Street Photography Tips pt. 3
Know your own ethics
Ethics in street photography will vary from person to person, so please take this tip as you see fit. You need to know what your own ethics are, and where you place your own boundaries on what you photograph in public. Being honest with yourself about your intentions is crucial. For example, getting up close in someone’s face, or photographing children may be things you don’t feel comfortable doing. If that’s the case, it’s better to just leave it be. Simply put, if it doesn’t feel right, don’t take the shot. Personally, I don’t photograph people who are in vulnerable positions, such as people suffering homelessness, severe mental illness or distress, or people who are obviously abusing substances. Unless I can tell an interesting story where the individual remains completely anonymous, I’ll keep my camera down and keep moving forward.
Find interesting subject matter
Subject matter in street photography needs to be enticing. It needs to stop you in your tracks and pull you into the photo. It doesn’t always have to be interesting characters or colorful scenes either, although those do help. But even boring scenes can be made into interesting photographs. You just need to explore and find new perspectives. Turn the mundane into art.
Aim to capture moments
Capturing moments gives you the chance to create some of the strongest images you can produce with street photography. It has the ability to do this because it can put us directly in the scene of the photograph. Getting a shot of someone running in the rain, or a shot of a stranger taking notice of you, they’re relatable moments. The more relatable the moment, the better your photos can be.
