{"id":46776,"date":"2017-04-11T23:27:30","date_gmt":"2017-04-12T06:27:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=46776"},"modified":"2017-04-11T23:28:45","modified_gmt":"2017-04-12T06:28:45","slug":"how-never-to-miss-the-decisive-moment-in-street-photography","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/04\/11\/how-never-to-miss-the-decisive-moment-in-street-photography\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Never Miss The Decisive Moment in Street Photography"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"eric<\/p>\n

Dear friend,<\/p>\n

In life and street photography\u00e2\u20ac\u201d we are given decisive moments. It is our choice whether to seize it or not.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Here are some ways you can avoid missing any decisive moments in your photography:<\/p>\n

1. Wear your camera like a bracelet or necklace<\/h2>\n

\"1<\/p>\n

Rappers wear heavy gold chains. People like to wear diamond-studded bracelets.<\/p>\n

Why don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t we do the same with our cameras?\"henri<\/p>\n

For me, I wear my Ricoh GR II<\/a> with the Henri wrist strap<\/a>. For the film Leica MP I have in America, I wear the Henri Neck Strap<\/a> at chest-level, so I can access my camera quicker (to not miss the decisive moment).<\/p>\n

The benefit of a wrist-strap (for a compact camera) is that the weight in your hand reminds you to look for street photography moments.<\/p>\n

I know when I am out walking with my camera (strapped on my wrist), I actually see more decisive moments in street photography.<\/p>\n

I also have a practice: when I leave my apartment, I always put my camera either in my front pocket, or strap it around my wrist.<\/p>\n

If you use a larger camera, I recommend adjusting your neck strap to sit at your chest-level. That means, less distance between your chest and your eye. I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t recommend street photographers to wear their cameras across their shoulder, or over their shoulder, because it slows them down a little bit (especially if their goal is to shoot the decisive moment in street photography). Of course, this \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcrule\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 can be broken when drinking coffee.<\/p>\n

So think of yourself like a street photography rapper. Let your neck run heavy with your camera. Let your wrist have the weight of your camera, strapped around your wrist.<\/p>\n

The more you feel the weight of your camera\u00e2\u20ac\u201d although uncomfortable, you will see<\/em> more photo opportunities. I know when I have my camera in my backpack, I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t see nothing.<\/p>\n

2. Shoot in P (program) mode \/ \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Set it and forget it\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/h2>\n
\"black
Tokyo, 2015 \/ Ricoh GR II in P mode<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For the Ricoh GR II<\/a>, I always keep it in \u00e2\u20ac\u0153P\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (program) mode<\/a>, ISO 1600, high-contrast black and white preview, center-point autofocus.<\/p>\n

It is always ready for action.<\/p>\n

I am a forgetful photographer. If I change the settings, I forget. And I end up missing a lot of good street photography opportunities.<\/p>\n

Just like the American Infomercial (for Rotisserie chicken), you want to:<\/p>\n

\n \u00e2\u20ac\u0153SET IT AND \u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 FORGET IT!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Honestly, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153P\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (program) mode, ISO 1600, and center-point autofocus isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t the perfect setup. However, it is 90% \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcgood enough\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 for most of my street photography. All of the street photos I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve ever shot and captured with the Ricoh GR II are with those settings.<\/p>\n

3. Zone focusing (pre-focus, f\/8, ISO 1600)<\/h2>\n
\"eric
Downtown LA, 2013 \/ Leica MP + 35mm + Kodak Portra 400 (shot with zone-focusing at f8, ISO 400, 1\/500th shutter speed)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Another tip, this is for you Leica\/rangefinder\/manual focusing shooters: use zone-focusing in street photography.<\/p>\n