10 Street Photography Tips

Practical tips to get you going!

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1. Clean background

Mexico City, 2019

When youโ€™re shooting on the streets, focus on shooting a single subject against a clean/simple background. This will give more attention and focus to your subject.

Bonus points for capturing a hand gesture in the photo.

2. Hold your camera high in the air, and point downwards

Mexico City, 2019

If you want to make stronger photos, simplify the scene by shooting with your LCD screen by holding your camera high in the air, and pointing downwards.

3. Entering Shadows

Mexico City, 2019

Photograph your subject as theyโ€™re entering a shadow, for more surrealism.

Shadow composition

4. Hand gestures

CDMX, 2019

Shoot when you see interesting hand gestures. Donโ€™t worry whether your composition is good or not โ€” just respond by shooting!

5. Shoot while walking past people

Shoot street photography in P (program) mode with ISO 1600, and shoot photos while youโ€™re walking by people. Keep increasing your ISO to avoid blur (3200+ is all gravy as well)!

Then shoot as youโ€™re walking by, and you can choose your favorite photo later!

6. Three dimensionality

In this scene, note how everyone is walking an opposite directionโ€” to create dynamic tension in the photo.

Easiest way to do this is find a scene with a relatively clean background, linger around, keep shooting, work the scene, and be patient.

7. Just shoot it

CDMX, 2019

Lately when walking the streets of Mexico City with RICOH GR II and ERIC KIM WRIST STRAP, Iโ€™ve been allowing myself to shoot more โ€œrandomlyโ€ on the streets. This means I donโ€™t think when Iโ€™m shooting, I just respond! If I see something that interests me even 1%, I just click! I just shoot it, then figure out what to do with the photo later.

8. Shoot JPEG

CDMX, 2019

The benefit of shooting jpeg is this:

You can shoot more, take more chances, and you have less creative restrictions when shooting.

For example when I shoot RAW, I always hesitate a bit. Why? I know the files are bigger, and thus will take longer to process โ€” which is always a headache.

With jpeg, the photos buffer quickly, they load quickly onto the laptop or iPad, and it speeds up my workflow!

For color, I like shooting with a vivid color preset, maxing out the contrast and saturation. And when post processing, I will adjust the colors and contrast even further โ€” to create a look which is appealing to my own eyes.

9. Donโ€™t only shoot people

CDMX, 2019

Allow yourself to shoot anything you encounter on the streets! Street photography doesnโ€™t require people (although it is often more fun and challenging with people in it).

Allow all elements, colors, and textures on the streets be a visual stimulus for you!

10. No perfect street photos

CDMX, 2019

Iโ€™ve stopped caring about what makes โ€œgoodโ€ street photography (in the eyes of others).

Now Iโ€™m only focusing on being creatively productive in my street photography.

I have no more desire to make a โ€œperfectโ€ street photo. Why? Once you have achieved perfection โ€” you have nothing new to aspire towards! We need forgetfulness and naive optimism to continually produce new photos โ€” the source of new creative willpower!

So it seems the last and ultimate tip is:

Never stop shooting.

ERIC