Street Photography
What is street photography?
Street Photography is a photographic practice of shooting people in everyday life in everyday environments. These photographers commonly aim to capture spontaneous moments of people in a candid state. Street photography is typically not directed or staged. Rather, it is unmediated and spontaneous as to capture subjects in their most authentic state. Can be done anywhere, its recording everyday life in a public space there is always something happening.
Street photography is interpreted in different ways but the genre is both the photographer and their subject. The subject does not always mean a person but can be a shadow or a frame. Street photographers filter the world to share what interests them and what they are feeling; or document it. Framing and timing can be key aspects of some street photography, being able to create images at a decisive moment. Focused on a subject and their behavior in public. Some images send a message while others tell a story to the viewer.
There are all types of street photography and different ways of doing it, this makes each street photographer unique from each other. Intrusive, fine-art, abstract, geometric, modern, portrait, raw-style and fashion are all types of street photography. It can be a challenge because most of the photographers try to capture a moment that could be hard to capture; so its up to the photographer to do that in a split-second decision. A rare passing moment that isn’t likely to happen again. Subjects can be isolated and put in a frame all while the subject is unaware of being photographed.
General Characteristics
Juxtaposition
Photography is a medium through which stories and meaning can be communicated through a single image. Juxtaposition is one of the most effective tools photographers have for achieving this. Framing two unlike things within the same frame or drawing similarities or differences between subjects can create a captivating photograph.
Emotions and reactions
It is an opportunity to capture people in their most honest state. Look for emotions in the people around you and be quick to capture them. You’ll often find these in reactions to events or conversation. But it is also a matter of being at the right place at the right time. These emotions can connect people to an image and tell a story.
Action
Capturing people midaction can tell a complete story in a still image. One of the benefits of street photography is that there is a higher priority on content than technique. When you see action you feel is worth capturing, point and shoot to get the shot.
Humor
They say that life can be stranger than fiction. Some of the best street photographers have an eye to capture these moments. Sometimes they only last for a few seconds, so being present and trusting your instincts as to when something is strange or funny will help you capture these moments. (Something out of the ordinary)
