First, let's be clear on what street photography is about. It is all about observing people so it is no different than say photojournalism. You don't make tones of money from Street Photography, and unfortunately in the West, you can even get arrested for just having a camera pointed at some place within the city. Cameraphobia as I call it, need only apply to big city places like London or New York. But sometimes the most obvious secrets are the ones that is most likely to be ignored. Don't Draw Attention to Yourself A rule that is often ignored as you lug that huge DSLR with a massive Zoom lens. People like to pretend to be some big shot photographer and become the target of thieves and police. This is not the way to do Street Photography. As much as possible, people should not know you're capturing pictures. Use a smaller camera and learn to blend in. Use Fixed Lenses For a change, be limited by your equipment and see how you can best adapt to that situation with a fixed lens camera. In the old days, a 50mm lens was called a standard lens and the preferred choice of all street photographers. HCB of Magnum was famous for this. So if he could do it, why can't you? Shoot from the Hip A lesser known method is to shoot from the Hip and with a fixed lens, it is so much easier. Shoot from the hip is precisely that, you trigger the shutter when you "feel" a picture is happening before you without peering down on your viewfinder. Some of the best pictures may not happen at eye level and you have to feel your way around it. Once you get accustomed to the field of view of a fixed lens, it becomes very easy for you estimate the length and depth of your subject. It is not a precise way of composition but the results are sometimes quite surprising. |