Street Photography Beginners

For beginner street photographers, focusing on the basics like understanding light, composition, and anticipating moments is key. Start by practicing in your local area, familiarizing yourself with different locations and their unique characteristics. Using natural light to your advantage and experimenting with reflections and shadows can add depth to your photos. Don’t be afraid to try different perspectives and look for patterns and textures. Most importantly, always respect your subjects and their surroundings.

Here are some more specific tips:

Gear and Technique:

Camera Choice: Any camera works! DSLRs, mirrorless, point-and-shoots, even smartphones can be used for street photography.

Lens Choice: A 35mm or 50mm lens is a great starting point for beginners.

Settings: Use a fast enough shutter speed to freeze action (e.g., 1/125th of a second or faster), a mid-range aperture (e.g., f/5.6) for decent sharpness, and an ISO that keeps your image noise to a minimum. Auto or program mode can be helpful when starting out.

Focus: Consider using a small aperture (like f/8 or f/11) to keep your subjects in focus.

Shoot in RAW: This allows for more flexibility in post-processing.

Black and White: Shooting in black and white can help you focus on shapes, tones, and emotions.

Composition and Storytelling:

Rule of Thirds: Place your subject on one of the lines or intersections for a more dynamic composition.

Leading Lines: Use lines in the scene to guide the viewer’s eye towards your subject.

Negative Space: Use empty areas to simplify the image and draw attention to your subject.

Foreground Elements: Adding elements in the foreground can create depth and context.

Storytelling: Look for moments that tell a story, evoke emotion, or capture a unique scene.

Capture Hands: Hands can add a lot of storytelling to your images.

Practice and Observation:

Practice: The more you shoot, the better you’ll become at anticipating moments and finding interesting scenes.

Local Area: Start close to home and explore your local area to get comfortable with street photography.

Observe: Pay attention to people’s expressions, gestures, and interactions.

Vary Your Locations: Shoot in both busy and quiet areas.

Be Discreet: Avoid using flash, as it can draw unwanted attention.

Review Your Work: Analyze your images to identify patterns in your shooting and what works well.

Ethics:

Respect: Always be respectful of your subjects and surroundings.

Avoid Escalation: If a situation becomes confrontational, de-escalate or walk away.

Don’t Humiliate: Avoid photographing people in vulnerable situations.

Be Mindful of Stereotypes: Be aware of cultural sensitivities and avoid perpetuating stereotypes.

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All images are taken by me Ami Strachan