John Lewell - 100 Top Street Photography Tips

100 Top
Street Photography Tips by John Lewell
"Streets are like balls of twine. They can be unrolled indefinitely."
Lawrence Osborne, Bangkok Days.
Preface and Introduction "From Getting Equipped to Developing a Personal Style"
Preface This little e-book started out as a document with relatively few pictures, but I've expanded it by placing a photo on every page. Please don't expect the photos to illustrate precisely the content of every tip. There's usually a connection, but I found conventional illustrations to be too dull. I mean, who wants to see a timetable or a map for "#39 Plan Your Day"? If you've already read my book "Street Photography Is Cool" you'll be pleased to hear that I've used a fresh set of images (apart from two which fitted particularly well). Despite all the fresh material, this current book is very inexpensive, while the other, being an in-depth guide to street photography, costs a little more.

That said, I think these "100 Tips" represent a distillation of the art of street photography. It's quick to read, but contains ideas which linger in the mind. I hope you find it useful.
John Lewell Introduction There's no better way for photographers to overcome a creative block than to go out on the street and without preconceptions take candid shots. In fact, I think street photography can work the same magic for painters and writers, too. It makes you look more closely at people. It places people into a particular city context where they may appear to be either at home or out of place.

While you can record only their outward appearance, at least you can capture moments when they reveal themselves through gesture and expression. For me, the overriding priority is composition, but I'm sometimes willing to sacrifice perfection in composition for emotional content. By this I mean "art emotion" rather than "raw emotion," in other words the impalpable feeling you get by looking at the image. Getting to a point where you can venture out, regardless of light and weather, and return with plenty of good shots takes time. An aspiring street photographer needs to find a set of strategies for being in the right place at the right time, then taking each shot at a favourable moment. The following tips are designed to help in every way: in getting equipped, in finding inspiration and advice, in making technical improvements, discovering new compositions, dealing with the psychology of street photography and developing a personal style.

There are 10 sections, so let's get started! Section One "Getting Equipped"
#1 You Need a Camera Shooting street photography with a mobile phone is like playing cricket with a baseball bat. Tricky. So consider buying the best lightweight camera/lens you can afford. #2 Forget the Zoom Street photographers rarely use zoom lenses and for very good reasons. They're bulky, heavy, and they tempt you into hunting for the perfect focal length so you miss a vital shot. #3 Choose a Focal Length The best prime lenses to use fall within the range 24mm to 50mm, with the most popular being 28mm and 35mm.

When starting out, a bit more reach can be useful, such as 50mm on full frame cameras. #4 Keep It Light If you're serious about street photography you'll be carrying your camera all day, in one hand. Hence lightness is a virtue, with around a kilo being the absolute maximum weight. #5 Go for Quality If you're buying a camera for street photography, image quality is almost as important as lightness. Check out "The Best Camera for Street Photography" and "The Best Lens for Street Photography." #6 Consider Versatility Fixed-lens cameras like the Fuji X-100F or Leica Q2 are great for street photography, but consider the versatility of system cameras. #7 Accessorise Wisely Street photographers need hardly any accessories. #7 Accessorise Wisely Street photographers need hardly any accessories.

I'd recommend only a strap with no brand name, a wrist strap (if the camera has a good grip); and a third party grip (if your camera lacks it). #8 Buy Spare Batteries Depending on the make of camera you've bought, you'll probably need a spare battery. Small Sony cameras like the RX1RII use up the juice in a battery very quickly, so you'll need two spares. #9 Read the Manual It seems pretty obvious, but at the very least, you need to know what all those buttons do. It's surprising how many people don't. #10 Keep It Together A light canvas bag. #10 Keep It Together A light canvas bag.

Water bottle. Snack bar. Spare memory cards. Lens cloth. Stout pair of shoes. A little money.

Maybe a gun (if you're a U.S. citizen heading for a dangerous part of town). Section Two "Get Inspired!"
#11 Inspire Yourself Somewhere among the pictures you've already taken there'll be one or two that will inspire you to say: "I like that, but I can do better." This is the best inspiration of all, because it's personal. #12 Check Out the Greats Look at the work of the classic street photographers such as Vivian Maier, Henri Cartier-Bresson, and Daid Moriyama. I've listed these and hundreds of today's practitioners on StreetPhotoIndex.com. #14 Study Classic Painters