• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • ARS BETA
  • AMAZON
  • NEWSLETTER

ERIC KIM

  • START HERE
    • BOOKS
    • EQUIPMENT
  • SHOP
  • WORKSHOPS

10 Dynamic Street Photography Tips

Man with hand over face. Tokyo, 2017
Man with hand over face. Tokyo, 2017
Man with hand over face. Tokyo, 2017

If you want to make more edgy and dynamic street photographs, here are some tips for you:


ERIC KIM STREET PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS

Mad men. NYC, 2017. Pentax 645Z

Take your street photography to the next level at ERIC KIM WORKSHOP >


1. Layers/depth

For a dynamic street photograph, get a lot of layers, faces, and eyes looking at you:

People in elevator. Tokyo, 2017
Elderly people in elevator. Tokyo, 2017

2. Shoot head-on

Head-on Street Photograph. Tokyo, 2017
Head-on Street Photograph. Tokyo, 2017

Use a wide-angle lens like a 28mm lens or 35mm lens, and shoot HEAD-ON. Head-on street photographs are more dynamic, because they give you the feeling that your subject is going to collide with you:

3. Triangle composition

Look for figures in a triangle composition, which creates a balanced yet dynamic image:

Tilted street photograph in Tokyo, of a triangle composition (man in bottom left, man on top right, and advertisement in top left)

4. Decapitation technique

Akira Kurosawa film poster. Tokyo, 2017
Eyes cut out. Akira Kurosawa film poster. Tokyo, 2017

Get super low, and cut off the heads of subjects or cut out their eyes. The reason this technique works is that it makes the subjects more mysterious. It also makes the picture more open-ended.

In the below example, see how I only photographed the girl and her holding the hands of her parents, yet cut off their heads:

One street photographer who incorporates the decapitation technique well is Mark Cohen.

As a tip, when photographing kids, crouch down very low, to get eye-to-eye level with them, to see the world from their perspective.

5. The ‘bookend’ technique

Two book ends holding together the energy of the books in the center.
Two book ends holding together the energy of the books in the center.

To focus energy into the center of the frame, try out the ‘bookend technique’— having a subject fill the extreme left and extreme right of the frame, kind of how two book ends center the subjects in the frame:

Bookend technique with a flash, note how the figure on the far left and the far right frame the subject in the center of the frame. Tokyo, 2017
Bookend technique with a flash, note how the figure on the far left and the far right frame the subject in the center of the frame. Tokyo, 2017

You don’t always need two book ends to make a dynamic street photograph, sometimes just on the left or right side of the frame:

Woman on the far left as a bookend, with her hand gesture leading to the right. Dynamic 3, multiple subject street photograph. Tokyo, 2017
Woman on the far left as a bookend, with her hand gesture leading to the right. Dynamic 3, multiple subject street photograph. Tokyo, 2017

6. The ‘Superman effect’ (Crouch down very low / dynamic low angle perspective)

When you crouch very low and shoot looking up, you create a ‘Superman effect’— making the subjects look larger than life:

Man with flip phone. Tokyo, 2017
Dynamic and aggressive composition, because shot from low angle, which emphasizes the diagonal lines pointing to this man. Orange of his face against blue background.

Generally the Superman effect works best with wide-angle lenses (28mm is good), because it exaggerates the low perspective and leading lines. Note how in this street photograph of this older lady, because she’s on the far right of the frame, she is drawn into the picture:

Woman with cell phone. Tokyo, 2017
Woman with cell phone. Tokyo, 2017

Good cameras with wide-angle lenses (28mm on RICOH GR II, 35mm on Fujifilm x100F), or even a phone camera (default lens on iPhone is around 28mm).

7. Escalators (at the mall)

For dynamic street photographs, shoot street photographs on escalators. Don’t center your subject. Have them off to the side:

The reason why escalators are good for street photography is because you can get tons of diagonal lines, which make for more dynamic street photography.

8. Umbrellas

Tokyo flash. Woman with umbrella. Ginza, 2017
Tokyo flash. Woman with umbrella. Ginza, 2017

Shoot street photography when it is raining, and try to get umbrellas. Shoot through clear and plastic umbrellas (in Japan/Tokyo) or just photograph people with umbrellas. Umbrellas are also good because they fill the frame.

Tokyo flash rain.

Umbrella Tokyo flash.

Umbrella selfie.

One pro tip: shoot with a flash through a clear umbrella, to create a surreal and dynamic rainy effect. Below was shot with RICOH GR II in P (program mode) with the popup flash, in RAW, processed with ERIC KIM MONOCHROME 1600 preset:

DARK SKIES OVER TOKYO / Man with umbrella.
DARK SKIES OVER TOKYO / Man with umbrella.

9. Eye-contact

“Eyes are windows to the soul.”

Tokyo eye. DARK SKIES OVER TOKYO
Tokyo eye. DARK SKIES OVER TOKYO

Look for eyes in street photography. Either make eye contact with other humans, or look for eyes in posters or billboards. When you see an eye in the background, focus on the eye in the background (not on your subject who is closest to you):

Contact sheet. Tokyo eye, 2016.
Contact sheet. Tokyo eye, 2016.

Other dynamic street photographs with eye contact:

Street portrait of man with one white eye, looking directly at viewer/photographer with eye contact.
Woman making eye contact in nyc.

Pro-tip: To make eye contact more compelling, center the eye:

eric kim center eye nyc street photography portrait-1-1

eric kim center eye photography composition boxing

Also, to get eye contact in street photography, shoot a lot of pictures. Keep shooting, until they notice your presence:

eric kim street photography one eye black and white-downtown la

downtown la eye contact sheet
I kept clicking until he looked at me.

10. Flash street photography

Man shot with flash in mall, with two people behind him, making triangle. Shibuya, Tokyo, 2017
Man shot with flash in mall, with two people behind him, making triangle. Shibuya, Tokyo, 2017

Shoot with a flash, for more dynamism, energy, sex, danger, contrast, and to separate the subject from the background.

Flash umbrella street photograph with red and blue. Kyoto, 2017
Flash umbrella street photograph with red and blue. Kyoto, 2017

When shooting street photography with flash, I recommend using P (program mode) and the automatic ‘TTL’ settings on your flash whenever possible. For example on the RICOH GR II, I just use the integrated popup flash. Same on the Fujifilm x100 camera.

Street photograph of woman and mannequins with flash. Kyoto, 2017.
Street photograph of woman and mannequins with flash. Kyoto, 2017.

On my film Leica MP camera, I use the Leica SF 24D or the Leica SF 20 (no diffuser). I use ISO 400 film, adjust the flash power to 1/8th. For aperture, I shoot at around f8 when the subject is 1.2 meters away, f16 when the subject is .7 meters away, and f5.6 when the subject is around 2 meters away.

Leica MP and 35mm f/2 Summicron + SF 20 flash
Shooting street photography in Downtown LA with the Leica M9, 35mm lens, and off-camera flash. Photo by Rinzi Ruiz
Shooting street photography in Downtown LA with the Leica M9, 35mm lens, and off-camera flash. Photo by Rinzi Ruiz

Below are some photos shot with flash with these Manual settings, on the film Leica MP. The reason I use manual settings is because the Leica MP has no automatic TTL flash settings:

Flash suit
Paris, 2015
Shot in a restaurant with flash in Michigan, Lansing.
Shot in a restaurant with flash in Michigan, Lansing.
Suit Istanbul, 2013
Suit Istanbul, 2013
Flash street photograph in Istanbul, 2014 // Eric Kim
Flash street photograph in Istanbul, 2014. I just took one shot, and didn’t think too much before shooting.
Woman on phone, with billboard in background. Shot with a flash. I love the tension here. London Street Photograph by ERIC KIM, 2014.
London, 2013

Conclusion

eric kim street photography - the city of angels - black and white-1-jazz-hands-flash-hollywood

Ultimately, my favorite street photographs are simple and dynamic.

Simple: no distractions in background.

Dynamic: full of energy, dynamism, movement, emotion, soul, diagonal lines, and tension in composition.

BE DYNAMIC,
ERIC

Take your street photography to the next level at ERIC KIM WORKSHOP >


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 Benefits of Shooting Street Photography
  • 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

  • The Psychology of 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

eric kim street photography marseille kodak portra 400 sunbather beach

  • 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

eric-kim-street-photography-color-chroma-1

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

Tokyo Eric Kim rain umbrella

  • 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

eric-kim-street-photography-color-chroma-19

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

laughin-lady-contact-copy

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

tokyo-eye-eric-kim-street-photography-contact-sheet-0000545

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

0-eric-kim-street-photography-sweat-downtown-la

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

eric-kim-street-photography-only-in-america-14

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 >

Say Hello to Your New MUSE.

MUSE: Inspire the photographer within you.

Discover MUSE >

ERIC KIM EXPERIENCE

Experiences never die:

  • Jan 16-19: Mexico City Travel Street Photography Adventure – OPEN!
  • Feb 29-Mar 1: NEW ORLEANS Street Photography Experience – NEW!
  • March 21-22: Boston Discover Your Unique Voice in Photography Workshop – OPEN!
  • April 25-26: CHICAGO Street Photography Experience (info TBA)
  • August 27-30: SAIGON, VIETNAM Street Photography Adventure (info TBA)

ERIC KIM NEWSLETTER

Join ERIC KIM NEWSLETTER and be the first to get exclusive content, free ebooks, presets, and upcoming workshops coming to your area:


JOIN ARS: The Anti-Social Social Media for Photographers

Get real feedback on your photos: ARSBETA.COM

All information here is open-source