An Introduction to Street Photography Techniques

Street photography can be defined as a photographic method that focusses on the technique rather than the location. However, as the name suggests, the street is the ideal location for this photography genre.

Some photographers think of street photography as “no rules photography”. One of the many advantages of street photography techniques is its accessibility. Much of the equipment associated with other types of photography, for example, lights, tripods, filters are not required for street photography. This kind of photography equipment is too cumbersome and heavy to carry over the long distances required to shoot effective street photography. Great opportunities for photographs can be missed in the time taken to set up complicated equipment.

The one key street photography tip is to be spontaneous and concentrate on capturing the moment. As with equipment, it is better to ignore many of the rules of photography that would normally apply. Whilst technical aspects of the camera cannot be ignored completely, time can be wasted by being too precise about shutter settings and the rule of thirds. Street photography techniques allow for images that are not straight and are out of focus.

One of the greatest technical innovations of the recent years, the digital camera, has been a boon to the street photographer. The increased standard of photography from point and click devices is a real help to the photographer on the street. Good quality street images can be captured by the photographer armed with only their camera, instinct, and perseverance.

An optimistic outlook with a “glass half full” attitude is a good characteristic for a street photographer to have. Life often throws up opportunities for candid street images, so it is possible to embark on a photographic session without a firm plan in mind. The key is to be able to react quickly to whatever situation and cast of characters that may come about.

Another good street photography tip is to try to present normal, run-of-the-mill life through a new viewpoint. Good street photographers have open minds and are attentive to chance situations that may create a stunning composition.

At the beginning of this article, we said that the street is the usual environment for street photography, but this is not always the case. There are other situations that can create stunning street photography such as festivals, weddings and other public gatherings.

Street photography techniques boil down to the essence of photography; a snap shot in time. The photographer’s interpretation of the situation and their reaction makes the image unique and interesting. Whilst more technically-minded photographers can capture pretty pictures, street photographers concentrate on capturing a spontaneous happening. A street photographer is very similar to a visual artist in that they produce photographs that create an intellectual statement and capture human nature.

In summary here are some aspects of street photography:

• Street photography allows for images to be under-exposed and blurry.

• To the untrained eye, some street photography images can appear cluttered and to come from a warped viewpoint, even upside-down.

• Strange details can appear at the forefront of a street photography image and the composition may appear to be without a central point.

Follow this link to read in more detail at Pixel321 about street photography techniques http://pixel321.com/blog/street-photography-techniques/