eric-kim-street-photography-mumbai

How to Shoot Street Photography While Traveling

eric kim street photography mumbai
Mumbai, 2013

I love to travel, experience new cultures, try new foods, meet new people, and of course— taking photos while I’m traveling.

“Street photography” tends to be a very specific genre of photography — and everyone has their own definition. For me, I see pretty much any form of photographs taken in public as “street photography.”

Yet there is another huge genre of photography often referred to as “travel photography.” I learned from Cindy that travel photography tends to be less artistic— and more about personal-documentation of your experiences while you’re abroad.

Yet, how can we bridge the two? Can you shoot traditional “street photography” while in a foreign place— without making it look “National Geographic-y?”

Shoot like you’re home

Mumbai, 2014
Mumbai, 2014

One of the problems when we’re traveling abroad and taking photos in a foreign country is that we get “suckered by the exotic” (as I learned from my teacher, Constantine Manos). We get inspired and awed by what is exotic, different, and novel.

Yet what is exotic and novel isn’t always interesting photographically.

We tend to fall victim to visual cliches when traveling. We want to get the Eiffel tower when we’re in Paris. We want to photograph the colorful walls and men in turbans in India. We want to photograph the women in rice patty-hats in Vietnam.

Tuyen Quang, 2016
Tuyen Quang, 2016

How do we make “interesting” and “unique” photos while we’re traveling?

My suggestion: photograph like you’re at home. Or if you were a local.

We all know what cliches are in our own town. For example, when I shot a lot in Downtown LA, photographing the vendors with bubbles was a bit of a cliche. When I was in San Francisco, photographing photos of homeless people was an easy-target and cliche. In Vietnam, I try to avoid just random people riding in motorbikes.

How do locals photograph their own city?

Hanoi, 2016
Hanoi, 2016

Before I travel somewhere, I try to see what kinds of images that local photographers make.

For example, before coming to Hanoi, I searched: “Hanoi Street Photography” into Google— and found the work of Chu Viet Ha (who takes interesting, multi-layered, complex, and colorful images of Hanoi). Since then, we have become good friends— and I like to shoot with him. He teaches me how to photograph like a local, and I pay attention what he decides not to photograph.

I recommend the same advice the next time you plan on traveling to a foreign place. Figure out what kind of photos you don’t want to make.

Practice your street photography technique while abroad

When you’re shooting street photography while traveling abroad, use it as an opportunity to work on your techniques (not just photographing what is exotic).

For example, practice working on shooting layers. Practice trying to capture “the decisive moment.” Practice trying to reduce or remove clutter or distractions from your frame. Think of how you can photograph in good light (sunrise and sunset), and capture lovely shadows and light in your images.

Document your personal experiences

Hanoi, 2016 #cindyproject
Hanoi, 2016 #cindyproject

Of course, you are more than free to take your touristy snapshots. If I have great food, I like to take photos of it, and will occasionally snap a nice landscape to send to my family back home.

Yet I feel a lot of travel photography should be more about yourself— rather than others. I find traveling gives you the mental space to reflect on life. Therefore, take photos of your own inner-mindstate while you’re traveling. Take photos which are personally-meaningful to you — rather than just taking photos which are “exotic” and “interesting.”

When you’re traveling, how can you take photos that reflect who you are as a human, and the experiences you’re going through?

Also know that you don’t have to share all the photos you take while you’re traveling abroad. Make photos that only you would appreciate. And re-visit those memories and images when you get back home.

Can I find a better image on Google images?

Hanoi, 2016
Hanoi, 2016

Another tip: think to yourself, “If I looked for this image of this scene, can I find something better on Google Images?” This is what prevents me from spending a lot of time trying to take a good photo of the Eiffel Tower, or the Golden Gate Bridge.

Take photos that only you could make (while traveling abroad).

Enjoy your experience

eric-kim-street-photography-vietnam-parade-0000578

Lastly, don’t feel that when you’re traveling, you must take the world’s best photos.

Think of travel as a chance for you to reflect on life. To think about your values. To think about what direction your life is heading.

Use your time while traveling to journal, reflect, and meditate on life. Write in your notebook, write diary entries, and make photos.

Try to change yourself somehow mentally before you go home. Don’t expect to make good photos, or else you will be disappointed.

Focus on the experience of traveling, over making images.

Enjoy the walk

Vietnam, 2016
Vietnam, 2016

Another tip on making street photos while traveling — just enjoy the walk (and bring your camera along). Don’t feel you need to document every single thing you see, or experience.

Follow your gut. Only click the shutter if you actually plan on re-visiting the image later.

My mistake when I first started to travel: I took photos of everything (and never looked at them a second time). Now I only take photos of what I think I will look at a second time. And the other practical benefit is that I don’t have to look through tens of thousands of photographs after a trip. I take fewer photos, but more are personally-meaningful to me.

Travel close to home

In-and-out, 2015
In-and-out, 2015

Also know that “traveling” isn’t about going really far from where you live. Traveling is more of a shift in terms of your mindset.

So know that you can “travel” pretty close to home. Perhaps visit the next town, village, or city. Go on a short weekend road trip in your car. Or take the metro, bus, or train.

Inject some novelty into your travels— visit a place somewhat different from where you live. But it doesn’t have to be totally different. Different enough to change your mindset. Not so different that you need to spend thousands of dollars on a plane ticket.

Be at peace where you live

Huntington Beach, 2015
Huntington Beach, 2015

My biggest lesson on traveling the last few years is that it has taught me to appreciate home more.

I first traveled a lot to escape my problems back home. I thought happiness wasn’t at home — but somewhere out “there.” I traveled trying to find “happiness.” But a physical place can’t bring happiness into your life. It is only your inner-mind that can contribute to happiness.

Now I know that I can live in one place, and be happy. It doesn’t need to be anywhere unique, special, or interesting. I still have access to the internet, good coffee, and meaningful relationships.

You will also discover that you can shoot good photography regardless of where you live. You won’t make better photos in NYC or Paris. You will make the best photos where you live.

Make the best out of what you have, travel whenever you can, and know that true happiness is how you judge your life. Take photos to document your traveling process, but use “travel photography” more of a tool of self-analysis, self-reflection, and self-appreciation.

Always,
Eric

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