Street photography to me is the closest you'll get to the classics. It all started with Bresson and it was picked up by the greats of the genre: William Klein, Joel Meyerowitz, Garry Winogrand and Vivian Mayer.
The street photography we see today is the result of many changes. Smaller cameras and smartphones as well as film emulations have turned it into a really cool genre that has a lot of followers.
With that said, here are 5 quick tips to help get you started with street photography.
1. Look for contrasts
The human brain is drawn to contrasts and the streets of the world are full of them. It can be anything that sparks your imagination. Different geometrical shapes, old people in contrast with teenagers, rich with poor or motion in contrast with stillness.
2. Look for connections
Viewers usually look for connections between elements. They can be hard to spot when you hit the streets for the first time, but after some time spent looking for details, even the most subtle yet interesting connections will start to become obvious.
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3. Keep it simple
One of the biggest challenges of street photography is not overcomplicating things. It's hard because busy streets are full of visual elements that look interesting and make you want to add them in the frame. But adding too much will just make the photo lose its power and it will get the viewer all confused about the actual subject. Try a more minimalistic approach. You'll see how it pays off in no time.
4. Look for characters
The streets of the world are full of interesting people. The hard part is pointing a camera at them with or without their approval. But not to worry. The first few times are the hardest. After that, it will all come naturally.
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5. Look for reflections
Luckily there is no shortage of shiny surfaces in large urban areas, so why not use them? Compositions that include reflections might be a little more complex and they're definitely not for the first time street photographer. But if you learn how to spot the right opportunity for using a reflection, you're definitely going to nail a few impressive shots.
Here is a video from SteveShootsStreet with some awesome examples that illustrate these tips.
Learn more about street photography from these recommended books:
- The Street Photographer's Manual
- Street Photography: The Art of Capturing the Candid Moment
- Street Photography Now