Christmas is a great time for photographing people - wonderful street scenes full of Yuletide joy.
Even if there’s no snow, the cold and frost can add a winter theme to your pictures as snugly wrapped people shelter from the cold winds.
Here are some street photography tips...
- Camouflage - blend in, shoot unobtrusively. Try to avoid using flash or you will lose the spontaneity when shooting candidly.
- If you want to get in close and personal, don’t be afraid to spend time with people so they get used to you and trust you. I bought these homeless people food in exchange for photos and got this shot of them saying Grace over it.
- Long lenses can help you get close to subjects without making them feel uncomfortable but always respect people’s right to privacy.
- If you’re uncomfortable about photographing strangers, shoot low and avoid their faces. An unusual point of view of an everyday scene can also have lots of impact.
- Go lightweight - this is one of the few occasions when you won’t need a tripod and all the gear.
- Street performers make great subjects but think also about daily life. There is often hidden beauty in overlooked everyday subjects.
- Counterpoint - think about contrast, photographing subjects in unusual locations.
 Favourite haunts - as with all photography, it can sometimes take a lot of planning to be spontaneous! If you see a great location, keep going back to it in case interesting subjects wander through.- Freeze the action - 1/125th or more at ISO400 is good. Experiment with different aperture settings to get either sharp or blurred backgrounds.
For more free street photography tips plus information on digital photography courses or a one-to-one photography course, contact us now. And don't forget to check out our Photography Videos section too!
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