Table of Contents
Try to work out what makes people tick.
Photographers often spend time observing people in the street, looking at their expressions and movements. They want to find out about people, what makes them happy and sad, who they are and how they react in different situations. If you’re interested in this sort of photography, the best way to approach strangers is to ask questions. Ask about their work, where they are from, and what they do. You’ll be surprised what you can find out from someone, just by asking.
Focus on the subject.
The best photographers focus their camera on the subject. It might mean that they have to get up close, or position themselves in a particular place, but they’ll capture the best shots if they’re paying attention to the details. When photographing strangers, make sure you’re aware of your surroundings. Try to notice how people move, how they act and how they look at you. Focus on the person you’re photographing and remember that their expression, body language and gestures can reveal a great deal about who they are.
Observe the surroundings.
Find a suitable spot to photograph the subject, somewhere interesting to observe and photograph. If you’re walking around, look at the environment. Find a spot that’s not busy and has the best vantage point. Keep an eye on people nearby, to see if they are acting strangely or behaving in an unusual way.
Choose your moment.
Choose the right moment to take a picture. You may need to get the timing right. You can use the flash on your camera to lighten the background or take your pictures in low light. Try not to photograph people in the act of doing something. You can use movement to make the subject stand out. You might be able to include a crowd in a group shot.
Remember that you’re in a public place.
If you are taking photographs of people, remember that you are in a public place and you must abide by the law. You can’t take pictures of someone without permission and you should always ask first. If you do take a photo, ask the subject to pose for it and don’t take photos without asking.
Ask before taking a picture.
Before taking a picture of a stranger, ask them first if they would mind being photographed. If you want to take a picture of someone’s child, ask the parent or guardian if they would mind and make sure the child knows it’s OK.
Take advantage of the natural light.
If the weather is fine, you may be able to take pictures outside in the sunlight. Remember, however, that it’s still daylight savings and the light may not be as bright as usual.
Find the right light.
Street photography is most often taken on a sunny day. When you are looking for interesting lighting, consider the time of day, weather, and location. Try to shoot at midday when the sun is high in the sky. A good rule of thumb is to find a place where there are people and cars, but not too much activity. This will give you plenty of scope for shooting and will enable you to frame the picture.
Don’t take too many pictures at once.
Street photography requires you to take lots of shots, and each shot should be perfect. So, it is best to take your time and practice before going out. Before taking the photo, try a few different angles until you are satisfied with the composition. For example, if you’re taking a close-up of a woman’s face, try various positions – for example, one with her head slightly tilted up, another with her head tilted down.
Keep the camera steady.
In street photography, it is very important to hold your camera steady and to use a tripod when possible. If you don’t have a tripod, ask a nearby person to hold the camera for you. The light meter in your camera will read the light from the surrounding environment and adjust the exposure accordingly. If the light meter doesn’t work properly, take a photo of the scene with another camera and then compare the two pictures. The light meter will usually do a better job of exposing the scene than the camera you are holding in your hands.
Sometimes The rule of thirds is not applicable.
It is very important to know which part of the image you are focusing on. If you don’t, it will not be interesting to look at. This is because your subject will fill the entire frame. So, if you want a beautiful, colorful image, put the focus on the left side of the image and the right side will have more dull colors.
When you take a picture of the scene, make sure that the focus is not on a face. Faces are distracting and can ruin the composition. If you want to take pictures of a face, you can try asking the person to smile and have a little fun.
Shoot with a wide-angle lens.
Shooting with a wide-angle lens gives you a lot of freedom. You can shoot from almost any angle and still get a beautiful view of the scenery. If you prefer to use a longer lens, you will need to zoom in.
Take a few pictures with your phone.
If you want to experiment with your camera, try taking a few photos with your phone. You will get a feel for the camera, and will be able to see whether it is working for you. It will also give you some practice in using your phone as a camera.
Remember, you don’t need expensive equipment to take great street photography. You just need to practice, and a great place to start is with your smartphone.