Street Photography
Last week, I attended a street photography course at the University of the Arts London (UCL), led by Simon King. This course interested me as my recent work has shifted but I’d been nervous about photographing people in public. My fear was confrontation. I was keen to learn the techniques to overcome this, including the best camera setting for rapidly changing conditions, compositional elements, how to approach people for portraits, and how to handle potential conflict.
The three-day course was broken down into:
Day 1 focused on composition, camera settings, street conduct, researching other artists, and practical exercises around the campus.
Day 2 was a six-hour day in central London applying what we learnt so far. I walked nearly 12 miles and took almost 700 images! I was exhausted at the end.
Day 3 involved reviewing our images, selecting favourites, preparing a presentation and creating a six-image photo-essay that told a narrative of the previous day.
My Favourite Shots:
The shard of warm light made her stand out against the grey column. Her auburn hair complemented the text on the column and contrasted beautifully with her dark blue coat. The composition appealed, with her positioned on a third, and the columns lines drawing your attention to her eyes. To improve it, I’d have got closer to her to avoid the distracting background.
The portrait works as the subject engages directly with the camera. A wide aperture (f2.8) blurred out the background, making it less distracting. Also, the white van in the background provided a nice contrast to his face.
I could relate to the ladies bored, empty expressions shopping in London. Taken on Oxford Street with my eye up to the camera, the shot includes a reference to London in the background. Again, I could improve this by getting closer which would reduce redundant elements in the background.
Photo Essay – Humour
Instructed to create my first photo essay, I focused on humour - which I often feel is undervalued in art. Avoiding cliches, I wanted to capture warm, light-hearted moments of connection on Oxford Street.
Next Steps:
Practice, practice, and more practice. The only way to improve my skills in street photography is to get out and shoot more.
Immerse myself in the work of other artists who are renowned for their excellent composition such as Gilles Piress.
Ask myself “What’s my intent in taking this image” before pressing the shutter.
Hone my technique by incorporating compositional skills like figure-to-ground, framing within a frame, and being mindful of the foreground, mid ground and background.
Work the scene. Not just take one shot: explore different angles and compositions to see what else can be included in the image.
What I learned:
Most people on the streets are oblivious to photographers, they’re immersed in their own worlds. My fear of confrontation appeared unfounded.
When conversations do happen, they're usually positive and engaging. And, most people will agree to having their portrait taken if you ask them politely.
Street photography is a great way to develop technical skills, like working in low light, panning, and shooting with the camera up to your eye.
I noticed a reoccurring issue in my photos: too much redundant information. I need to get closer to the subject, fill the frame, and tilt the camera down more to reduce dead space.
Overall this course was a great experience. I enjoyed the tuition and other photographers focusing on the same project