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How To Photograph Street Performers

Every city has them. Street performers are a big part of a city and can often provide great photo opportunities. In some cities, these performers do this as full-time job and actually want people to photograph them. Others may just be trying to spread their name or doing what they love. Whatever the reasons are, you should keep your eyes open for any opportunities to photograph them as you capture some great photos.

Establish the rules

Before you even start to lift your camera to photograph a street performer, you should establish the rules. Firstly, if you are allowed to photograph the person. Obviously if the performer has put signs down asking not to be photographed, respect that and don’t try to sneak a photo. If there are no signs and you see others photographing, then it will probably be OK for you to photographing them as well.

In some places, it is also important to know if the person being photographed expects a fee. For example, in Havana Old Town, the women who wear the colourful outfits are happy to be photographed for a small fee. It is best to establish if this is the case and how much the performer expects. Knowing this before you shoot will save you being charged an extortionate fee after you have taken photos.

Have a think before shooting

One of the tough parts of photographing street performers is avoiding the crowd that will inevitably gather. Sometimes there is no way to avoid the crowd and you have to integrate them into the shoot. At other times you may be able to change your angle to avoid other people in your shot. Or there might be times when you can simply wait for the right moment to capture the performer in an area that is crowd free.

So, before you start shooting, spend a few minutes thinking about the shoot and how best to photograph that performer.

Know your settings

Your camera settings for photographing street performers will vary hugely depending on the scenario and what type of shot you are capturing. For example, a head and shoulder portrait of some will naturally mean you can settle of a slower shutter speed and shallower depth of field. But on the other hand, if for example you are photographing a dancer you will need to have a much faster shutter speed.

If you are unsure about what settings you should select, my advice would be to always overcompensate with your shutter speed and go for something faster than you initially think. I would also recommend selecting burst mode and continuous focus if there is movement involved.

Don’t forget to zoom in

Often when photographing a performer, we are all guilty of only capturing shots of the entire scene showing the performer in their entirety. While you should certainly capture these types of shots, it is also a really good idea to capture some close-up shots showing specific details of the person or even their clothing.

For example, this could be a close-up of a musician’s hands as they play their instrument. Or it could be a piece of jewellery the performer is wearing. These types of shots not only look great, but they also offer much more variety to your portfolio.

Don’t be afraid to talk to them

One of the great things about photographing street performers is that you won’t be disturbing them in the middle of doing something (obviously providing you don’t interrupt them in the middle of when they are performing). This will sometimes allow you to ask them to pose or even move them slightly to a new spot so that you can capture the perfect shot.

But beyond all this, it will also help you build a connection with that person rather than seeming like you are just another tourist with a camera.

A generous gesture

If the performer you are photographing has been happy for you to photograph them without asking any money, be courteous and say thank you and maybe offer to email them a copy of the photo. Or even better give them a small tip. It is a small gesture that says thank you but will also mean a lot to the performer.

Street performers are great subjects to photograph. Not only will you usually find them more than willing to be photographed but sometimes they may even pose or even stand where you want them to, allowing you to direct your shoots to capture the perfect shot. So next time you are out and about, keep your eyes open for street performers that you may be able to photograph. And then use the tips above to help you capture great photos.

Take Better Street Photos With These Tips

Street photography is one of the most popular genres of photography. It is one of the easier branches of photography to practice and it’s accessible for most people. But good street photography isn’t straightforward and often people struggle to capture street photos really well. So to help you, here are 6 street photography tips to implement on your next shoot.

Don’t be shy

Unfortunately, street photography means having to interact with people. Sometimes people won’t notice that you are photographing them. At other times, they will. Or you may even have to get their attention so that you have that engagement between the subject and the photographer in the photo. There is no way around this, so to be a good street photographer you need to get over your shyness. This is often one of the biggest barriers for people in this genre of photography. There are no tricks or shortcuts, it is simply a case of the more people you photograph the more confident you will become. So set yourself a task of just photographing 1 person you don’t know a day. In time this will help you build confidence to photograph more and more people.

Be daring with your photos

A big part of street photography is about capturing unseen moments. But also to try and present these in new and exciting ways. So this means trying to look beyond just eye-level shots. Compose your shot with your camera close to the ground or high up in the sky and you will get a completely different look and feel than the same shot at eye level. You can also take this further and capture photos at angles and without looking through the viewfinder (a technique known as shooting from the hip). Street photography is more about capturing these stories and moments rather than a perfectly framed shot that you have deliberated over.

Don’t be afraid to just wait

Like most genres of photography, sometimes you have to act fast. A fleeting moment might present itself that you simply have to capture. With street photography, this is often the case. But that doesn’t mean that sometimes you can’t wait at an interesting location for something to happen. Think of it like setting a “photography” trap. Find an interesting location and then just wait for the right elements to come together for you to take the shot. For example, this might be someone walking into your frame. Or it might be because you want the light to change so that you are getting a nice shadow across your shot. This is a really great technique for you to use to capture those unique street shots.

Stop chimping and keep shooting

Chimping is a phrase used to describe the habit of constantly checking the LCD on the back of your camera. There is nothing wrong with doing it for something like landscape photography. But for something like street photography where you might constantly be seeing interesting photo opportunities, every time you look at the back of your camera, you might be missing something in front of you. So try to avoid looking at your LCD and instead keep shooting away. You can always check the results later.

What settings should you use?

This is often the most common question that I get asked in regards to street photography. While there isn’t a magic formula in choosing your settings as every scene is different, there are some common settings that you will likely need to use. Firstly I would recommend using continuous focus mode as more often than not in street photography you will be dealing with moving subjects. I would also recommend setting your camera on burst mode rather than a single shot. It’s very difficult to nail the perfect moment in a moving scene with just one shot. Beyond these settings, everything else will come down to the subject and what creative effect you are hoping to achieve. As a general rule look for a wider aperture and a fairly fast shutter speed if photographing moving subjects. This might mean having to raise your ISO.

Embrace bad weather

As a photographer, you are always told to look for great light and perfect conditions for photography. While both of these bits of advice are very valid for street photography as well, street photography does allow for a bit more leeway when it comes to conditions. For example one of the best times for street photography is after a rainfall where you will end up with some wonderful reflections. Or in cloudy conditions when the flat light makes it easier to manage harsh contrasts. You really can take street photos in any condition as it’s more about the story rather than the conditions. So when the weather isn’t ideal for those landscape shots, grab your camera and take street photos instead.

Street photography can produce some truly remarkable photos. These are often a great glimpse into everyday life that most people miss day-to-day. The great thing about street photography is that unlike say landscape photography, you have ample opportunity to practice and capture unique photos. With the tips above you’ll be on your way to capturing great street photos.

7 Tips For Better Street Photography At Night

Street photography is a great genre of photography to practice in. If done well the images you capture can tell amazing stories. The great thing about street photography is that most people can do it without having to travel too far and it doesn’t require as much equipment as say landscape photography. While street photography during the day can be tricky, at night it becomes much more difficult. The combination of low light and handholding a camera can play havoc with your settings and the sharpness of your images. Fear, not here are 7 tips to help you capture better street photos at night.

Avoid using a flash

The first bit of advice that I can give you is to not use your flash. Unless you are experienced with using lights and have proper lighting set up, a flash will make your photos look worse. The harsh light will wash out the scene and you’ll end with photos that look like family snaps from point and shoot cameras. If you are going to use a flash, get yourself a diffuser so that it softens the light a little. You might be better off using LED lights instead of a flash. These are relatively inexpensive and can be placed off-camera without the need for triggers. They will allow a bit more creativity as to your lighting.

Get your settings correct

A big part of street photography at night is ensuring that you capture images that are not blurred. I say “not blurred” because your street photos at night don’t necessarily have to be pin-sharp as they might need to be during the day. But an acceptable level of sharpness can be difficult to achieve in night photography without a tripod. The first unavoidable thing that you will need to do is to increase your ISO. You simply will not be able to avoid doing this if you are shooting handheld at night. Depending on the scene you may need to select a very high ISO, but that will depend on the scene, your camera and your ability to hold a camera steady. You’ll also need to select a wide aperture (f/4.5 or wider) to allow enough light to come into the camera.

Acceptable level of blurriness

As mentioned above, for night street photography there is an acceptable level of blurriness that you can expect in your shots. Unless you are using models and lighting equipment, no one is expecting pin-sharp photos at night. But the level of blurriness will come down to the subject you are photographing. For example, a portrait of someone needs to be sharper than a street scene where people are walking. So try to concentrate on finding interesting scenes and compositions rather than fretting over the sharpness of your images. Night street photography is as much about capturing the mood and feeling of a place as it is about the technical perfection of the shot.

This image is too blurred.

You will need some light

Your biggest challenge in night photography will be the limited light available. So try to find places where there is a source of light. That might be a street lamp, a shop window of even headlights from a car. The great thing is that in cities there are light sources everywhere so you can easily find places to compose your image around. Try to compose your image around the light source either as a focal point of your shot or as lighting for your subject. Also, be on the lookout for the colours of lights on show which can often look great at night. For example, a red glow on the ground from shop lights can give a wonderful photo.

Should you use a tripod?

In short, yes, of course, you can use a tripod. It comes down to the type of photo you want to capture. A tripod will mean you can set a long shutter speed without having to worry about the sharpness of your image. But this will give you a completely different photo than one that uses a fast shutter speed. With a slow shutter speed, you will capture light trails from cars and motion blur from people moving whereas a fast shutter speed will freeze the action. So it will come down to the type of shot you want to capture as to whether you use a tripod or not.

Shoot from the hip

This is a technique that you can use for street photography during the day as well. It involves having your settings selected and shooting without composing your shot by looking through the viewfinder. You would simply point the camera and shoot and hope that you have captured the scene correctly. If done well you can capture some great angles and shots that look completely natural and authentic. But the danger is you’ll miss your point of interest completely and focus on something in the background instead due to your shallow depth of field. For this reason, my suggestion would be to set your camera to autofocus if you are shooting from the hip. I would also recommend setting your camera to burst mode. Ensure you take plenty of memory cards as you’ll rattle through them quickly if shooting in burst mode.

Be careful

Needless to say that anyone walking around with expensive camera equipment at night should be careful. Use your common sense as to where and who you photograph and try to avoid walking around with lots of gear. The more understated that you can be the safer you’ll be. If you are using a tripod, be aware of where you have put your backpack.

Nighttime street photography can yield wonderful results. But it will take patience and practice to perfect as the conditions are not easy. The main thing to remember is to ensure your shutter speed will be just fast enough to capture an acceptable level of sharpness. This will no doubt mean raising your ISO to be able to get a good exposure. Use the tips above next time you are taking night street photos and see if it helps you capture better photos.

The 10 Best Places In The World For Street Photography

Street photography is a challenging yet rewarding branch of photography to get into. The great thing about street photography is that you can do it anywhere in the world. But some places just offer more opportunities than others. Unlike say landscape photography where you often have lots of time to compose your shot and even make tweaks where necessary and shoot again, with street photography you often have to nail your shot first time as you might not get another try. Because those fleeting moments will often disappear which makes capturing those great shots even more rewarding. So here are the top 10 places in the world for street photography.

1. New Delhi

There is no place in the world quite like India. The noise, the smell and the traffic (both people and cars) can often overload your senses. But once you can overcome this, it is a country that is a visual feast for photographers. From every city to every town, this country provides ample street photography opportunities. In fact, you could compile a list of the best street photography destination that just comprises of places in India. But if you wanted to just choose one, then look no further than New Delhi. The photographic opportunities here are endless and you can easily spend weeks just photographing the narrow streets of Old Delhi. Every street corner can be like a studio and you will rattle through memory card after memory card. That’s why New Delhi takes the number one spot on this list.

2. Havana

The “Pearl of the Caribbean” is another of the world’s great street photography destinations. Old Havana is almost like a giant outdoor studio and provides fantastic opportunities to combine street photography with great architecture. Like India, there are plenty of other great cities in Cuba which lend themselves to travel photography, but the UNESCO World Heritage-listed old area of Havana tops the list. Add to that the “world’s longest sofa”, the Malecon where you can photograph everything from kids diving off the pier to fishermen and it’s easy to see why Havana has been pulling in photographers for so many years.

3. Hanoi

This city in Northern Vietnam is a must for any photographer or traveller. The Old Quarter is a melting pot of street life and old colonial architecture which combine perfectly for street photography. Wander the avenues and you’ll find yourself snapping photos of market vendors and locals eating or going about their day. Nothing seems to stand still in these parts, and you could easily spend time just focusing on this area of Hanoi.

4. Bangkok

In Thailand’s capital, there seems to be a constant battle between the old and the new. For every new sky bar that appears, there are hundreds of street stands selling food and other produce. The great thing about Bangkok is that the traditional way of life is still very much alive. You will see monks wandering the streets, kids playing and tuk tuks galore. This provides great opportunities for street photography. Head to areas such as Chinatown and you will find a street food haven full of markets and stalls selling almost everything you can imagine. On the other hand, go to the Sukhumvit area and you will find the glitz and glamour of modern malls and shops. Or go to the famous Khao San Road to capture a different side of Bangkok and its travellers. With so many amazing markets and places to photograph it’s easy to see why Bangkok is on this list.

5. New York City

“The Big Apple” is one of the world’s top travel destinations. With so many amazing landmarks it’s no wonder the tourists flock to this city year after year. But New York is also a great place for street photography. There is just so much going on that you can easily spend years photographing NYC. Areas like Chinatown, Central Park, Chelsea, Little Italy, Brooklyn and even Harlem are great for street photography. But don’t forego Manhattan and places like Wall Street which also offer fantastic photography opportunities.

6. Paris

The French capital has had a turbulent few years and has suffered from terrorism to the fire which destroyed the iconic Notre Dame. But Paris is still a wonderful photography location and one that lends itself beautifully to street photography. There’s a reason why Paris has been pulling in artists and photographers for centuries.

7. London

You could describe London as a world within a city. The English capital is brimming with culture, diversity and history. Like New York City, London offers so many photography opportunities that even as a Londoner, I haven’t managed to photograph everything. Every area offers different street photography opportunities. Some of the best areas for street photography are Leak Street graffiti tunnel, Brick Lane, Notting Hill, Borough and Portobello Market and West End. There is also places like Canary Wharf and Leadenhall which are also great for street photography.

8. Venice

Head to Venice at any time of the year and you’ll find yourself in photography heaven. But visit during the famous Venice Carnival and you will find yourself going through your memory cards as quickly as you can empty them. It’s not just the masked costumes that are incredibly photogenic. The whole city seems to come alive during this time and photographic opportunities are everywhere. Walk around the narrow streets and you will find a perfect scene for a photo at every corner. During the carnival, you will also often find impromptu dances and other activities happening around the city so keep your eyes and ears open.

9. Buenos Aries

Tango and soccer dominate the Argentine capital. So don’t try to avoid it. Make sure you spend time photographing people performing tango in the streets and of course, soccer. Like a lot of countries, Argentina is soccer-mad and you will find plenty of opportunities in the streets to photograph kids playing soccer. You may also find a Diego Maradona lookalike or two (the countries most beloved ex-soccer player and national hero).

10. Amsterdam

When you think of Amsterdam you are immediately imagining canals, windmills and tulips. Whilst you can find all of these in and around Amsterdam, this city offers so much more. Sure, the canals will often be the highlight in most people’s photographs of Amsterdam, but there is also plenty of opportunity for great street photos. For example, the Albert Kypt Market or the area of De Pijp. There is also Volendam park which offers a nice relief for locals from the busy city life. So don’t be fooled, Amsterdam is a great destination for street photography.

These are just some of the great places around the world for street photography. In reality, you can capture great street photos anywhere. You just need to make sure you keep your eyes open and are ready to act at a moment notice. But here are 10 places that are sure to give you great street photography opportunities.

5 Things That Could Be Letting Down Your Street Photos

Street photography is often one branch of photography that is for the purists. For those who are less concerned about aesthetics and more about the subject and the story that it tells. It’s about capturing unique and often fleeting moments that can be funny, powerful or even sad. It’s a genre of photography that is incredibly hard to master but when done properly can produce amazing results. Here are 5 things that could be letting down your street photos.

Shyness

Street photography often involves people. Whether that is capturing a portrait of someone or people going about their daily lives. But often the biggest barrier to people wanting to capture great street photos is their shyness when photographing strangers. What if that person notices and confronts me? Every photographer at some point has probably had this running through their head.

But what is the worst thing that can actually happen? The person asking you what you are doing? Or they may simply turn their head or cover their face? They might even ask you to not take their picture? But none of these scenarios warrant the fear of actually trying to capture photos. In all my years of photography I have never had a confrontation regarding this issue. In fact, most of the time people will be flattered that you are taking their photo and if on the odd occasion someone asks you not to, then just smile and say “OK”.

Just don’t be shy, because there is no place for shyness if you want to capture great street photos.

Don’t Know Your Camera

Unlike landscape photography where you will often have time to sort out your settings, compose your shot then take a photo, for street photography you have to be quick. Often the moments that present themselves to you are fleeting and will be gone in a flash. The only way to ensure that you can capture these moments is to know your camera inside out.

Your camera should be an extension of your arm and you have to be able to know the settings you need and how to change them without even thinking. The only way to get to this point is by learning and practice. The more you practice what you learn, the better and quicker you will become until eventually it will become second nature to you.

Not Ready

It will be pretty hard to capture a fleeting moment if you have to take your camera out of your backpack first. To ensure that you can capture good street photos you have to be ready all the time. That means your camera should be out of your bag, turned on with the lens cap off. You should also ensure that you have enough memory space and that your battery is charged. The last thing you need is to suddenly have to change memory cards or a battery as a moment presents itself before you.

The other thing that is worthwhile doing is to make sure that you have your camera set to roughly the settings that you might need. For example, if you are at a location where there isn’t enough light (i.e. because of tall buildings either side) so you need to raise you ISO to ensure you have a sharp enough shutter speed, then make sure you set this as soon as you start walking down that street. Once you have moved to another location where the settings need to change, then do so straightaway. This will ensure that you are always as ready as you can be when you need to capture the photo.

Looking For The Obvious

The thing about street photography is that you often have to look beyond the obvious to capture great photos. This means you need to be constantly looking around and evaluating the scene in front of you. Instead of looking at a scene and thinking is that a good photo, try to consider what the narrative or story is. Most of the time street photography isn’t like landscape photography where you are looking for things which are aesthetically pleasing, you are looking for unique moments that capture stories. These moments are often not obvious to most people which is why when they are captured in a street photo they tend to be powerful.

So, try to always look beyond what is in front of you and you’ll be amazed how often you’ll notice amazing photo opportunities that you didn’t think existed in the first place.

Trying Too Hard

If your street photos are not looking great, one reason could be that you are trying too hard. Street photography is mainly about the subject in front of you and if there isn’t something interesting happening, the most beautifully lit scene wouldn’t really work as a street photo. When you rely so much on your subject matter then it can be frustrating when nothing interesting presents itself. So, you end up putting yourself under pressure to capture something which you wouldn’t normally.

There are times when you should just take some time to sit down and relax and just wait for things to occur. If you find that you’ve had an unsuccessful day photographing, don’t get disheartened. The key is to go back again and again as inevitably photo opportunities will present themselves.

Street photography is always a great genre of photography to get into or even practice in. The great thing is you don’t need expensive equipment or even exotic locations to make it happen. Just a camera and a local street will often present countless photo opportunities. Avoid these 5 things and you will be on your way to capturing great street photos.