Street Photography with kit lens

[Ash.]

I'm going to up north for a week , 3 nights stay in Edinburgh, 1 day to Stirling and 1 night stay in Newcastle. will be giving street photography a try, as well as normal tourism.

prime lenses lets you know the framing before you raise the camera. so it's a case of raise and hit the shutter button. you can achieve the same with a zoom by not touching the zoom ring.

18-55mm kit lens is actually very good because it is shortest at 35mm, and that's a perfect starting place. I tried street photography with 24-105mm L lens, failed very badly. if I whip it out too quick, the lens extends. at default position it's too wide at 24mm on full frame.

I'm sorry, but that's a ridiculous statement.

I think I get what you're trying to say, in that there is only one focal length so only one option for framing. But it takes a lot of time shooting with one focal length to be able to instantly know where the frame lines will be before putting it to your eye

Primes may usually be used because they're usually quick. EG, the 50/1.8 is common because you can get the aperture nice and wide which allows for a quick shutter, and sharp photo. It also separates the subjects from the background due to the DOF. This is the way I like to do it.

Primes are small, light, and more discreet, that's the benefit of using them for street.

seldom do I shoot anything less than f5.6 on the street.

forget kit, get out there and shoot. Seek emotion, seek interest, be aware of the environment the shot is in, and learn to work magic

wise words

Set your zoom to 18mm and tape it there. 28mm equiv. is a pretty good focal length for street work.

I agree, 28 is my prefered length now that I've started shooting 35mm film. 50mm (or 50mm equiv on crop) is too tight IMO, but it's a good focal length to start of with if you're not confident with getting in close

 

[Forbiddenbiker]

Main advantage a short lens has..(apart from a primes added clarity and speed) ...and Id assume this is why its a favorited length for most street togs. Is because of the total dominance and flexibility a short lens provides when making composition. ..even the smallest zoom limits your choices by massive amounts as your stuck with their field of view from a fixed position ...you could run about like a mad thing, or you could choose a short lens and get in closer increasing your framing choices dramatically.

Get their early... give yourself time to get in phase with the street, be one with it, chat to some workers etc. ...street is easier if you get in to bed with it. ...no really!

 

[wyx087]

I'm sorry, but that's a ridiculous statement.

I think I get what you're trying to say, in that there is only one focal length so only one option for framing. But it takes a lot of time shooting with one focal length to be able to instantly know where the frame lines will be before putting it to your eye

it only takes a few practice shots to know working distance and frame lines. the point I'm making is shooting at a fixed focal length allows the photographer to be more discreet by framing with their eyes, and only raise the camera in the last moment to record the image.


regarding focal length choices, it will depend on how busy the streets are. walking in Hyde park where there's hardly any people within 5 meters, I found 85mm to be great. walking into the packed Winter Wonderland, I found even 35mm to be too narrow.

 

[ernesto]

There is no need for low apertures and an 18-55 is hardly any bigger than a 28 or 35 prime. Having used primes and 18-55 I prefer the short zoom.

 

[birrew]

Thanks guys, really looking forward to this, ill get some pictures posted up as soon as possible

 

[seriousrikk]

Good bound to get a few good photo's.....hoping the german market is going to be busy over the 3 or 4 days ill be in edinburgh

If you go an a Saturday or Sunday the markets will be so busy you'll be lucky to be able to raise your camera while inside the German market. When I went last year there was absolutely no room to move near the stalls.

 

[birrew]

will be there friday night and most likely saturday morning

 

[gm43uk]

I'm just back from a trip to Edinburgh. Didn't do much photography although I did try shooting from the hip - got lots of pics of the ground.

One thing worth noting though, the sun came out when I was there and it was very low and very bright causing some very contrasty lighting. if you faced south it was almost at eye level and blinding.

But what are the chances of the sun appearing twice in the same month in Scotland

 

[birrew]

I'm just back from a trip to Edinburgh. Didn't do much photography although I did try shooting from the hip - got lots of pics of the ground.

One thing worth noting though, the sun came out when I was there and it was very low and very bright causing some very contrasty lighting. if you faced south it was almost at eye level and blinding.

But what are the chances of the sun appearing twice in the same month in Scotland

lets hope its not total clear skys then to help break up the sun abit