Sunday School: Streetwise

A while back, Irene shared an excellent post on street photography, one of my favorite genres.  With the weather warming up, I've been itching to take my camera to the streets more often, and that got me thinking about what I actually do to get my best shots when I'm shooting around town.  I don't consider myself a formulaic or methodical shooter, but I've come up with some tips that may be helpful if you've never tried this type of photography or are looking for suggestions on taking street shots.

1) Go sloooooow. There is a treasure trove of images on just about every street in every town and city, but you may have to go really slow to see them. And sometimes by slow, I mean literally standing still. Occasionally, I just stop in one place and stare and wait for the image to appear before me. You can laugh at me if you like, but I swear that places have stories to tell, and if you stay put in one spot long enough, that location you happen to be standing in may trust you just enough to reveal a few tidbits in the form of images.

2) I personally prefer to shoot on a cloudy day or during the first couple hours of morning or the last couple hours before the sun sets. It really makes a difference to not have to deal with harsh mid-day sun.  In fact, I prefer shooting with ambient street lights to shooting in bright sun.

3) Look at things that aren't at eye level. Look up, look down, squat, get up high, whatever it takes to give you a perspective that you normally wouldn't get.  Merely bringing your camera down to chest or waist level makes a big difference in the view sometimes. I often shoot street scenes from the ground or with the camera held against my tummy.  This type of "shooting from the hip" (shooting without looking through the viewfinder or at the LiveView LCD Screen) takes a bit of practice but is one of the most useful skills to hone.

4) Try to find curious juxtapositions of images.  For example, something really goofy next to something really austere, or something that just looks totally out of place.  You very well may get some interesting photos that way.

5) Peoplewatch. When I see someone or a group of people that I want to photograph, I often keep my eye pressed against my viewfinder with my camera aimed at them.  I like to wait for a bit, make sure I have the image framed the way I want, and when the moment seems right, I click. Either that or I shoot from the hip. You can also ask permission to take a picture first, but then you may have to wait a long time for the subject to forget you're there and start acting more naturally.  I prefer to shoot when people are not camera aware, but that is a personal perference.

6) Peek inside windows of storefronts. I use a lenshood so that I can literally put my lens against the pane of glass and shoot. You can get some interesting shots that include the interior of what's behind the window but also what's reflected from the outside.

7) Search for images that evoke an emotion or memory. I think the one word that describes how I shoot is NOSTALGIC. When I capture an image, it's often because what I see reminds me of a specific memory or stirs something in me. Those are the images I know I'll treasure for years to come.

These are just a few suggestions that may or may not work for you since shooting styles are pretty personal.  Do you have any tips you'd like to share on taking streetwise photos?  Please don't hold back, and show us some of your favorite street shots.  And as always, you can look through our Fllickr pool for plenty of inspiration.

Comments

[Katrunk]

I am absolutely inspired by your post to incorporate my camera more into my everyday life to capture moments or texture i hadnt quite considered before.

Thank you.

Kathleen Elizabeth Smith
Artist, Writer, Sister and Single Mother.

www.charlotrunk.blogspot.com

[kosenrufu mama]

I love take my camera when i go out, even when I take my children at school, everything is full of inpiration...
I love your post today, full of suggestions... thank you for this!
And here some shoots walking in the morning.
http://esterdaphne.blogspot.com/2009/02/buon-weekend.html
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23206424@N07/3270950383/
http://esterdaphne.blogspot.com/2009/03/spero-sinceramente-che-tutti-abbiate.html

[sharon]

Oh these posts have ME itching to go out and shoot. But I don't have the freedom to just go where and when I please. Someday.

[Robin]

I work downtown and one day I was on my way to the post office when I saw in a gift shop window (the day after Hillary Clinton conceded election defeat) a sign that said "All Hillary Clinton merchandise 75% off." I only had my P&S with me and the picture I got was unreadable because of the glare on the glass. I wasn't able to go back with my DSLR for a few days and by then the sign was gone.

Downtown is a wonderful venue for streetshooting.

[Jen]

Yes, this is one of my favorite genres too:

http://americana.visualblogging.com

[Bebe]

I love this genre too. I've just started being brave (!?) enough to shoot these scenes.

http://mydailypic.wordpress.com/2009/04/10/way-back-when/

Happy Sunday!

[kristin]

i rarle get time to walk the street, but i too LOVE it if i get a few mins. this was from last year but your funny sign made me think of it. it was an old theater front. and it just struck me as funny.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14811117@N02/2809227168/

[kristin]

oh and then there is always graffiti! love it http://www.flickr.com/photos/14811117@N02/2807930352/in/photostream/

[KL]

Very inspiring post! I often walk about and see pictures, but lack the gumption to shoot, if it's not obviously photo fodder. I will shoot if there is some sort of "event". I need to be braver.

I have very little to share that fits this subject, but here.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12418609@N00/3455743990/

Now motivated to add more 'street photography'...thanks.

[Puna]

I live near Washington DC and as I look through my photos I realize that I am still in the "tourist' mode when I go there. I can't help it of course, the monuments are astounding. I pledge to go and do more of streets and people and less of the monuments.

I was there a couple of weeks ago.
http://lifesignatures.wordpress.com/2009/04/08/cherry-blossoms-and-reconciliation/

Then the "real" story of our visit...
http://lifesignatures.wordpress.com/2009/04/09/cherry-blossoms-and-teenagers/

If you have teenagers, you can relate:)

[CarrieJ]

I am sure I have thrown these up before, but they are my street shots around Memphis, TN. We went a little crazy taking pics, so there are a ton.

http://thejaxon4.blogspot.com/2009/04/187-urbanscrawl-part-2.html
http://thejaxon4.blogspot.com/2009/03/185-urbanscrawl-part-1-with-words-and.html
http://thejaxon4.blogspot.com/2009/03/184-urban-scrawl-part-1.html

I can't wait to make another trip into the WILD! LOL

[Alicia]

I LOVE STREET PHOTOGRAPHY! Every day I take street photos. It's so easy for me, walking the streets daily, living in NYC where I always see moments worth capturing!

On my recent trip to Central Park I got these:
http://aliandsethinthecity.blogspot.com/2009/04/music-in-park.html

And here are two colorful ones I got in D.C. a couple weeks ago (another great place for street photos):
http://aliandsethinthecity.blogspot.com/2009/04/colorful-expression.html

I often shoot behind people, but I'm working on my fear of shooting the front... Here's a cute picture from the back:
http://aliandsethinthecity.blogspot.com/2009/04/mama-and-daughter.html

[Mariella]

Thank you for those great tips!! I'm inspired! xoxo, ~ M.

[Kamana]

Thanks for the tips. For someone who is just starting with photography, these are really helpful.

[spread your wings]

i don't usually take photos of people in a crowd but this day i did. i liked the guy's t-shirt that said "i feel lucky" and the "i love chickens" button the young girl wore on her hoodie.
http://autumnsun08.blogspot.com/2009/04/6-little-chicks.html

[elk]

Sarah as always you inspire me!

not the greatest shot but i liked the way it tuned out...sooc...he was in a hurry to cross it was at dusk:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sammymom/3456256614/

[camerashymomma]

your street shots have always inspired me. i'm finding myself downtown more and thinking of you, so this post is very timely for me! just the nugget of knowing your lens hood is pressed to the window... wow, that's something i'm gonna try!

and this photo i love. i loved it the first time i saw it. but seeing it again i'm noticing more. i originally thought he was at a desk of some sort. but now i see it's a turned over shopping cart. it makes it so much more interesting. what he was doing needed to be done right then. i imagine him drawing something or writing something down before it is lost to him. now the photo carries a sense of creative immediacy to it. it's very cool.

[Kelly]

LOL - what a fantastic funny shot! Love these posts - my favorite part of photography is the photojournalistic thing that I don't get to do when I'm doing details - people and life are just so much more interesting!

The last time I got to do street shooting was around Christmas, but I did have one that I just loved - I was shooting the detail, and then I caught the life!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8702729@N02/3119969943/

And there was this one, another favorite - current news anyone?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8702729@N02/3120795950/in/photostream/

[Angie Muldowney]

I love candid street shots and wish I had the nerve to get right up to people with my big old camera! I've found a good first step for the nervous first-time street portrait photographer (like me) is to aim at the backs of people - none of that scary eye-contact business to deal with!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/angies/2905716894/in/set-72157616016151798/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/angies/2904872299/in/set-72157616016151798/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/angies/2864124744/in/set-72157616016151798/

[meg manion silliker]

here's my contribution.
http://bluelimephoto.blogspot.com/2009/04/street-photography.html

[Georgia]

these are wonderful tips that i plan to put into practice in the very near future! thank you!

all i can think of to post along these lines from what i have taken to date are these two:

http://jorjah-b.blogspot.com/2009/04/jorjah-stop.html

and

http://itsjusthowiseethings.blogspot.com/2009/04/shy-bird.html

[cigi]

Thank you for the inspiring post! Here are some recent shots from my own ramblings through the urban landscape:

http://walkinginthisworld.wordpress.com/2009/03/24/walking-slow/
http://walkinginthisworld.wordpress.com/2009/03/18/past-is-present-long-beach/

[Vanessa]

i simply adore taking street shots! thanks for this post... these tips will come in handy :)
here are some street shots i snapped on a trip to London last year:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_r/2882258454/in/set-72157607450910728/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_r/2881426679/in/set-72157607450910728/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_r/2882256062/in/set-72157607450910728/
and a couple more taken right here in my hometown of Dublin:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_r/3296233716/in/set-72157607450910728/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_r/3385322548/in/set-72157607450910728/

[Rachel Parton]

my "street photography" from last summer...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/partonponderings/3457343634/

[wn]

This is by FAR my favorite genre of photography. Having a few of these notions really helps when breaking out the camera during vacation. I like the listed tips as well, thanks.

The only other tip I'd contribute is to be stealth when needed....sometimes I'll watch a potential subject for several minutes before I decide how I want to photograph them. When I really take my time, sometimes I can get some magic....but then again, sometimes it's also crap....I guess that's the thing with photography....it's not a science..:*)

Thanks again for this site...I look forward to upates every day and really enjoy looking at various photographer's work, etc... Here are some of my favorite street finds....

In Iceland
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wordnerd/2797579973/in/set-72157606862251527/

in San Francisco
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wordnerd/352781061/in/set-72157594438328122/

in Moscow
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wordnerd/273613579/in/set-72157594335164771/

in Ulaanbaator
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wordnerd/273610470/in/set-72157594335162572/

In Toronto
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wordnerd/245499495/in/set-72157594287915052/

[summer]

love the street. I live 3 stories up from the street I watch every day so when I'm down on it I tend to focus on the details that I can't see from my windows. like this:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sufferingsummer/3456994675/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sufferingsummer/3456985873/in/photostream/

I too need to get more brave in photographing people. there is indeed quite a variety that I watch from a distance that one day I will capture.

[Jamie M.]

I think sunset is the absolute best light ever. I haven't really tried sunrise before, though. I really need to do that ... Good tips!

[Toni | DailyVignette]

I live in a small town and there really isn't a whole lot to shoot. This first one was a night shot and I haven't quite got the knack yet:

http://dailyvignette.com/2008/12/09/blue-christmas/

This one was inspired by you, Sarah!
http://dailyvignette.com/2009/03/18/window-shopping/

[June]

I dream of doing more streetscapes. I have two little ones, so standing still at the street is not always possible, especially with downtown being a long drive away. But I will. I am always inspired by *Cinnamon's work on Flickr.

Here's one I want to share that my husband took in Iraq:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/junedel/3219613016/in/set-72157612728954697/

[Moriah]

I am new at this, with a new camera, but love finding things to photograph. I was moved to pull the car over this weekend because of a beautiful horse on a lush green hillside. People always say "bring your camera wherever you go." I feel silly doing this sometimes, but the shots are worth it. :-)

[littlepurplecow (Stephanie Roberts)]

Sarah, I know your images without seeing your name attached to them. That, my dear, is a serious compliment.

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