I know few photography enthusiasts who have not been interested in urban photography or Street Photography at some time. But at the moment of truth, the truth is that getting those images of interesting strangers on the street gives us some qualms. We left enthusiastic, camera in hand, full of energy, positivism and security, wishing to get a few memorable images, but the truth is that as the minutes go by we deflate until we are only a shadow of the safe person we were moments before ... Does it sound to you Well, like everything else, it is a matter of commitment seasoned with a few tricks that can be useful .
1. CHOOSE AND STUDY THE PLACE BEFOREHAND
To start losing your fear, it is usually a good option to choose places with large numbers of people . There it will be easier for you to confuse yourself with a tourist and become clueless by merging with the crowd. Try in the tourist places around you, subway or train departures, corners of shopping streets, etc. Once you feel safe, you can progressively look for more interesting and lonely places.2. LEARN TO KNOW THE SEMI-MANUAL MODES OF YOUR CAMERA
Do not limit yourself to photographing automatically, as this will be the camera who makes the decisions and not you. If you really want the photography to be yours, with all its virtues and defects, it is best to practice with the priority to openness or speed depending on the results you want to obtain. If it is a scene with a constant light, you can also dare in manual. You have nothing to lose and much to win3. WORK WITH MEDIUM (50MM) OR SMALLER FOCAL LENGTHS
If you are terrified of having to get so close to people, try to start with longer focal points and every raid you make is forced to lower it a bit. Surely you have a zoom that allows you to vary the focal length. Do something like this:- Day 1: I die of shame. 100mm Focal
- Day 2: I saw that there is light at the end of the tunnel, yesterday I took a few pictures and nothing unpleasant happened to me, on the contrary. Focal 80mm
- Day 3: Little by little it seems that I am gaining confidence, I feel safe and wanting more. Focal 70mm
- Day 4: This is my thing, it seems that I am taking it easy. Focal 50mm
- Day 5: Well, there is no one to stop me I am a real Doisneau. Focal 35mm
4. INTENSIVE ABOUT DISCRETION
One of the things that we carry the worst and that terrifies us the most, is to face bad looks, bad words, have to give explanations or be exposed in public. Although that is our main fear, the truth is that these types of situations occur less times than you expect. Even so, if you prefer to avoid them at all costs, it is best to learn to be discreet.- The team: The more discreet the better. No tripod, flash, reflectors, spotlights, etc. Take only the essentials.
- You: Try not to look like a National Geographic photographer in the savannah ;-).
- Learn to shoot from the waist . In addition to being discreet, it will give you interesting insights.
- Practice with your poker face.
- Avoid eye contact. We all realize if someone looks at us insistently.
- Make sure you photograph something else ...
- Or that you tap the settings of your camera.
- And above all, don't be nervous, that's the most indiscreet thing you can do
5. INTENSIVE ABOUT EMPATHY AND GOOD MANNERS
If you want to convince someone that you really do nothing wrong, the first thing is to convince yourself. Don't make a guilty face, you don't do anything wrong. If you convey that, people will feel much more comfortable with you around.- Smile : It works better than you would imagine and often "saves" you from having to give explanations.
- Take a speech prepared and memorized in case someone asks for explanations. Why do you do what you do, why do you do it, if you are going to publish it somewhere, if it is a school work, and so on.
- Be polite and respectful ALWAYS.
- Be empathetic . Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you.
- If someone asks you to delete your image, do it. Although you can try to show the image and offer to send it by e-mail to see that there is nothing wrong with it and so you save having to delete it. It usually works.
- If it doesn't work, erase it. Do not "fight" for a photo, if it did not have to be, it will be another
6. ASK PERMISSION
If you are really uncomfortable about what others can tell you or think about you, try starting with permission from someone who has captured your attention. Tell him why you want his picture: Because you like his hairstyle, because you do a work on beards, whatever you think. Once you see that people are more willing than it seems to be photographed , go ahead and do it without permission, so the photographs will be spontaneous and natural , which is what we look for in urban photography.7. START WITH “PHOTOABLE” PEOPLE
That is, street performers, dancers, acrobats ... Everyone who works in the street is usually used to being taken a few photographs. They are a good reason to start and dust off your camera without feeling so self-conscious. Once you have mastered it, look for "more" interesting and spontaneous subjects.8. DON'T FORGET BLACK AND WHITE
Street photography fits like a finger ring. Although of course it is going to taste, because it depends on what images are held or not in black and white . Learning to see it is a matter of practice, so if you like monochrome, you have nowhere to start9. GIVE YOUR WORK A TITLE
It's easier to find something when you know what you want. For example, you are interested in the activities of the elderly in the street. That is your subject. Or you are fascinated by dependents of street stalls. Another subject. Or what fascinates you most is the face of people waiting for the traffic light to turn green. Another theme ... This will help you focus and get more and better results and not feel so lost in the swarm of possible images offered by urban photography.10. LEARN TO ADD INTEREST TO YOUR IMAGES
At first we think that everything is interesting and likely to end up being a great photograph. Over time you will become more critical and demanding and you will see that, unfortunately, it is not so simple. Many times it is not only the person who photographs "interesting" enough (visually speaking) but you need to learn to look for photogenic contexts , by contrast (old and new, high and low ...), by theme, formal, and so on.11. STUDY THE OLD TEACHERS AND THE NEW
Soak up his style, his good work, decide what you want to do and why, what is the style that "goes with you" and gradually you will begin to find your own style, the way you do things.12. ABOUT THE LEGALITY
If Urban Photography is your thing, before going out to photograph like a madman, find out what you can do and what not in your own country. Even more if you go to unknown countries. Make sure you have understood well what you can photograph and what not to avoid major evils, or at least to be prevented from the consequences of your behavior.13. PRACTICE
Only with practice will you learn to find interesting reasons , to be quick and discreet , to pursue the image instead of conforming to what you have in front of you. Only with practice will you gain confidence , fluency , learn to discern an interesting photograph of a flat and boring and improve the composition . The more you practice, the more you fill that photographic eye of yours, so eager to learn. And you know, if you liked it, it has been useful and you think that someone else may be interested in this article, please share it on your favorite social network. (Or all at once) Facebook, Google+ and Twitter. Thank you so much!