Street Photography & Blending In - A Practical Guide
One of the biggest stumbling blocks for beginner photographers, especially those in the street and travel niche is how to take photos with people without everyone staring at the camera lens. In this blog we will unpack this topic and discuss some practical techniques you can start using today to get better photos and feel more confident when out shooting.
The most important bit
Before getting into the techniques I would like to make some important points. First of all these tips are aimed at people who are not weird and are always respectful when it comes to taking photos of others. Just because you can legally take photos of strangers in a particular country, doesn’t mean you ethically should.
Assuming your motives are good, there is nothing wrong with taking photos of people in public places. One can also argue that having people in your photos can make them relatable, give context, demonstrate scale and above all simply document that moment in time for future generations to see.
Some people might push back and say, well if you really want people in your shot, why not just ask them before taking a photo? This is valid and I will actually mention this later, however its not always possible. When people know they are on camera, their body language changes. Sometimes this might improve the image but in most cases the moment that initially caught your eye will be gone. What if there are numerous people in your shot? Will you chase each person down, ask for permission and then get them to go back to the spot where they were? What if its a split second moment? You don’t have time to think let alone stop and ask. You just need to react and take a shot.
A common argument against blending in techniques is that they can be used to fool people thus rendering them creepy, sleazy and deceiving. However just like any tool or technique, it can be used for both good and bad. It depends on the person using them and their intentions. The main reasoning for blending in is to not bruise the scene and capture a moment of life as it happens naturally. Finally please keep in mind that these tips work for me however they are not for everyone. I know photographers who do the total opposite to me and get great results. As with all my advice, I say give it a go and see what works.
Method 1 - Avoid the viewfinder & eye contact
The first method forms the foundation of this whole blog. You want to avoid using the viewfinder and making eye contact with your subject. When you use the viewfinder, you give the impression of a pro photographer. When you use the screen, you look just like everyone else. Furthermore, people tend to scan for faces first. So if your camera is covering your face, you will stand out straight away as its a pattern interruption. Finally avoid eye contact at all costs. Eye contact signifies that the person who’s photo you’ve taken is somehow relevant to what you’re doing. If you wish to engage with them, sure go for it. But if not, then avoiding eye contact will make things a little easier.
Method 2 - Move around
A huge part of street photography involves working the scene. By that I mean finding one good location and then spending some time trying different angles and compositions. However even if you’re working one small area or perhaps waiting for the right subject, try your best to always keep moving around. If you stand totally still, sooner or later you can attract attention and bruise the scene. By that I mean your presence can impact how people behave. Maybe walk round the scene or even do a loop round the block. Change positions or even pop back a bit later. The more you move around, the more you blend in with everyone else.
Method 3 - Film a video
For reasons I don’t fully understand I have found that on average people are not as bothered when I am filming a video vs when I am taking photos. So take the first two methods and combine them together. Have the camera at around chest level, screen flipped out and just keep moving around. If you see something interesting, briefly pause, take a photo and keep moving.
Method 4 - Subject is just in your way
We’ve all been there. We want to take a great landscape or cityscape or even a cheesy tourist photo. Then out of nowhere someone walks right in front of us and we have to wait for them to leave the frame before taking the shot. Well the principle is the same here… all be it the person getting in the way is your subject. To do this I simply take a photo when they are in the desired position, however I do not move after that initial shot. I stay in the same position and wait for them to walk past me or leave. As they walk past me or leave the frame, I take another couple shots, check the back of the camera and move on.
Method 5 - Panning shot
The final method is one that I personally don’t use a lot however in certain scenarios it has resulted in a great photo. Let’s say you see a great subject however they are in close proximity. Although you want their photo, you don’t want to disturb them or perhaps they are doing something that you want to capture. For whatever reason you want this shot to be candid so asking for a portrait isn’t an option. This is where this panning shot method comes in. First of all set your shutter speed to something very high. 1/500 or even 1/1000 if you can. Stand near them so that you will roughly have the right frame. In your mind have a clear picture so that you know when to take a photo. Point your camera clearly above them and pretend to take a photo of something above them. As you then pan down, get one shot on the way down. Check the camera and walk away. All this should be one smooth motion. Any hesitation would just look weird. If you missed the shot, that’s it, walk away. If you keep repeating this over and over it will definitely look strange.
Bonus - ask
Finally if you come across a fantastic character or someone who you really want to take a photo of… Just ask. Sometimes a staged image or a portrait is better especially if you really want to walk away with an image you like… and there is nothing wrong with that. Simply approach with open body language, explain why they have caught your eye, who you are and why do you want to take their photo. Be honest, don’t lie, show them the image after and even offer to email it too. You’d be surprised how many people will say yes.