{"id":65942,"date":"2017-09-18T18:16:45","date_gmt":"2017-09-19T01:16:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=65942"},"modified":"2017-09-18T18:18:29","modified_gmt":"2017-09-19T01:18:29","slug":"how-to-enter-the-street-photography-zone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/09\/18\/how-to-enter-the-street-photography-zone\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Enter the Street Photography Zone"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"After
After I took a picture of this man, he stole my camera strap. Tokyo, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What I love in street photography is getting swept away in the flow of people, like a stream of water.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

OPEN SOURCE<\/h2>\n

DOWNLOAD PDF: Street Photography Flow 2<\/a><\/p>\n

STREET PHOTOGRAPHY 101<\/a><\/p>\n

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Street photography is a river of people<\/h2>\n

When I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m in the streets, I try to turn off my mind. I turn off my ego. I turn off my fear, doubts, and self-censor. I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t judge when shooting\u00e2\u20ac\u201d I just identify, react, and click.<\/p>\n

I take a picture of anything that interests me. I like to shoot in busy areas, where I can get lost and swept up in the flow of people. This makes me less self-conscious of myself, and helps me focus more on making pictures.<\/p>\n

1. Keep your eyes open<\/h2>\n

When shooting, I prefer to use an LCD screen. It helps me be more flexible when shooting. I can hold the camera in one hand, and shoot from a very low angle or very high. Also, it allows me to see more of the world around me, and helps me to get less \u00e2\u20ac\u0153tunnel-vision\u00e2\u20ac\u009d inside my viewfinder when I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m shooting.<\/p>\n

Also, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve found if you want to shoot candidly and without permission, don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t make eye contact when you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re shooting<\/strong>. It is more sneaky, but it works. And if your primary concern is to stay in your street photography zone and not interact with anybody, avoid eye contact. Pretend like you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re just a lost and dumb tourist shooting something else.<\/p>\n

2. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t disrupt your shooting flow<\/h2>\n

Also I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve found when I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m really in a street photography zone, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m quite aggressive. I get very close. I get in front of the path in which people are walking. I crouch down a lot. I use a flash. I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t hesitate. This helps me keep shooting, and not get distracted.<\/p>\n

Pro tip 2: Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t \u00e2\u20ac\u0153chimp\u00e2\u20ac\u009d or check your LCD screen or preview your images while you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re in the street photography zone or flow of shooting.<\/strong> Why not? Often I get distracted by my LCD screen, and rather than looking for the next<\/em> picture, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m still stuck on the picture I just shot.<\/p>\n

In street photography, always think about the NEXT great street picture you will make.<\/strong><\/p>\n

3. Turn off distractions<\/h2>\n

Pro tip 3: Turn off your phone, or set it to airplane mode. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t listen to music. Let the ambient sounds of the streets resonate in your body and soul<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The phone distracts us from shooting in a street photography flow. Whenever my phone vibrates or rings, my focus in shooting is totally fucked up. The worst thing you can do is answer emails when you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re out shooting.<\/p>\n

Shoot the streets like you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re in zen street photography mode. Stay focused. Avoid distractions of the outside world. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think about your marriage problems, your kids, your financial worries or whatever. Just take pictures and stay in your zone.<\/p>\n

4. Smile :)<\/h2>\n

Last tip\u00ef\u00bc\u0161 Smile when you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re shooting. Stare at people and the streets with a huge, child-like grin on your face. Be joyful, enthusiastic. You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re dancing on the streets with your camera. Have fun. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t take yourself too seriously.<\/p>\n

Shooting street photography should REDUCE stress and anxiety from your life.<\/strong> If shooting street photography causes you stress, attend one of my workshops<\/a> and I can show you in-person how to alleviate that stress. Also read my STREET PHOTOGRAPHY 101<\/a> series to find the answer for yourself. Real life is already stressful enough\u00e2\u20ac\u201d why add stress in your passion and joy of street photography?<\/p>\n

5. Kill your master<\/h2>\n

Of course, I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t got the answers. Only you do. ERIC KIM can only be used as a guide in your photography and artistic journey.<\/p>\n

Please please please, don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t listen to me. Just take everything I say as a tip, or suggestion. Experiment, try out new techniques and approaches, and see what works for you.<\/p>\n

Ultimately you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re the final judge of yourself and your visual artistry. Treat your teachers and mentors as your guides, not your masters. Once you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve learned what you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve needed to learn from your master, you must kill your master<\/a>, and give birth to yourself.<\/p>\n

BE STRONG,
\nERIC<\/p>\n

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STREET PHOTOGRAPHY 101<\/a><\/h1>\n

\"Tokyo,<\/p>\n

If you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re new to street photography, start here:<\/p>\n