How to get CLOSER to people to IMPROVE your street photography

Hello Jeff, I've now watched a few of your videos now and this is really inspirational stuff, especially some of Sarah's work in this one. Confidence is obviously the key. I've spent many years photographing landscapes but I'm now doing more street photography, off to NYC in a couple of months to spend some time photographing the locals so your videos have been a great help. Many thanks for your inspiring images.

Thank you for sharing.

I've always thought that being a female definitely is more advantageous in street photography. I think it's because women are generally thought of as less threatening. Love your work !!

Great channel. I still have trouble getting close to my subject due to anxiety. I’ve just gotten into photography, been using 35mm only.

09/10/23

Hi Jeff and Sarah.

I've shot with many formats and lenses over the years. Then, when I turned sixty, I thought enough of all that. I decided to shoot whatever took my fancy for my own pleasure and amusement using my phones camera.

I can go anywhere in London, with my free travel pass, and the difference in my mindset when taking pictures is summed up with one word...freedom.

Nothing is off limits regarding content, and engaging with people is just an option, like auto or manual settings.

I shall enjoy strolling around your channel over the coming days. Have a good start to your week.

Regards

Colin Gerard

love your photos

2023 lovely chanell thank you 🙂

Great to join your channel. You have a very unique perspective that aligns with mine. The streets photos of mine that bring more joy to me were taken with a 20 mm Nikkor 3.5. They have a sense of closeness that lack the “normal” ranges.

Glad I found your channel!

Sarah's photos are just bursting with vitality. The youngsters on the pier were especially moving

In Capa's day (he died in 1954), it was much easier to get physically close and people were more trusting. Around the world, there is a growing aversion to having your photo taken by a street photographer. Unfortunately, many photographers, especially men, lack the skill to quickly create a relationship with someone on the street. Women just seem to be better at it than us men.

I don't think physical closeness is necessary to get good streets photo. I think it is easier to get engaging photos from close up, but we can learn to do the same thing from a greater distance.

Great tips! Thank you for video and sharing your knowledges.

One thing that makes a huge difference is she seems to be shooting through the viewfinder and framing and composing so the images seem more personal than the other images you posted which seem to be shot from the hip at waist level. Waist level images always seem disconnected to me. With that being said, I’ve been watching a lot of your videos this past few days after discovering your channel and I must thank you for making these videos. So much useful information.

I’ve been just shooting 55 for couple of years. Kinda wanna go 16-35 as when we were in south France the other week, I struggled getting what I wanted with their narrow side streets

You are a very inspiring educator. Thank you!

A very interesting lesson. Thank you!

So the advice is. Find a woman… 😁Jokes!
Great video and something I’m struggling with.. I use a Fuji x100v and trying to increase my confidence to get closer.

Thanks!

Great video! Sometimes I get closer with people, start a conversation with them, and the moment, the close moment with a total stranger is so great I forget to take a picture. But that encounter is worth more as any photograph I could take.

I started street about 12 years ago with a 50mm eqiv. lens then gradually worked my way down to about 24mm - and now back to 50mm again currently. The main reason being is that I got tired of the "distorted" perspective of the wide lenses. I still use a 35mm for more crowded scenes like street markets. Ones personal tastes ebbs and flows, waxes and wanes over time. Who knows I might be back to the 24mm in a few years time😄

Well spoken advice 👍

I've just switched to leica Q2 with a 28mm fixed lens and am encountering the same challenge mentioned in your video. What are the techniques you use to ensure that the people on the street don't just "stage" a scene when they sense you are so close? I find that only happens with kids and pets - most adults will put on a certain shade of facade when they see you so close with something such as 28mm...

Great advice. I would like to say, I understand your need to change and try different perspectives, but, and of course you shoot as you feel, I must say that I really liked the photographs you took from far away. The compositions felt more impactful, bur mostly the feeling in the photographs were outstanding, like the loneliness or the silence they portrayed. Great video.

This is fantastic advice. I've just got into photography myself and have had all of these questions and concerns zipping inside my head, so thank you. - I am from Manchester so I hope to catch you around!

very nice experiences .. inspirational and encourages to try other focal lenghts ! thank you !

Thanks for your sharing of your valued experience! I like to watch your video, it's a lot of advice for me to improve on street photography.

Hi Jeff! Thanks a lot for the insightful videos! These are all real treasures for someone who's getting started in street photography an dis, just like you were, is terrified of confrontation or running into any sort of "issue" with strangers. So would you say that now you feel comfortable with it? Or do you have to always "force" yourself and hope for no confrontation? How do you deal with that stress?

You can train on relatives and friends) They allow you to get closer, so you get used to seeing a person close in the frame. You are comfortable because you know these people.

I know this video is over a year old but I have to ask, what do you record videos on? I know you’re invested in Leica M cameras. What are your video cameras?

Glad I found your channel. Slowly going through some of your videos.

I feel most comfortable with the 35mm for Street. I've tried a few other focal lengths but felt they were either too wide or too tight for the exact style that I wanted. I seem to be a mix of you both in my style. I have a similar personality as Sarah and can strike up a conversation with almost anyone. I don't do portraits, but like to be closer to the "action" or "moment" than those who shoot the wider "scene".

Again, great channel! Also started following you on Instragram.

I love street photography and this video was very informative. I’ve come up with the idea of having my wife actually with me so as not to appear threatening or in any way worrisome to folks on the street. Subscribed!

This was super helpful! From someone who loves street photography but definitely on the nervous side. I would love to hear you tips with confrontation and how to disguise yourself when out shooting :)

Well said: subscribed

I’ve just stumbled across this channel today and have to say I’m loving the content. Thank you both. An area of photography I’ve wanted to explore for a long time but my introverted personality has always got in the way. I see so many moments on the street that I wish to capture but have a fear of pointing the camera at them!

I choose the lens according to the place I am going to
Beach - 50mm
Street market - 24mm

Very nice video very instructive thanks i think i will take a lot of example from it thanks very much!!!!!👍👍👍

I used to shoot with 50 mm but now mostly with 100 and up. I am not interested in the street but in a person itself. And, it is tricky for a man to come closer nowadays. Though depends on your personally and appearance. Lots of issues and sometimes dangerous. Not a problem for women. People treat them differently.

Excellent video. Agree with everything you say about physical and, maybe more importantly, emotional closeness. My wife and I go shooting together and she, like Sarah, is an outgoing person who can and has struck up a conversation with a Spaniard who had no English while she hasn't a word of Spanish. I'm like you. I do feel, however, that this approach is a lot easier for a woman who's not percieved to be as threatening as a man. Particularly around families with children.

This video has given me a new perspective as I've never been brave enough to venture out on the streets to take pictures of random people going about their activities. Love this video.

Solid advise chock full of cracking photos. I'm often conflicted I work in newspapers I have no issue getting in peoples faces with a 16-35 I wear the company shirt and I don't know I wear it like a bloody safety blanket, but out on my own time without the shirt It can be tough to get close up. I used a 35mm for so long loved it got used to it, then 5 days ago got the Q2 28mm lens, now have to get closer still. I used a few strategies to get close, the old dumb old twat fumbling with new tech, not far from the truth actually, I used the sit on a bench with a coffee and wait, also the distracted pleb on his phone as I inch closer. Also I stand a a lofty 5'6 so no bugger sees me anyway, great for slow angle hots too.

Great video! I have all of these prime lenses available in my kit and I'm wondering which is the best to start with? Should I do it like you and start with 50mm? Because, like you, I want to learn how to take beautiful portraits on the street. I want to learn how to talk to people about this. Maybe you can give me some advice?

Good, actionable advice.

Recently I was looking at photography of Rineke Dijkstra. She photographed portraits of teenagers on the beach. A male photographer would have MUCH MUCH MORE difficult time getting these shots. Someone would probably call a police in him :)

very interesting commentary and superb photos. getting in close with a wide angle lens is just so powerful , I really do admire this sort of work, thank you for sharing

I'm new to street photography of people. Here in Germany, anyone who takes pictures of other people on the street is suspect at the moment. Especially when children are around. When I ask people if I can take a photo, they often ask about a fee. This is really no fun! A few days ago I dared the experiment and hung my camera with a 21mm lens around my neck and took pictures with the remote shutter release. I had set the camera to silent so that nobody noticed that I was taking pictures.

Excellent upload!…

I can get too close, physically! I want to fill the frame. I've learned to back off! Use simple looking cameras, I us e mainly small cameras an now more and more the phone! I also do more abstracts with street finds and scenes. I can chat to anyone! I don't like super wide lenses! 35mm my shortest for Leica. SLR: I do use 28mm enjoying the geometric possibilities! Most of all enjoy and be happy. Some days are great in results others less so. Living in Toronto, Winter is severe, but sunny days are magic. Wonderful video.

Love your format

I don't understand what's the problem to get closer with a 50mm lens, I don't feel that I need a wider lens to do it.

Great video :) Just discovered your channel through searching for some Elmarit 28mm videos .I think im a documentary photographer at heart and while i consider myself quite decent at documenting something im still pretty crap at street photography even if i have been doing it a long while. Im well aware of that it has a lot to do with that exact problem, getting up close. I see what i WANT to shoot just like when im documenting. But im like you also described a bit scared of annoying people or getting into their space and also for the potential scolding or angering someone getting up in their face.
Also at least here in sweden, just as most people see a middle aged man with a camera your at a disadvantage, especially if you have kids or younger people in the vicinity lol. So i kind of always or most of the times bring that with me when im shooting, and i realize that the times were i tend to forget that for a bit and just act on feeling i always get the better shots of course.
Its funny but since starting to shoot film i actually have an easier time getting closer, maybe because i know people tend to be more relaxed or just see it as a funny thing when you bring a vintage camera around hehe. Its like the phenomena with mobile phones, no one seems to notice them as much either ;)
Going out today im going to bring the 28 on the M240 and maybe a rollei 35 and shoot away, lets see if i can dare and beat those feelings of insecurity today ;)
Regards Martin the swede.