17 May 2011

Street Photography Tips

Susan Brannon 
Street Photography!
·      With a 35 or 50mm lens, you will have to get close to your subject in order to make them the primary object in the frame. 
·      Gain trust by talking with the people you want to photograph to get them relaxed.
·      You will tend to get nice photographs when you are part of the scene and reacting to the emotions around you.
·      Try to choose places where the camera is “normal” such as a park, the zoo, a tourist attraction and sporting events.  You will blend in with the crowd.
·      Avoid touristy shots!  Get behind the scenes and real life situations.
·      Expect the unexpected, keep your eyes open and be ready for that shot!
·      Best to go auto focus
·      Adjust your shutter speed according to the light changes as you walk around.
·      Always remember to have your hand on the camera and ready to click away, if you have to spend all your time adjusting the focus, the frame, the shutter speed…your shot and subject will be gone.
·      If you have a digital, show your subjects the images you took of them they will love it and probably let you take more!
·      Blend in with the crowd, don’t wear a mini skirt or high heels, or professional photo gear draped all around you that gains attention. 
·       Keep yourself light for fast movement.

Angles and Framing:
·      Don’t be afraid to go diagonal.
·      Find ways to go high and low.
·      Stand on a wall, or lay down in the park.
·      Experiment with angles before shooting.
·      Exaggerate the moment, make the background blurry and the subject crisp!
·      Look for the composition. A person standing near a sign that points to her, etc…

Your mindset:
·       Don’t worry too much, relax and enjoy the moment, the environment and the people!
·      Observe the moment and the people around you.
·      Don’t feel shy or timid, it will show in your images and the people around you will feel it.
·      Be creative, have a since of humor, view the fun part of life and humanity it will come out in your images.

People:
  • Photograph different ages, genders, situations that are representative of that culture.
  • Don’t just take images of one person, but two or three interacting.
  • Get close and fill in your frame of the persons face, then show them the photo!
  • Pay attention to the background, don’t put a pole coming out of the persons head!

Related lessons:
Aperture and f/16 Rule
Shutter Speed Basics

Bracketing
Depth of Field
Focused Bracketing or Photo Stacking 
Exposure 

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