- Beginner's guide to street photography
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Street photography is a fascinating genre of photography, which focuses on capturing candid moments of everyday life in public spaces. Street photography often requires you to observe your surroundings and combine composition, light, storytelling and with a little bit of patience to capture moments that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Here are some key tips and techniques to help you get started on your journey.
Image by Tim Northey | Shot on EOS R5, 35mm f/5.6 at 1/400
A good location is part of building the foundation of street photography. Composition plays a huge role in how your photo will be perceived, so take the time to find a place with leading lines, shapes, frames, or interesting contrasts. Look for unique or interesting settings, whether it's a bustling market, an empty alley, or a busy street corner.
When choosing your location, it's also essential to pay attention to the light. Consider how you can utilise natural light to your advantage, whether shooting during golden hour or when the sun casts shadows in unique ways. Experiment with aperture and ISO to help you adapt to the changing lighting conditions throughout the day.
Image by Tim Northey | Shot on EOS R5, 50mm f/4 at 1/4,000
Street photography is all about storytelling. Every photo should paint a picture about the location, people, or the mood of the scene. Take your time with framing up your image and think about the narrative you want to communicate.
To capture the most candid moments, let the moment unfold naturally. You don’t always need to set up a shot, sometimes the best moments happen when you’re just observing. However, engaging with subjects can also add authenticity to your photo. Asking about their story could result in a deeper connection and a more meaningful image.
Always be mindful of privacy - if you're shooting up close or planning to publish, it’s courteous to ask for permission. A respectful approach helps maintain trust and keeps your work ethical.
Switching your camera to black and white can reveal hidden emotions and add a sense of drama and timelessness to your images. Removing colour helps to emphasize textures, contrasts, and emotional expressions, making the scene feel more intimate. This technique is particularly effective for street portraits, older buildings, or scenes with strong light and shadows.
If you're using a Canon mirrorless camera, such as the Canon EOS R10, the built-in picture styles can easily switch between colour and black and white, giving you flexibility depending on the scene.
Image by Tim Northey | Shot on EOS R5, 50mm f/6.3 at 1
Shooting in manual mode on your camera allows you to take control over exposure settings. You’ll have the ability to adjust the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO to suit the conditions. A fast shutter speed, such as 1/200 or 1/400, is good to freeze movement without a tripod. Set your aperture to at least f/5.6 to ensure enough depth of field, keeping everything in focus from the front to the back of the frame.
With Canon’s RF lenses, such as the RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM, you get quick, precise control and fast autofocus, even in low light, making it easier to capture those fleeting moments on the street.
Image by Tim Northey | Shot on EOS R5 Mark II, 85mm f/2 at 1/640 sec
ISO settings allow you to control the sensitivity of your camera's sensor to light, the scale typically ranges from 100 to 6400 or higher, with the lower end being ideal for well-lit environments, providing clean, noise-free images. In street photography, set your ISO to be high enough to ensure a sharp image, especially in low light conditions, but be mindful of how high you can get without introducing excessive noise. Canon mirrorless cameras, such as the Canon EOS R7, handle higher ISOs very well, allowing you to shoot at ISO 1600 or higher without compromising image quality.
For beginners, starting with auto ISO can be a helpful way to be mindful of how your camera responds to different lighting situations, and once you're more comfortable, start manually adjusting your ISO based on the environment to give you even more creative control.
Image by Tim Northey | Shot on EOS R5 Mark II, 50mm f/4.5 at 1/2,500
A lot of street photography is about being in the right place at the right time, which can mean waiting for the shot. To ensure you're ready to snap the moment, set your camera up with a fast enough shutter speed and a relatively wide aperture, so you can capture moments as they unfold. At 1/400 sec or faster, you’ll freeze motion while maintaining a sharp focus.
It's important to trust your instincts. Sometimes the best photos happen when you least expect them, so always be prepared for the unexpected. Take time to observe your surroundings and keep your camera settings flexible to adapt quickly to any situation.
Image by Tim Northey | Shot on EOS R5 Mark II, 85mm f/14 at 1/20 sec
Movement blur can convey the mood and pace of a scene, whether it's fast-moving traffic or pedestrians in a hurry. Capturing movement can evoke feelings of business, isolating, speed, or energy, adding mystery to your images.
Use a slower shutter speed (e.g., 1/30 sec or slower) to create this effect while keeping your subject partially sharp.
This technique helps illustrate the movement of a location - experiment with different angles or longer exposures to capture the movement in a way that reflects the vibe of the scene.
Image by Tim Northey | Shot on EOS R5 Mark II, 50mm f/1.2 at 1/1,000 sec
Lastly, but most importantly, remember to respect your subjects. Not everyone will want to be photographed, and it’s important to be aware of people’s privacy and comfort levels. If you're photographing individuals up close, always approach with consideration and kindness, or simply capture candid moments from a distance.
If you're starting out in street photography, consider something compact, versatile and lightweight allowing you to capture those quick, spontaneous moments. Here are a few excellent choices for beginners.
Canon EOS R10: A great entry-level APS-C camera for urban explorers; compact and lightweight, the EOS R10 is packed with features such as advanced subject tracking, high-speed RAW continuous shooting and an expansive range of creative filters and scene options.
Canon EOS R7: Perfect those who want to step up their street photography with a higher-performance camera, the EOS R7 delivers fast shooting speeds, In Body Image Stabilisation and high-performance tracking for dynamic street scenes.
Consider pairing your Canon mirrorless camera with Canon RF lenses for versatility and sharpness. The RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro is a great all-rounder for street photography, while the RF 50mm f/1.8 STM is ideal for low-light conditions and more intimate portraits.
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