How do you decide what to shoot and what to ignore ?
It’s a important question especially during these unusual times when images are harder to find due to pandemic restrictions and fewer folk being out and about in public places !
The first requirement of any SP strategy is credibility , expecting to photograph Lord Lucan riding Shergar down your local High Street is probably a ambition too far but that is not to say you should not build high levels of expectation into you plans, although a connection to reality is advisable !
My Street Photography mental strategy is usually shaped during the drive to the location , obvious stuff like weather , direction of shadows and time of day will contribute to informing my approach , stuff like camera and lens choice are fixed in stone for me, I don’t get distracted by this nonsense, the only thing of concern for me kit wise is battery power and memory capacity , do I have enough ?
I am always influenced by recent readings of photo-books , subconsciously or consciously , I’ll rip-off great ideas from anywhere and build on them , I’m not proud !
My normal approach is to identify a small area of interest and work it intensely rather than covering a lot of ground in the hope of something “Turning UP” ! Watching , waiting , learning and walking repeatedly over the same route is what works for me , as I walk I pick out locations , I ask myself what is the likelihood of something interesting happening here , what would I like to happen ? It’s a form of optimistic pre- visualisation …
Life in front of my lens almost always exceeds my expectations and delivers little surprises , eventually !
When I say eventually, I mean years in some cases !
Try to develop a pre-shoot mental strategy for your Street Photography .
I’m looking to identify small areas that are likely to deliver , the areas I invest in usually posses good light , good footfall and complimentary backgrounds , I’ll wait for a long time if I really believe in the potential of a location !
Street Photography is a unusual challenge , photographing yet to be identified subjects at random locations is a big ask , you have to try and find a starting point , somewhere to hang your photographic hat !
I usually identify up to six “Hot-Spots” on any one day that have the potential to deliver , I only ever expect one shot from any day long shoot , sometimes I don’t get that !
Total spontaneity is unreliable and generally uncontrollable , I leave the door open for total spontaneity to occur, more in hope than expectation but I prepare for its arrival by being ready , if I’m going to be “Lucky” I want it to happen in good light on locations that I have selected !
The shadow was serendipitous , it was beyond my contemplation but I spent a bit of time framing this up and “Seeing” the lamp post reflection as a microphone on a stand ?
What not to shoot is almost the opposite of how I choose my potential locations , bad light , low footfall etc . Asking yourself what should be excluded from your frame is a important question and is the beginning of your photographic edit , simplifying your views by getting closer and minimising background distractions is essential , although it should be remembered that you can crop stuff off but you can’t add it later !
The one tip I would give above all others is for photographers to follow the light , good light will carry ordinary Street Photography scenarios a long way , really good light can become the “Hook” of a picture !
I should clarify that “Good Light” is not necessarily sunshine and shadows , good light is the light that works best for the scenario in front of you !
When your confronted with really good opportunities shoot them out , don’t regret the captures you did’t make !
When I fail on the streets I often return and shoot the same locations again , I also return to shoot the same views again when I succeed , hoping to improve on what I already have , learning and shooting as I go , the photographer that returns to reshoot is always better informed than the one who shot previously !
You have to prepare to be lucky , a empty aimless approach will create aimless empty pictures .
Having read this the question remains , when Lord Lucan rides Shergar through “bad” light , against a distracting background on your local High Street , will you bother to take the picture ?
I hope these insights into my Street Photography strategy help inform your Street Photography decision making !
Keep it real and stay safe…
I invested more than four hours in this location over one winters weekend , being lucky can be cold lonely work ?
David Barrett shot the pandemic crisis during 2020, The Testing Times project is in progress and can be seen by clicking above .
The State Of Britain series is complete, it explores everyday life during the Brexit era and gives visual insights into British identity, aspirations and post-truth uncertainty .....
He is based in the South West of England .