Summary 1. Gear. Keep your gear simple and at a minimum 2. Environment. Read the streets (light, people, fishing, slow down and absorb the environment) 3. Meaning. Make connections on the framed shot 4. Shoot interesting things (with theme, mundane but interesting), not senseless randomness 5. Projects. Use projects to bring sense of focus and purpose (a body of work (narrow enough) that you can share) 6. Settings. Set it and forget it (ISO Auto, Shutter Speed 250, Aperture priority F8/F11), Focus Zones 7. Fearless. Remove feeling of shyness. Make it a habit. Work quickly and quitely. Avoid eye contact. Be confident that you are not doing anything wrong- legally, morally, or ethically. 8. Don't chase for perfection. Getting a shot of the moment is what matters. 9. One lens only. Know the lens intimately, how does it sees/describe the world. eg. 35mm FF 10. Be inspired. Visit Galleries, do workshops, analyse the work of the greats, read photography books, and travel.
Wrong. The factory 🏭 will shut down forever. In fact, your industry DID COLLAPSE. YOU DID loose Kodak for many years. You're totally underestimating everything. You have 40 years worth of usable cameras to choose from from multiple brands which produce a choice of 500+ lenses and you suggest we take 1 camera out with us. So let's add that all up. Out of a possible 1000 cameras, you suggest 1. You've minimised 1000 cameras and 30+ lenses for each, down to 1 camera body and 1 lens. No, no, YOU are indeed, sick. Very, very sick. Your production 🏭 factory cannot survive on your extreme thriftiness. You stop ✋️ flogging yourself and you ✋️ stop telling us to flog ourselves too.
one of the best videos and set of tips I have ever seen about street photography. no bullshit, just straight down to the bare bones of the street photography essentials. great job!
The project tip was my favourite! Getting some cohesive work with meaning is more important in street photography than other genres, I think. Currently making my way through your book, Mastering Street Photography and loving it. Just did some of the first assignment today.
Loving the X100V (silver) not many people take any notice of it, except for one guy who wanted to know what film I was using lol.. Loving your books, great info, great shots, and high quality. Cheers for posting.
Great summary! I am not an expert in photography, but you made it very understandable, where to focus on. For me most relevant is the pre-setting of the camera to be always prepared for the right shot. And even if it's not the 100% quality, better than losing an interesting moment. Thank you also for your other interesting videos.
@@StreetSnappers Yes i did. Love the filmsimulations and the fact i only had the 23mm lens. The entire trip i had the X100V in my hand and having a blast with it :) Thanks!
I found a handy street photography notebook in a camera store recently and thoroughly enjoyed it from page one. I hadn’t even looked at the author until I was home and discovered it was your book! Thank you so much for producing such a handy reference for when on the go. 🙏🏻
Enjoyable vid Brian. I never was one with a multitude of gear beyond what i needed at the time. Even as a newspaper photographer, I had the lenses and bodies I needed for both work and pleasure. Today, I am down to two cameras - a Fuji X-Pro2 w/XF 35mmf2 WR for digital and a Yashica Electro35 GS for film. It is all I need in retirement.
Do you ever consider using a "Mist" filter on the X100V? I keep considering one but then again, do I want that (possibly a bit of a fad) look burned into my RAW file?
Great video. I liked your comment about not chasing perfection. I say take the shot, it may not be perfect, but you have the photo as opposed to not having it.
Thanks for the feedback :-) Yes, I think chasing perfection holds a lot of photographers back and you're right about having the shot rather than missing it.
Learning Learning and Learning more from you Sir... I have recently bought FUJIFILM XT30 II with XC15-45mm F3.5-5.6 OIS PZ kit lens for Streetphotography and daily shooting purpose. And going for TTARTISAN 23MM F1.4 FUJI X MOUNT LENS.
Great advice here thank you for sharing. I found you (and ordered one of your books!) by watching Gareth Danks, a chap I have been watching avidly since the more recent “lockdown” . Look forward to watching more from you and excited to get out on the streets once we are allowed again. Hopefully I’ll be able put some of the advice into practice! 😁 Ps. Loved the photo of the nun smoking! 👍
Thanks very much, Niall. Good luck with your street photography! Just get out there and do it - enjoy your time on the streets and don't get sucked into the school of 'let's do lots of post-production to make it better'! Try to imagine you're shooting on film and what you see is what you get - it'll really sharpen your eye :-)
What should I do if I'm on a social trip, I have to move in a large group, I don't know the terrain, time is short, and I always have to move quickly, because the program is tight?
Very useful & interesting, thanks. Travel light, with a small camera, so as not to stand out. Read the street; who/what/where. Slow down and take the environment in; anticipate. Connect subjects, backgrounds, light, objects. Avoid the mundane; find a juxtaposition or quirk. Set a project (colour, light, object, people) with a narrative or theme. Set up simply & in advance, avoiding fuss/faff. Auto-ISO, F8, 1/200-1/250. Under-expose. Zone focus, not auto focus. Don't fear your street photography; make street photography habitual; avoid eye contact; it's legally fine. Perfection is illusory. Use one lens (preferably 35mm) to avoid changing over. Shoot inspired (read books, attend galleries, analyse famous works/snappers).
I very much enjoyed watching this video. Thanks for elaborating the subject in a calm and concise manner. Very much appreciated. I’m up to this point more of on an urban photographer, an enthusiast, not a professional that is, concentrating on architecture and urban landscapes. I’ve randomly ventured into trying out classical street photography, but haven’t, because it involves shooting people. These days not an easy task, in my opinion. Not completely comfortable with it yet. Anyways, I got myself a more or less pocketable camera to go with my Nikon DSLR. Sorry no Fuji, although I like them, but a Lumix LX100M2, as I’ve had Lumix before and I am well pleased with them. So your tips come in very handy at this point, are straightforward and make much sense. I’ll stick around your channel. Keep up the good narrative.
Thanks for the great comment and I appreciate your feedback. I agree, street photography isn't always easy but a small camera like your Lumix is perfect because it's so discreet and non-threatening. Please don't give up - the more you do it, the easier (and better!) it gets :-)
I've only just found your channel and subscribed. Thank you for sharing your tips on this excellent video and I look forward to seeing many more. I am 68 now and normally photograph wildlife, birds in particular. Recently, I bought an X-T1 and 18-55 lens which I hope will get me started in street. Thanks again - Steve.
Really enjoyed this video. I ordered your street photography book and it is supposed to arrive by 9 pm today. Looking forward to your instructions there. I seem to be collecting street photo books....so interesting and so useful!
Set and forget for night street photography? I currently go out with a 30mm f1.4 but on a Canon 200d crop sensor, it's not great with low light noise so I'm usually keeping auto iso limited to 1600 but then I'm around 1/20-1/60 sec at f1.4 with not the steadiest of hands and that lens doesn't have IS nor does the body. I've been doing some night time low light(just a lamp and tv) testing inside using higher iso up to 6400 to get ss up around 1/100, but think i need to test properly in the field
There was a time that imagine the picture that I wanter to take and appear in 10 munites. I m professional photographer but never earn money from street photography.
Agree with much of what you say but want to point out that whether you are doing something wrong "morally, legally or ethically" will vary by location/culture and individual sensibilities. Laws on photographing in public places vary by country/state/province, etc. On private property, including commercial property, permission is typically required. As to moral or ethical propriety, again this will vary by convention or accepted standards that will vary by geography and/or socio-cultural norms as well as by individual sensibilities. Whether there is anything "wrong" with taking pictures of people in public very much depends on the above considerations and is not for any one individual - particularly the one wielding the camera - to judge and make sweeping pronouncements on.
Interesting is subjective. What u find interesting others may not. What you find interesting some may not. The "boring" pictures of a random person walking or sitting in a cafe others may find beautiful. I thought street photography was an individual thing where people take what they think is interesting.
It's true about the gear bit. I'm using a moto g pure which is a phone you can get from the government as a free phone. What matters more I've discovered is positioning, sensing the right opportunity, and your editing skills.
great speech and a great motivation video as im watching it on a train while im heading to a full day of beautiful street photography (hopefully) fingers crossed, wish me luck.. 🤓 //freddie
I use a Pentax cameras with a Rokinon 20mm 1.8 lens Apature 5.6 and zone focus since it's a manual focus lens. My current project which may take a couple of years to complete is homeless people on the street. I have a advantage in that I work in recycling and a lot of our customers are homeless so I am in the area where they live and I can photograph them. Sometimes I will ask for a picture and offer a dollar in trade as I fill it a fair trade for the picture and I can usually get a smile on the face in return
great tips. Yes I agree get optimise settings and get going...and look. The best photos that are those that make me ask 'why' or 'what' or 'how' or maybe just exclaim 'wow', or 'gosh'. or maybe they make me 'smile' or 'wonder' The rest are just a bit boring, as you say, though probably technically perfect. Thank you
Than you for your video, very well presented. Kit wise I guess I'm 2 years behind you, (X70/X100F) but they work well. Confidence is my issue, which is part of who I am. Also, one thing you didn't mention which I know confuses some folk. Is public access does not mean a public space. i.e. a pavement/sidewalk is a public space, but a shopping centre or train station are not public space but the pubic does have access as they are under private ownership.
Absolutely nothing wrong with the kit! I really regret selling my X70 and I'm looking for another one - it's a classic! (and perfect for street photography). Good point about public access - many 'public' areas are privately owned (an increasing amount of London, for example) and, although there is a right of access/way, restrictions can apply - and one of those restrictions is often no photography. But my attitude is that it's easier to seek forgiveness than permission ;-)
Its interesting that you mention to buy books , not gear. I just got a book a few days ago " the street photographers manual" and there is a part in it where they say exactly the same. I found this video very very helpful. Thanks a lot :)
I found the video very inspirational and educational. Very good photos samples. It's rare in the tons of very bad street photography videos. Thank you very much. I just bought one of your books.
Hi Brian I really enjoyed the presentation. Can you tell me where you get your small photobooks printed. Also, do you publish the dates of your street photography expeditions with students? Best. David
Hi David, many thanks for your comment - I'm glad you enjoyed the video. I get the little zines produced by a company in the UK called Mixam (www.mixam.co.uk). I have lots of workshop dates planned for 2021 and you can check them out on my website - www.streetsnappers.com. Best wishes, Brian
I'm doing this street photography for 2 years now just for a hobby. Tips about minimum gear is very true. I have Canon M50 and 24-70 Tamron, it's quite big lens, unless you are in touritstic area you'll draw attention too much. So most of the time I shoot with just phone camera and I'm really satified by it.
@@andreasphotiou1886 since I have 24-70, I'm more consider in 17mm for prime lens. I have tilt screen camera, sometime I shot candid in street pretending that I'm looking the images, and it works great.
Hi Michael - I feel the same and it usually takes me half an hour or so until I'm in the zone. By the way, are you related to Barbara Luther-Davies (of Ormskirk)?
Lovely video, I just went on a photography trip and missed a few shots due to my hesitation. Kicking myself over it, but I will never make that mistake again!
Thank you! You‘re seem like such a calm and wholesome person and I love listening to you. One question: Where did you print your Zines? I find all the Instagram and Social Media thing rather stressful, the idea of a zine is very motivating.
Thank you for the tips and all the other videos - very inspiring! One question regarding the settings: You say f8 1/250 - set it and forget it! But why should I work with a 50 mm f2 lens for example and then shoot photos with f8?
Thanks Robert! I always buy the wide aperture lenses because I often shoot at night, when I open them up to the widest. If I'm shooting in daylight, I'm usually at f/8 or f/11 if it's really bright.
Really sweet video, thank you kind sir! Most of my photography jobs are events with large audiences so I'm comfortable with complete strangers and "catching moments" but I never really did actual street photography walking around the city. I intend to change that. I like what you said about getting to know one lens. I learned as a teenager on an old film camera and I took its 50 mm with me ever since, with adaptors, no matter what camera I used, however that's a bit limiting, it became too much like a comfort zone, I would like to have a wide angle "best friend" as well. Also found it interesting what you said about no eye contact. My city is much too extroverted, I don't think I could get away with it without a quick chat haha. But it's a good tip!
Definitely want to get into street photography. Found this video extremely interesting and helpful and will be buying your books too. Thank you so much.
Waiting for a GR3.Have seen a lot of videos but the information packed into this has been so helpful.Saved me a lot of faffing about with the learning process. Thanks.
I know you said about sticking to the same lens which I do, but every once in awhile I'll try and change up my lens and use a different one for awhile so my perspective is changed and freshened up.
I think that’s a good idea- keeps you fresh. The ‘one lens’ thing is ideal for those new to street photography but we all evolve. Thanks for commenting :-)
I'm just getting into street photography after spending a few years away from a camera. Where do you get your books printed for £1.50 ? They look great!
hi, really enjoying your videos. I've never really done any street photography due to 'fear' but i'd love to give it to go but i live in a small town and i feel photographic opportunities will be few and far between and i'll stick out like a sore thumb so my real question is can you be a half decent street photographer in a smallish town? thanks
Thanks Lorraine! Yes, it's difficult but it definitely can work. My advice would be to set yourself a project you can work on. This gives you a sort of 'authority' to do what you're doing and, if questioned, you can chat about it to people - particularly if it has a local theme. Good luck!
I have been watching some street photography videos lately and a lot of them simply have photo's that are just random images of random people, with no story to them, photo's I've seen so many times before by other photographers. They are 'fine' photo's, but uninteresting (to me). I was starting to think that I just didn't "get" street photography, until I came across this video and you mention that problem. I mean, maybe I still don't "get" it really, just yet. But the images you show in this video are far more interesting to look at than what I've been seeing recently. I've been considering an X100V as a everywhere carry so I can practice my photography more frequently (I don't want to carry my dslr all the time) as there are many times I've wished my camera was with me but its a little bulky to have all the time. This video has upped my interest again :)
Thanks for an interesting comment! The picture I took in this video are just the sort of street life I encounter every day. I think the secret is to be tuned in to what's going around you - and also put lots of miles in. Once you put those two factors together, the magic starts to happen. I love the X100V - if anything will reinvigorate your interest in street photography, that camera will! Good luck :-)
@@StreetSnappers I think I would have bought one by now if we hadn't have entered into lockdown, perhaps once this finishes I can claim one as a Christmas present for myself :) Anyway, I have watched almost all your video's now, they are all really interesting and useful thanks!
I came across your channel quite recently but can already say that you're definitely among the 'good ones' on street photography.' Your sense of organisation, focus (no pun) and depth when needed is a model of the genre.
Brian what about GDPR? Aren’t identifiable photographs of people now classed as personal data even if it is in a public place? What can we do about this?
Hi Astra. Fortunately, GDPR doesn’t come into photography, unless the image contains metadata with personal details of the subject. Just a face is not a problem - if it were, there would be no press photography any more!
Excellent vidéo and excellent channel. I have a question that may seem anecdotal but you have an accessory plugged to your flash socket (showing at 1:55), I would like to know how it's called because I would like to get one. Thanks in advance for you channel and thank you one again for all the information you provide.
Hi Herve, the accessory is a thumb grip. The originals are called 'Thumbs Up' grips but are quite expensive (around £70). I bought mine for £5 from ebay (also here on Amazon: amzn.to/3fpcD41). Thanks for your comments about the channel - glad you like it!