The fundamentals to be a good Street Photographer
I consider street photographers to be completely different photographers from other photographers. A great photographer can be a total failure as a street photographer. And this is because things change completely on the street. Starting from the rules themselves for staying on the street. For this reason I have drawn this pie chart.
Let's try to analyze this diagram. But first a premise: I deliberately avoided classical considerations such as the camera and the technique. I take it for granted that the technique is a requirement that a street photographer dominate. About the cameras you know: virtually any camera is good if the camera works for you and your goals with the street photos you want realize. So here we go, guys:
STREET CODE
There is a street code to respect and this is fundamental in relation to the environment in which you find yourself working with a camera. Sometimes it can save you not only from some bad experience but even life.
GUTS
Let's not fool ourselves. When it comes to street photography, you also have to be daring. I'm not saying that a more shy personality can't take street photos but certainly for many situations they require courage and a dare to get a certain photograph. As educator i know that this can be worked and arrive at unthinkable results.
FEELING
I have already written how the idea of the story in a street photo is overrated and the result of a cliché and a saying that was borrowed from photojournalism. That is why I rather propose concepts such as energy, the essence of a place and situation, atmosphere. A street photographer is a careful observer, empathetic and sensitive, capable of capturing a gesture or an expression revealing humanity. This is why i believe Street Photography is not about the story, it is about the emotional.
EDUCATION
What I can say about it? As an educator myself I consider education a fundamental part for a street photographer. If you don’t know the history of photography and the work realized by the masters how you pretend to say when you made a good street photo? And I know very well that this education can also be acquired in a self-taught way, which is basically what I did. But don't underestimate the importance of a mentor and educator when it comes to street photography as well. Although this is a solitaire game, a good teacher can completely change your approach, motivation and skills. As a photography coach I take care of this and I witness the great results that can be achieved.
EXECUTION SPEED
Just yesterday I replied to a street photographer in that way, when he asked what is fundamental for street photos: quickness in esecution: that is fundamental in my opinion. Many photographers are not good street photographers because they act just like...photographers. Slowness or too much brooding only leads to losing photos. Clearly this aspect is telling us how much technical background is true support for being quick. And it is simply a matter of connecting instinct to this ability to operate quickly.
INNER VOICE
If one has little to communicate, he should think about giving up photography in general. With that said if you are not able to express your inner voice it can be a real issue in order to become a good street photographer. Of course, you can limit yourself to being a copycat, like many others, of a photographer or a style. But here we are talking about being a good street photographer. I believe it is part of a process and this can be induced and channeled into our photography. I'm not saying it's easy and for this a good educator can help. Which cannot tell you what your inner voice is but through a certain path it can stimulate you to make it emerge.
