The best of our street photography tips includes the marriage of stylistic, compositional and artistic perfection, coupled with a sense that the photographer has captured the moment quite by chance. Clearly, luck has has a part to play in it, depending on what’s happening on your streets. But if you’re looking to improve your chances, these tips can help you get just that little bit luckier!
Tip #1–You Make Want to Stake the Street Out!
There’s no substitute for getting out and padding the streets if you want to see where the action is at. And knowing where the action is likely to be is half of the battle with street photography. Chances are you might find a daily activity that might be worth capturing.
Tip #2–Be Discreet
There’s an intimacy to great street photos which sometimes makes you wonder how on earth the snapper plucked up the courage to intrude on the moment by whipping out his camera. But some of the time, the chances are that nobody even saw him, so be careful. You want to avoid being offensive, and getting to close to someone’s space. Hide your camera from view until the last second, don’t loiter, and don’t stare, and you’ll be amazed how life’s little plays will unfold themselves around you, just waiting for you to release the shutter.
Tip #3–Be aware of Your Backgrounds
Not everything happens in front of you; you may only have a second to make your move. The next time when you’re out on the streets, instead of just focusing on picking out your subjects, try to find a background that you think looks interesting and wait your time until somebody walks on through it. Maybe you could frame them against an interesting poster, or coming through a doorway. A good background will elevate your images.
Tip #4–Keep Your Shutter Speed Fast
The great thing about the street is that it’s always in a perpetual kind of motion. But as our previous tips on shutter speed article explains, you’re going to need a fast shutter speed if you want to freeze all of that motion. So, for best results, keep your shutter speed at 125sec. or faster for blur-free documentary shots.
Tip #5–The Street Might Not Always Be The Street
The last in our roundup of street photography tips might seem a little strange – but the street is not always the best place for street photography! Think about other places where people do their own thing – fairgrounds, boardwalks, piers, zoos, sports games and parks are all great places to catch people in the act of being themselves. Above all the thing to remember is to stick with it, practice, and review your images carefully to see what worked and what didn’t. And give yourself a chance by getting out there plenty and just doing it!
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