flash street photography ERIC KIM hong kong kodak porra 400

How to Shoot More Dynamic Street Photographs

The goal:

Shoot more dynamic street photos.

Dynamic street photos means:

  1. A photograph with more dynamic force, dynamistic energy. To make photos like dynamite.
  2. Make photos which inspire you to move, live, and interact with others!

The ideas:

1. Movement and flash

First idea — shoot people in motion and use a flash. This adds extreme dynamism to the photo:

flash street photography ERIC KIM hong kong kodak porra 400

2. Seeing the face is better

girl bicycle face high angle new haven ERIC KIM street photograph

If you can … try to make a street photograph where you can see the face of your subject. If you cannot, it is less interesting.

girl bicycle face high angle new haven ERIC KIM street photograph

3. Layers

Layers in street photography are far more engaging and dynamic.

By having layers, you allow your viewers’ eyes wander throughout the frame, and it feels more complex and layered (just like an onion!)

4. Flash and distance

Shoot a juxtaposition between your subject and the background. Long distance flash … very interesting visual effect.

5. Close distance + flash + juxtaposition

Hong Kong subway. Note the juxtaposition of the happy guy on the back, and the tired guy in the suit on the right.

Juxtaposition between happy vs sad, old vs young, etc.


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Hearts. Hollywood, 2011 #flash

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