Street photography can feel intimidating, especially when hesitation creeps in. The fear of mistakes or imperfect shots often holds you back, but learning to embrace imperfection is essential.
Coming to you from Peter Forsgård, this practical video discusses five tips to improve your street photography. Forsgård emphasizes that hesitation stems from aiming for perfection, which often leads to missed opportunities. Instead, he advises pressing the shutter without overthinking, embracing failures as part of the process. This mindset encourages creativity and helps you learn from mistakes, which ultimately leads to better photographs. Forsgård compares it to sports: if you're afraid to make errors, you're less likely to succeed. The same principle applies to photography.
Another important point Forsgård highlights is the value of using familiar gear. Street photography demands quick reactions, and fiddling with unfamiliar settings slows you down. Forsgård suggests sticking with a camera and lens setup you know well and pre-setting your camera for common street photography conditions. For instance, stopping down to f/5.6 or f/8 and using a high ISO ensures sharp images with a deeper depth of field. He also recommends small, unobtrusive cameras that make you less noticeable to your subjects, which can help you capture candid moments more effectively.
Forsgård also discusses composition and settings. Keeping your camera settings simple lets you focus on storytelling rather than technical adjustments. He explains the benefits of using a wider depth of field in street photography, which allows more of the scene to stay in focus. This approach adds context and richness to your images, highlighting the environment and enhancing the narrative. While shallow depth of field has its place, street photography often benefits from a sharp, detailed background that complements the subject.
Forsgård encourages you to photograph for yourself rather than for likes or validation from others. Following trends or seeking approval can limit your creativity and personal growth. Instead, focus on capturing what resonates with you. This approach fosters a more authentic style and helps you create work that you genuinely enjoy. Over time, your consistency and unique vision will naturally attract appreciation from others. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Forsgård.
