{"id":69551,"date":"2017-11-16T05:06:57","date_gmt":"2017-11-16T13:06:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=69551"},"modified":"2018-08-16T07:45:30","modified_gmt":"2018-08-16T14:45:30","slug":"flash-street-photography-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/11\/16\/flash-street-photography-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ultimate Guide How to Shoot Flash Street Photography"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"London
London, 2014<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To make more dynamic, edgy, and powerful street photographs, use a flash.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

ERIC KIM EXPERIENCE<\/a><\/h2>\n

\"Mad<\/a><\/p>\n

TAKE YOUR STREET PHOTOGRAPHY TO THE NEXT LEVEL at ERIC KIM WORKSHOP<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

In this guide, I will walk you through how to use a flash in your street photography.<\/p>\n

Why flash?<\/h2>\n
\"Flash.
Flash. Ricoh GR II, popup flash, P mode. Tokyo, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Benefits of flash in street photography:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Separation of subject from background. You can cause your subject to \u00e2\u20ac\u0153pop out\u00e2\u20ac\u009d from the background (figure to ground composition principle<\/a>).<\/li>\n
  2. Increased contrast and saturation in your subject (makes for more aesthetically pleasing pictures).<\/li>\n
  3. More drama, dynamism in your street pictures.<\/li>\n
  4. No blur or out of focus: Shooting with a flash in street photography (with the right settings) will eliminate blur and out-of-focus pictures.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Misconceptions of flash in street photography<\/h2>\n

    There is this wrong conception that you shoot street photography with a flash to scare people, and to get \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcshocked\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 reactions in a street picture. This is incorrect.<\/p>\n

    This is what happens when you shoot street photography with a flash:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. You identify person you want to take a street photo of.<\/li>\n
    2. You take a picture of them with a flash.<\/li>\n
    3. They notice that you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve taken a picture of them (because they saw the flash).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      This is NOT<\/em> what happens when you shoot street photography with a flash:<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. You identify person you want to take a street photo of.<\/li>\n
      2. They have a scared expression from the flash.<\/li>\n
      3. You take a picture with a flash.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        In other words,<\/p>\n

        \n When you see a street photograph of someone looking \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcscared\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 in a picture, it is because the subject saw the street photographer about<\/em> to take the picture. The subject is responding to the forward movement of the street photographer, not the action of the flash or picture-taking itself.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

        I know my explanation is bad, let me try to explain better.<\/p>\n

        Can a person react before<\/em> the flash fires?<\/h2>\n
        \"\"
        Leica MP + Leica Summicron 35mm f2 ASPH + Kodak Portra 400 + flash<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

        If you shoot 2 pictures with a flash, then the second picture can show them being shocked from the flash.<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Subject is oblivious to you.<\/li>\n
        2. You shoot first street photo with a flash.<\/li>\n
        3. Subject notices you taking you taking a picture of them with a flash, and gets startled or scared.<\/li>\n
        4. You shoot another<\/em> picture with a flash, and therefore the second picture you shot has your subject looking afraid or scared.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Case study: Jazz Hands, Hollywood, 2011<\/h2>\n
          \"Jazz
          Jazz Hands. Hollywood, 2011 by ERIC KIM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

          This is a flash street photograph I shot, and let me explain it to you.<\/p>\n

            \n
          1. I saw interesting lady with a hat.<\/li>\n
          2. I crouched down, about<\/em> to take a picture of her.<\/li>\n
          3. Lady sees me crouching down and about to take a picture, and therefore poses for me (jazz hands gesture).<\/li>\n
          4. I take a picture with flash.<\/li>\n
          5. We both walk away.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
            \"Eric
            Eric Kim shooting Jazz hands. Behind the scenes photo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

            People misinterpret this picture: they think the lady is shocked that I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m taking her picture. In reality, she\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s posing for me with the jazz hands gesture \u00e2\u20ac\u201d she saw I was going to take a picture of her (and because she knows that she is so glamorous), she gives me a gift by posing for me. And because she posed for me, the picture is much more dynamic and interesting.<\/strong><\/p>\n

            Flash setup<\/strong>: I used a Canon 5D, Canon 24mm f2.8 lens, off-camera flash cable, and YuongNuo YN flash, with the flash positioned at a low angle, pointing up. The benefit of using a flash in this situation was that the lady was walking toward me (the sun was behind her), therefore if I did not use a flash, her face would be all black, dark, and silhouetted. By using a flash, I lit up her face, and hands. And you can see the little sunburst of light behind<\/em> her head, from the sun.<\/p>\n

            \n

            Case study: Long distance flash<\/h2>\n
            \"Shot
            Shot in a restaurant with flash in Michigan, Lansing.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

            Shot with a film LEICA MP, 35mm, Leica SF 20, Kodak Portra 400.<\/p>\n