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5 Mistakes in Street Photography and How to Avoid Them?
5 Mistakes in Street Photography and How to Avoid Them?
Street photography is a captivating art form that allows photographers to capture the raw, unfiltered essence of everyday life. From bustling city streets to quiet alleyways, the streets are alive with stories waiting to be told through the lens of a camera. However, mastering the craft of street photography comes with its own set of challenges, and even experienced photographers can fall prey to common pitfalls that can hinder the quality of their work.
In this blog post, we'll explore the five biggest mistakes in street photography and provide practical tips on how to avoid them. Whether you're a novice looking to improve your skills or a seasoned pro seeking to refine your technique, these insights will help you elevate your street photography to new heights.
1.
Busy composition
Mistake: Have too much going on in a single frame (especially when using a wide angle lens).
Improvement: Simplify your composition by focusing on just 1-2 subjects or elements. Use leading lines and shapes to draw the attention to these subjects
2
Ignoring Light and Shadow
Mistake 1: Not using light contrast (light and shadow) in the composition.
Mistake 2: Shoot in mid afternoons when the light and shadow are too harsh and not adding good definitions to the subjects.
Mistake 3: Shoot in overcast days when the light is flat, and not using a different strategy.
Improvement: Think about the street photos that caught your attention. Don't most of them have sharp light contrasts that make the frame compelling? A photo in which the light is flat is not that interesting. Therefore, try to incorporate sharper contrast and steeper light angles in your work and shoot in late afternoons when the sun angles down. In overcast days when there is not definitive light contrast, use a different strategy, for example, long shutter speeds to tell a story.
3.
Not predicting what will happen
Mistake: Not looking around to observe people and missed capturing a story that just happened.
Improvement: Prediction is the key in street photography. Try to look around and anticipate what is going to happen in the next 10 seconds (e.g a lady wearing a red dress who will be coming into the frame soon). Get the camera ready 5 seconds before he/she enters the frame, timing is the key in street photography.
4.
Lack of patience
Mistake: Leaving the scene without waiting for a story to happen
Improvement: Patience is indeed a crucial aspect of street photography. Rushing can lead to missed opportunities! Taking the time to observe your surroundings, wait for the right moment, and allow scenes to unfold naturally. 10-15 minutes is the average time that you can spend on each scene.
5.
Too afraid to click the shutter
Mistake: Too afraid to click the shutter when the subject suddenly looks at the camera.
Improvement: Be brave and tell yourself to click no matter what. Yes, you might feel embarrassed but most subjects won't punch you. Smile and explain you are documenting snapshots of people on the street.
