Different Approaches to Street Photography

I’ve been dipping my toes back into street photography recently, which got me thinking about the different approaches.

Walking or Waiting

Typically I like to walk. I tend to be too impatient to wait in one place for long. I find the element of exploration more fun, but there is a real advantage of staying in one place and gradually ‘building’ an image - waiting for the right elements to come together.

The personal project

It helps to know the type of images that you want to produce. Whether it’s a simple theme such as humor, or a style such as abstracts or close-ups.

The street portraits

Personally I like to be well prepared if I’m going to ask strangers for a portrait. Make sure I have the right lens, take some business cards, and be clear on why I’m asking when I introduce myself.

The gear

Personal preference again, but I much prefer a small camera. Less conspicuous and less ‘serious’ looking. Something like the Ricoh GR3, Fuji X100V or Sigma FP (my new favorite).

The instinctive

Photograph whatever catches your eye. I like the simplicity of this approach. The idea of ignoring what might be considered a good photo or what might be successful on social media, and just photograph what seems visually interesting.

The inspirations

Sometimes it’s good to see what’s been done before. Right now I have a little book of Ernst Haas photos with me. Saul Leiter and Alex Webb are other personal favorites for the way they use street scenes to create rich visual imagery.