{"id":70225,"date":"2017-11-21T07:27:35","date_gmt":"2017-11-21T15:27:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=70225"},"modified":"2017-11-21T07:27:35","modified_gmt":"2017-11-21T15:27:35","slug":"travel-street-photography-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/11\/21\/travel-street-photography-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Travel Street Photography Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Flash.
Low perspective composition. Tokyo, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If I started to travel and shoot street photography all over again, this is the advice I would give myself:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

TRAVEL WITH ERIC KIM ><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

1. One camera, one lens<\/h2>\n
\"Small
Small is beautiful: RICOH GR II \u00e2\u20ac\u201d my favorite street photography travel camera.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s tempting to travel with lots of cameras and gear.<\/p>\n

Why? For myself when I traveled with a lot of cameras and lenses I was AFRAID. Afraid that my camera would break, or I wouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153ideal\u00e2\u20ac\u009d camera or lens for a scene.<\/p>\n

Also, lots of us don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have the opportunity to travel much. Therefore, we want to maximize our travel opportunity for photography, and thinking that by having more camera equipment and gear, we will get the best experience from our photography.<\/p>\n

In reality,<\/p>\n

\n More weight, more pain, and less shooting.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

2. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t expect to make the best pictures of your life<\/h2>\n

\"Woman<\/p>\n

A mistake I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve made in the past:<\/p>\n

\n Expecting that when I travel, I will take the best street photos of my life.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Woman
Woman with cell phone. Tokyo, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Whenever I set my expectations too high for my street photos before traveling, I end up disappointing myself.<\/p>\n

For example, one of my dreams in the past was to shoot street photography in Paris. I imagined myself like Henri Cartier-Bresson, and finding infinite inspiration.<\/p>\n

In reality, I didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t take a single good street photo in Paris. I didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t see that many \u00e2\u20ac\u0153decisive moments\u00e2\u20ac\u009d. The life lesson was:<\/p>\n

\n Just because I travel, it doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t mean I will make good pictures.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Another lesson:<\/p>\n

\n There are not any more \u00e2\u20ac\u0153decisive moments\u00e2\u20ac\u009d in foreign cities.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

As my teacher Constantine Manos<\/a> taught me, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t get suckered by the exotic.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

3. Shoot like a local<\/h2>\n
\"Layers
Layers of people in elevator. Tokyo, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

My advice:<\/p>\n

\n Try to shoot a foreign city like it were your home city. Shoot your home city like it were a foreign city.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The truth: if you over-exoticize a foreign city, you will fall victim to the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153National geographic syndrome\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d you will just try to make pictures like Steve McCurry, or any other travel picture you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve seen in National Geographic or any other travel magazine.<\/p>\n

\"Cindy
Cindy with umbrella. Tokyo, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Therefore when you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re abroad, live and shoot pictures like a local.<\/p>\n

Visit the local restaurants, bars, and coffee shops. Avoid trip-advisor like the plague.<\/p>\n

\"Man
Tilted picture of man walking up stairs. Tokyo, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This is why when I travel, I prefer to stay at Airbnb. It feels like I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m at home. Cindy and I shop at local grocery stores, and don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t visit tourist locations. We enjoy eating at local Indian restaurants close by, and spend time in our Airbnb (drinking coffee and tea) and doing creative work indoors.<\/p>\n

\"Cindy
Cindy at work in our Airbnb in Berlin. 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n
\"Tokyo
Tokyo urban landscape sunset, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For me, I spend most of my money living abroad and traveling. For me, it is the best investment \u00e2\u20ac\u201d because experiences live with you forever, cameras and gadgets become outdated, and soon dissolve into dust.<\/p>\n

\"Old
Old people laughing and pointing. Omotesando, Tokyo 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But also realize, traveling won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t make you happy. It will open up your eyes to the rest of the world, introduce you to new cultures, and bring novelty in your life \u00e2\u20ac\u201d but it don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t bring you happiness.<\/p>\n

\"High
High angle shot of red and green crosswalk. Shibuya, Tokyo 2017. Green on bottom of the frame, and red on top-right of the frame.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ultimately know that you can be happy regardless of where you are.<\/p>\n

Even as a tip,<\/p>\n

\n Live at home like you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re traveling. Travel like you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re living at home.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Woman
Woman walking by blue wall. Ginza, Tokyo 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Shoot street photography when you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re abroad like you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re shooting back home. Treat the streets like your own home.<\/p>\n

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

TRAVEL WITH ERIC KIM ><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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