Street Photography - Introduction

I’ve just created new category called Street Photography. Although I didn’t shoot much people on the streets yet, this discipline is one of my most favoured. I’m going to make this introductory article a bit educational, and the man who helps me with this task is a professional photographer Michael Reichmann. Michael’s main domain is landscape and wildlife photography, but as he says:“Street photography is remarkably like wildlife photography, though the photographic tools and techniques are very different. You know that the subject is out there. You need to work quietly and carefully, trying to find a appropriate vantage point but without ’spooking’ your quarry”. So how to hunt all those timid strangers strolling on the streets? Michael’s two articles discuss some basic “stuff”.

The article Documentary and Street Photography is a good starting material. It discuss the one core issue, which is, than in the street photography you usually have to get close to people. Sometimes even closer. It’s not that difficult, after all, but you need to have the right attitude. The second part talks about what is the right equipment for the job, and his advice is to use rangefinder camera, or a high quality pocket camera. Or preferably too - some people are very impatient and are not willing to wait until you change your lenses. And the last thing to remember: “You have to have fun.”

There are many good places for a street photography (almost any street would do), but for Michael, one of the best is the midway of a country fair. Awfully lot of people, plus they are busy making various silly things. Michael explains how to take advantage of that and shows a few nice photos. His photo essay is called ”The Midway”.

So far so good, let’s finish this entry with one of my few street photos, which I took last year in Prague. Like it?

Street Performance, © Phoetica.com, 2004