Tips to Succeed in Candid Street Photography

People are honest and natural when they are not being observed. So, capturing them when they are not expecting to be framed gives the most realistic results. Candid street photography is capturing a shot without the subject(s) noticing that the camera is pointed towards them. You can capture street life in its most honest and natural form in this process.

Candid photography is all about capturing the ‘moment’. It tests your reflexes as a photographer. If you are interested in this kind of photography, here are a few tips which will help you in developing your skills :

• Carry your camera everywhere :

This is the most important thing to do. Always have your camera with you, wherever you go. Candid photography is spontaneous. Make sure to carry your camera everywhere to not miss the perfect shot.

• Find a group gathering :

Group gatherings can give you great photo opportunities. Blend in with the crowd, be a part of it. If possible, get to know the people around you. Group gatherings can give you a chance to get close to people and get great candid shots.

Visit a tourist location or a social event, at such places people are generally too busy enjoying themselves and you can get great shots of people without them noticing you.

• Lens:

Using a standard lens for candid street photography is more preferable to get close to the subject. Also, it is more comfortable to carry while shooting from the hip(read below). Mid zoom can be used to isolate the subject from the background. You can also use a wide angle lens to include the surroundings of the subject in the picture.

Photo by TakeMeToAnotherPlace

• Shoot from the hip :

If possible, don’t look through the viewfinder to shoot the image. Adjust your camera settings according to the lighting conditions around you. Strap the camera around your wrist, hold it against your midsection, look through the LCD screen and shoot.

• Know your camera :

You need to be quick for getting great candid street photography. If you are not fast enough in changing the camera settings according to the situation, you might miss many good photo opportunities. Hence, it is important that you know your camera well to be able to tweak the camera controls when required.

Photo by Izam01

• Switch off the flash :

This is one of the most important things to do. Always keep the flash off. Using the flash will make the subject aware of your presence. You can use a fast shutter speed and a bigger aperture to get proper exposure.

• Take a lot of photos :

Don’t shy away from taking a lot of photos. The advantage with using a digital camera is that you can click away and delete the image if you don’t like it. This way you will have many images to choose from at the end of the shoot.

• Watch and be patient :

Sometimes a great photo opportunity could be right in front of your eyes and you might not notice it. Always keep your eyes open and scan your surroundings to be able to see the ‘moment’.

Photo by kandiakshay

Wait for the moment to happen, don’t be in a rush. Patience is the key!

What you can also do is find a spot and wait for people to walk in and you can get your shot.

• If you get caught :

Photo by lipibharadwaj

Just smile! Most of the people will not mind being photographed. Don’t try to hide the fact too much, if they are noticing. Walk up to them after you are done photographing them, and show them the image (if using a digital camera). If your subject is uncomfortable and don’t want to be photographed – let go.