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The Benefits of Shooting Street Photography

Low perspective, and Superman effect. New Orleans, 2015

I’ve been thinking a lot about Street Photography — what it means to me, why I’ve been able to stay so passionate about it for over a decade, and what benefits it brings into my life, and into the lives of others.

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1. Less social anxiety

I think a lot of us face social anxiety, and shooting street photography is one of the best ways to overcome social anxiety.

Social anxiety: fear of talking or interacting with strangers.

I mean, it makes sense for us to fear strangers. Because a stranger could mean danger, and potential death (assuming they were from a different tribe).

However in today’s world, we have gone global. We interact with so many difficult individuals and people from all around the world. We interact more and more on the internet and digitally — which I think, is actually harming our capacity to interact “in real life”.

Shooting street photography has helped me become more bold. It has helped me better interact with strangers, and overcome past social anxieties I had.

I’m a generally extroverted person (I like to interact and engage with other people), but I was very anxious when I was at a party with nobody I knew. I would have severe anxiety, even asking a stranger for directions.

Street photograph of woman walking in Kyoto, 2017

Now, with the help of street photography (and life experience), I no longer fear strangers.

This has helped me in ALL ASPECTS of my life. My business life (I don’t fear rejection or “failure”). My personal life (I have more confidence to talk about difficult subjects with friends or loved ones). Having a more voracious appetite for risk, and taking chances in my life, photography, and art.

2. Mental well-being

Kyoto, 2017

As modern humans, we never walk. I’m genuinely convinced that walking is a fucking very important and integral part of mental well-being.

Much of the human brain devotes energy and resources for locomotion, or coordinating movement. Therefore my theory is this:

If we no longer move, or need to move — what use do we have for our brain?

We needed to (once upon a time) move in order to hunt, find new food and resources, and most modern biologists say that humans are “hunter-gatherers” — meaning, we needed to move (in order to hunt and gather).

I don’t know about you, but when I stay at home in my apartment all day, I get “stir crazy”. I need to go outside, I need to walk, I need to move, or else I start to think depressive thoughts and feel shitty about myself.

Therefore, street photography has benefitted me because it just gives me an excuse to MOVE. Sometimes walking by itself is boring. Why not move, walk, and make pictures (visual art)— all at the same time (and kill multiple birds with one stone?)

3. Meeting new people

Friends and peers at week-long Hanoi-Sapa workshop, 2016
Friends and peers at week-long Hanoi-Sapa workshop, 2016

One of the biggest reasons why I love to teach workshops is that it allows me the opportunity to meet new friends and peers.

As humans, we are social creatures. I don’t think any human would want a billion dollars and a hundred Lamborghini’s if he/she didn’t have any other humans to enjoy it with.

Eric kim street photography laughing ladies NYC hanoi

Personally, I love being a social human being. I love sharing my knowledge, insight, and wisdom with others — and in return, I love learning from them.

Therefore my suggestion is this: Don’t just be a “lone wolf” street photographer. Sure, you might like to shoot solo, but also try to meet other street photographers in real life.

I love to talk and walk and shoot with friends. Therefore, I will sometimes meet up with a friend to walk around and shoot, and I actually enjoy the conversation and social interaction more than the photography part. And that’s totally cool — because I don’t think the purpose of photography is to become the world’s best photographer, but to feel more happiness and joy in life.

Meeting other passionate street photographs in Bangkok for the Monogram Asia 8x8 event, 2017
Meeting other passionate street photographs in Bangkok for the Monogram Asia 8×8 event, 2017

Conclusion

So friend, besides the fact that I’m writing this article to promote my upcoming street photography workshops, I also want to encourage you to shoot more street photography as a way of finding more joy, positivity, and happiness in life.

Anything we do that makes us:

  1. Be less fearful in life
  2. Walk and move more
  3. Be more social

Is a good thing.

BE STRONG AND ADVENTUROUS,
ERIC

Join a community of like-minded street photographers on ERIC KIM FORUM >


STREET PHOTOGRAPHY 101

Tokyo, 2012

If you’re new to street photography, start here:

  • 100 Lessons From the Masters of Street Photography
  • How to Shoot Street Photography
  • Street Photography by Eric Kim

New Street Photography Articles

Mad men. NYC, 2017. Pentax 645Z

  • The Street Photography Manifesto
  • My Experience Shooting Digital Medium Format in Street Photography
  • Why Do You Feel Guilty Shooting Street Photography?
  • Improvise in Street Photography
  • Ethics in Street Photography

STREET NOTES MOBILE EDITION

Hot off the digital press, we have now made our popular STREET NOTES available for your Amazon Kindle.


FUNDAMENTALS OF STREET PHOTOGRAPHY

elegance, seoul, 2009 Eric Kim street photography

  • Fundamentals to Street Photography
  • How to Conquer Fear in Street Photography
  • Street Photography Secrets
  • NEO STREET PHOTOGRAPHY
  • Street Photography Lenses
  • Street Photography Settings
  • Street Photography Techniques
  • Street Photography Ideas
  • CLOSER.
  • CLEAN BACKGROUND

Street Photography Inspiration

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  • How to Enter the Street Photography Zone
  • Simple Street Photography Tips
  • How to Defuse Confrontations in Street Photography 
  • How to Make Controversial Street Photographs
  • Street Photography Project Ideas
  • How to Make Good Street Photos
  • Is Defining “STREET PHOTOGRAPHY” a Good Thing?
  • STREET PHOTOGRAPHY “RULES” TO BREAK
  • Walking Meditation in Street Photography
  • 10 COMMANDMENTS OF STREET PHOTOGRAPHY
  • Street Photography is Improvisation
  • In Praise of Randomness in Street Photography
  • How to Become a Fearless Photographer
  • How to Make Better Street Photographs
  • 12 ERIC KIM Street Photography Assignments
  • Meaningful Street Photography
  • 25 Street Photography Tips by ERIC KIM

Beginner Street Photography Articles

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Get started in street photography:

Definitions in Street Photography

  • Visual Sociology Street Photography
  • Why Street Photography?
  • What is Street Photography?
  • Why Shoot Street Photography?
  • The History of Street Photography

How to Shoot Street Photography

  • How to Shoot Street Photography
  • Street Portraits 101 by ERIC KIM
  • The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Street Photography
  • 70 Street Photography Tips for Beginners
  • 15 Street Photography Techniques and Tips
  • A Letter to My 18 Year Old Self: If I Started Street Photography All Over Again

Street Photography Equipment

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  • What is the Best Camera for Street Photography?
  • What is the Best Lens for Street Photography?
  • What to Consider When Buying a Camera

See all equipment articles >

How to Conquer Your Fears in Street Photography

  • How to Conquer Your Fears in Life
  • Shoot What You’re Afraid Of
  • How to Channel Your Fear into Bravery

See all articles to conquer your fears >


Intermediate Street Photography Articles

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Take your street photography to the next level:

  • How to Become a Stoic Street Photographer
  • The 10 Principles of Good Street Photography
  • 7 Tips How to Capture “The Decisive Moment” in Street Photography
  • The Importance of Social Skills in Street Photography
  • The Street Photography Code of Ethics
  • “Taking” vs “Making” Photos in Street Photography
  • Follow Your Gut in Street Photography
  • 10 Reasons Why You Should Never Chimp While Shooting Street Photography

Advanced Street Photography Articles

eric-kim-street-photography-suits-color-kodak-portra-400-2

Find deeper meaning in your street photography:

  • How to Master Street Photography
  • How to Be a Zen Street Photographer
  • Personal Street Photography
  • The “Bookend” Technique in Street Photography
  • Street Photography is Self-Therapy
  • Zen in the Art of Street Photography
  • Taoism and Street Photography
  • How to Find Your Style in Street Photography
  • Follow Your Gut in Street Photography

Street Photography Tips & Technique

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Learn how to shoot on the streets:

  • 70 Street Photography Tips for Beginners
  • 15 Street Photography Techniques and Tips
  • Take More Risks
  • Don’t Think About Composition When You’re Shooting Street Photography
  • 7 Tips How to Capture “The Decisive Moment” in Street Photography
  • 7 Tips How to Make a Great Street Photograph
  • Tokyo Street Photography Contact Sheets
  • Video: Why it is Important to “Work the Scene” in Street Photography
  • Shoot Less, Better
  • Make Shitty Photos
  • Shoot Effortlessly
  • 10 Tips for Candid Street Photography
  • 103 Lessons I’ve Learned From Street Photography

See all street photography tips and techniques >

Street Photography Guides

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In-depth guides on street photography:

  • How to Shoot Candid Street Photography
  • How to Shoot Street Portraits with Permission
  • How to Shoot Black and White Street Photography
  • How to Shoot Color Street Photography
  • How to Shoot Street Portraits with Permission
  • How to Shoot Layers in Street Photography
  • How to Shoot Urban Landscapes

Street Photography Equipment

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The best equipment for street photography:

  • What is the Best Camera for Street Photography?
  • What is the Best Lens for Street Photography?
  • Why I Love Cameras with Non-Interchangeable Lenses
  • The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide for Cameras in Street Photography
  • What to Consider When Buying a Camera for Street Photography
  • In Street Photography, The Smaller the Camera, the Better
  • Why Sharpness is Overrated in Street Photography
  • How to Shoot Street Photography on a DSLR

See all equipment articles >

Street Photography Editing and Workflow

  • Video: Introduction to Editing, Processing, and Workflow in Lightroom
  • How to Edit (Choose Your Best Photos) in Street Photography
  • How Studying Contact Sheets Can Make You a Better Street Photographer
  • Debunking the “Myth of the Decisive Moment”

How to Start a Street Photography Project

  • Free E-Book: The Street Photography Project Manual
  • How to Start Your Own Street Photography Project
  • How to Come Up With a Personal Photography Project Idea

Learn From the Masters of Street Photography

MASTERS PROTOTYPE by HAPTIC

“He without a past has no future.”

Start here:

  1. Why Study the Masters of Photography?
  2. Great Female Master Photographers
  3. Cheat Sheet of the Masters of Photography
  4. 100 Lessons From the Masters of Street Photography
  5. Beginner’s Guide to the Masters of Street Photography
  6. Download All Articles >

The Masters of Photography

Prague, 1968. Josef Koudelka / Magnum Photos
Prague, 1968. Josef Koudelka / Magnum Photos

Classics never die:

  • Alfred Stieglitz
  • Alec Soth
  • Alex Webb
  • Alexey Brodovitch
  • Anders Petersen
  • Andre Kertesz
  • Ansel Adams
  • Araki
  • Blake Andrews
  • Bruce Davidson
  • Bruce Gilden
  • Constantine Manos
  • Daido Moriyama
  • Dan Winters
  • David Alan Harvey
  • David Hurn
  • Diane Arbus
  • Dorothea Lange
  • Elliott Erwitt
  • Eugene Atget
  • Eugene Smith
  • Fan Ho
  • Garry Winogrand
  • Gordon Parks
  • Helen Levitt
  • Henri Cartier-Bresson
  • Irving Penn
  • Jacob Aue Sobol
  • Jeff Mermelstein
  • Joel Meyerowitz
  • Joel Sternfeld
  • Josef Koudelka / Part 2
  • Josh White
  • Lee Friedlander
  • Lisette Model
  • Magnum Contact Sheets
  • Magnum Photographers
  • Mark Cohen
  • Martin Parr
  • Martine Franck
  • Mary Ellen Mark
  • Rene Burri
  • Richard Avedon
  • Richard Kalvar
  • Robert Capa
  • Robert Frank
  • Saul Leiter
  • Sergio Larrain
  • Sebastião Salgado
  • Shomei Tomatsu
  • Stephen Shore
  • The History of Street Photography
  • Todd Hido
  • Tony Ray-Jones
  • Trent Parke
  • Vivian Maier
  • Walker Evans
  • Weegee
  • William Eggleston
  • William Klein
  • Zoe Strauss

Free Downloads

  • Eric Kim Lightroom Presets
  • Street Photography Presentations

See all free downloads >

Free Street Photography Books

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Distilled information on street photography:

  • STREET PHOTOGRAPHY MANUAL by ERIC KIM
  • The Art of Street Photography
  • 100 Lessons From the Masters of Street Photography
  • Street Photography Contact Sheets
  • Street Photography 101
  • Street Photography 102
  • Film Street Photography Manual
  • The Street Photography Composition Manual
  • The Street Portrait Manual
  • 31 Days to Overcome Your Fear in Street Photography
  • Zen in the Art of Street Photography

For more resources on photography, Start Here >

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