Street photography basics with basic kit.

Vantage

Vantage

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Roger
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Hi everyone!

I’m currently living in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and a complete amature with photography. But the streets are the heart and soul of this city. All I have with me is a Nikon D40 and 18mm – 55mm kit lens. There is no chance, at the moment, to buy any add-ons to this as it cost so much to get here in the first place. So any advice you knowledgeable people could give me on the following would be a great help.

Is there an optimum setting for the D40 that would help me take better photos in the streets?

I have taken my camera out and about but, I become very paranoid that I may upset people when I take a photo. I hear one way to do it is approach people and ask. If they say no then don’t take the pic. How do you approach this problem? As I see it it’s not always practical as the moment your saw would be gone. Would you just take it anyway?

Is there a method to taking street photography. Angles, overexposing, shutter speeds vs aperture, shooting from the hip? What makes a great street photo?

And finally what’s the best time of the day get out there. In Vietnam the sun is very high and the city is very polluted. Most of the day is just a blown out sky - any advice here?.

Cheers

Vantage:cool:
 
View attachment 2448 Hi Roger boy I envy you right now. I love street photography and in far away places make it that much better. I just got back from south east Asia. I was in the Philippines, Bangkok and Cambodia. Depending on where you are at the locals might or might not like you taking there picture. Find out first so you don't upset anyone. I found it can be very different from place to place. Everyone has their opinions on how to do street photography so I will give you mine. First off, to me S.P. is candid therefore asking someone to take their picture completely useless. (again my opinion). I generally use a long lens(70-200) and stand off to the side. the first thing I do is find interesting backgrounds. Backgrounds with nice colors and or patters. Once I have picked my spot I will wait for a subject to walk through and grab the shot. Example,,


Try to stay away from shooting boring people on the streets. Just because they are on the streets and you shoot them doesn't make it S.P. It is still an art so try not to stray to far from the art.

Also, If you are in a situation where you need to ask someone if you can take their pic and they say no, By all means do not take that shot. You are there to have fun and fighting with a stranger is not all that fun.

I preset my camera with aperture priority (most of the time) at around f3.5 but I will move it around depending on what is around me. I will take a few test shots of people walking away from me to check my dof and make sure I have enough shutter speed. This is an easy way to make sure you are ready when the time arrives to shot.

As far as angles, lines and so on there really is no difference in S.P vs other photography when it comes to this point. A good leading line can give the street shot the wow factor as fast as it can give any other shot. So look for leading lines where you can find them, use the side walk or wall next to it. Take a knee to give a better lower angle shot for effect. All the things that make up good shots can be applied here as well.

Here is a shot that that I saw these yellow painted lines in the street and had to get a picture of them. At first I was just shooting it with no subject other than the lines but then a pretty women walked into view and bamm, I got my shot. It's not great but it is an example none the less.

I have some street work on flickr if you want to get some more ideas. Here is that shot with the girl and the lines.View attachment 2446 View attachment 2447
 
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Most people will think you are taking pics of the surroundings- buildings, views, etc.- so will not be aware that you are looking at them.
...unless you track them!
I also tend to use a longer lens when doing street photography. 55mm should be just long enough for full length shots.
Moving in closer for head shots I would ask permission first.
 
Google "Thomas Leuthard", he has 3 free to download books. I must say that I don't personally agree with his philosophy wholesale but the books are still interesting. Read them for yourself, do your own thing with that knowledge...

Please post your pics on TP (I like what I see already)
 
You've got a great camera combo capable of almost all shots but their is no setting for anything until the moment.

Take your time, do whatever's comfortable, feel your way into you own comfort zone and shoot shots that appeal to you for a reason, rather than desperately trying stuff that makes you uncomfortable and likely producing shots with no real intent subject wise.

Their is no method, their is every method, methods do not make street photography the subject matter does...if you can see it but can't photograph it, your using the wrong method...arf.

Light sounds like your biggest problem, hazy soft-box light can be useful in that your shadows might be minimal, but its uninspiring generally isn't it, I'd suggest you find the best time of day when the light brings the most contrast, possibly just as the day breaks? dunno.
 
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Look for a nice backdrop wait for an interesting subject and shoot, keep your camera to your eye as the subject passes that way it doesn't look like they were your main interest. #just sayin :thumbs:
 
^^^^^^^^^:):agree:
 
Vantage said:
Hi everyone!

I’m currently living in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and a complete amature with photography. But the streets are the heart and soul of this city. All I have with me is a Nikon D40 and 18mm – 55mm kit lens. There is no chance, at the moment, to buy any add-ons to this as it cost so much to get here in the first place. So any advice you knowledgeable people could give me on the following would be a great help.

Is there an optimum setting for the D40 that would help me take better photos in the streets?

I have taken my camera out and about but, I become very paranoid that I may upset people when I take a photo. I hear one way to do it is approach people and ask. If they say no then don’t take the pic. How do you approach this problem? As I see it it’s not always practical as the moment your saw would be gone. Would you just take it anyway?

Is there a method to taking street photography. Angles, overexposing, shutter speeds vs aperture, shooting from the hip? What makes a great street photo?

And finally what’s the best time of the day get out there. In Vietnam the sun is very high and the city is very polluted. Most of the day is just a blown out sky - any advice here?.

Cheers

Vantage:cool:
Click to expand...
Hi mate hows it going?

Would you like to double team with me and do a day or half a day shooting in ho chi minh in a few weeks time? im going to visit vietnam from the 17th of this month and will stop over in ho chi minh end of this month/early next month.

edit: i could have a field day on those sorts of conditions! let me know mate and just send me a pm and we can organise. You can show me around too!
 
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