate that nervousness to your subjects. Be confident and in control. Start in an environment that is thick with tourists and with other people carrying and using cameras. Learn to blend in. Oh, and invest in a decent pair of shoes...

 

Street is not for everybody but it is fun, a great way of familiarising yourself with your environment and of making friends. I take myself off occasionally with my camera and a pocket full of film and just wander about. Sometimes I snap while walking, sometimes I position myself and let the shots come to me - either hunting or fishing, either yields results. Above all, enjoy it. Stop for a coffee, change film or review your shots and relax.

 

Hope this helps. You will get a wealth of advice on this subject. What works for me may not necessarily work for you but read everything and take the bits that suit you and build from there.

 

Regards,

 

Bill

 

Thanks a million for your detailed answers, Bill. These really help me.

 

Bernhard

[BlackDE]

Lots of good advice already. Besides working to become comfortable with the mechanics, the most important aspect is to develop your style of 'seeing,' not just your way of shooting.

 

Like any other photographic genre, deciding on b/w or color is but one key factor in your viewing approach. There are many types of street photography, and lots of ways for you to explore others' work to possibly help you determine your own niche. This site provides some examples.

 

Have fun...but if you're not, you won't be the first.

 

Jeff

 

Thank you very much as well.

 

Bernhard

[BlackDE]

Here are some suggestions that I like a lot: 2point8.

 

Other than what's there and in the posts above, you've just got to go do it.

 

Start with crowded areas where cameras are expected. You'll be surprised how uunoticed you are.

 

John

 

Great. Thx.

 

Bernhard

[gjames9142]

Where to begin ? First, see how high the bar is. Have some idea of the work of the following: Andre Kertesz, Cartier-Bresson, Robert Klein,Helen Levitt, Tony Ray-Jones, Robert Frank, Gary Winogrand, Lee Friedlander, and look at the street work of Walker Evans (Many are Called). There are many more but that is a start. Winogrand rejected the term street photography. Most street photographs are dumb and fall into easy genres. I think most good photography has a larger ideas incorporated in it. There are all kinds of techniques but the main thing is to have conviction about what you are doing. I photographed in the street when I was young and was painfully shy and got nothing . I worked for years with cameras on a tripod, with no people. Recently I have been re-inventing myself as a street photographer, thanks to the M9. I am working in a single public space -- Toronto's provincial version of Times Square, and I think, after a year and a couple of thousand images, that I am starting to get something.

Geoffrey James - Governor General's Awards in Visual and Media Arts

[Peter H]

An idea maybe worth considering:

 

Go and spend a couple of hours or more if you can, in the place where you want to take photos, but without a camera. Just spend your time standing around and looking without the distraction of having to create a photo.

 

I know many say "just shoot, don't think too much", and that may be good advice for many.

 

But for others, having an idea of what you're doing, and why, can be incredibly helpful and inspiring, and yet it will only really work if it is your own idea rather than someone else's. And unless you are already sure of what you're up to, it will take time, and perhaps even a little thought!

 

Have fun.

[MarkP]

Where to begin ? First, see how high the bar is. Have some idea of the work of the following: Andre Kertesz, Cartier-Bresson, Robert Klein,Helen Levitt, Tony Ray-Jones, Robert Frank, Gary Winogrand, Lee Friedlander, and look at the street work of Walker Evans (Many are Called). There are many more but that is a start. Winogrand rejected the term street photography. Most street photographs are dumb and fall into easy genres. I think most good photography has a larger ideas incorporated in it. There are all kinds of techniques but the main thing is to have conviction about what you are doing. I photographed in the street when I was young and was painfully shy and got nothing . I worked for years with cameras on a tripod, with no people. Recently I have been re-inventing myself as a street photographer, thanks to the M9. I am working in a single public space -- Toronto's provincial version of Times Square, and I think, after a year and a couple of thousand images, that I am starting to get something.

Geoffrey James - Governor General's Awards in Visual and Media Arts

 

Geoffrey,

 

I enjoyed your gallery & video.

 

Thanks,

Mark

Edited March 3, 2012 by MarkP

[Guest Holy Moly]

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Hallo,

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[Messsucherkamera]

I would suggest the following -

 

1: Use a 28mm or a 35mm lens for your street photography. If you don't have either, shop around for a nice used 28mm f/2.8 elmarit. They can be bought for around $950US. A more economical but not wide angle alternative would be the 50mm f/2.8 elmar which can be had for $500-600US.

 

2: Get CLOSE to your subjects. If you are photographing a single subject, get close enough so that the subject occupies 1/3 to 1/2 of the space in your frame lines. This will create images with visual impact.

 

3: Watch your frame lines. Don't cut off parts of your subject's hands, feet, ears, head, etc.

 

4: Cropping off parts of the body works if you do it at the 1/4, 1/2 or 3/4 lines of the body (knees, waist, chest).

 

5: Experiment with both shallow depth of field and hyperfocal depth of field. See which you like best.

 

6: Experiment with slow shutter speeds - subjects blurred by their own movement can be interesting. Try bracing against a solid object and hand holding your camera with no support. See which result appeals to you.

 

7: Don't neglect doing some street shooting at night, especially at fairs, carnivals and festivals.

Edited March 4, 2012 by Messsucherkamera