Fear of Street Photography
So many times at the start of a workshop, I ask how many people have every deliberately photographed a stranger in their life. They turn around and say that they have a fear of street photography, especially if they have to photograph strangers.
Often the answer is “never”
I remember from my own experience that I spent years as a teenager photographing family, schoolfriends, cats, dogs and holiday landscapes.
After I got a job and had more income to spent on cameras I continued as before, annoying everyone at parties and birthdays.
It was not until I went on a workshop, similar to this one, that my eyes were opened.
I struggled for the first few days of the 5 day course.
On day 3 I photographed my first stranger. Head on. And he saw me.
It was like floodgates opening, and after that I couldn’t stop!
Suddenly I had an infinite number of subjects and locations and I could use my very expensive cameras and lenses every day.
I had conquered my fear of street photography.
My Progress
For the first few months I put a 180mm (sometimes longer) lens on my camera and photographed people from afar.
But as the months went by, I moved closer and closer.
The 180mm lens became a 120mm.
Then 80mm.
Then 50mm
I now I’ve settled on 35mm.
One useful recipe (and note – I don’t use the word “rule”) is once you’ve conquered your fear of street photography is to try and get as close as possible.
For some people, shooting a stranger and knowing that he/she may spot you is nerve wracking.
But in the 30 years of photographing people on the street I’ve only ever been challenged twice, and even then in a friendly way.
If they spot you photographing them, just keep on clicking.
Fear of street photography overwhelms you ?
In our photography workshop we’ll go through lots of ways you can photograph people without being obvious.
(Hint – one of the worst way to do street photography is to shoot from the hip).
You’ll look shifty and the quality of your picture is almost entirely dependent on luck.
I still sometimes see an opportunity but don’t take the shot, thinking it will annoy the subject.
But then I get home and I’m even more annoyed with for good reason.
I’ve learned that the pictures taken in those circumstances are usually the outstanding ones.
I have no idea why that’s the case – it’s just another one of those magical things about street photography.
But remember – most people on the streets have very little if any situational awareness. They could be slapped in the face with a kipper and not notice a thing as they walk about almost in a trance state.
So try not to let any fear of street photography be overwhelming.
Your rights
Next time you walk down the streets, marvel at the number of people bent necked, looking at mobile phones. The world could end but unless it was on their social media feed they’d be the last to know.
Of course, you need to know the sorts of persons to not point a camera lens at – drunks, people exhibiting bizarre behaviour or someone clearly having an awful day.
But the law is quite clear (at least in the United Kingdom) – If you and your subject are on the street you can photograph them. End of story, but note – restaurants, shops, railway stations and shopping centres are technically not public places and you can get asked to stop photographing (in which case why are camera phones ok ?).
If you’ve always been reluctant (or scared) to photograph other people you’ll find that after a while you become a little bolder and more assertive – not only when on the streets.
So it’s time to conquer your fear of street photography.
Perhaps the best advice is if you see a photographic opportunity, don’t hesitate for even a millisecond. Just take the shot. If you wait for even a moment, self doubt and fear will start creeping in.
Banish that fear of street photography.
