What is street photography?
Someone waits on a corner. Someone else hurries past. Street photography starts with everyday life on the street. Here you can read about what it is and what’s involved. If you’d like to give it a go yourself, come along to one of my workshops.
The defining features of street photography
Street photography is a genre that captures unpolished moments of people and their surroundings in public space. It is a form of documentary photography that aims to capture the essence of daily life and the particular culture and character of a place.
Street photography is often seen as a form of social commentary, because it offers a glimpse into the lives of people from different cultures and backgrounds. Street photographers try to capture the atmosphere of a place, and the emotions and interactions of the people in it. They look for unique and interesting moments, but also for patterns and rhythms in the movement of people and objects in the urban environment.
One of the defining features of street photography is that it happens in public space, which makes it different from other kinds of photography. Street photographers have to be aware of their surroundings and of the people they photograph, since they often capture unguarded moments without permission. To do that well, street photographers need confidence and discretion, and the ability to work quickly and efficiently in busy public spaces.
Street photography can be done with any kind of camera, from a simple point-and-shoot to a high-end professional body. Many street photographers prefer a rangefinder, which is small and unobtrusive and lets them work quickly and discreetly. Some also prefer a camera with a prime lens.
The history of street photography - Well-known street photographers - Well-known documentary photographers
The greatest challenges in street photography
One of the greatest challenges of street photography is finding the right moment to capture. Street photographers have to anticipate the action and be ready at exactly the right moment. They need to react quickly to changing light and weather, and be prepared to move fast to get the best angle and perspective.
Another challenge is finding a way to get close enough to the action to capture the detail and the emotion of the scene. Street photographers need to be able to find their way through busy public spaces and work discreetly to avoid drawing attention to themselves. They also need to be able to communicate with the people they photograph, to catch candid moments and to build a rapport with their subjects.
Street photography is often a very personal and subjective form of photography, and every photographer has their own approach to capturing the essence of a place and its people. Some street photographers prefer to capture moments from daily life, while others focus on the quirkier, more unusual sides of the urban environment.
Patience, persistence and an eye for detail
Whatever the approach, street photography is a demanding form of photography that asks for patience, persistence and a sharp eye for detail. Street photographers have to be able to see the world in a distinctive and interesting way and to capture the essence of a place and its people in a single image.
In short, street photography is a powerful and fascinating genre that offers a glimpse into the lives and emotions of people in public space. It is a form of documentary photography that aims to capture the essence of daily life and the particular character of a place. Whether you are a seasoned photographer or just starting out, street photography is a wonderful way to explore the world and capture unique moments that tell a story.
“Photography is about finding out what can happen in the frame. When you put four edges around some facts, you change those facts.”Garry Winogrand
Etiquette and ethics in street photography
Street photography is about capturing real life in public spaces, but that brings responsibilities with it. An important part of this work is treating the people you photograph with respect. That means being aware of the boundaries of privacy and personality, and asking yourself what you want to say with a photo and why you are capturing someone.
Many street photographers choose to be open and transparent when they engage with people, especially when they come closer than a fleeting frame. In some situations it is appropriate to ask permission first; in others you work with spontaneous moments where permission was not asked beforehand, but which you handle respectfully in the context of publication and presentation. It is a balance between artistic freedom and humanity, a balance every photographer has to find for themselves and keep reconsidering.
Together with the lawyer Charlotte Meindersma I wrote an e-book about what is and is not allowed. In it we discuss a number of my photos and look at whether and why a photo could or could not have been taken or published.
Can you just photograph people in the street?
Someone is recognisable in your photo. Is that allowed? And does it matter whether the photo stays on your computer or ends up on your website? For me, this is part of answering the question ‘what is street photography?’ It might sound less appealing than talking about light and composition, but I feel a lot more relaxed out on the street now that I understand the rules better.
Can I photograph someone without their permission?
In the Netherlands, photography in public spaces is generally allowed. There is no blanket ban on photographing people. As a rule, you don’t need to ask permission to take someone’s photo in the street.
That’s the general starting point. What you can then do with that photo is a separate question.
Can I publish that photo?
Taking a photo and publishing it are two different questions. Publication brings portrait rights under the Dutch Copyright Act into play. If someone is recognisable in your photo and the photo wasn’t commissioned, they can prevent publication if they have a reasonable interest in doing so.
Whether they have such an interest depends on the situation and how you publish the photo. There’s no single answer that applies to every photo.
That’s why I wrote De Wet van de Straat with lawyer Charlotte Meindersma of Charlotte’s Law. In this e-book, we use my own photos to discuss public spaces, portrait rights and copyright. Plain language, with examples. I want you to understand how it works without thinking about a lawsuit every time someone walks past.
The PDF costs € 25.
Which camera and lens suit you?
A camera has a brand and a model number. Those are easy to talk about. Looking is harder to put on a spec sheet. Yet that’s where street photography starts for me: with looking. Not with the best camera or the perfect lens.
So if you ask me about a street photography camera, I’m more interested in how you use it than in the logo on the front. Do you know the controls? Does it feel comfortable in your hand? Do you enjoy being out with it? To me, those are more useful questions than which camera tops a list.
Much the same applies if you’re looking for the best lens for street photography. What do you want to show in your photo? A person with the whole street around them, or just a small part of what’s happening? That’s where I’d start the conversation. With the photo you have in mind.
I don’t want to tell you which focal length to use. And as far as I’m concerned, choosing between a prime and a zoom lens doesn’t need to become a matter of faith. We already have plenty of things to argue about endlessly.
I use a Fujifilm X-T5, an APS-C camera, with a 27mm lens. That’s roughly equivalent to 40mm on full frame.
Even with that camera, it still starts with looking.
Now you: developing street photography as a practice and a mindset
To get better at street photography it helps to practise regularly, not only technically but mentally. Head out often without a specific aim, but with the intention of observing, feeling and understanding what is happening around you. Experiment with different times of day, change your perspective, try to anticipate movement, and watch for small details that tell a story.
It also helps to keep setting yourself challenges: capture only lines, look for contrast, or take emotion as your guide. Discuss your photos with other photographers or in a community, because feedback and different points of view help you sharpen your vision. Street photography is not a destination but a lifelong journey in perception and expression.
In conclusion: street photography does not only enrich your photographic skills, it opens your view of the world, because you learn to look with attention, curiosity and respect.
How do you learn to notice more on the street?
A gesture, someone pausing for a moment, something happening in the background. That’s where a conversation about a photo starts for me. What did you see? What caught your attention? For me, learning street photography means learning to notice those things and finding out what you think is worth a photo.
Straatsessies is my starting point for photographers who know their camera and want to notice more. Taking more photos isn’t the aim.
Over six months, you’ll get an email from me every fortnight, thirteen in total, each with something to think about. I write stories with an assignment woven into them. That gives you a starting point, with room to head out and see where it takes you.
There are two personal check-ins. At the end, you send me five photos and get personal feedback from me. Then we’re talking about your photos. That gives us something concrete to discuss.
You follow Straatsessies at your own pace, with no set times to attend. You can start whenever you like, and your first email arrives within 24 hours. The course costs € 29.
If you’d like to head out into the street with me, there are my street photography workshops. I work with a maximum of five participants per group.
Already have some experience and want to explore your own style further? That’s why I created Straatwijs: a six-month email course that goes into more depth, with thirteen lessons by email, for € 49. You don’t need to have taken Straatsessies first. You can start with the question that’s on your mind now.
