Street Photography

I was commissioned by a National chain of Estate Agents to photograph the “feel” of the towns of Horsham, Sussex and Oxted, Surrey, the idea being to suggest to potential property buyers what a given town looks and feels like to the on-line viewer, help them imagine if the space would suit them and so potentially be worth a visit. The brief was to encapsulate the general space, the architecture, its details and the people who occupy it. I submitted many suitable images which nailed the brief, these however are simply the peopled ones I liked the most.

Street photography - Fetch the ball

Street photography mums and child

Equipment-wise I used a full-frame Canon 5Dmk2; combined with either a 24-105mm f4, 80-200mm f4 or 35mm f1.4. All hand held at as close to ISO 160 as the ambient light combined with chosen lens and aperture would permit.

It is worth noting that I approached pretty much all my “subjects” with my photo request, and all but one agreed happily to be in the shot.

Street

Street photography, shopping all done.

Street photography

The trick to good Street Photography

  • When choosing a town, all that really matters is how big it is and the size of its population. Street photography is a bit of a “numbers game”: the more people wandering the streets, the greater one’s opportunity to capture them.
  • Almost all photography is about the light. Go on a day when there’s sun, avoid the few hours around midday when the light’s direction is at its least flattering. So, look for where the light falls nicely, wait for people to walk into it, and shoot away!
  • Don’t be shy, people like people if they’re courteous. If someone’s worth photographing – ask them if they’d be part of your image. In my experience, almost everyone, when approached politely is generally up for it.
  • Don’t get bogged down with gear, as the day passes your camera bag will just get heavier! If I was out on a non-commissioned shoot I’d simply mate my 35mm prime to a single body, spare battery and memory cards

Street photography, Ball statue

[su_row]

[su_column size=”2/5″] Name: Robert Irving
Job: Commercial Photographer
Location: UK & Denmark [/su_column]
[su_column size=”3/5″]

  • Time with Camera: Life long
  • Favorite Subject: People
  • Favorite Piece of Kit: Sigma 35mm f1.4 Art Series lens
  • If I could travel in time: Neolithic hunter gatherers of NW Europe
  • What is the first thing you notice about people? How relaxed they are
  • What was the last thing you ate: Unsalted mixed nuts
  • If you were a crayon, which colour would you be: Orange
  • Mountain cabin or beach house: Mountain cabin
  • Last book you read: Ben Elton, Two Brothers
  • What is the furthest you’ve been from home: Jungles of Burma without visa or permission!
  • Top of your bucket list: Cross Mongolia by motorcycle

[/su_column]
[/su_row]

Street photography. Young lady on the phone

Street photography, super angle

 

[su_box title=”Robert Irving” box_color=”#0e6107″ radius=”1″]Robert Irving is a commercial photographer and co-founder of World Photo Adventure with a passion for travel and adventure.

Rob’s web site: Robert Irving[/su_box]

Pin It on Pinterest

Shares