So, if you have read my article about Shooting Street Is Not Always On The Street you will realise that I love to shoot just about anywhere. The question is, how can we detect these artistic scenes in front of us? how to see them? how to realise they are artistic scenes even though if we just see it in a glance, they are just ordinary things that happen everyday and everywhere?
As a street photographer I believe we have vision in our mind about anything that will attract our eyes, anything that we feel artistic or pleasing to see. We bring this vision on the street as a “to-do-list”, as things that we want to find on the street to capture. Even if we think we never have vision/plan before hunting on the street, actually they always there in our mind (each person’s vision may vary from one to another). Keep in note that street is full of random moments / scenes, therefore, there is always a chance some moments / scenes that not listed yet in our vision (to-do-list) can happen in front of us, so still keep our mind open with the other possibilities out there.
The key is we need to list what things we want to capture on the street, make our own list, write it down on paper/notes (preferably notes in our phone), so we always can read it everyday, and also become a reminder to our mind where to focus on the street. This way, we will realise actually what things we want to include in our frame, what things that we want to exclude from our frame, and also what things that we may love to photograph, but we never tried it before.
To share with you, here are my list of things that I considered as artistic scene to create visual art and documenting stories on the street:
Silhouette
The beauty of silhouette, pure black, mysterious, and simplified the scene so we can concentrate more about the story inside photo. Most interesting part: Viewers will blend their imagination when they want to interpret our photos, which is a good way to create artistic photo (the opposite of documentary photography/journalism which give viewers as much information as possible). Read here for more tips about making silhouette shots
Reflection
Get the surreal feeling from ordinary scene with reflection. There are so many things that can help us create reflection shoot. Mirror is the easiest example, but actually we can use many other things like: Shiny wall (like photo above), reflective window, glass door, water surface, shiny car painting are just few examples.
Combination of silhouette and reflection from reflective floor. Actually there are many things out there that able to reflective images when receive enough light. Shooting at bright condition definitely helping. Get dynamic line (triangle and diagonal) or unique gesture to add stronger looks effect into photos.
Shadow
Similar effect to silhouette, shadow can create story line that force viewers to infuse their imagination when see the photos. Get more unique shadow shots by pay attention to attractive gesture and the shadow’s background (such colourful wall).
The interesting part about shadow is with the right angle and lighting we can create reflection effect as well. So if we shoot outdoor at bright light, and can not see any reflective objects (like mirror), then we can use shadow effect as well for reflection effect. Do not forget to get a dynamic gesture to make our photo has strong looks.
Gesture
Gesture is one of strongest aspect that gives movement feel into photos. It creates a stronger story line, viewers easily can see something is going on inside our images.
Pay more attention to finger/hand/head movement, also people’s leg while they are walking (that triangle form like photo above, add dynamic effect as we know the subject is moving) and any unique body gestures.
Eye Contact
Make your photos look (much) stronger and have more impact to viewer’s eyes. Feels like our subject in photo try to communicate with viewer’s mind. Without eye contact, my photo above could be just another casual snapshot that has no dynamic feel. To create even stronger looks, get eye contact from close distance, give more intimate feel to subject as well.
Strong Face Expression
A strong face expression will infuse “soul” into our photos. Create a strong story line and add more dynamic effect in image. Let the viewer decide what the story inside our photos by seeing the face expression of our main subject.
Colours Match
As I ever wrote here before, colours match is about blend strong colours like red, yellow, green, blue, or black and white with strong intensity to create dynamic contrast. The stronger the contrast the more it will attract audience’s eyes. It is important to study about colours more with colour wheel theory (just simply google it).
Triangle or Diagonal Line
The most dynamic form/line we have in photography are triangle and diagonal line. Always put special care to these two. Try to get creative by combine them with other visual art effects (silhouette, shadow, reflection etc).
Framing
Framing is a technique to isolate our subject from distractions. Works really well when we shoot at crowded place (like in traditional market) and we want to shoot with minimal elements. Many things can works as our frame. Window, mirror, building column, or just find any gap from stuff around you (chair, hat, mug’s handle, etc). Framing our subject will easily lead audience to see where our main subject is. The stronger the subject, the stronger is our photo.
Sunstar
No particular reason, it is just beautiful to watch. Personally, sunstar boost more surreal effect into our images.
Thing I want to exclude from my frame
It is a messy and crowded background! They simply attract too much distraction from main subject, make audience confuse where to look at. There is no dynamic or strong contrast inside. I took the photo above as my documentary about Melburnian life, not as artistic street photography.
That is all about things that I pay more attention on the street, things that become my main vision when I see scenes on the street everyday. Get your own list and have fun shooting out there!
Keep Shooting and stay inspired,
Nico Harold
Very helpful and easy to digest! Will definitely be making use of these when I can.
Thank you so much Niall 🙂