Street photography, sometimes also known as candid photography, is all about capturing moments. It could be an opportunity that lasts only a split second, or multiple attempts just to get one worthy shot. More importantly, it is about training your eyes to observe everything around you, paying attention to the smallest details, practising your patience, and having the right composition to tell a story. Here are a few tips to get you started.

EOS M100, EF-M55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM lens, f/4.5, 55mm, 1/320sec, ISO200

Alone but not lonely

 

1. Don’t be afraid to crop your photos

EOS M100, EF-M55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM lens, f/6.3, 173mm, 1/20sec, ISO200

A midday respite (before)

Cropping your photo is a good way to omit distractions. In this case, we crop away the plastic bag at the top and one of the railings on the left of the photo to tighten the composition, giving more focus to the subject.

EOS M100, EF-M55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM lens, f/6.3, 173mm, 1/20sec, ISO200

A midday respite (after)

 

2. Give your photo a name

Crafting a line of description for the photo can drastically change the meaning of it. Your photo may be visually arresting, but by adding a short line, it gives your viewers more context and is a better tool for storytelling. Give some thought to your photos and guide your viewers using visuals and words.

EOS M100, EF-M55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM lens, f/4.5, 55mm, 1/25sec, ISO200

The dedication behind a sewing machine

 

3. Look beyond the everyday life

Sometimes we tend to miss out on the things we often come across, such as a construction site or a sidewalk. If you pay special attention, you may find beauty out of the mundane. We saw a group of workers tending to a roadwork and took a shot of one of them at work. Once again, give your photo a name – in this case, we call it ‘Interconnectedness’ – to tell a story.

EOS M100, EF-M55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM lens, f/4.5, 55mm, 1/800sec, ISO200

Interconnectedness

 

4. Go for a lower angle

Trying different angles work for all photography genres, and it is useful for the streets, too. Use the Canon EOS M100's tilt-up LCD screen to shoot from lower angles. This gives a different perspective and can potentially make your photos look more dynamic.

Learn why you should shoot using a mirrorless instead of a phone camera in Why Choose a Mirrorless Camera Over a Smartphone Camera

EOS M100, EF-M55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM lens, f/5.0, 100mm, 1/200sec, ISO200

Dreaming of an ice-cold beer

 

5. Choose your equipment wisely

Both the equipment and the photographer’s eye are important. As you practise and train to become a better photographer, equip yourself with good camera equipment to help you create better quality photos. We choose the Canon EOS M100 with an EF-M55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM lens for its lightweight quality and zooming capabilities.

Find out more about the Canon EOS M100 in A Review of Design and Key Features

EOS M100, EF-M55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM lens, f/4.5, 55mm, 1/400sec, ISO200

Solace under the umbrella

The beauty of street photography is that you will never know what to expect, and things out of the ordinary can happen in what seems to be an ordinary day. Observe, be swift and decisive when you take a shot, and practise whenever you can.

Master your photography technique with Aperture-Priority AE Technique #6: A Useful Aperture Setting for Street Photography

 

 

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