{"id":75559,"date":"2018-01-05T02:30:35","date_gmt":"2018-01-05T10:30:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=75559"},"modified":"2023-11-19T11:08:19","modified_gmt":"2023-11-19T16:08:19","slug":"7-tips-how-to-conquer-your-fears-of-shooting-street-photography","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/01\/05\/7-tips-how-to-conquer-your-fears-of-shooting-street-photography\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Tips How to Conquer Your Fears of Shooting Street Photography"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Dear friend,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’re interested in street photography, yet — you have hesitations or fears in street photography, this advice is for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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DOWNLOAD PDF<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Download PDF presentation on conquering your fears of shooting street photography:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PDF: HOW TO CONQUER YOUR FEARS OF SHOOTING STREET PHOTOGRAPHY<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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CONQUER YOUR FEARS AND MEET NEW PEERS<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Take your street photography to the next level ><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Street photography is 80% guts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Street
Street portrait with -1 2\/3 exposure compensation. To make his face more dramatic and pop from the background. By using minus exposure compensation, the background turns totally black.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

To be frank, I think 80% of street photography is just having guts. To have the guts to click the shutter. 20% is skill, and everything else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I think that street photography is enjoyable because it is so damn hard and scary. If street photography wasn’t scary or difficult, I don’t think it would be enjoyable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Pinnochio
Pinnochio nose. Downtown LA, 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

To start off, realize that it is the difficulty and scariness of street photography what makes it so enjoyable. If street photography wasn’t so hard, we would all just be shooting pretty landscape or flower photos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"AMERICA
Downtown LA, 2011. Shot from below the curb, looking up. Making her look more powerful. Shot with a Canon 5D and 24mm lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

So first and foremost, recognize that street photography is difficult and scary. And that is OK. Realize that if you feel any fear in Street photography that is a good thing \u00e2\u20ac\u201d it means you are human.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And this is my theory: Fear is a good thing \u00e2\u20ac\u201d it tells us what to shoot in street photography.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What do you really want to photograph?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For example,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s say you see a scene you want to photograph, but you feel nervous. Your fear or nervousness is a sign that YOU MUST SHOOT THE SCENE. Why? You find the scene fascinating, and the only reason you feel fear is because you desire and want to shoot it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Sweat.
Sweat. Downtown LA, 2016.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Think about it: if you didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t want to photograph the scene, you wouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t feel fear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, realize that fear is a good thing in Street photography. It guides us, and tells us what to photograph.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet, the only problem with fear is when it prevents<\/em> you from shooting the scene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Channel the fear<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Broadway street, Downtown LA 2015 \/\/ ERIC KIM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For example, nowadays, I still feel afraid photographing certain scenes in Street photography. I still get that adrenaline rush, and that chest bumping feeling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet, the secret is to feel the fear of shooting street photography, but still shoot it anyways.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, always keep that fear with you, but channel it, and use your fear as a guide. What you just want is this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t let your fear prevent you from hitting the shutter.\n<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Once again to say this more clearly: feel fear, but shoot it anyways.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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7 practical tips to conquer your fear of shooting street photography<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\"eric<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Okay so now some practical tips on how to conquer your fears in street photography.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Jam out to some good beats<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"downtown<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I know some of my friends who like to listen to music while shooting street photography.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I generally think this is a good strategy, if you want to overcome your fears and hesitations in Street photography. But the downside of this strategy is that you might get hit by a car if you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re not paying attention, and also you lose the ability to overhear interesting conversations which might lead to good photo opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"eric
Downtown LA, 2011<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

But still, try it out if you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re hesitant in Street photography. Put on some headphones, and listen to some techno, hip hop, jazz music, or whatever gets you in the zone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For techno\/electronic music, Geseffelstein is great (listen to \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Viol\u00e2\u20ac\u009d or \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Hellifornia\u00e2\u20ac\u009d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For hip hop, some good pump it up music is \u00e2\u20ac\u0153New Level\u00e2\u20ac\u009d From ASAP FERG, or \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Rap God\u00e2\u20ac\u009d by Eminem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jazz music: of course, Miles Davis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"eric
Downtown LA, 2016<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

So this is the assignment: find an album or playlist you like, and shoot street photography for about an hour listening to that album or playlist. See how this affects your fear levels in Street photography.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

2. Pretend like you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re shooting something behind your subject<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Downtown LA, 2011<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Avoid eye contact and pretend you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re shooting something behind your subject, or pretend you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re photographing something else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Smile<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Downtown LA, 2016<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This is a basic one: a smile goes a long way, regardless of what country you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is one aphorism I recommend:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n When in doubt, smile.\n<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

When you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re shooting, smile. This way you will feel less self-conscious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Downtown LA, 2016<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The assignment: for an entire hour, smile at everyone you photograph, and say \u00e2\u20ac\u0153thank you\u00e2\u20ac\u009d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can practice smiling in different ways:<\/p>\n\n\n\n