street photography

[ShaneH]

Yesterday I went out to try my hand at street photography for the first time. Being quite an introvert I was really out of my comfort zone and so knowing that I brought my son along with me. I did have a good time doing it, but wasn't comfortable enough to get so close that I could get a nice close up. I've posted more on my flickr page, but wanted to get some critiques on this pict for starters. Most of the other picts of people I took didn't really know that I'd taken their pictures as well.



How is my composition?
Does one have to get really really close?
Any other tips would really help out as well. I appreciate everybody taking a look at these. :-)

Taken: 02/07/2012
Camera: Nikon Coolpix P80
Aperture: 4.0
Focal Length: 19.4
ISO: 64
Flash: off, did not fire

[inkista]

As someone who's shy and sucks at street photography and can give you absolutely no pointers, I think you did pretty well.

And no, you do not have to get really really close. The thing is (and this is a personal view, ymmv), to me, street photography is not necessarily just about getting a portrait of someone on the street, or getting a scene with a person in it. It's mostly about how the surroundings and the people in them together tell a story. And the one thing I'm not seeing in your images is a strong narrative.

For me, on flickr, I follow a street photographer in London named David Solomons. You'll note he mostly shoots wide, he's rarely in anybody's face, but the pictures are as much about the environment as they are about the people.

Go look at Cartier-Bresson books. Go find a street photography website. Might inspire you to forget yourself a bit more and go look for the story.

[graciousness]

Wait, your ISO is 64?? Am I missing something?

Technically, I think you need a lot more exposure on your subject. I would normally suggest fill flash, however, I don't think it would be appropriate here so I suggest increasing your ISO. I don't know why your ISO is at 64- I really don't understand how your Exif (even on flickr) could pull that number, but I would have started at ISO 400 with this photo, being you are trying to expose for dark skin. Also, this photo is underexposed as it is, anyway, so yeah, I think 400 would have been a good starting point.

What's your shutter speed on this? Faster shutter speed, at around f/125 would have been a good starting point for this type of shot, too, to avoid motion blur.

[ccting]

What is the advantage of doing street photography? I just can't figure it out..

Portrait photography --> Wedding photography
Micro/macro photography --> Product photography / food photography?
Wildlife photography --> is for? How do you make money with this kind of photography??
Sports photography --> is for?? How do you make money with this kind of photography??

[RLucas]

Originally Posted by inkista

As someone who's shy and sucks at street photography and can give you absolutely no pointers, I think you did pretty well.

And no, you do not have to get really really close. The thing is (and this is a personal view, ymmv), to me, street photography is not necessarily just about getting a portrait of someone on the street, or getting a scene with a person in it. It's mostly about how the surroundings and the people in them together tell a story. And the one thing I'm not seeing in your images is a strong narrative.

For me, on flickr, I follow a street photographer in London named David Solomons. You'll note he mostly shoots wide, he's rarely in anybody's face, but the pictures are as much about the environment as they are about the people.

Go look at Cartier-Bresson books. Go find a street photography website. Might inspire you to forget yourself a bit more and go look for the story.

I agree. I've tried it a couple of times, but I found myself more worried about what people thought that I couldn't get anything really worth sharing.
To the OP. Good for you for trying to get out of the comfort zone. I know completely where you are coming from.

Originally Posted by ccting

What is the advantage of doing street photography? I just can't figure it out..

Portrait photography --> Wedding photography
Micro/macro photography --> Product photography / food photography?
Wildlife photography --> is for? How do you make money with this kind of photography??
Sports photography --> is for?? How do you make money with this kind of photography??

Sometimes photography --> is more about enjoying yourself than making money. Much like how you enjoy being a troll. Why don't you actually try photography sometime. You might like it.

[homank76]

Originally Posted by ccting

What is the advantage of doing street photography? I just can't figure it out..

Portrait photography --> Wedding photography
Micro/macro photography --> Product photography / food photography?
Wildlife photography --> is for? How do you make money with this kind of photography??
Sports photography --> is for?? How do you make money with this kind of photography??

The point is to take pictures of people how they naturally act.

[ccting]

For me, photography is more for rich people..to spend their time..You need so many expensive equipments...

[homank76]

Originally Posted by ccting

For me, photography is more for rich people..to spend their time..You need so many expensive equipments...

Than you don't have a single clue on what photography is. Photography is an art form, there is no right or wrong. It's the person behind the equipment that makes the pictures, not the equipment.

[karen_s]

Originally Posted by graciousness

Wait, your ISO is 64?? Am I missing something?

I think this model has an ISO range of 64-6400.

Originally Posted by inkista

As someone who's shy and sucks at street photography and can give you absolutely no pointers, I think you did pretty well.

And no, you do not have to get really really close. The thing is (and this is a personal view, ymmv), to me, street photography is not necessarily just about getting a portrait of someone on the street, or getting a scene with a person in it. It's mostly about how the surroundings and the people in them together tell a story. And the one thing I'm not seeing in your images is a strong narrative.

For me, on flickr, I follow a street photographer in London named David Solomons. You'll note he mostly shoots wide, he's rarely in anybody's face, but the pictures are as much about the environment as they are about the people.

Go look at Cartier-Bresson books. Go find a street photography website. Might inspire you to forget yourself a bit more and go look for the story.

+1

I am shy and tried it too. I found it to be a wonderful challenge, although not photographically as much as psychologically and personally. To my surprise, I found many people didn't mind having their picture taken and some actually liked it, like these guys.



I wasn't very good at it, but I truly enjoyed the attempt.

Originally Posted by ccting

For me, photography is more for rich people..to spend their time..You need so many expensive equipments...

I soooo disagree. You don't need expensive equipment to enjoy your time taking photos. I played a sport professionally and I could play well and enjoy my round with my own equipment or a cheap set of rentals, didn't matter. It was the time and effort I took to improve my skills and abilities to learn the equipment, not the equipment that made me good. Heck, I still play with the set I bought in 1979 and still beat most people. IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT EQUIPMENT!!!

Originally Posted by RLucas

Sometimes photography --> is more about enjoying yourself than making money. Much like how you enjoy being a troll. Why don't you actually try photography sometime. You might like it.

Where is that "Like" button.

[RLucas]

Originally Posted by ccting

For me, photography is more for rich people..to spend their time..You need so many expensive equipments...

At the moment, I can't afford a Galaxy Tab that you laugh about being stolen.
I am using one camera that was given to me as a gift, and an even older 6MP Nikon D70 that I got for almost nothing. I just got an SB28 flash that I spent $40.00 USD on. No ttl. No nothing. You have spent more on gear in the last six months that I have spent in over 3 years, so you're rich vs poor argument is invalid. You know what? I'm completely satisfied and thankful that I have what I do have.
***still think I am feeding a troll***