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As a follow up to our articles about creating photo essays, we wanted to provide some tips for when you want to capture the essence of a moment within a single photo. Street Photography is often characterized as a snapshot in time of a chaotic street scene. However, it doesn’t always need to be on a street, and the principles of capturing a candid situation can be applied to any number of locations. Likewise, when creating a photo essay, Street Photography techniques can be used to capture a photo that conveys a summary of the situation at hand. As a photographer shooting in the middle of busy situations, you can be surrounded by a lot of action and commotion. Street Photography (or any type of candid photography) can be a rewarding and fun experience, but also frustrating. Creating a photograph that effectively conveys the scene and yet focuses attention on a specific subject can be a challenging task. The following tips should help you narrow your focus, both mentally and photographically.

1. Use a wide angle lens, but get close. A wide angle lens will help you expand your viewpoint, but at the same time, you don’t want your photos to be too impersonal to the subject. Get close to the important aspects of the scene and make them the primary focus of the shot. Then, try to include other objects or people that are important to the situation. Place the primary subjects at different spots around the image to create a more dynamic photo with tension. A wide angle lens will also give the viewer a perspective of being in the middle of the action.

2. Continuously look around. If you’re on the street, in a market, or surrounded by a lot of action, then you could be missing out on opportunities to grab some great photos if you don’t keep your eyes open to everything around you. Sometimes it may be easier to stand in one spot and let everything else flow around while waiting for a good scene to materialize.

3. It’s about the people, but it’s not a portrait. A portrait can be a powerful photo, but it generally tells a different story than a shot with someone performing a task or surrounded by their natural environment. Viewers automatically identify with a person in a photo, so by all means you should include people if possible. However, step back and capture their surroundings instead of just their face.

4. Look for candid moments Don’t pose your subjects, but instead let them do whatever it is they are doing. After all, isn’t that what you’re trying to capture? You may also find it important to avoid distracting them so that your shot is more candid. Consider hiding yourself if needed. Better yet, ask for permission and tell them to go about their business as usual.

5. Work with the action. Follow your subjects and pay attention to their tasks. Be aware of both their motions and your positioning. Anticipate their next movement so that you can line yourself up for the next set of shots. Timing can be crucial, and a rapid-fire shutter can be very useful.

A Few Examples:

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