{"id":34354,"date":"2016-11-25T07:35:09","date_gmt":"2016-11-25T15:35:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?page_id=34354"},"modified":"2016-11-25T17:09:13","modified_gmt":"2016-11-26T01:09:13","slug":"street-photography","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/street-photography\/","title":{"rendered":"Street Photography by Eric Kim"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_33930\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-33930\" style=\"width: 2000px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"33930\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2016\/11\/17\/tokyo-diary-2016\/eric-kim-street-photography-tokyo-0000280-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/eric-kim-street-photography-tokyo-0000280-1.jpg?fit=4928%2C3264&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"4928,3264\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5.6&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;GR II&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1478785285&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;ERIC KIM STREET PHOTOGRAPHY&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;18.3&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;1600&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0055555555555556&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"eric-kim-street-photography-tokyo-0000280\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Tokyo, 2016&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/eric-kim-street-photography-tokyo-0000280-1.jpg?fit=660%2C437&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/eric-kim-street-photography-tokyo-0000280-1.jpg?fit=2000%2C1325&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-large wp-image-33930\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/eric-kim-street-photography-tokyo-0000280-1-2000x1325.jpg?resize=2000%2C1325\" alt=\"Tokyo, 2016\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1325\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/eric-kim-street-photography-tokyo-0000280-1.jpg?resize=2000%2C1325&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/eric-kim-street-photography-tokyo-0000280-1.jpg?resize=660%2C437&amp;ssl=1 660w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/eric-kim-street-photography-tokyo-0000280-1.jpg?resize=768%2C509&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/eric-kim-street-photography-tokyo-0000280-1.jpg?w=3000&amp;ssl=1 3000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-33930\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tokyo, 2016<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Dear friend,<\/p>\n<p>I am writing you this book,\u00c2\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.erickimphotography.com\/Downloads\/Books\/Street%20Photography%20by%20Eric%20Kim\/Street%20Photography%20by%20Eric%20Kim.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"><em><strong>Street Photography<\/strong><\/em><\/a>\u00c2\u00a0to encapsulate everything I have learned about street photography in the last 10 years. Consider this as a distillation of my own personal lessons in street photography. There are no \u00e2\u20ac\u0153right\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and \u00e2\u20ac\u0153wrong\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s\u00e2\u20ac\u009d in this book. This is all just my opinion. But I hope that you will cherry-pick what resonates with you, and throw away the rest.<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, I want your street photography to be personal. For your street photos to have your soul embedded in them. It means to photograph others who you can empathize with; people who you can feel their suffering or their happiness.<\/p>\n<p>Shoot with your heart,<br \/>\nEric<\/p>\n<h2>Download<\/h2>\n<p><strong>PDF:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.erickimphotography.com\/Downloads\/Books\/Street%20Photography%20by%20Eric%20Kim\/Street%20Photography%20by%20Eric%20Kim.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Direct Download<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/dl.dropboxusercontent.com\/u\/3105959\/Downloads\/Books\/Street%20Photography%20by%20Eric%20Kim.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Dropbox<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/open?id=0BxslI7nEWY93UUZjYlNnMTIyZEE\" target=\"_blank\">Google Drive<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Other Downloads:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.erickimphotography.com\/Downloads\/Books\/Street%20Photography%20by%20Eric%20Kim\/Street%20Photography%20by%20Eric%20Kim.docx\" target=\"_blank\">Microsoft (.docx)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.erickimphotography.com\/Downloads\/Books\/Street%20Photography%20by%20Eric%20Kim\/Street%20Photography%20by%20Eric%20Kim.txt\" target=\"_blank\">Text File (.txt)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Chapter 1: What is street photography?<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_30714\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-30714\" style=\"width: 2000px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"30714\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2016\/10\/05\/why-i-give-away-my-photos-for-free\/marseille-france_8465559399_o-4\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/marseille-france_8465559399_o.jpg?fit=3087%2C2048&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"3087,2048\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"marseille-france_8465559399_o\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Marseille, 2013&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/marseille-france_8465559399_o.jpg?fit=660%2C438&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/marseille-france_8465559399_o.jpg?fit=2000%2C1327&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-large wp-image-30714\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/marseille-france_8465559399_o-2000x1327.jpg?resize=2000%2C1327\" alt=\"Marseille, 2013\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1327\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/marseille-france_8465559399_o.jpg?resize=2000%2C1327&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/marseille-france_8465559399_o.jpg?resize=660%2C438&amp;ssl=1 660w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/marseille-france_8465559399_o.jpg?resize=768%2C510&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/marseille-france_8465559399_o.jpg?w=3000&amp;ssl=1 3000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-30714\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Marseille, 2013<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>To start off, street photography is whatever you make of it.<\/p>\n<p>There are no \u00e2\u20ac\u0153right\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and \u00e2\u20ac\u0153wrong\u00e2\u20ac\u009d definitions in street photography.<\/p>\n<p>Street photography is simply the art of wandering in public places, and taking photos of whatever interests you.<\/p>\n<p>You don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t need to adhere yourself to any \u00e2\u20ac\u0153rules.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Street photography is the most democratic form of photography\u00e2\u20ac\u201d because all you need is a public place, and a camera, to document whatever you find interesting, and personally-meaningful to you.<\/p>\n<p>If I could define street photography, it would simply be: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153<em>Documenting humanity<\/em>.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Humanity\u00e2\u20ac\u009d can be defined however you want.<\/p>\n<p>I document humanity by photographing people, buildings, things I find on the street, and any object that makes me feel the human condition.<\/p>\n<p>I think above all, street photography is about documenting others, places, and the streets with your heart. Street photography is about having an open mind, and wandering the streets, and exploring\u00e2\u20ac\u201d with no pre-conceived ideas, notions, or concepts.<\/p>\n<p>I generally tend to agree that the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153best\u00e2\u20ac\u009d street photographs generally include people, and are candid (without permission). Because generally these photos feel more authentic, real, and \u00e2\u20ac\u0153un-posed.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n<p>However on the other hand, some of the best street photos I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve seen are with permission and even sometimes without people.<\/p>\n<p>What matters the most is whether I can relate to a photograph with my soul. Whether I can empathize with a subject in a photograph. Whether the photograph reminds me of my humanity.<\/p>\n<p>So don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t worry whether you photograph people (or buildings), whether you photograph with permission or without permission, and don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t worry whether you photograph in a busy downtown area or inside a shopping mall.<\/p>\n<p>Street photography is open to everyone, open to shoot anywhere, and open to your own interpretation. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t let anyone define street photography to you. Define street photography for yourself.<\/p>\n<h2>Chapter 2: Why shoot street photography?<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_30571\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-30571\" style=\"width: 2000px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"30571\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2016\/09\/25\/how-to-capture-emotion-in-your-photos\/suits-4-7\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Suits-4.jpg?fit=3936%2C2608&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"3936,2608\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;7.1&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;GR&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1424840865&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;18.3&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;3200&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0003125&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"eric kim street photography suits &amp;#8211; tie\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;SF, 2015&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Suits-4.jpg?fit=660%2C437&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Suits-4.jpg?fit=2000%2C1325&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-large wp-image-30571\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Suits-4-2000x1325.jpg?resize=2000%2C1325\" alt=\"SF, 2015\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1325\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Suits-4.jpg?resize=2000%2C1325&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Suits-4.jpg?resize=660%2C437&amp;ssl=1 660w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Suits-4.jpg?resize=768%2C509&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Suits-4.jpg?w=3000&amp;ssl=1 3000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-30571\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">SF, 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Moving on, a better question is to consider: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153<em>Why<\/em> shoot street photography?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n<p>Street photography is for you, if you love to explore, see the world, interact with people, are curious of strangers, and want to find some more meaning in the world as a human being.<\/p>\n<h3>Why do I shoot street photography?<\/h3>\n<p>I personally shoot street photography because it gives me an opportunity to meet strangers, interact with them, and to find more beauty in everyday life.<\/p>\n<p>To me, street photography isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t pretentious. And street photography has helped me become a more confident individual.<\/p>\n<p>Before shooting street photography, I was deathly afraid of photographing strangers. Now, I can do it without nervousness, fear, or anxiety. Not only that, but the more comfortable I am shooting street photography, the more comfortable I am with interacting with anybody.<\/p>\n<p>Above all, the reason I am interested in street photography is that I want to connect with people. <strong>I am less interested in making photos; I am more interested in making connections<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>I studied sociology in college, and I see street photography as \u00e2\u20ac\u0153applied\u00e2\u20ac\u009d sociology. Instead of having a notepad and pen, I use the camera as my sociological research tool. So in a sense, I consider myself as a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153street sociologist\u00e2\u20ac\u009d.<\/p>\n<h3>Why do you shoot street photography?<\/h3>\n<p>There are many different reasons why you might shoot street photography.<\/p>\n<p>Perhaps street photography for you is documenting history. Perhaps shooting street photography is about exploring the world, especially when you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re traveling. Perhaps street photography helps you relieve some anxiety in life, and stress from the 9-5 grind. Perhaps street photography is about visual gymnastics\u00e2\u20ac\u201d you have fun arranging things in the frame, in fun and novel ways.<\/p>\n<p>I know that most people have started \u00e2\u20ac\u0153street photography\u00e2\u20ac\u009d without even knowing what it was. Many of us have an urge to document strangers, for some strange reason.<\/p>\n<p>For me, all street photographers are universally compassionate, loving, and empathetic human beings. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve never met a street photographer who is an asshole. Because if you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re interested in shooting street photography, you must have a genuine interest in humanity. And it takes a unique human being to be interested in street photography.<\/p>\n<h2>Chapter 3: The tools of street photography<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_30559\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-30559\" style=\"width: 2000px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"30559\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2016\/11\/04\/what-if-you-feared-nothing\/11-15\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/11.jpg?fit=2500%2C1657&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2500,1657\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;GR&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1420341190&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;18.3&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;1600&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.00025&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"11\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Downtown LA, 2015&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/11.jpg?fit=660%2C437&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/11.jpg?fit=2000%2C1326&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-large wp-image-30559\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/11-2000x1326.jpg?resize=2000%2C1326\" alt=\"Downtown LA, 2015\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1326\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/11.jpg?resize=2000%2C1326&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/11.jpg?resize=660%2C437&amp;ssl=1 660w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/11.jpg?resize=768%2C509&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-30559\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Downtown LA, 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>To shoot street photography, all you need is a camera. My suggestion: use the smallest, most discrete, and easy-to-use camera possible for your street photography.<\/p>\n<p>That can be your smartphone, a compact camera, or a mirrorless camera. You can even use bigger cameras\u00e2\u20ac\u201d DSLR\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s or any other bulky camera. It doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t really matter, as long as your camera has a shutter-button.<\/p>\n<p>I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve personally found that the best street photography opportunities present themselves when you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re paying attention. When I walk around, and have my camera in my hand, I pay more attention.<\/p>\n<p>To be a better street photographer, learn how to pay better attention. That means to kill distractions.<\/p>\n<p>When I am shooting street photography, I generally turn off my phone (or switch it to mute, or airplane mode). I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t listen to music. I try not to think about my personal stresses, anxieties, regrets, concerns of finances, or my future.<\/p>\n<p>The secret to shooting good street photography is to empty your mind. To not think of anything. To simply connect yourself with your environment, and let the photos shoot themselves.<\/p>\n<p>I see street photography as a zen-meditation practice. To be a great street photographer, you must appreciate the subtle beauty of everything around you. You need to walk slowly, and enjoy every step of the way. You need to enjoy the process of shooting street photography, and not be attached to the results.<\/p>\n<p>Because in street photography, you cannot control whether you make a good photo or not. Luck plays a huge role in street photography, as any good fisherman would say. You can be the most skilled fisherman in the world, but if one day there are no fish in the lake, you won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t catch any fish.<\/p>\n<p>So when it comes to walking around and shooting street photography, don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t expect to make any good photos. Just think to yourself, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m going to go on a nice walk, and bring my camera along. If I see something interesting to me, I will take some photos. If I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t see anything interesting, and don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t take any photos, that is okay too.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n<p>I also have found that by putting no pressure on myself when shooting street photography, I am less stressed, less anxious, and more creative.<\/p>\n<p>Above all, <strong>street photography should be fun<\/strong>. If you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re not having fun when you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re shooting street photography, you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re doing something wrong.<\/p>\n<p>You should also try to embrace \u00e2\u20ac\u0153child\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s mind\u00e2\u20ac\u009d or \u00e2\u20ac\u0153beginner\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s mind\u00e2\u20ac\u009d when you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re shooting in the streets. You don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t pay a kid money to play in a playground and \u00e2\u20ac\u0153have fun.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Similarly, your street photography should be motivated by a sense of wonderment, excitement, and fun. You shouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t censor yourself when you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re shooting on the streets. You should just wander with your camera, and put together things in the frame which you find interesting.<\/p>\n<h2>Chapter 4: How to shoot street photography<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_30566\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-30566\" style=\"width: 2000px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"30566\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2016\/09\/25\/how-to-capture-emotion-in-your-photos\/suits-8-11\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Suits-8.jpg?fit=3087%2C2048&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"3087,2048\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Lansing, 2014 &amp;#8211; suits -eric kim street photography &amp;#8211; bored couple- flash &amp;#8211; kodak portra 400 film\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Lansing, 2014&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Suits-8.jpg?fit=660%2C438&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Suits-8.jpg?fit=2000%2C1327&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-large wp-image-30566\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Suits-8-2000x1327.jpg?resize=2000%2C1327\" alt=\"Lansing, 2014\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1327\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Suits-8.jpg?resize=2000%2C1327&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Suits-8.jpg?resize=660%2C438&amp;ssl=1 660w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Suits-8.jpg?resize=768%2C510&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Suits-8.jpg?w=3000&amp;ssl=1 3000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-30566\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lansing, 2014<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Honestly, you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t need any instruction for <em>how<\/em> to shoot street photography. All you need is your camera, your curiosity, and an instinct when to hit the shutter.<\/p>\n<p>I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think there are any \u00e2\u20ac\u0153good\u00e2\u20ac\u009d or \u00e2\u20ac\u0153bad\u00e2\u20ac\u009d street photos. Street photography is all subjective. What you might find interesting in street photography (from the perspective of a westerner) will be very different for what is \u00e2\u20ac\u0153interesting\u00e2\u20ac\u009d from the perspective of someone from the east.<\/p>\n<p>We all filter reality through our own eyes, through our own perceptions, and our own tinted glasses. We will only find things \u00e2\u20ac\u0153interesting\u00e2\u20ac\u009d based on our own life experiences.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re from Tokyo, you will find yellow taxi cabs interesting in NYC. If you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re from NYC, you will find the vending machines in Tokyo as interesting.<\/p>\n<p>My suggestion when you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re shooting street photography: <strong>have an open mind<\/strong>. Try to walk slowly, look around, and don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t forget to look up and down.<\/p>\n<p>When I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m shooting street photography, I generally look for emotion. I find emotion through the people in the streets. By their body language, hand-gestures, and facial expressions.<\/p>\n<p>I tend to be a bit of a social critic. I am very optimistic about the world, but also very pessimistic about society. I have a great love of humanity, yet I see so many individuals oppressed by society. I feel this the most when I see people in Tokyo, squished into these subway cars, working 80 hour weeks, just in order to make a living, and not \u00e2\u20ac\u0153lose face\u00e2\u20ac\u009d in society.<\/p>\n<p>Therefore I use my pessimistic sociological lenses to color my street photography. When I shoot street photography, my images tend to be dark, depressing, and critical. I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t do this to only show the negative side of society \u00e2\u20ac\u201d I do this to shed light on social issues, and to perhaps empathize with my subjects. My biggest hope in my street photography is to show the viewer and tell them: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be like these guys in my photos who are sad and miserable. Live a life true to yourself, full of happiness, love, and passion.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n<p>Of course, how and why you shoot street photography is unique to you.<\/p>\n<p>I also suggest to shoot street photography in a way which is personal and authentic to you.<\/p>\n<p>If you consider yourself an extrovert, talk to your subjects and interact with them when photographing them.<\/p>\n<p>If you consider yourself an introvert, don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t feel obliged to interact with your subjects. It might be better for you to simply observe, rather than interact.<\/p>\n<p>I also feel street photography is a form of self-exploration; of figuring out who <em>you<\/em> are as a human being. What makes your perspective of the world unique? What is your opinion?<\/p>\n<p>There is no \u00e2\u20ac\u0153right\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and \u00e2\u20ac\u0153wrong\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (in the objective sense). But there is a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153right\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and \u00e2\u20ac\u0153wrong\u00e2\u20ac\u009d for you \u00e2\u20ac\u201d in terms of what works for you, and what doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t work for you.<\/p>\n<p>So don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t study other street photographers. Only study yourself, and work hard to find out what works for <em>you<\/em>.<\/p>\n<h2>Chapter 5: Composition<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_30254\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-30254\" style=\"width: 2000px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"30254\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2016\/09\/01\/empower-others-with-your-photography\/dark-skies-over-tokyo-2-12\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Dark-Skies-Over-Tokyo-2.jpg?fit=4616%2C3072&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"4616,3072\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;16&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;M9 Digital Camera&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1322604171&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;2500&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0005&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Dark Skies Over Tokyo-2\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Tokyo, 2011&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Dark-Skies-Over-Tokyo-2.jpg?fit=660%2C439&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Dark-Skies-Over-Tokyo-2.jpg?fit=2000%2C1331&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-large wp-image-30254\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Dark-Skies-Over-Tokyo-2-2000x1331.jpg?resize=2000%2C1331\" alt=\"Tokyo, 2011\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1331\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Dark-Skies-Over-Tokyo-2.jpg?resize=2000%2C1331&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Dark-Skies-Over-Tokyo-2.jpg?resize=660%2C439&amp;ssl=1 660w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Dark-Skies-Over-Tokyo-2.jpg?resize=768%2C511&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Dark-Skies-Over-Tokyo-2.jpg?w=3000&amp;ssl=1 3000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-30254\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tokyo, 2011<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I am obsessed with composition in street photography. I have my own personal theories, which I help can be useful to you.<\/p>\n<h3>Simple is better<\/h3>\n<p>First of all, composition is all about how you arrange a frame. What you decide to include in a photograph, and more importantly \u00e2\u20ac\u201d what you decide to <em>exclude<\/em> from your frame.<\/p>\n<p>I believe the best photos are the simplest photos. In street photography, the biggest challenge is to <em>reduce<\/em> complication and complexity from the frame. To make a simple street photograph is actually much more difficult than making a complicated street photograph.<\/p>\n<h3>Remove distractions<\/h3>\n<p>I personally try to remove distractions from the frame, in order to make a better composition. When I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m shooting, I am always conscious of the background of the photo, and the <em>edges<\/em> of the frame. I try to make the background as simple as possible, and the edges of the frame as clean as possible.<\/p>\n<p>When we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re shooting street photography, it is easy to get tunnel-visioned. We generally tend to look at the inner-30% of the frame. We never look at the edges of the background of the frame. This is why a lot of us tend to crop our photos afterwards; because we didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think about the edges of the frame.<\/p>\n<h3>Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t crop<\/h3>\n<p>If you want to improve your composition and framing in street photography, my biggest tip is to <strong>not crop<\/strong>. I think cropping in itself is fine, but if you really want to make the best framing possible when you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re shooting on the street\u00e2\u20ac\u201d <em>not<\/em> cropping is the best \u00e2\u20ac\u0153creative constraint\u00e2\u20ac\u009d you can give yourself.<\/p>\n<p>I personally used to be a crop-a-holic. I would take photos without much concern for framing, knowing that I could just \u00e2\u20ac\u0153crop it later.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Yet the problem of cropping photos afterwards is that it makes you lazy when you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re framing, and also it changes the perspective of your photos. If you shoot a scene with a 35mm lens, and crop the inner 50% afterwards, it won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t look like it was shot with a wide-angle lens. Photos shot with a wide-angle lens (28mm-35mm) tend to feel more intimate, and less distant. The more you crop a photo, the more distant you feel from the subjects in your photos.<\/p>\n<h3>Use a fixed-focal (prime) lens<\/h3>\n<p>Furthermore, to improve your composition, I recommend using a fixed-focal (prime) lens. I think a 35mm lens is ideal for most street photographers (not too wide, or not too close). By <em>not<\/em> having a zoom lens, you are less distracted. By sticking with one fixed-focal prime lens for a long time, you learn how to see the world in that focal length. Therefore you know how to frame a scene before even bringing up a camera to your eye.<\/p>\n<p>Personally, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve shot with a 35mm lens for almost 8 years. I know a 35mm frame like the back of my hand. Recently, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been shooting more with a 28mm lens (with a point-and-shoot camera), as it is easier to extend your arm to frame with an LCD screen (compared to using a camera with a viewfinder, and always bringing it up to your eye).<\/p>\n<h3>\u00e2\u20ac\u0153The decisive moment\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/h3>\n<p>One of the key tips in composition is timing. When to hit the shutter.<\/p>\n<p>The biggest misconception in street photography is that you only take 1-2 photos of a scene. I recommend if you see something interesting, try to take as many photos of that scene as humanly possible. There is no bravado for a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153one shot, one kill\u00e2\u20ac\u009d mentality in street photography. The most important thing is to capture a meaningful, interesting, or emotional moment\u00e2\u20ac\u201d and to share that moment with others.<\/p>\n<h3>Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t just take 1-2 photos<\/h3>\n<p>Often when it comes to shooting street photography, I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know what the best moment will be, until I start clicking.<\/p>\n<p>For example, I might see an interesting person or a scene. I try to take as many photos as possible, from different angles, perspectives, and with different timing. Then when I go home, I look at all the photos I shot of the scene (sometimes up to 50 photos of the same scene), and then decide the best photo or moment afterwards.<\/p>\n<p>Also realize that when you see something interesting, there can be a lot of potentially great \u00e2\u20ac\u0153decisive moments.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t just limit yourself to 1-2 photos. Keep \u00e2\u20ac\u0153working the scene\u00e2\u20ac\u009d, and use your judgement and gut to choose the best photo of the scene.<\/p>\n<h2>Chapter 6: How to choose your best street photos<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_30237\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-30237\" style=\"width: 2000px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"30237\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2016\/08\/30\/should-i-make-money-from-my-photography\/suits-1-14\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Suits-1-1.jpg?fit=3088%2C2048&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"3088,2048\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Suits-1\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;London, 2012&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Suits-1-1.jpg?fit=660%2C438&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Suits-1-1.jpg?fit=2000%2C1326&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-large wp-image-30237\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Suits-1-1-2000x1326.jpg?resize=2000%2C1326\" alt=\"London, 2012\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1326\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Suits-1-1.jpg?resize=2000%2C1326&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Suits-1-1.jpg?resize=660%2C438&amp;ssl=1 660w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Suits-1-1.jpg?resize=768%2C509&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Suits-1-1.jpg?w=3000&amp;ssl=1 3000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-30237\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">London, 2012<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>One of the most challenging things in street photography is knowing which photos to keep (and which to ditch).<\/p>\n<p>Here are some practical suggestions in terms of knowing how to choose your \u00e2\u20ac\u0153best\u00e2\u20ac\u009d street photographs:<\/p>\n<h3>Is this photograph personally meaningful?<\/h3>\n<p>First of all, think about the personal significance of your photo. Do you really care about the photo? Does the photograph say something about you, and how you see the world?<\/p>\n<p>If you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t love your own photograph, nobody else will.<\/p>\n<p>Because the sad reality is nobody cares about your photos, but you.<\/p>\n<p>As photographers, we make the wrong assumption that everyone else will be as enthusiastic about our own photos (as much as we are). A good example: when parents upload photos of their kids to Facebook, they assume everyone else will think their children are beautiful (not true).<\/p>\n<p>Our photos are our babies. We think all of our children and photos are beautiful, no matter how ugly.<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately you should shoot street photography for yourself. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t shoot street photography to impress or please anybody else.<\/p>\n<h3>Does the photo have emotion?<\/h3>\n<p>I feel that the best street photographs are the ones which have emotion. The best street photographs are the ones in which you can empathize with the subject in your frame.<\/p>\n<p><strong>A photograph without emotion is dead<\/strong>. If your photograph doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have any emotion, it will be easily forgettable. And if you want to create an interesting and memorable photo, you need to tug at the heart-strings of your viewer.<\/p>\n<p>I generally can see whether a photograph has emotions or not based on the body language, the hand gestures, or the facial expression of a subject in a photo. If you have a street photograph where your subject isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t expressive or doing anything \u00e2\u20ac\u201d it probably won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t evoke much emotions.<\/p>\n<h3>Does the photo have any social significance?<\/h3>\n<p>Another thing to consider\u00e2\u20ac\u201d does this street photograph have any social significance? Does it say anything about the human condition? Does the photo have any social commentary or critique? Is it a historical document? Does the photograph matter on a larger scale?<\/p>\n<h3>Let your photo \u00e2\u20ac\u0153marinate\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/h3>\n<p>The last tip in terms of choosing your best street photographs is to let time be the ultimate counselor. For me, I never know which are my best street photographs unless I have let them sit and \u00e2\u20ac\u0153marinate\u00e2\u20ac\u009d for weeks, months, and sometimes even years.<\/p>\n<p>I am often too emotionally attached to street photographs (where I know the backstory).<\/p>\n<p>I do believe a street photograph should be able to stand on its own two legs. It shouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t need an elaborate backstory or description for it to be a good image.<\/p>\n<p>So when in doubt, let your photos sit. Re-visit the photo every few days or few weeks. Print them out, or keep them on your smartphone, laptop, or tablet. Ask others for their honest opinion.<\/p>\n<p>Another tip, when you want honest feedback, show your photos to other photographers you trust and admire and ask them: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Please help me kill my babies.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n<h2>Chapter 7: How to stay inspired in street photography<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_30123\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-30123\" style=\"width: 1325px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"30123\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2016\/08\/22\/the-personal-photography-manual\/r0131772-4\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/R0131772.jpg?fit=3264%2C4928&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"3264,4928\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;7.1&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;GR&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1428877607&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;18.3&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;400&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0005&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"R0131772\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;NYC, 2015&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/R0131772.jpg?fit=437%2C660&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/R0131772.jpg?fit=1325%2C2000&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-large wp-image-30123\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/R0131772-1325x2000.jpg?resize=1325%2C2000\" alt=\"NYC, 2015\" width=\"1325\" height=\"2000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/R0131772.jpg?resize=1325%2C2000&amp;ssl=1 1325w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/R0131772.jpg?resize=437%2C660&amp;ssl=1 437w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/R0131772.jpg?resize=768%2C1160&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/R0131772.jpg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/R0131772.jpg?w=3000&amp;ssl=1 3000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-30123\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">NYC, 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>This happens to everyone \u00e2\u20ac\u201d we will eventually lose steam, enthusiasm, or passion in our street photography.<\/p>\n<p>A lot of us who live in the suburbs, or any other place where it is difficult to shoot \u00e2\u20ac\u0153street photography\u00e2\u20ac\u009d will find this as a challenge.<\/p>\n<h3>Document your own life<\/h3>\n<p>The biggest tip I would give is to remind yourself, it doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have to be \u00e2\u20ac\u0153street photography.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Just live your life, and document your own life.<\/p>\n<p>Photograph your children, co-workers, friends, and family. Photograph trees, things you find on the ground, and anything that piques your interest.<\/p>\n<p>Often whenever you define yourself within a sub-genre of photography, you become trapped. You become a prisoner.<\/p>\n<p>I know that when I overly identified as a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153street photographer\u00e2\u20ac\u009d, it hurt me creatively. When I wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t shooting \u00e2\u20ac\u0153street photography\u00e2\u20ac\u009d, I felt like a phony.<\/p>\n<p>But remember\u00e2\u20ac\u201d the point of life isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t to be a great \u00e2\u20ac\u0153street photographer\u00e2\u20ac\u009d or even a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153photographer.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d The point of life is to live a fulfilling, exciting, and personally-meaningful life. Whether or not you make photos is irrelevant.<\/p>\n<p>But in terms of practical tips to stay inspired in your street photography, here are some suggestions:<\/p>\n<h3>Embrace \u00e2\u20ac\u0153creative constraints\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/h3>\n<p>The biggest mistake we think in street photography is that if we want to make better street photos \u00e2\u20ac\u201d we need to be in a more \u00e2\u20ac\u0153exotic\u00e2\u20ac\u009d or \u00e2\u20ac\u0153interesting\u00e2\u20ac\u009d city. We think we could make better street photos in Tokyo, NYC, or LA. But in reality, every street photographer I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve met have a hard time being inspired in their own city (even in Tokyo, NYC, and LA).<\/p>\n<p>Therefore choose your geographic location as a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153creative constraint.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Give yourself an assignment that you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re only allowed to shoot street photography in your own city, and you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re not allowed to leave.<\/p>\n<p>Find a certain neighborhood, city block, or area you find interesting in your own city. Then for a month, only shoot that area. This will force you to be creative within your boundaries and limits.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, another good way to re-inspire yourself in street photography is to use the simplest camera possible \u00e2\u20ac\u201d in most cases, a smartphone.<\/p>\n<p>A lot of us think that if we only bought a new camera, lens, or piece of equipment \u00e2\u20ac\u201d we would be \u00e2\u20ac\u0153re-inspired.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d But rather, try to constrain yourself to a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153worse\u00e2\u20ac\u009d camera. For an entire month, only shoot street photography on your smartphone. I know for me, this helped liberate me, and helped me realize that it wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t my own equipment limiting me in street photography \u00e2\u20ac\u201d it was my own mindset.<\/p>\n<h3>Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t force it<\/h3>\n<p>I also think that creative slumps are good for us. If you aren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t feeling \u00e2\u20ac\u0153inspired\u00e2\u20ac\u009d in your street photography, take a break. Put down your camera. Pick up a different hobby. Perhaps read more, write more, or reflect more. Listen to more music, watch some theater, or pick up dancing, sculpture, painting, or drawing.<\/p>\n<p>Once again, the point of life isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t to be a great photographer. It is to be an enthusiastic artist of life. Why limit yourself to just photography?<\/p>\n<p>I also think that boredom is good for us \u00e2\u20ac\u201d it forces us to try out new things, to innovate, and to find more excitement in life. So if you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re bored in your street photography\u00e2\u20ac\u201d switch things up. Try only shooting black and white for a year, or only color for a year. Try to only photograph one subject matter, or pursue a new photography project. Often small day trips outside of your city are a good way to refresh your enthusiasm for your own city. I know whenever my friends visit my city, I feel re-inspired (because they see your city with new eyes, rather than your own jaded eyes).<\/p>\n<h2>Conclusion<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_30126\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-30126\" style=\"width: 2000px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"30126\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2016\/08\/22\/the-personal-photography-manual\/r0000626-4\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/R0000626-1.jpg?fit=3936%2C2608&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"3936,2608\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5.6&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;GR II&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1458992998&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;18.3&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;1600&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0015625&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"R0000626\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;NYC, 2015&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/R0000626-1.jpg?fit=660%2C437&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/R0000626-1.jpg?fit=2000%2C1325&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-large wp-image-30126\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/R0000626-1-2000x1325.jpg?resize=2000%2C1325\" alt=\"NYC, 2015\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1325\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/R0000626-1.jpg?resize=2000%2C1325&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/R0000626-1.jpg?resize=660%2C437&amp;ssl=1 660w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/R0000626-1.jpg?resize=768%2C509&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/R0000626-1.jpg?w=3000&amp;ssl=1 3000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-30126\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">NYC, 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Know that your skill as a photographer doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t matter. First aim to be a curious, interested, and compassionate human being. Photography comes later. The happier you are, the better your photos will be. The more curious you are, the more enthusiastic you will be with your photography.<\/p>\n<p>Have fun, be like a child in your photography, and never stop exploring.<\/p>\n<p>Always,<br \/>\nEric<\/p>\n<p><em>Learn more:\u00c2\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/street-photography-101\/\"><strong>Street Photography 101 &gt;<\/strong><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dear friend, I am writing you this book,\u00c2\u00a0Street Photography\u00c2\u00a0to encapsulate everything I have learned about street photography in the last 10 years. Consider this as a distillation of my own personal lessons in street photography. There are no \u00e2\u20ac\u0153right\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and \u00e2\u20ac\u0153wrong\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s\u00e2\u20ac\u009d in this book. This is all just my opinion. But I hope that you [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":33930,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-34354","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/34354","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34354"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/34354\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33930"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34354"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}