Even if you study most contemporary street photography (or anyone who comes after Henri Cartier-Bresson), they are all trying to make surreal photos. If you study the portfolio of photographers in In-Public<\/a>, all their styles are pretty much surreal.<\/p>\n In terms of the etymology (root of the word) surreal, I interpret it as:<\/p>\n But what is ‘real’?<\/p>\n Philosophically, the word ‘real’ means “actual-thing” or “truth”.<\/p>\n So when we see a photo or artwork that is ‘surreal’, we don’t think it is a real\/actual thing.<\/p>\n And this is fun– because it challenges our perception of ‘reality’ (like Salvador Dali<\/a>).<\/p>\n Tips:<\/p>\n Shoot layers with photos in them, like this photo with Cindy’s parents (as a young couple in the past) on the far left, whereas Cindy and her reflection is in the center of the frame, and the right.<\/p>\n For example, shoot textures, and look for faces!<\/p>\n Use a flash<\/a> in street photography, get close to your subject, and try to get a poster of a face in the background!<\/p>\n Another tip: try to get the reflection of your flash in the eye of a face, an eye, or an intimate thing.<\/p>\n For example, a cutout.<\/p>\n Or the surreal face of something without eyes:<\/p>\n Magnify eyes to make them surreal, by photographing them through magnifying lenses<\/p>\n Or make something look surreal (like this ominous silhouette of this oxen that looks like a devil) by shooting from super-low angles, and shooting -1 or -2 exposure compensation to make the photos more epic!<\/p>\n To stay inspired with more free photography tips, join ERIC KIM NEWSLETTER ><\/a><\/p>\n
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\n1. Shoot through the bottom of glass cups<\/h2>\n
![\"eric](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/eric-kim-photography-surreal-7.jpg?resize=1180%2C782\")
<\/p>\n2. Shoot layers<\/h2>\n
![\"eric](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/eric-kim-cindy-project-film-35mm-53.jpeg?resize=960%2C640\")
<\/p>\n3. Look for faces where they don’t really exist<\/h2>\n
![\"eric](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/eric-kim-photography-surreal-8.jpg?resize=1180%2C782\")
<\/p>\n4. Flash x Interesting Background<\/h2>\n
![\"eric](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/eric-kim-photography-surreal-1.jpg?resize=1180%2C783\")
<\/p>\n![\"eric](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/eric-kim-photography-surreal-2.jpg?resize=1180%2C783\")
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\n5. Photograph things without faces or eyes<\/h2>\n
![\"eric](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/eric-kim-photography-surreal-3.jpg?resize=1180%2C1779\")
<\/p>\n![\"eric](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/eric-kim-photography-surreal-4.jpg?resize=1180%2C783\")
<\/p>\n![\"SUITS](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/SUITS-BY-ERIC-KIM2-1.jpg?resize=1180%2C782\")
<\/p>\n6. Photograph the eyes through glasses<\/h2>\n
![\"eric](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/eric-kim-photography-surreal-5.jpg?resize=1180%2C782\")
<\/p>\n7. Silhouette<\/h2>\n
![\"eric](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/eric-kim-photography-surreal-10.jpg?resize=1180%2C1782\")
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