Dear friend,
One of the attributes that will make you happier as a street photographer is to be bolder as a street photographer!
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This is my thinking:
It doesn’t really matter how “good” you are as a street photographer in comparison to others. The most important thing is for you to make the photos you desire, without hesitation or fear.
I’ve recently become much bolder in my street photography. How?
Well, first of all, I had the realization that at worst, I am simply “minorly” annoying people. Meaning, to take a photograph of a stranger is (at worst) only going to offend them to a small degree. At best, you will make a photograph that will empower society.
Another thought: realize that as a street photographer, you are doing a GOOD thing for society. You as a street photographer are making beautiful art– through ordinary people and everyday life! What is more beautiful than that?
Not only that, but you’re also creating and documenting human history. We put historians in high regard in society. Why not photographers– who do it visually?
Step 1: Rewire your mindset
Therefore at first, to become a bolder street photographer, you must re-wire your mindset. If you know that what you’re doing as a street photographer is a GOOD THING (not a bad thing), you will have a lot more confidence, boldness, and brazenness to continue doing what you’re passionate about (street photography, which is capturing the beauty of life).
Step 2: How to shoot more boldly
Then of course there is the practical part, “How can I shoot more boldly, with less fear and hesitation?”
Well, for myself I do several things:
First of all, whenever I see something that interests me, a scene which interests me, or a person which interests me, I just shoot it. Specifically, I setup my camera to simply point and click, with the least amount of friction as possible. In simple words, remember the saying:
“Set it and forget it!”
I’m currently using the Panasonic Lumix G9 Pro, and shoot it in autofocus, IA mode (intelligent auto). It literally sets everything automatic, so all you must do is point the camera, frame it, get close to your subject, and click the shutter! The camera will automatically autofocus on your subject and figure out all the technical settings. And this is great, because in the past in street photography, I often have been held back from taking the shot because of the half-second delay I get from pondering which technical settings I should use on my camera for a certain shot. And even that half-second of hesitation causes me to become a little more self-conscious and nervous before taking the shot.
Therefore, the camera you use in street photography is important. I am becoming a bigger fan of the Micro 43rds system, specifically the Panasonic-Lumix cameras with iA mode (intelligent auto mode). I recommend as a starting camera the Lumix LX100 (with integrated 24mm lens) or the Panasonic Lumix G9 Pro with the Leica 12mm f/1.4 Lens (24mm full-frame equivalent).
Get close, and crouch down low
Another practical tip is in street photography, to shoot more boldly, get closer, and crouch down low to the ground!
The benefit of crouching down low is this: you look less intimidating to your subject, and your subject might assume you’re simply photographing something else in the background behind them (like the buildings, etc).
Always have your camera around your neck or in your wrist
Have you ever seen a scene and thought to yourself, “Oh man, only if I had my camera with me to photograph this.” Or, you have your camera in your bag, but couldn’t take it out fast enough to capture ‘the decisive moment’.
Happens to me all the time. This is why I always try to wear my camera around my neck (like a necklace), or on my wrist (like a bracelet). I am trying to make myself more of an android/cyborg– integrated with my camera. I want the least amount of friction between me and the photo-making process, trying to make a zen-body-mind connection between my hand, camera, and visual cortex.
Chat to people while you’re photographing them!
Another tip: if you see someone that you’re interested in photographing, you don’t always need to ask for permission. Instead, you can start photographing them, and start saying stuff like, “How’s your day going?” (while you’re photographing them!)
I’ve discovered that when you’re talking to people while you’re photographing them, they are less wary of you. Why? Because if you’re chatting with them, it shows you have nothing to hide! Not only that, but most people are programmed to respond, and therefore they will be pre-occupied with answering you, rather than being self-conscious that you are taking their photo.
Shoot while walking
A practical tip: shoot street photography while walking! This makes me less self-conscious when I’m out shooting street photography.
You can also try the ‘360 degree technique‘, which is when you get very close to your subject, and walk around them (like in a 360 motion):
The funny irony is this: the closer you are to your subject, the less they suspect that you’re photographing them! Why? Because they might think: “Nobody in their right mind would be photographing me from that close!”
Be like a child
Children are the ultimate, curious, brazen, and courageous individuals in society. Why? They don’t hesitate. They don’t worry about ‘offending’ other people, or being “politically correct”. They aren’t socialized (yet) in following arbitrary rules set by society.
Experiment and find out for yourself, by giving a child a camera, and tell them to photograph strangers they find interesting. They will smile, jump around, and run around, and shoot without hesitation!
So try to channel your own inner-child when shooting!
Chat and talk with your subjects
Treat your subjects like human beings. Imagine an older woman like your mom, or an older man like your dad or uncle. Or other people like your friends, children, co-workers, friends, or neighbors. We are all one family on planet earth. The more we can see others as our kin, the less fearful you will be in photographing them, interacting with them, or approaching them!
Just think: are you scared to photograph your own family members, or people you know? Probably not. So take that same attitude when you’re shooting on the streets:
Smile :)
The last, and most practical/important tip: Smile a lot when shooting! This will disarm almost anybody/everybody.
BE BOLD,
ERIC
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