What makes good street photography?

For my first blog post...

I thought it would be fun to start with a topic that can bring a fair amount of grief to people. How do you know if street photography is good or bad? I don't claim to be an expert by any means, but I do consider myself to be a dedicated student in the art. I purposefully try to study those that are considered to be masters and I genuinely try to improve my technique and style every time I go shoot. 

Let’s start with a few definitions. On the broadest level, street photography is about people. Exposing and documenting the human condition is one way I have heard it explained many times. But there are some conditions.

Posing a subject on a street does not meet the standard. I would consider that “Street Style” portraiture. As cool and beautiful as it can be, it's missing the key element required for a photo to be considered street in its purest form - candidness. The mark of a skilled street shooter is the ability to go unnoticed or at the very least the ability to not disturb. Authentic is the key word. Letting things play out as if you were not there, as much as possible, is the name of the game.

At least that’s my opinion. There have been some very well know shooters that have made their careers on getting into people faces with an off-camera flash. At the end of the day, it is all art. I'm just not sure what human condition that portrays other than being shocked and annoyed at the photographer.

There are some schools of thought that would say any evidence of humans qualifies. I struggle with this one because at what point does that end? Any man-made object? I feel if the object can portray an element of humanity, it's fair game. A group of bikes outside a comic book store might work. At least it gives you a sense of who the person or people might be and what they are doing.



With that out of the way, let’s start to get down to the meat and potatoes. Composition and storytelling. Remember we are discussing what is makes for good street photography. A person walking across a street. Sure, it counts, but is it interesting? 

How about a man in a cross walk, with his cape like jacket billowing, while signaling traffic to stop so as to not run over him and his date over (and they say chivalry is dead).

The point I am trying to make is that good street photography is not just people. There has to be other elements that create interest or a story. it could be a moment of emotion. A juxposition between subject and surrounding. Creative use of light and shapes. When you start to create these types of images in the wild, not only is it a rush, it's a bit addicting. It's something that can’t be replicated in any staged or posed photography. 

There is certainly more that can be said about what makes good street photography. But for any one just starting out, if you only focus on candidness and trying to incorporate at least one additional element of interest into you composition, you will be miles ahead of anyone just taking snap shots.

Let me know if you enjoyed this type of content and tell me what other topics of interest you have.

Until next time, get out there!

-Shane