In striving to come up with a good definition of street photography, it seems the most simple is the best:

Any photo you shoot in public is a street photograph.

Photo+graph= light drawing.

Street photography as light street drawings. It means you’re using a camera (light capturing device) to make sketches of stuff you see in public places, cities, urban spaces, streets.

It’s all street

To me, almost any public photo in a public space is a street photo. I don’t care for classification — I am more interested in looking at photos which speak to me. Photos that somehow interest me — either the subject matter, my interpretation of the image, or the emotional impact a photo has on me.

Do they need to be strangers?

I don’t think so. This is a “street photo” of Cindy walking the streets with me.

Why is there a bias towards photographing strangers? Perhaps because most street photographers aren’t out shooting on the streets with friends, family, or people they know.

To me, street photos of strangers are just as legitimate as street photos of people you know.

Indoor street photography

You can shoot street photography in “public-private”places, like Starbucks or coffee shops.

Coffee shops are a good place to witness people getting more comfortable and interacting with one another. Even from inside the coffee shop, looking out.

Hotel lobbies

Shoot street photos inside hotel lobbies — another interesting pseudo-public place.

Juxtapose with interesting architecture, and switch up the orientation of your camera (vertical and horizontal).

Inside elevator

Photograph people inside elevators.

Parking garage

Or photograph people in parking garages — on the stairs, or edges.

Inside restaurants

Embrace the blur!

Conclusion

When in doubt, note — it’s all street!

ERIC