Street Photography

Be Comfortable and Get Better Shots
If you're miserable you'll take miserable photos. That means wearing comfortable shoes that you can walk in all day. Good socks that wick moisture away from your skin will help prevent blisters. Loose fitting comfortable clothes will keep you comfortable. A good quality camera bag with a well padded comfortable strap will keep your shoulder from aching. You might even consider a small photo backpack. I stress the adjective small here. You don't want to stroll the streets with the kind of huge pack you'd take into the bush or up a mountain!

In hot weather carry bottled water or Gatorade and keep yourself hydrated. Powerbars go a long way toward warding off the effects of heat and exertion and I always carry one or two if I know I'll be walking or hiking all day.

It's also important to dress appropriately for the weather. But one advantage of street shooting over landscape shooting is when you're in the city there's always a place to duck in to get out of the weather. But just in case I keep one of those $2 rain ponchos they sell in the parks in my camera bag now - just in case. It takes up a lot less room than carrying a good raincoat.

But I'm Shy
A lot of photographers start out shooting people with lenses 300mm or longer. There's little chance of "getting caught" and you get unposed images because the person is unaware of your presence. You can get some great shots this way but why limit yourself? I'll use anything from 17mm to 400mm for street shooting.

Engage people in conversation. If you're shy start with street vendors, who make good subjects anyway. Buying a morsel or a piece of fruit from a street vendor will make them willing to mug for a shot - and it will get you used to chatting people up on the street. The same is true with street musicians. A dollar or two in the hat will make musicians more open to your getting up close and taking their photo. A five will get them to do damn near anything you ask!

Starting conversations is hard for some photographers. Try asking people about their city. What are the good places and things to shoot? It's an easy ice breaker. It will open doors for you and take you to places you'd not have discovered otherwise. Bartenders and waitresses are a great source of information. Every time I sit down to a meal or grab a beer on the road I ask the bartender, waiter or waitress where there are good places to shoot and what's interesting in the area. These folks see an endless stream of people everyday and it never ceases to amaze me what they can put me on to.

Sitting at a bar you'll be amazed at what the other patrons may chime in with as well. On my first trip to New England many years ago I asked a bartender about places to shoot while we were waiting for our table. The bartender was a dud, but the couple next to us were traveling in the opposite direction and recommended we check out a road called the Kancamangus that they'd driven the day before. They thought it'd be a great place for a photographer. On that small tip we changed our destination for the next day and were rewarded with one of the greatest drives in New England.

Credit to photogjunior
photoskool.net