Act Like You Don’t Know

When you want to have a person in the frame for a photograph, it can sometimes be a challenge to take that photo without them noticing what you are doing, especially when there are not many other people in the general area around you. I’ve yet to run into any issues taking photographs of people on the street, but like anyone who does so in public, I have been noticed. If I’m composing and waiting for someone to walk into my frame, I have had people stop and wait or go around to be courteous. Of course, I intended for them to be part of my photo. This scenario is easy to laugh off as I encourage them to go through it and act like I was finished with what I was doing, but as a result, I can lose my framing as I need to look away from my composition to acknowledge the person.

I have found that several actions can make your intentions less obvious. Many resources focus on gaining comfort with street photography, but the following are general tips for starting with street photography. I feel that these are tips that almost anyone can implement without too much discomfort.

Be a Tourist

I am not a tourist in Halifax, but to others, I may look like I’m seeing a brand-new city for the first time. What I mean by this is that I will stop and look at tall buildings, look out over the water, look in store windows, or get in close to see something. I’ll frequently stop on the street and look around like I’m questioning if I’m heading the right way or looking for a particular destination. To many people, I may look lost, but chances are I was thinking of how to compose a scene or waiting for someone to walk into the frame. Also, a backpack helps you fit in like a tourist even more.

Be Dumb with Your Camera

I picked this tip up from a YouTube video from street photographer Matt Stuart. He states that when you are chimping photos as you take them, it becomes evident to people that you have just taken a picture. Instead, Matt likes to look at the top of his camera with a confused face. People think you don’t know what you’re doing, and it seems like you made a mistake or are unsure of what you are doing. As a result, people will probably not ask why you took a photo if they think you made a mistake or are trying to figure things out.

Use Your Screen

Tilting and articulating screens are great as they allow you to compose and photograph without raising the camera to your eye. Once you lift your camera to your eye, your intention is clear to people - that person is taking a photo. I found that using the screen allows you to lower the camera or raise it way above your head, which can help disguise what you are focusing on. It can make composition a bit difficult as the angle can prevent you from knowing your composition, and it’s still evident that you are taking a photo of something. Still, it looks less focused, especially if you have the camera away from your body and in one hand.

Summary

Street photography continues to be a genre where comfort is critical, and finding your way to blend in will make things easier for you, producing better results from your photography. As you become more comfortable in public, getting out, shooting, and trying new things will be more encouraging. Acting like you are new to an area, and your camera can help people around you feel more at ease if you think you are noticeable.