A plethora of genres reside within the photography repertoire, each with their own characteristics and followers. And like an Internet quiz to find out which Game of Thrones character you are, we can better distinguish them based on their looks, philosophies, and actions.
You’ll find the landscape photographers hiking various places around the world, in search of a new horizon to capture, tripods in tow, boots on feet; wedding photographers waking early in the morning, packing their bags, dressed to the nines, preparing for an eventful day; nature photogs lying peacefully on the ground or hunched against a tree, waiting patiently for their white whale, as crepuscular rays shine through the trees warming the dew around them; then you have the street runners, eyes darting around like some battle-worn soldier, their camera their weapon, shooting for the moments in life between the lines when people forget they’re on stage.
Today we’re going to focus on those urban dwellers, the ones who risk a confrontation for a good shot, and we’ll be letting you in on some tips to become better at it—or how to get your feet wet. And before we start, I feel I should present a disclaimer: This will not be easy, and it’s not for the faint of heart, for people do not typically like getting their picture taken unprompted and will let you know that immediately.
Check out our thoughts on how to become a street photographer below. We’re sure you’ll get something out of it.
What Equipment Should I Use?
Let’s start with the nitty-gritty, the foundation in which we build our work around: the lens. It’s true when people say quality is not completely dependent upon the camera or lens, but the person behind the equipment, though we can all agree that a good lens will go a long way. And while limiting yourself to street, finding one that fits for you is pretty important.
So first things first: to prime or not to prime?
If you’re not familiar with the term “prime”when referencing photography, then let me give you a quick crash course. A prime lens means there’s no zoom—the focal point is fixed. One might immediately think that carrying a zoom would be ultimately the better choice. I mean it makes sense, right? You’ll always have an option. But there are definitely advantages and disadvantages to both, so let’s look at a couple.
Technique – Knowing how you’re going to use the lens is one of the most intriguing aspects of photography, in my opinion. Think about it for second. If you’re walking around with a zoom lens, you are plenty aware that you’ll be able to capture a shot from standing at your exact spot, no matter the distance. You’ll look through the viewfinder, adjust the focal point accordingly, and click! You have it. But if your lens is fixed (prime), then the shot you envision may take some movement on your end. And each step you take has the potential to drastically alter your end product. A lot of people believe beginners should start with a prime, in order to feel out their camera, observe their surroundings, and not become dependent on a zoom, but it’s up to the photographer. Try both (through us!) and see what you think.
Cost – Money is most likely the ultimate factor when choosing one option over another. The thing is, especially concerning lenses; the cost factor isn’t so relevant anymore. Sure, a prime lens typically costs less due to the lack of parts needed to make it, but if one plays it smart, there’s always a way to find something cheap. If you have your heart set on a specific piece, go refurbished or even used. And before you let cost influence your decision, check out our guide on some of the best places to check out if looking for a good deal.
Portability – This goes both ways. A prime is going to weigh less, due to the sheer fact that it does not have to worry about other focal lengths (think: less parts), but if you want options, you might have to carry more than one prime at a time, or you could just carry around your zoom. The zoom essentially gives you multiple lenses in one casing, striking out your need to carry multiple lenses, but like I mentioned earlier, it could consequentially shorten your photographic vision by allowing versatility without the movement. A prime and zoom both have their advantages when it comes to convenience, so be sure to choose based on more than one factor.
When it’s all said and done, do yourself a favor and think about your technique before you hit the streets. If you’re searching for some personal portraits of some strangers, then you might not need that bigger zoom lens—carry a fixed 50 and be done with it. But if you would rather keep your distance, take along something capable of letting you stay further back away from your subject.
Think Of Your Shots
No matter what you do you’re always going to have critic. This is true with basically everything in life. But there are some things you could do while out shooting to help pacify some opinions.
First off, be aware of your backgrounds. I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve uploaded a photo for review and some commenter would rip it apart because of my background. Whether it is too bland, trees growing out of a subject’s head, diagonals contrasting with a shirt—you name it, someone will pick it to pieces. In order to avoid some critiques, choose wisely. Look around for designs you think would augment your shot, and stick around that area. Graffiti, intricate storefronts, appealing lines, and luminous designs—all of these are tools in a street photographer’s arsenal. Treat the city as a portrait photographer would their backdrop, and let your subjects come to you.
Not a bad shot, but it looks like this monk has some trees growing out of his head, does it not?
Shoot from the hip. If you’re nervous about people noticing you, then manually set your focus to 4-5ft feet ahead of you and start shooting away. You may not know exactly what you’re getting until you finally look at the results, but at least you’ll know they’re in focus, and people won’t be giving you wonky looks all day long.
Lastly, try different angles. Shoot from high and low. As most of us know from watching film and television, one forced perspective could change the entire meaning of an encounter—think a more dominant character being shot from below to emphasize height and power.
Be Bold
Mentioned earlier, it’s safe to say people aren’t completely keen on getting their picture taken unprompted. It’s hard to blame them, really, considering the street photographer is nothing more than a stranger. But that fact shouldn’t push you out of your passion. Know that to get the shot you want, you’re going to have to get close, and often. We mentioned zoom lens, but honestly which do you think would look stranger: a person carrying around a giant lens on the street, just so they could keep away from people, or something a little less conspicuous, while taking the chance and getting personal with your subjects.
More often than not, you’re not going to get approached, but if you do, there’s really no harm in obliging the person and deleting the photo. It is of course your every right to take a picture of someone on a public street, but, really, we’re all humans out there, so we should carry a little compassion with us, right?
So go out there and shoot!
Need a special camera or lens? Check out the awesome gear available to rent from locals on CameraLends!
