How to Advance Your Street Photography

Saigon, 2017

Ideas for you to have more fun in Street Photography, brought to you by STREET NOTES MOBILE EDITION by HAPTIC INDUSTRIES.

1. Avoid boredom

Downtown LA, 2011

I used to shoot like Henri Cartier-Bresson, finding a nice background and waiting for someone to enter. It bored me after 2-3years. I started to shoot like Bruce Gilden, close with a flash, to just have more fun, and to alleviate my boredom in Street Photography.

Question,

Are you bored in your street photography?

If so, why?

Saigon, 2017

To alleviate boredom:

  1. Make more dynamic compositions by tilting your camera, and shooting from low angles, or getting closer.
  2. Use a flash: enlighten your scenes and subjects, with flash that adds dynamism, drama, and contrast.
  3. Simplify to the ultimate: “extreme minimalism” in Street Photography. How little of the frame can you show, to make an interesting image?

How else do you avoid boredom in street photography? Share your ideas in ERIC KIM FORUM.

2. Put the masters to shame

Tokyo, 2016

Study the masters of street photography, but seek to jump over them and surpass them.

I admire Henri Cartier-Bresson, but a lot of his photos are boring and lack emotional and humanistic soul. I seek to surpass him, in some ways, I think I did.

Find inspiration from the masters, but eventually you gotta cut the umbilical chord. Use them as your mentor, that you eventually must break from. Not your master.

Assignment: Who is your favorite photographer, and ask yourself, “How can I become better than them?”

3. BUY BOOKS, NOT GEAR

BOOKS by HAPTIC

Only way to advance is to advance your knowledge and practice.

Buy more photo books, and practice shooting more.

Mumbai, 2011

Read photo book reviews, and analyze their compositions. Then seek to improve on what you learned.

Conclusion

STREET NOTES MOBILE EDITION

For more inspiration buy STREET NOTES MOBILE EDITION: a street photography workshop in your phone.

Provincetown, 2015

Take more risks. When in doubt, click. JUST SHOOT IT with the ERIC KIM STRAP, shoot in the streets wearing all black. And know that creativity, you never lack.

LEICA MP x ERIC KIM STRAP

You got infinite inspiration. You shoot because it’s your soul’s elation. Fuck the PlayStation, the real world is your playground. So make your own visual sounds. Keep pounding the pavement, to your own elatement. Make strong social statements.

Saigon, 2017 #cindyproject

You are not placeable inside a photo box. Never define yourself, and make it rock. Keep hustling, and raise your stock. Keep firing shots, handheld glock.

Shoot against the clock, your time is finite. Create your own photo legacy, your own spiritual Zeitgeist.

Downtown LA, 2013

BE STRONG,
ERIC

ERIC KIM EXPERIENCE >


Feed Your Hunger in Street Photography

Hollywood, 2011

Never stop pounding the pavement:

  1. STREET PHOTOGRAPHY MANUAL by ERIC KIM
  2. 100 LESSONS FROM THE MASTERS OF STREET PHOTOGRAPHY
  3. STREET PHOTOGRAPHY 101