Street Photography Magazine

Street Photography | Workshops

were delighted when I presented them with a
selection of the resulting images. In the end, my
project and I were very well received.
If you can, always show your subjects your
photos, or arrange a way to send them some
later. If you agree to send photos by mail or
e-mail, always make good on your promise.
Don’t be put off by people who don’t wish to
be photographed – it is their right, and you
should always consider how you would feel if
someone asks you to model spontaneously.
Always respect a “No”, but don’t stop shooting

because of it. If you are simply having a bad

day, try again another time. Less experienced

photographers tend to take more care

composing photos if they use a fixed focal

length lens, so avoid using a zoom lens when

you are starting out. Don’t use a wide-angle

lens to shoot portraits, as you will most likely

end up with too much irrelevant detail in the

frame. Focus manually on your subject’s eyes

in portraits.

Plan to spend two hours per day on three

separate days for the first phase of the

exercise, which is complete once you have 15

to 20 strong portraits in the bag.

For the second phase, spend two hours

taking portraits, but this time give your

subjects directions on how you want them

to behave while you shoot – for example,

ask them to turn slightly away from the

camera or look at an object outside the

frame.

This second exercise is finished as soon as

you have five successful portraits to show for

your efforts. (anm) c

I spent quite a lot of time at the meat market in Athens and asked in advance for permission to
photograph the people at several of the stalls. I specifically asked my subjects not to look at the
camera and, as soon as they were used to my presence, they went about their daily business without
giving me a second thought.

ISO 400 | 50mm focal length | f2.8 | 1/125 s | analog