![]() However you approach decisive moment street photography, don’t lose interest in your environment and in humankind. Ask yourself: What makes this composition compelling? How did the photographer balance objects throughout the frame? Did they use the rule of thirds? Leading lines? The golden ratio? Over time, you’ll start to internalize these different compositional guidelines, and you’ll get better and better at applying them when you’re out shooting. Pro tip: Find some street photographers you like and study their images. If you can combine an interesting foreground subject with an interesting background scene, your images will turn out so much better. And if you want to really take your compositions to the next level, try incorporating layers into your images. I’d also suggest using leading lines a line or two that points toward your subject will guide the viewer’s eye in the right direction. It’ll help you position your main subjects in a way that appears both balanced and dynamic. If you’re relatively unfamiliar with composition, then I’d encourage you to start with the rule of thirds. But when it comes to aesthetics, there are certain arrangements that look more pleasant than others. I know that street photography is often seen as a genre of freedom. In my experience, a huge number of images are ruined because the composition is slightly off – images that would’ve otherwise turned out amazing. And as long as you shoot in a bigger city, even that won’t happen very often. In reality, you may occasionally have someone ask you to delete a picture. Don’t go around flashing people in dangerous areas, and you’ll do just fine. There’s no need to be afraid of strangers! Thanks to my years of experience, I can assure you that nothing truly bad will happen to you – as long as you use common sense. In other words, if you want to be a great decisive moment photographer, you must get over your anxiety. (And if you’re deeply afraid, you may struggle to see interesting moments in the first place. Once you spot the perfect scene, you’ll need to translate it into a photograph – but if you’re afraid to get close or to raise the camera to your eye, you’ll find your creative freedom restricted. ![]() The minimalism may help you get in the zone. If this becomes an issue, try using a film camera. You don’t need to look at every image you take, and you don’t need to spend long seconds agonizing over each setting (see the previous tip!). It’s a tool that helps you capture your vision, nothing more. Remember: The more focused you are, the better you’ll do!Īlso, don’t get too distracted by your street photography camera. If you have the option, turn off your phone before you shoot and leave your gadgets and gizmos (such as your smartwatch) at home. Then, when you walk out the door, you’ll be ready to capture beautiful moments as they appear.īy the way, there are a lot of distractions in the modern world. Take a deep breath, and wipe away any distracting thoughts. I’d encourage you to pause before you step out onto the streets. To absorb the chaotic environment and notice decisive moments, you need to concentrate. Just walking in a good location while thinking about work or home life won’t land you the money shots. You’ve got to cast out your attention and keep your head on the swivel, looking around for opportunities. But to do this with consistency, you need to have the right mindset. The best way to capture decisive moments is to spot interesting scenes as they’re occurring (predicting them in advance is even better!). That way, when you see a decisive moment occurring, you can instantly lift your camera to your eye and hit that shutter button! Know the best methods for acquiring focus (I’d encourage you to try zone focusing), know how to change your shutter speed, aperture, and ISO without looking, and know how to adjust your camera’s burst mode speeds. Make sure you’re aware of all necessary camera settings and how to adjust them on the fly. So spend some time learning the ins and outs of your equipment. If you’re not intimately familiar with your gear, then you’ll fail – no matter your decisive-moment instincts. Yes, you must be able to spot potential scenes of interest as they occur, but you must also raise your camera, dial in the right settings, and press the shutter button. Street photography is a two-step process. If you don’t catch it in time, you’ll lose it for eternity. A decisive moment can last for five, three, or just one second and then be gone forever. ![]() There is no second chance to catch candid scenes. While slow, deliberate photography is often relaxing, the street is not a place where you can slack off and take all the time in the world to grab a shot.
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