10 Super Simple Street Photography Tips

Simple is elegant. Here are some (super) simple street photography tips to integrate into your shooting:

1. Monochrome color photo

This fun tip:

Try to shoot a color photograph that only has 1 (primary) color in the photo.

For example, this picture I shot at the Art Center in Pasadena– just a big orange-red dot, and I wanted for someone to enter the photo.

Another version:

red silhouette

2. Shoot (many) photos while people are walking towards you

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset
Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

If you see a person walking towards you, don’t use take 1 photo. Rather, take photos while your subject is walking towards you.

Shot on an Android Phone, processed in A6 preset in VSCO:

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset
Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

3. Shoot candid photos anywhere!

Gym street photography golds

Don’t just shoot street photography in the streets. Shoot photos in the gym, with your phone!

4. Wave at your subjects while you shoot

Get a ‘hand selfie’ in your photo: I shot this picture of this construction man in Tokyo, with RICOH GR II in Program mode with a flash. I got lucky to get this surreal picture, with the two hands in the photo:

Behind the scenes video here.

5. Shoot inside restaurants/bars from outside

If you see an interesting scene when you’re walking on the streets, poke your head in, shoot a few photos, and keep walking.

6. Tilt your camera

To make more dynamic street photography compositions, tilt your camera when you’re shooting! Note this subtle tilt I did on a Ricoh gr ii, shot on 28mm lens, and with slight blur on JPEG.

Experiment with your compositions by tilting your camera whenever you see interesting scenes! And shoot a lot.

7. Get really close, and shoot -1 or -2 exposure compensation

Shoot at -1 or -2 exposure compensation to create silhouetted street photos. And shoot a lot, and attempt to get some space and separation between your subjects in the frame.

8. Shoot street photography from inside a car (while someone else is driving you)

I call this ‘driveway street photography’ — something that Winogrand did towards the end of his life. Some examples while my friend was driving me:

Black pink blue car

9. Farmer’s market

If you live in the suburbs, and you want to practice your street photography, visit a local farmer’s market! Some pictures I shot in Downtown Anaheim for their farmer’s market.

Eric kim Green shadow selfie

10. Grocery store street photography

When you go buy groceries, bring along your camera and snap some photos! If you want to be more discrete, just shoot with your phone:


JUST SHOOT IT.

And of course, always when in doubt:

JUST SHOOT IT.

ERIC

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