Types of Street Photography

Street photography is a genre of its own, but it isn't all under one umbrella. Some photographers prefer very candid 'of the moment' shots that are purely spontaneous capturing what is in front of them there and then.

Even with this seemingly random approach they have already looked and pictured exactly what will be in the frame almost instantly in their mind before pressing the shutter. This is a very difficult technique to get right and will inevitably lead to hit and miss shots, the trick is to keep going.

Fine Art Street Photography in Nottingham

Then you have the other end of the spectrum and that is fine art street photographers, who take a great deal of time checking light, composition, looking for any unwanted distractions or better angles amongst other things. Often waiting for a long time for the right person to walk into the frame. Patience and knowing all these factors and combining them can produce stunning photographs.

Another type of street photography is fun, taking pictures of people laughing and smiling, may be there is an entertainment show or fairground rides in your town or city. Traders selling balloons or a punch bag machine (often seen in Birmingham city centre), will provide fun candid moments that should be in every street photographers repertoire.

A Primark Store at Night

Then there is night time street photography which is a totally different discipline that requires a change of approach and mindset.

Firstly your camera settings need to be adjusted to low light photography and your ISO, shutter speed and apertures must reflect your lighting conditions.

Secondly, if you are hand holding your camera bear in mind you have to consider all the conditions around you especially the light source. Night time street photography is far more challenging than day time photography, but can produce wonderful results.

Of course, you can combine or mix and match any of these street photography options and I encourage you to do so. You may prefer one type over another but don't discount any of the options until you have tried them.

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