Street Photography Advice I Wish I Knew Earlier

By Eric Davidove

I watched a video by Mike Chudley, Street Photography advice I wish I knew earlier, and it got me thinking.  What would I tell myself way back when I first started taking Street Photos, given what I have experienced and learned since that time?

For starters, I would say be less “one-track minded,” to borrow a phrase from Forrest Walker.  I tend to be a little too trigger (or shutter) happy when I see an interesting person and push the shutter button way too soon.  Sometimes, waiting longer creates a risk of missing the train and not getting any shot.  So, it’s not an all-or-nothing “rule,” and it will sometimes leave you empty-handed.  Lately, however, I’ve started waiting a bit longer to scan the area more carefully and try to get a more interesting composition instead of immediately taking a photo when seeing an interesting person or situation.  It’s early days, but I already see some improvement in composition.  My frame is generally fuller, contains more action or movement, and builds a stronger narrative or context.

Experiment more.  That’s another bit of advice I would tell my newbie self.  Use different angles and framing.  Get down low, hold the camera up high, and get to one side and then the other.  Strive for a unique point of view that is less commonplace.  Don’t stand still and simply face the subject or subjects straight on.  The main subject doesn’t always have to be smack in the middle of the image.  Try creating more headroom or moving the main subject(s) to one side or the other.  Just make sure the viewer’s eyes go to the main subject(s) first (however you frame the moment).

Focus more on layering.  Create less one-dimensional images.  Don’t get me wrong; sometimes, the so-called one-dimensional images work very well.  However, sometimes the images would be much improved if there were layers.  At least meaningful layers.  Not layers, for layer’s sake.  One thing that I don’t like is an image with layered chaos, where nothing or very little seems to come together, like a middle school dance party (at least that’s how it was at my middle school).  Shooting with layers is very, very, very difficult.  At least to do it well.  But it’s something I would tell my past self to focus on and try to do more often.  Practice makes perfect.

What advice would you give your past self?