Technology has changed our lives tremendously in the past couple of decades. Mobile phones have become much like natural extensions of our arms. Social media have blurred the lines between intimacy and publicity by enabling us to share interactive stories and snippets of our everyday lives in real-time.
Street photography is by far not a new concept. However, new technologies have given us unique means to capture intimate moments in public settings and share them easily with anyone, anywhere. This is a new step in the evolution of street photography, which we will discuss at greater length below.
What Is Street Photography?
As we already said, street photography has existed as a genre on its own for quite a while already. According to Encyclopedia Britannica’s definition, it records regular, everyday life scenes that happen in public. The subjects are often unaware that the photographer is taking their pictures. Interestingly, the source states, street photographers’ main goal might be to capture unique moments that would otherwise easily go unnoticed.
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History of Street Photography: Evolving Through the Centuries
Everyday public life scenes have always inspired creative artists. Since the very beginning of humankind, we have witnessed all kinds of depictions of people out and about. However, it was not until the 19th century that the first photographs of people on the street appeared.
Their author was Frenchman Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre, who took a pair of daguerreotype pictures from his studio window. That is how Boulevard du Temple in Paris became sort of the first home of street photography. One of the images depicted the boulevard at its busiest at 8:00 AM on a working day. The other represented a more peaceful part of the street. These photographs are dated within the period 1838 – 1839.
Daguerre’s attempt at street photography was quite impressive for its day. However, more than a decade would pass before another aspiring photographer, Charles Nègre, managed to capture people in movement on the street.
The setting was again France’s capital Paris, and Nègre’s photograph titled “Waterseller” became a world-renowned image. Nègre was the first photographer who had the technical capability to capture figures in the movement.
In the United Kingdom, Paul Martin was considered the pioneer of street photography. He took candid, spontaneous pictures of people in the streets of London and the British seaside with a disguised camera. His major works were concentrated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The United States also saw the rise of street photography in the late 19th century. One of the most popular images from that time is Alfred Steiglitz’s “The Terminal” from 1892.
Another prominent American who undertook the art of street photography for a brief period from 1938 to 1941 but left a lasting mark was Walker Evans. He would practice an unrefined “record method” to depict people on the street. Other prominent figures in American street photography include:
- Helen Levitt
- Robert Frank
- Diane Arbus
- Lee Friedlander
- Garry Winogrand
Street Photography Equipment
Jumping back to recent times, let us elaborate on the equipment you would need to become a street photographer. Our primary tip is to go light on that. Using a smaller camera is to your advantage because you would want to remain unobtrusive.
Besides, small cameras are usually light and easy to carry around. This is a great benefit, as you would spend a lot of time moving around the streets. On that account, do not forget your pair of comfy shoes. Also, some cameras come with a silent shutter, which is a fantastic perk.
Many street photographers prefer prime lenses to zooms. There are two main reasons for this. One is that they are smaller and thus, easier to carry with you. The other is that their consistent use gives your eye valuable training in how the photo will look even before you grab your camera.
How to Get Started as a Street Photographer?
It does not take much effort to start with street photography. The best part is that you do not have to make a pricey investment in equipment. Most of the small street photography cameras are quite affordable. Alternatively, you can use a mobile phone. This is an approach that has been used in modern-day photojournalism as well.
The best way to begin is to go out to a busy public location, where you can find many people ideally doing interesting things. Train your eye for making the ordinary extraordinary. In other words, look for details, patterns, contrasts, and the like. Use light to your advantage and learn a few basic compositional rules. Remember, a great street photographer is a master observer. They are also unobtrusive and mostly remain unseen by the subjects of their photography.
Lastly, it is a common misconception that street photographs need to have people in them. This is not true. You can photograph animals and objects as well. Photographing empty public spaces is also a thing.
