The Street Thief - A London Street Photographer
Creating an Edge in your Work
Street Photography informs every other type of photography I shoot. It requires a daring attitude especially if you are going to get the kind of photographs that will take peoples breath away. I think when I started in Wedding Photography my Street photographs were the main contributing factor to my work having an edge.
Thinking will kill creativity dead
I love the simplicity of Street Photography. It is you, your camera and whatever the streets throw up at any given moment. You are not getting paid for it mostly so it also requires a passion and love of photography for its own sake. I lose myself when I’m shooting street. Again, to take the kind of photographs that are going to stand out, especially in an age where everyone is shooting it, you have to be immersed in the moment.
You have to be present. There is no place in photography as far as I’m concerned for overthinking. Overthinking will kill creativity dead in it’s tracks. The best images I ever took were when thinking fell away momentirarly and I was aligned with the present moment. When I’m in that space everything seems to slow down, there is a beautiful sycronicity with life, colour, texture light is more apparent and I see photographs everywhere. When we are thinking we are always chasing and looking for photographs.
a LINE IN THE SAND
When we are alive and in the moment, we are never in a hurry as we see beauty and aliveness in everything no matter where we are. Street Photography has been a great way for me to practice pushing through my fear barriers. Everyone has their line in the sand, when they come up against themselves, discomfort, fear.
To grow as a photographer I have to be working to continutally push that line back. What was difficult last week is not so difficult this week. That’s growth. This is another reason that I feel my other work, portraits and wedding photography benefit from my Street Photography work.If you are shooting a wedding, your line in the sand will still be there, i.e. you’ll still experience discomfort, the same when you are on a portrait shoot or perhaps shooting an event.
A FREQUENT PRACTICE
But if you are frequently practicing pushing through your fear barrier out on the streets your comfort zone at weddings and other shoots will expand as a consequence. Remember too it’s a lot less intimidating to be shooting a wedding where you are expected to be doing what you are doing and are being paid so those images will benefit hugely.
Practicing Street photography keeps you sharp. You have to be on the balls of your feet but I do stress … only if you are wanting to get the kind of images that are confident and pushing the envelope a little. Anyone can walk around with a camera and take pictures. There is a big difference between someone who takes photographs with a camera and a talented photographer. Remember anyone can pick up a guitar and start strumming away - getting a tune out of it is another matter.
MORE OF THE STREET THIEF
Check out my Street photography here on INSTAGRAM. I also create street photography videos on my YOUTUBE CHANNEL at least every two weeks so be sure to check it out and subscribe.
