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111
Don’t put your
camera down
Anything can happen at any moment, so
make sure you’re ready. This means not
checking every photo on the camera display
immediately after capturing the shot
because you’ll miss some great images
while looking at your screen. You’ll see the
results later when you get them on your
computer, and you can then spend time
editing them. Maarten Mellemans,
http://www.maartenmellemans.be112
Mobile phone
Smartphones are capable of
taking great street shots – they are light,
portable and, crucially, discreet. Some
models have similar levels of control to
a standalone camera. AP113
Sensitive subjects
Take care where children are
involved, and you also need to be sensitive
to cultural and religious differences (when
taking photographs of Muslim women, for
example). For a fuller guide to your rights
under the law, see this excellent page on
the Urban 75 website: bit.ly/2KCZOp9. AP114
Get some
business cards
If you’re shooting on the street and one of
your subjects takes offence, they often
calm down when you freely identify yourself
as a serious photographer or offer to share
your pictures with them. Never feel you
need to be shifty or somehow feel guilty
about following the endlessly rewarding
pursuit of street photography. AP115
Comfortable bag
When it comes to bags you
need something comfortable, waterproof,
and discreet. Something like the Billingham
Hadley Small Pro is an ideal choice as the
padded inserts can be removed to convert
it into a ‘casual’ bag. AP116
Public right of way
If you’re on a public right of
way – such as a public pavement, footpath
or highway – you’re free to take pictures for
personal and commercial use, as long as
you’re not causing an obstruction to others
or falling foul of anti-terrorism laws or the
Official Secrets Act. AP117
Pictures of people
Photographers can use their
pictures of people taken in public places
as they wish, including for commercial
gain. While this is reassuring, common
sense does need to be applied. A lot
of pedestrians in the UK won’t react
favourably if you go right up to them
without any kind of introduction and
shove a long lens in their face. You have
been warned! AP101
Use
text
Text can be a
great aid to your
documentary shot
to help tell a story
or add a quirky
message. In this
image musician Gruff
Rhys throws aside a
sign that says ‘Don’t
follow signs’. The
inclusion of the
audience in front of
the camera was also
intentional to create
that feeling and
connection of the
performance. AP
104
Look for colour
Whilst black & white
images are great in a documentary
style as they can tell a story, on the fl ip
side of the coin colour can work well
too. Look for subjects in bright clothing
against dark or contrasting colours. In
this case a young girl in a neon pink
coat looks through a blue glass panel.
The two colours work well together. AP103
Take a creative
composition
Look for interesting angles and
alternative ways to compose your shot
to get something different from the
norm. In this image the person shooting
the performance on stage through the
mobile phone became the point of
interest and adds another element
to the photograph. AP102
Find atmosphere and light
If you fi nd some decent light wait until
a person/people walk into it to get the perfect frame.
Many street and documentary photographers fi nd the
light before they identify the subject, and then wait for
the moment to happen. AP© CL AIRE GILLO
© CL AIRE GILLO
© CL AIRE GILLO
© CL AIRE GILLO
© CL AIRE GILLO