A growing trend in UK urban photography is street photography. Many urbanites like to capture their surroundings in as many different ways as possible. They will often photograph themselves, members of the public and subjects in streets and squares. They will often add their own elements to the photographs to make them more interesting and sometimes a little funny.
Street photography can be a difficult and challenging hobby for a photographer. It is not always easy to obtain permission to take photographs from people on the street. As a result many amateur photographers will opt to put images away for years. Others may even try to obtain images using illegal methods. Either way, it takes a lot of patient and skill to perfect this type of photography.
The image that you want to capture will be the center of your attention when you are taking street photographs in the UK. Choose a subject wisely and don’t be afraid to take some risks. There is nothing worse than taking a photograph of a subject you have never met in person. It can often be a good idea to talk to the subject in person before you start taking any photographs. This will give you an insight into what they like and dislike and could help you to choose the right subject.
You should not have to use a flash in every photograph you take. Some photographers find it necessary to use them in order to freeze images. If you don’t have access to a flash, then try using a normal point and shoot camera. Take your time and compose the image perfectly. As with all photography, you may be best working in the evenings when the light is not as strong.
When photographing children, always remember to be kind and patient. Children are unique creatures and they can react to certain situations very differently. As a photographer you should try and learn as much as possible about your subject. You should never hold back a single bit as photographs can have a tendency to be long, drawn out and boring.
Don’t be afraid to change the angle. Take pictures from different angles. You might want to take a shot of a funny side of your subject. Perhaps you could capture one of the playful antics of your subject when they are out and about. Keep experimenting until you find the angle that works best for each photograph.
Don’t be afraid to change your clothing when photographing people. In the summer there are so many possibilities such as wearing a light jacket and shorts when photographing people outside. In winter, a pair of woolly socks or a scarf may be more appropriate.
If you want to impress your clients, put together some sample images that you can show them. This will give you an opportunity to work with the client to refine the image that they have commissioned. If you follow the advice given in this article, you should be able to develop superb images that will please your clients.
The choice of background depends on the environment, the images are being taken in. For example, photographs taken in a bright city will need to be captured against a white background. You may be able to get away with using a black and white photograph if it is the only background available. However, if you wish to darken the scene and create a mood, you should consider using colours such as blue or purple. For example, if the subject is in a busy city, you could use the flashes of colour to create drama and reduce the attention drawn to certain areas of the image.
Where possible, always shoot in natural light. Overcast days or cloudy, overcast days are likely to affect the quality of the photographs a professional urban photographer takes. As a rule of thumb try to avoid any unusual lighting conditions in your photographs. Artificial lights, for example, tend to cause shadows and poor dimensionality.
A common problem many amateur photographers have is not finding a good angle. Taking images from an angle that is unlikely to be flattering will make the subject look out of focus. This makes it much more difficult for the photographer to achieve an effective focal point for the photograph. Take plenty of images of different angles and choose the best one for each one. Even if you have to pay a little more for professional photography equipment, it will be worth the effort because the finished photographs will be far more interesting than the images taken with a normal camera.
If you want to improve your photography skills and gain more interest in taking images, why not sign up to a photography course run by a professional photographer? Most photography courses will combine classroom instruction with on the job practice. They will give you the opportunity to work with experienced photographers and form a professional network. By combining the two aspects of learning and practice, you are sure to improve your photography skills quickly and continue to progress in your chosen career.
