Street Photography with kit lens

birrew

birrew

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I've been reading a lot of threads and looking at a websites on street photography which looks like a great genre in photography and as I'm only Half an hour from Edinburgh thought it would be great to try it

I'm aware of the moral sides of thing which I'm comfortable with but my problem is while reading these threads I've noticed that its mainly prime lens that are used
but will I get away with using my 18-55 kit lens?

If so can anyone explain the best way to go about it?

cheers
 
Don't worry too much about the kit, any fairly wide angle lens will do the job -"F8 and be there". Your kit lens will be fine.
 
As far as i am aware there is no "LAW" on what lens should or shouldn't be used. You use the lens which suits your style of shooting street.

Have fun :)
 
I would think one of the reasons is that you get to know what the lens will provide as it is fixed. As soon as you raise the camera to your eye you already know how the framing will turn out and removes the need for messing around zooming in and out to get the composition and framing (critical for those really quick grabbed shots)
As a low aperture is generally not required (unless shooting at night) then there are not really any other benefits to a prime that I can see and I happily use a kit lens and actually find the extra versaility a real benefit as you can't always be the correct distance from the subject.

As for ways to go about it. I use aperture priority set around f8 and let the camera do the rest (auto ISO etc,.) And walk around confidently as though you have a right to be taking photos
 
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Ediburgh is a great place for street photography as there are so many tourists about, someone with a camera doesn't really stand out. When I'm there I usually use a Panasonic GF1 with a 20mm lens or an SLR with a 17-135mm lens. I tend to use a longer 70-300 when I'm at the fringe to get close-ups of the performers.
 
ernesto said:
I would think one of the reasons is that you get to know what the lens will provide as it is fixed. As soon as you raise the camera to your eye you already know how the framing will turn out and removes the need for messing around zooming in and out to get the composition and framing (critical for those really quick grabbed shots)
As a low aperture is generally not required (unless shooting at night) then there are not really any other benefits to a prime that I can see and I happily use a kit lens and actually find the extra versaility a real benefit as you can't always be the correct distance from the subject.

As for ways to go about it. I use aperture priority set around f8 and let the camera do the rest (auto ISO etc,.) And walk around confidently as though you have a right to be taking photos
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Thanks for that, Which iso was going to be my next question but you've answered that

Have try you tried shooting from the hip?...if so what result did you get
 
gm43uk said:
Ediburgh is a great place for street photography as there are so many tourists about, someone with a camera doesn't really stand out. When I'm there I usually use a Panasonic GF1 with a 20mm lens or an SLR with a 17-135mm lens. I tend to use a longer 70-300 when I'm at the fringe to get close-ups of the performers.
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fringe must be have been great for street photography...will be going next year for sure
 
birrew said:
fringe must be have been great for street photography...will be going next year for sure
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It's fantastic. So many photo opportunities you'll be spoiled for choice :)
 
birrew said:
Have try you tried shooting from the hip?...if so what result did you get
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Yes, and I am useless at it with more than 9 times out of 10 being a disaster!
It is however where a widish lens can come in handy with a bit of cropping afterwards as composition is more hit and miss.
 
gm43uk said:
Ediburgh is a great place for street photography as there are so many tourists about,
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That's the problem though you hardly see any locals lol
 
POAH said:
That's the problem though you hardly see any locals lol
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Very true :) All the bar staff seem to have Australian accents.
 
birrew there is a meeting in Edinburgh on the 14th i think i know there was 1 in glasgow last week mind post some of the photos you take its some thing i may give a go when the weather gets better
 
I'm going to up north for a week :D, 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.
 
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.
 
hoochy1 said:
birrew there is a meeting in Edinburgh on the 14th i think i know there was 1 in glasgow last week mind post some of the photos you take its some thing i may give a go when the weather gets better
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Yeah seen that there is one on the 14th but ill be in edinburgh with my parents and girlfriend but still taken the camera :D

wuyanxu said:
I'm going to up north for a week :D, 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.
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Hope you enjoy your stay,

also im going to try hold on to my camera and try shooting from the hip and some up at the eye to see how a get on

the great thing about street photography as its doesnt need to be a sharp image aslong as you capture the moment (well thats how seems to be when reading about it)
 
birrew said:
This could be true...but im planning on being there a while so should hopefully catch business men and women

Also planning on doing glasgow and striling after christmas depending on how things go
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Nothing in Stirling to see and Glasgow is infinitely better than Edinburg
 
I use my 28-300 VR on the fullframe camera. Very flexible focal length and quality is very good! Can never blame the focal length for missing a shot
Try it and hope it helps!!!:)
 
I'd say you'd want a prime simply because it gives you one focal length, which lets you work out your working distance before you raise the camera and disturb the subject...

With experience you learn how far visually you need to be away from something without looking through the viewfinder...
 
rohit said:
I use my 28-300 VR on the fullframe camera. Very flexible focal length and quality is very good! Can never blame the focal length for missing a shot
Try it and hope it helps!!!:)
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biggest zoom i've got is 55-200 but a suppose it'll do the same job... but I see the point of using it if you wana keep hidden or not to make it so obvious
 
desantnik said:
I'd say you'd want a prime simply because it gives you one focal length, which lets you work out your working distance before you raise the camera and disturb the subject...

With experience you learn how far visually you need to be away from something without looking through the viewfinder...
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That is what I used to think, before going out with an 18-55 at the weekend. Zooming to frame takes so little time that I didn't even notice I was doing it after a few shots.
 
birrew said:
a think the only problem a can think of by using a zoom lens is that if your zooming in or out you might miss the moment
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In my experience that is not the case. With something like a 18-55 if can be left on 35 and zooming in an out from there takes a fraction of a second.
 
I think some of the cheaper zooms are not that easy to pre-focus with, whereas most decent primes will have a proper marked distance scale.

Cheap zooms are generally quite small which can be an advantage compared with a massive pro zoom.

A prime combines good quality with small size (OK some f/1.4 primes are pretty big) but a standard f/1.8 prime is ideal.
 
it depends on the style and look and feel you are after. Some like the in your face wideangle look

some like the sniped at a distance telephoto look

Others like to isolate a subject but give them space

your lens will be fine
 
boliston said:
I think some of the cheaper zooms are not that easy to pre-focus with, whereas most decent primes will have a proper marked distance scale.

Cheap zooms are generally quite small which can be an advantage compared with a massive pro zoom.

A prime combines good quality with small size (OK some f/1.4 primes are pretty big) but a standard f/1.8 prime is ideal.
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when a get a chance to buy a prime think im going to get the 85mm f1.8 sweet talk the OH to get me the 50mm f1.8
 
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
 
birrew said:
when a get a chance to buy a prime think im going to get the 85mm f1.8 sweet talk the OH to get me the 50mm f1.8
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Both of those lenses could be too long (and are too long in in my experience)

It doesn't sound like you have tried taking photos in the street yet but are already deciding what kit you will need based on preconceived ideas?

You already have a camera and lens so just go out and try it. If you find the small zoom doesn't work then fair enough but you will come away with a better idea of what would work (and I would be surprised if it is an 85)

I am no more of an expert than you but from my limited amount of time walking around taking photos I find that a fast focusing camera and lens that is wide enough to get everything in is all that is needed.
 
Set your zoom to 18mm and tape it there. 28mm equiv. is a pretty good focal length for street work.
 
28/35/50 are probably the 3 main "classic" 35mm equivalent focal lengths for street photography, so on a crop sensor this would translate to 18/24/35.
 
street photography inst about the kit, its about capturing the moment, and sometimes even creating the moment. The more you sit pondering what kit to use , the less time you have to actually go and get out there with a camera
 
Nothing longer than 50 mind...nothing telephoto, you have to be there, be part of the environment..:thumbs:
 
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