Shooting street photography

woody12

woody12

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Good day to you all, with a new year just started I want to try new things and would love to try a good at street photography. Has anybody got an sites, influences or tips to get me started. I have a 35mm 1.8 lens, is this a good lens to work with? Also got a 55-300 lens which I use for wildlife. Hate studio set up people portraits this doesn't excite me at all. But seeing people going about their life's some shots can tell a story and not sure the best way to start without looking stupid. I have a good understanding of the camera with regards settings and focus it's more the creative side but know this should come naturally and can't be taught as a rule. Just want to try my hand at something radically different to landscapes and nature which I enjoy but new year new skills.
 
I went through a street phase but heres my experience, I am sure someone can say something better.

35mm would be fine as is a 50mm but leave the zooms, they make your photograph feel disjointed, I like the 35 and 50 because people feel they are standing right there. I believe when it comes to street photography you need to get up and close with your subject, well you will have to at 35mm.

A lot of street is candids so turn your beeps and AF assist lights off. You don't want to draw attention, lose your camera strap leave and the mountains of other equipment at home; camera, batteries, memory cards and one or two lenses is sufficient.

You don't want to miss opportunities so sitting in the full manual program isn't going to help you out if you aren't that proficient. A semi-automatic mode or even the program mode would probably be more helpful and will make sure you get the shot.

Weigh up the characters in your scene and if they are likely to bludgeon you with your own camera, I found that has helped in the past but certainly don't hide away. It's creepy and makes people feel threatened.

and the number one lesson. WEAR COMFORTABLE SHOES!

Edit: I know we are blessed with digital cameras but be choosy with your shutter finger, machine gunning your shutter is a no. I like to imagine I have 36 exposures on my memory card and go and take 36 photos before taking a break to review over a coffee.
 
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I think it would be good for you to establish what your interpretation of 'street' will be.
Ideally it will be shots of interactions between people and their surroundings, sometimes interesting, sometimes, tragic ... sometimes funny ...


Reminiscing by photogramps, on Flickr



Many people like 'street candids' where the focus is more on a person in the street, rather than necessarily involving interaction with the surroundings ...


The Fair Sax by photogramps, on Flickr



I personally enjoy this type of work but beware, the 'street police' will chastise you for not being 'really street' ... just enjoy yourself if you like that format :)



People you shoot vary a lot, some are really friendly ...


I See You by photogramps, on Flickr



Others could make you worry a little ...





Others will present you with a 'fun' combination shot ...





I have used a 24mm f1.4 and a 70-200 f2.8 but my most used is the 24-120 f4 'walkabout' lens - I have no hangups about using a zoom, it helps me frame the photo I want at the time.
I think that the most important thing is, if you are spotted give a big friendly smile - if approached offer to show them the image and even send them a copy if you feel that's appropriate - I've sold images to relatives of some of the subjects from my street/candid work.

For many people 'street' means gritty mono images with disjointed parts of people and buildings/objects - it doesn't mean that to me ... I'm not saying I'm right or they are wrong, I'm just saying that I do what I like for my 'street' photography and I suggest that you do the same, experiment, see what you enjoy doing and do it ... for you it may be the gritty mono images but remember, unless you are shooting to an itinerary or a brief, you can express yourself in the way you want to and can essentially, please yourself. :)
 
Thanks Jin really helpful comments thanks for taking time to reply and advise. Gramps loving your shots especially the last, once again helpful and gives me some ideas to start. Just worried about shoving a lens in some poor buggers eye and upsetting them. Tact and a friendly smile is needed I think.
 
I think most of the basics are covered above by Jin and gramps. If you do a Google search you can find loads of guides and articles covering street photography some are very useful, others just reinforce what was mentioned here.
 
John Messingham said:
I have not done much street photography but have a half day in Glasgow planned this week to try and build on what I have read and been told.
Click to expand...

Excellent, please post up some of your results :)
 
I tend to use an 18-55 zoom plus 23mm F1.4 & 35mm F1.4 on Fuji,or just take out my Fuji 100s :)
 
I did a street photo course a couple of months back. One of the useful tips taught was just to walk through a crowd of people with the camera to your eye and shoot away. Because you've already got the camera raised, somehow people perceive that you already "own" the space and tend not to be intimidated or hostile. Sounds weird but it works! Also just ask if you can take shots, surprisingly most people say yes, especially if you throw in a compliment " I liked your hairstyle/coat/look, you look really cool, this is going to make a great picture". etc

I used a 24-105 lens btw and found that was fine.
 
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boogie man said:
I did a street photo course a couple of months back. One of the useful tips taught was just to walk through a crowd of people with the camera to your eye and shoot away. Because you've already got the camera raised, somehow people perceive that you already "own" the space and tend not to be intimidated or hostile. Sounds weird but it works! Also just ask if you can take shots, surprisingly most people say yes, especially if you throw in a compliment " I liked your hairstyle/coat/look, you look really cool, this is going to make a great picture". etc

I used a 24-105 lens btw and found that was fine.
Click to expand...

Works very well its one of the method i use,when i am out say for the day i do end up talking to a lot of people :)
 
I went walkabout in Barcelona with a 24-70 on full frame. I wished for my 70-200 sometimes. I normally shoot birds or motorbikes so this was a totally new experience for me as I had no idea what to expect. I was more into buildings rather than people and 70mm was definitely too short. Didn't get many keepers but learnt a lot.
 
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