The genre of Street photography is undefinable, yet you know it when you see it. At its essence, it is photography in its purest form, with no defining rules or set criteria. This freedom to create has broad appeal, which is what drew me in.
Several years ago, I started photographing in the subways and streets of New York City as a mental health project for myself. In this article, I will share my street images and street photography tips I have learned along the way.
Wear comfortable shoes
I walk on average between 12,000 and 24,000 steps when I am out photographing in the streets of NYC. That is about 6 to 12 miles (10 to 20 kilometres) so the importance of wearing the right shoes cannot be overstated. Proper footwear helps you focus on your surroundings and your photography, allowing you to capture spontaneous moments without being distracted by discomfort.
Blend in
Avoid bright-coloured clothing and shirts with large logos. Muted and dark colours draw less attention to you and your camera. People are less likely to notice a black camera on a black shirt or jacket. This subtle approach allows you to blend into the background allowing you to capture candid moments.
IPHONE XS MAX @ Ƒ/1.8 • 1/60 SEC • ISO 125
IPHONE XS MAX @ Ƒ/1.8 • 1/60 SEC • ISO 250
IPHONE XS MAX @ Ƒ/1.8 • 1/60 SEC • ISO 125
IPHONE XS MAX @ Ƒ/1.8 • 1/60 SEC • ISO 320
Travel light
It is tempting to bring multiple cameras and several lenses to cover everything, but a heavy backpack will slow you down and limit your time capturing images. Ideally, carry one camera body and one lens. Bigger is not always better; a large telephoto zoom on a DSLR is like telling everyone on the street, ‘Hey, look at me! My money is in my back right pocket, and you can have it.’
If you are using a DSLR no worries, lower its profile by removing accessories like a battery grip or cage. Opt for a shorter zoom lens such as 18-55mm or 24-70mm, or a prime lens like 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, or 85mm.
In my own street photography, I prefer using a 35mm on a small mirrorless rangefinder-style camera. This allows me to get close to my subjects without distracting them. Here are some great street photography cameras to consider:
Fujifilm X-Pro series
Fujifilm X-E series
Fujifilm X100 series
Ricoh GR series
Leica Q series
Leica M series
Lecia D-Lux series
Sony RX series
Sony a600 Series
As Chase Jarvis so eloquently stated: “The best camera is the one on you.” So, find a camera that you are most comfortable with.
Tiime Square Breakdancer Street Preformer – FUJIFILM X-T4 • 16MM Ƒ/1.4 @ Ƒ/2.8 • 1/60 SEC • ISO 640
State of mind
Be present, leave your phone in your pocket, and immerse yourself in your location. Keep yourself from “chimping”, the habit of checking every photo on your camera display immediately after capture. You don’t want to miss what Henri Cartier-Bresson called “The decisive moment” where everything comes together in the perfect moment, and you hit the shutter.
Be curious, explore that doorway that leads to an amazing courtyard, that hidden alleyway that is a graffiti artist gallery, and travel through the locals’ part of town. Unique photos often come from these unexpected places.
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the fear of taking pictures of strangers. The first step is never easy. Whether taking candids or street portraits, your approach starts with you—Transform the fear of taking a picture into the fear of missing an opportunity.
Be approachable. A smile is contagious. Open with a compliment when asking someone for permission to photograph them. The worst thing they can say is no, but more often than not, they will say yes.
FUJIFILM X-T4 • 23MM Ƒ/2.8 @ Ƒ/2.8 • 1/500 SEC • ISO 200
Camera settings
Camera settings depend on the look you want to achieve. Ernst Haas, for example, used slow shutter speeds in his street photography to create beautiful, painting-like blurred images.
To capture sharp street candids use 1/125 of a second shutter speed as your baseline. You can use Shutter Priority mode to maintain this shutter speed and let your camera automatically adjust the aperture and ISO. If you prefer to solely focus on composition, Manual mode allows you more artistic control allowing you to dictate the depth of field with the aperture to isolate and focus just on your subject or incorporate the background.
What about ISO? Today’s digital camera sensors can almost see in the dark, (cough) Sony. Not too long ago, digital noise was an issue with digital images. These days, many camera manufacturers’ 800 ISO is hard to distinguish from 100 ISO. In night street photography, you will have to push the ISO to maintain a 1/125 shutter speed. Going as far as 1600 ISO and above where noise will appear can be easily denoised in post with software from Adobe, DxO, and Topaz, enabling you to capture scenes that were once unattainable.
FUJIFILM X-T4 • 23MM Ƒ/2 @ Ƒ/4 • 1/60 SEC • ISO 500
Patience and time
When taking candid street photos, I first look at backgrounds. The background affects the composition of my frame—will it tell a story, juxtapose, complement, and draw the eye to my subject? When I come across an interesting background and perfect light, I seek out a light pole, doorway, or something that hides me out of direct eyesight of people and wait. Set your frame and let people walk into it. Patience is key; it could be a fraction of a second or hours to capture that perfect moment. Patience will reward you, so take your time.
Create the habit of having a camera on you every time you step out the door. Photography is a lifelong learning art, one you learn from every photo you take. Over time you will build a body of work that not only tells others’ stories but yours.
Be respectful and mindful
If someone notices you and tries to avoid being photographed, respect their privacy and don’t photograph them. Not all places allow taking pictures of people in public, so a quick Google search can inform you about the local laws.
Be open to talking to people. I have had some life-enriching conversations on street corners that renewed my faith in humanity and inspired me to photograph more.
Be aware of your surroundings, doing a 360º scan around you often keeps you aware and safe.
FUJIFILM X-T4 • 23MM Ƒ/2 @ Ƒ/2.8 • 1/250 SEC • ISO 320
Find inspiration
In photography, like other art mediums, it is influenced by a multitude of sources. From life experience, literature, music, visual art, history, and interactions with other photographers will inspire your street photography. Reading and watching stories set where you will be photographing will bring you to new locations. Learning the history of an area provides a deeper understanding of its layers and richness.
Create a playlist filled with songs about the city you’re exploring, it will set the mood and help you feel connected to the fabric of that city. Painters’ visions of the place you will photograph will inspire your colour palette and composition. Photo Walks with other photographers will allow both of you to see new things.
The Decisive Moment by Henri Cartier-Bresson
Look at other street photographers’ work. There are, of course, too many to list here, but here are a few on my bookshelf as a starting point to find inspiration.
The Decisive Moment by Henri Cartier-Bresson
Vivian Maier: Street Photographer by Tony Ray Jones
The Americans by Robert Frank
Ernst Haas: New York in Color, 1952-1962 by Phillip Prodger
Slide Show: The Color Photographs of Helen Levitt
William Eggleston’s Guide by John Szarkowski
Inspire yourself to go out every day and take pictures. Your unique perspective of the world will be seen by others through your lens. It is all about moments, the light, and personal growth.
