All you need to be a street photographer is a camera (or even just a camera phone) and some free time. Here are five tricks to try that will help improve your pictures instantly
Get down low. Putting your camera actually on the pavement captures a whole new perspective that none of us usually sees. Seeing the world from a pigeon’s perspective (see above) adds a completely different dimension to your photographs.
Try a tilt. This works particularly well with straight lines, such as buildings. Frame your focal object centrally and upright and then tilt your camera 45 degrees before taking the picture for a slightly more interesting shot.
Find a setting and then wait for the subject. If you spot a fabulous backdrop, find a good place to stand to capture the photo in the best light and with the best composition and then wait… for the right person to walk into shot. This often makes for a much better photo than when you focus on looking for a subject primarily and let the background take care of itself.
Get a grid. Most camera phones let you turn on a ‘grid’ on your camera in your settings and it’s really helpful for composing a picture. The grid gives you nine equal squares and you want to place your subject on any of the corners of the central square, leaving space in the rest of the image - this is known as the ‘rule of thirds’, as you’re filling one third of the grid, on the left or right, and leaving the other two thirds emptier. Try it and you’ll see.
Look for leading lines or patterns. Leading lines are lines in an image that draw the eye somewhere, so that could be a path, a river, a staircase, a telegraph wire… They can go in any direction or even be curved, but they’ll add depth to your picture. Patterns, particularly repetitive patterns such as those in floor tiles or on a table cloth, also create visual impact. They look great when they seem to have appeared accidentally, or when the pattern is just slightly broken, for example: five brown eggs in a bow and one white one. Just look out for the patterns and lines and have fun!
Inspired to give it a go? First read our feature on Street Photography, ‘These Streets’, in our November issue, which is taken from the wonderful book Think Like a Street Photographer by Matt Stuart (Laurence King).
