Using certain Street Photography concepts you can make a unique project like “CROW-EXISTENCE”

Deb Lahiri

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Street photography is not always predictable
2. Every small thing is important in the street
3. Inclusion of birds and other animals in street photography
4. A project that involves photographing birds and animals
5. About my project “CROW-EXISTENCE”

Street photography is not always predictable

 A street photographer cannot always predict a moment which is intriguing. The interesting part of street photography is that any unpredictable thing can happen at any point in time, and it is the photographer’s obligation to freeze the moment that tells a story.

Street photography is a genre of photography that involves capturing candid and spontaneous moments in public spaces, such as streets, parks, and markets. Unlike other forms of photography that may involve planning and staging, street photography relies on the photographer’s ability to observe and capture moments as they unfold in real-time. Many other forms of photography involve pre-planning and customizing the setup for shooting, street photography depends on the photographer’s capability to react to the situation instantly and click on the decisive moments as they emerge in front of him.

 When a street photographer walks out on the street with his camera, he generally trains his mind in such a way that he might have to face lots of eventualities, as nothing is under his control like the weather condition, people walking around the street, and their behaviour, street animals, etc. Therefore, it is almost obvious that most of the time the photographer cannot predict the situation. The main attraction of street photography is its unpredictability. 

Every small thing is important in the street

The photographer has to keenly observe the situation and acclimatize himself to the surroundings so that he instantly detects the unexpected subjects that fascinate him.  He also has to act very fast to be technically accurate by adjusting his camera settings, finding a compelling composition, and framing in a more perfect way.  Most of the time, street photography also involves capturing the finest moments of human emotions, like a joyful moment of the couple taking bath on a sea beach,  a homeless person sleeping on the roadside bench, or a powerful pet dog pulling the master in the direction it wants to move.  It is beyond doubt that street photography is extremely challenging, but at the end of the day, it is rewarding, in terms of exercising the photographer’s creative skills and the satisfaction it brings to his mind. The uncommonness of street photography makes it so exciting, as any unpredictable thing might happen at any given point in time and it entirely depends on the street photographer’s ability to capture that unique moment. 

 As far as street photography is concerned, every tiny element is important. To accomplish his job perfectly, the street photographer must be observant of the minute details of his surroundings. It is very important for a street photographer to follow both static objects and the things that are moving like a car passing by, the movement of pedestrians, a dog walking through the pavement, or a crow flying above the subject, etc. Moreover, in a fraction of a second, the photographer has to draw a balance amongst all the moving and stationery subjects to achieve a compelling composition. The common static subjects on the street are buildings, lamp posts, and a tree or a  bench on the pavement. The static subjects generally become the backdrop for a unique environmental portrait while moving subjects like, people, cars, dogs, etc. add dynamism and a sense of energy to the street photo. An interesting colourful mural just beside a brick wall or an interesting pattern or texture on the wall also can be used to create an intriguing juxtaposition using diametrically different elements that brings a jaw-dropping experience for the viewers.  But one thing is certain, whatever he captures requires meticulous observation and reflex to quickly act on the changing scenario.

For example, a street photographer might notice a person walking down the street with a unique outfit or carrying an interesting object, and quickly adjust their camera settings and composition to capture a compelling image. He also may like to position himself in a vantage point that helps him capture the motion interestingly by blurring the movement of a car, passers-by, a train, or a giant wheel, etc by using a slow shutter speed in the backdrop of a static interesting element.  This of course requires patients and practice and also enough courage to experiment with your street photography.  In street photography, the main subject is undoubtedly important but at the same time, the supporting elements play a great role in creating an interesting story and thereby complementing the whole scene.  For example, a shredded piece of some household staff on the ground may indicate that something cruel or destructive happened in that spot, adding a layer of mystery to the photograph. Similarly,  some abandoned paper plates and paper glass could suggest that someone ate a meal there or that there was some sort of gathering in that location.

Inclusion of birds and other animals in street photography

 About a decade ago when digital photography started capturing the world of photography ( and of course, photography became most accessible and affordable to many people in comparison to the earlier era), a new generation of photographers came up with keen observation skills and started to look at the world around them from a little different perspective which arguably was not very prevalent in earlier days. They bring the ideals of contemporary street photography with them. At this juncture, I began to take street photography more seriously.  Since that point in time, while observing things on the street, I found all domestic and street animals and birds can have a significant impact on the image if used carefully and of course thoughtfully.  In Indian cities, there are certain species of animals, such as cows, dogs, cats, crows, and pigeons, that are frequently present and can sometimes be difficult to avoid while photographing. While many photographers, especially the newcomers, choose to exclude these animals or birds in the frame in order to be emphatic on a human subject, I considered including these creatures in a meaningful way or, for that matter, making it the major subject. Including these subjects might add a new layer and significance to the photo, and at times some creatures represent the culture of a particular place and become symbols of a  community.  For example,  a cow roaming around on a crowded Varanasi Street represents the relevance of the cattle in conventional Indian culture and reinstates the idea of the coexistence between traditional and modern civilization at the same time. 

If you include animals in street photography, this can give you a sense of dimension and background to the image, enabling the viewers to communicate the size and scope of the scene. An otherwise flat image can be transformed into a meaningful image with a sense of depth and perspective, if one keeps a small bird or cat in the foreground,  while a group of dogs in the background can suggest the scale of the scene or the city.

Place: Puri, Odisha, India | Photo@Deb Lahiri

Ultimately, including animals in street photography is a matter of personal preference and style.  As I already discussed that some photographers prefer to exclude the animals on the street to focus on human subjects, while others, like me, find them to be an important inclusion in the image. The key is to include them in a thoughtful and intentional way that adds meaning and interest to the image.

To do this, I draw inspiration from the works of legendary photographers and even lesser-known shutterbugs on social media. I believe that including these animals in my photographs adds another layer to the narrative and helps me capture a more authentic view of the streets.  By keenly observing and photographing these creatures, I noticed that they have significantly different personalities and at times, convey a range of emotions that are present in human beings.  For example, a mother with her child on the street along with a female dog feeding the puppies in the same frame may create an emotion that viewers can immediately relate to.

Overall, I find that including animals and birds in my street photography can add a fresh perspective and inject some liveliness into the images. Street animals and birds are almost inseparable from the photographs of most Indian streets. No matter if they are roaming around the street or flying over the rooftop, they can definitely help develop a comprehensive street photography composition. 

A project that involves photographing birds and animals

Undertaking a street photography project that involves photographing a specific subject or theme like birds and animals requires a certain set of skills and mindset. The long-term approach, patience, and dedication are the key to a successful project with birds and animals on the street. It is not about going out and shooting random shots with birds and animals to accomplish a project.

One cannot expect to capture a wide range of diverse and compelling images in a single day or even a week. It takes time to build a comprehensive and varied collection of photographs that can tell a story or convey an idea effectively.

You need to have a proper plan so as to execute what you would like to achieve with the pictures even before you take up a project like this. This involves choosing a specific subject or theme and identifying what story or message they want to convey through their images. Once you are done with the plan, you need to devote adequate time and energy to capture the desired images. This may involve researching the subject, identifying the best locations for photography, and learning the best techniques for capturing the images.

 For taking up projects, one of the biggest inspirations in my photography is Josef Koudelka. He is the type of photographer who takes 10 years to publish one book, and the book is damn good. He takes his time with his photography, and the only person he has to impress is himself.

Therefore, my advice to readers who want to undertake a similar project is to consider a long-term window. Instead of focusing on capturing images of a particular subject in a single day, spread out your photography sessions over a more extended period, maybe several weeks or even months. In this way, you would be able to explore so many things in a wide range to create a meaningful project. This will also help you rediscover yourself in terms of your ability, and skill set to rearrange your thought process to accomplish the project more efficiently.

About my project “CROW-EXISTENCE”

Working on the series “CROW-EXISTANCE” was a lot of fun for me, despite the challenges of capturing images of these restless creatures. By photographing the crows for around 10 years, I was able to understand that crows are mischievous, playful, and at times show extremely humorous behaviour which adds energy and dynamism to the photos.

Despite their reputation for being loud and annoying with their harsh caws, crows are surprisingly photogenic and can make for great subjects in street photography. You will be fascinated if you observe the behaviour of crows minutely for a long, as you might think of capturing them in different setups and viewpoints in urban and rural environments as well.  

Crows are known for their quick movements and can be challenging to photograph. However, by observing their behavior and anticipating their movements, I was able to capture some images to my satisfaction. To capture images of crows, I had to be patient and persistent. Crows are known for their quick movements and can be challenging to photograph. However, by observing their behaviour and anticipating their movements, I was able to capture some images to my satisfaction.

I also had to consider the technical aspects of capturing images of crows. This included using the right camera settings to capture their movements and behaviour, as well as choosing the right composition to create visually engaging images.

However, capturing good photographs of crows can be quite a challenge, as they are constantly moving and unpredictable in their movement. I admit to having missed out on hundreds of good photo opportunities due to the crows’ unsettled nature but managed to capture a few that showcased their beauty and charm.

To maintain consistency across the series, the photographs were converted to black and white, which helped preserve the tonal quality and balance in the images.

In summary, working on the series “CROW-EXISTANCE” was a fun and exciting experience for me. Despite the challenges of capturing images of these restless creatures, crows are surprisingly photogenic and can make for great subjects in street photography. By being patient and persistent, and considering the technical aspects of photography, I was able to capture the essence of the crow’s character to create meaningful images.