The art of street photography

Source : Pierre T. Lambert on Youtube

The core of what makes street photography what it is can be boiled down to a simple sentence: candid photography of people or humanity in a real, unposed moment. However, this explanation is inherently vague and clunky, according to photographer James Maher at least.

“Trying to define street photography is almost like trying to define what sweet or salty is. You can’t fully describe it, but you know it when you see it,” said the internet photographer.

The beauty of street photography really starts with its blend of people and life and photography, making for a truly rewarding hobby, and for some, a full time profession.

From the professional to the hobbyist, street photography is one area many in the craft have tackled, and each has, and will have their own flavor to bring to the table, and their own perception of what it is.

Perhaps one of the best things about street photography is that it is one of the most accessible forms of photography to jump into.

For those who want to get into it, you will not even need fancy equipment to capture stunning stills of life you see out on the street; your phone can be all the camera you need. All you need is an eye for a good snap and the willingness to step out of your comfort zone.

Rick Corbishley of PetaPixel has a few pointers and tips to help budding street photographers get into the art from his journey of 10 years taking street photography. The first being the simplest but often overlooked: Take the time to read, and see how other master photographers do it. There is a whole wealth of information out there so put in the work researching and looking at what makes their photographs good so your photo taking journey will be all the more rewarding for it.

Some other of his pointers for beginners include learning the ins and outs of your camera hardware (once again the internet is a wonderful source of information), and learning the rights and laws about where you intend to shoot, as every location on earth has their own set of laws.

The most daunting out of all the tips is the guts it takes to photograph people without an invitation and being prepared to explain yourself if challenged.

“It gets easier the more you do it.

Everyone starts off photographing people from behind, or from far away, or when no one is looking.

As you build your confidence you will realize 99% of people are okay with what you are doing so long as you follow some basic rules about respect for others and your own safety.

Just smile, be confident, you are doing nothing wrong.”

Source: Krispygraphs

Like all good art forms, curating a good palette for what makes a good shot takes practice. So keep practicing and welcome critique because it really helps better your craft, and above all else, try to enjoy yourself while doing it. Art after all is subjective, and if you enjoy what you do, then ultimately the time and effort you have put in would be worth it.

Observing life in its purest form, through the lens of a camera is truly a beautiful thing, because beauty is everywhere and all it takes is opening our eyes a little more to see it. It just takes a little bit of photographic skill to capture and immortalize these pockets of time and space.