Street Photography Magazine

Many photographers only realize when they

view their photos on the computer at home

that they have forgotten to include the

background in their compositions, usually

because they were concentrating too hard on

the main subject. A poor background can often

spoil an entire image, which is a shame if you

have spent the whole day capturing images.

Consider the city as your stage. A great way

to practice is to concentrate exclusively on the

background rather than the main subject in

your image.

Check out the area you want to

photograph for suitable backgrounds and use

the lens you want to use for your session while

doing so, always looking for where there are

plenty of passers-by. An old, forgotten corner

on the wrong side of the tracks may be

picturesque, but is no use if no-one happens

by.

Once you have selected your

background, all you have to do is wait for

someone to appear. There are many great

sequences of photos that use a single, static

urban background as a stage for a number

of different subjects. As long as you keep an

eye on your chosen background, you can, of

course, approach your subjects directly or

follow them while moving around. This

helps to give your sequence variety and

gives you the chance to respond to changes

in the scene unfolding in front of you.

Remaining in a single position is a good way

to develop an eye for the background and,

with a little practice, you will instinctively

include the background in your overall

composition.

Once again, the task is completed once you

have shot a meaningful sequence of 10

photos.

Having found my ‘stage’ and set up my camera, I approached the woman in the photo and asked her

to simply carry on on her way without looking at the camera. She was very friendly and happy to do

as I requested. If possible, take several versions of a shot like this to ensure that you capture your

subject in just the right position.

ISO 200 | 60mm focal length | f14 | 1/200 s

Street Photography | Workshops

The City as a Stage

Time required:

3x three hours

Equipment:

Camera with fixed focal length lens

(approx. 50mm)