Subject & Perspective:
This is the second part of my street photography series, the first part is viewable here, Street Photography With Phoblographer.
Picking an interesting subject is important in all aspects of photography, and the perspective from which you choose to portray your subject is equally as important. Correct perspective can often take precedent over the subject, especially in disciplines such as minimalism. I intend to cover minimalism & photography in a future blog, though steemit's own @mollywarhol demonstrates this nicely in some of her ongoing work.
As Above. Nikon D750, Nikkor 50mm @ f/4, 50mm, 1/125, ISO 125
So Below. Nikon D5200, Nikkor 18-55mm @ f/8, 24mm, 1/125sec, ISO 320
Both of the photos shown above depict a similar subject, a man walking. The creative interest comes in the manner in which these images were shot. The first is captured from below, there are a lot of opposing lines running through the image, there's a discordant feel to it and the man may not be the first thing the viewer sees. It's important to remember that a busy shot, one that has a lot of visual elements occurring at once, can act to draw the viewer's eye from the subject. This can be used to good creative effect when implemented correctly.
The second shot is taken from above and the subject's positioning within the image is far more conventional. There's considerably more negative space, and for this reason the man walking is easily identified as the focal point of the image. Using space within a shot can be a particularly effective tool. The first photo is far more claustrophobic, the man is photographed from behind metal bars, using an electronic device, with very little space to walk into. I hoped to convey feeling of being trapped, whereas the second image shows an individual walking with purpose, their path a clear one that visibly leads them out of the frame; far more liberating.
Monochrome Vision:
I spoke in my previous article how black and white can be an ideal medium for street photography. I've often heard street photographers talk about "seeing in black and white", and how this can be an invaluable compositional aid in the pursuit of their craft.
Through Shadows. Nikon D5200, Nikkor 50mm @ f/2.8, 50mm, 1/320, ISO 250
In a practical sense, "seeing in black and white" can only be accomplished by first determining the sentiment you wish to convey. Asking yourself why you're taking a particular shot is often a good way of better understanding your own creative insight. Why do you find your subject interesting? What story are you hoping to tell? By asking these questions, you'll be better equipped to envision the final image in your mind, rendered in black and white if necessary.
Young & Old. Nikon D750, Sigma 105mm @ f/6.3, 105mm, 1/400, ISO 1000
What sentiment did I wish to convey with the image above? The division between young and old, the playful act of the child contrasted against the self damaging act of the smoking adult? I hoped this image would portray the differing mentalities of young and old. The sedentary man, hunched over engaged in what could be seen as a fatalistic act, against the backdrop of a child, preparing to jump playfully onto the ground.
Platform. Nikon D750, Sigma 24mm A @ f/3.2, 24mm, 1/100, ISO 1250
If you're taking photos that you later intend to convert into black and white, then your camera may be able to help you see things in monochrome. Provided your camera can capture raw images, then there should be a setting that tells your camera to take one raw photo and render one jpeg photo of each shot. You can set the jpeg to output directly in black and white, (your camera will do the monochrome processing) and this will give you an idea of how your fully edited image will look. I would however always encourage you to convert your final raw images to black and white using dedicated editing software. You will almost always achieve better results this way, and this approach makes for a more versatile workflow.
Candid Observer:
One challenge of street photography is how to approach people, or indeed whether or not you should approach them at all. I really believe that everyone is different in how they deal with social situations, some are more outgoing than others. Personally I prefer to go unobserved. Maybe this carries over from my wildlife photography, trying my hardest not to spook elusive creatures. Admittedly people are rarely as observant as wild animals, often they're in lost in their own worlds, or engrossed in their smart phones.
Street Portraiture. Nikon D750, Sigma 105mm @ f/3.5, 105mm, 1/800sec, ISO 640
The best tips I can give you on going unobserved, are to simply act naturally and show confidence. I know that may seem like vague advice, but as I've said everyone is different in these situations. You want your actions to appear understated yet purposeful. Provided the law allows, you're breaking no rules by photographing in public so you really have nothing to worry about. If someone does take exception, then simply show them the image, perhaps tell them briefly why you took it, and delete it if they ask you too.
Street Art & Creativity:
Street art can make for a great subject in street photography. It can be used as a backdrop or as an item of interest on it's own.
Street Art. Nikon D5200, Nikkor 50mm @ f/4, 50mm, 1/320sec, ISO 200
This appeared as a back drop in the third image in this article. In the Through Shadows photo, this adds interest as the man walking in front of the mural almost appears to interact with it.
On Track. Nikon D750, Nikkor 50mm @ 7.1, 50mm, 1/200sec, ISO 640
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Keep it Peel. Nikon D5200, Nikkor 50mm @ f/3.2, 50mm, 1/3200sec, ISO 200
The shadows in this image help to give the face a seemingly contemplative look. The correct use of shadows and lighting can have a profound effect on the mood of an image. Even if the subject itself is a piece of wall art.
Underpass. Nikon D5200, Nikkor 18-55mm @ f/9, 18mm, 1/15sec, ISO 320
It can be fun to get creative with your images. The picture shown above is of me standing in an underpass. I set up the camera on a tripod and used a delayed shutter release to quickly position myself in the shot before the image was taken. I used selective colouring to retain the presence of the colourful artwork while rendering the rest of the photo in black and white. Whether or not you enjoy the end result is really a matter of taste, though thinking creatively can help you to take shots that you wouldn't normally conceive of.
As always, thank you for taking the time to read my article. I hope that you've found the information useful and that you've enjoyed seeing my work. I'd also like to thank you for your ongoing interest, I recently reached 200 followers and I'm exceptionally grateful for everyone's support. Cheers for now : )
If you've found this article useful then please upvote & follow me for similar content in the future. Also please consider resteeming this blog if you believe it deserves to be shared with the wider community.
All images present in this article are Β© Alexander White
interesting photographys π· and a good blog in general!
Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed my photos and liked the style of my blog : )
wow you're here! i go to your website alot! please check out my blog and see what you think, thanks.
ok, you've got me convinced... following
Thanks for following, I'm glad you enjoy my posts : )
good photography is always appreciated!
steem-on!
great @fraenk, you upvoted yourself again... that chainBB voting workflow you keep bragging about isn't that great after all, is it?
shut up minion!
Gorgeous works. Love the B&W. Adds such a detailed look to things, and perfect for candid's. It is such an art form, and one you seem very good at. Thanks for sharing some tips with us and your images. Keep up the great work.
Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed the black & whites. Street photography is an art form, like you say, and it's quite challenging to get it right.
Thanks for following my work, I hope you'll continue to find my blogs useful. : )
Insightful, and informative. Really good information.
Thank you, I'm glad you found my blog useful. I've never tried astrophotography but yours is really good.
this is my favourite type of photography β I'm a sneaky sneaky candid sort. Another excellent write up!
Thanks, I guess some of us are sneaky by nature : )
Great work dude :) :)
Thanks, I just checked out your sandboarding post. I used to have a Moto G phone and I never managed to take pictures like that, nicely done.
The next time I find myself in a desert I'll have to try sandboarding for myself : )
Aww thanks dude :) And you so should, its great fun (though wear long sleeves ;) sandburn is a thing....)
Some really great photographs you've made here. I really love your first, third and fourth photos of your posts. The first is very straight lines and feels kind of sneaky. The third is just too funny with this guy watching the bird cage. And the in the fourth, this little kid is about to jump on this elderly man :) Or behind him in something, maybe a little water or something, that is left to our imagination :)
Thanks for your feedback, I always find it interesting to know which photos people prefer. I'm glad you enjoyed them @edje, and I hope you liked the stories behind each picture. Thanks again : )
I did! Thanks for the share
Fantastic images, and great advice! I am learning a lot.
I only recently began to dabble with street photography, & I am definitely the 'hidden observer' type. I often rush my shots if people clock me, I dont know why, as all these interactions are just passing moments, and our paths will likely never cross again!
Perhaps you wouldn't mind letting me know what you think of some of my street shots 1, 2, 3 how I could improve them, what I should focus on etc?
Cheers!
Hi @sroka87, thanks for you support. I'll reply to your request in your original post.
Just sent you 2SBD for the feedback. It was meant to go to @randowhale , but i'm a bit absent-minded this evening, so put you down as recipient instead. You can decide whether to gamble with it or not!
That's really generous of you, I'm not that familiar with @randowhale but I might check it out. Thanks so much though, it's really kind of you.
No problem! One of the thing I love about Steemit is all the great photographers here. Its possible to get inspired & learn a lot.
I'm glad to be a part of it : )
You should also check out @prakashghai if you like minimalism. His work is really good!
Great follow up on part 1. Love Street Photography but don't have the balls to go on the street myself haha.
Cheers, and you should try it. It's great practice for other aspects of your photography.
I admire every one of your posts. Keep up the brilliant photos. Love your work.
Thank you, I'm glad you've enjoyed my posts. I hope you'll continue to enjoy my work in the future : )
Beautiful street photography. Well done. I'm following you now
Thank you, I'm following you as well.
i have the lenses for street photography now i only lack the confidence to do it , so i just take your collection to my wall instead .
Haha, I'm sure your own shots would hold more meaning for you. I'm glad you enjoyed the photos : )
Nice work! That Nikon D750 is amazing!
Thank you, and yes it's a very versatile camera.
Those are very nice and inspiring! Good post! I plan to try something like those too, Followed you,
Please follow back! :D
Street Photography is basically wildlife photography haha
Great work man. Bummed I didn't see it in time to give an upvote, but I really like this article!