Street Photography Tips pt. 9
Try Black and White
Okay let’s say you’re out shooting street photography and it’s a gray, cloudy day in the middle of winter. There’s no interesting colors around, and no interesting light nearby. Try shooting in black and white, or at least thinking in black and white. Lean into the moody vibes you have around you, and create some moody dramatic images. A strong black and white image can stop people dead in their tracks, and keep them coming back for more.
Experiment With Shutter Speeds
Have you ever tried slowing your shutter speed for street photography? Instead of freezing everything within your scene, try dropping that shutter speed. You’d be amazed how a little motion blur can completely change the mood of a photograph. Are you near a busy area with a ton of people walking around? Set your camera on the ground, and slow your shutter speed down to 1/10th of a second. You’ll end up with something like this, which creates a sense of movement within a still frame. Don’t sleep on this tip, it can really help you create some amazing pieces of work.
Try Different Focal Lengths
Different focal lengths create drastically different feelings in street photography. Maybe you like wide shots, at 24mm or 28mm. Maybe you like that more traditional, natural look that a 35mm provides, or a slightly narrower field of view with a 50mm lens. What about more candid moments from afar? Try out an 85mm focal length, if that’s what catches your interest. There’s really no right or wrong answer, although I’d personally avoid anything longer than 85mm. If you don’t want to invest your time and money in trying all those types of lenses, try out a zoom lens. I shoot with a 24-70mm most of the time, and by doing that, I was able to determine I prefer a longer focal length, to catch more candid moments from afar.
