Why do you need to go close to your subject in Street Photography?

Deb Lahiri

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

One of the major characteristics of street photography is to take candid shots in public places, completely unguarded and unstaged. If a street photographer wants to capture the finest emotions of human life, there is no other way but to get close proximity to the subject to make it feel more real-life and authentic. If captured successfully, the emotions will immediately touch the viewer’s heart. Most importantly, the viewer will be able to relate to the feeling of the image which a photographer probably wants to give priority to. Undoubtedly, the task is nothing but challenging.

Once the renowned American war photographer from Magnum and  photojournalist Robert Capa  said,  “If your pictures are not good enough, you are not close enough.” This proverbial statement emphasizes the fact that how important it is to get close to your subject in order to produce a great picture.

In this article, we are going to discuss how important it is to go close to your subjects and will share some useful photography tips that would allow accomplish your job more successfully as a street photographer, even without causing any harm or bothering your subject.

As I indicated earlier that getting close to our subject allows us to capture the feeling and sentiments more effectively through the subject’s body language and facial expressions.  In order to create a strong bond between the emotion of the photograph and the viewer, as street photographers, we need to capture even the minuscule details available in the frame with much precision. It is mostly seen in human photos, it is the emotion and sentiment that make the frame eternal and brings in the desired artistic expression in the photo.As I indicated earlier that getting close to our subject allows us to capture the feeling and sentiments more effectively through the subject’s body language and facial expressions.  In order to create a strong bond between the emotion of the photograph and the viewer, as street photographers, we need to capture even the minuscule details available in the frame with much precision. It is mostly seen in human photos, it is the emotion and sentiment that make the frame eternal and brings in the desired artistic expression in the photo.

Whenever we get close to our subject and take a compelling photo, the viewers feel as if they are also a part of the action and the activities are physically happening around them, encouraging them to get into a deeper and stronger relationship with the image.  

Telling a Story is important in street photography

Creating captivating and memorable street photos requires the ability to tell a compelling narrative. A story can be told through a photograph’s topic, setting, and atmosphere, among other things.

Getting close to your subject enables you to record specifics that support that narrative. For example, if you’re taking a picture of a worker, working hard on the street, you could observe the impression of the hard work on his face and he has become more aged from a lifetime of hard work. You may tell the tale of his life and the events that shaped him by getting up close to him and capturing the detail of his face. Including this information can have a far bigger impact than just photographing him from a distance. Similarly, if you photograph a group of children taking bath on the local pond on a summer day, you might notice the glittering smile on their faces as they are thoroughly enjoying the outdoor play. You can convey the story of their innocence and playfulness by getting close to their face and capturing that detail.

In street photography every tiny detail is important when it comes to telling a story and going closer to your subject would allow you to record those details in such a way that they can make or break the impact of the story in the image.  The wrinkles on someone’s face, the joy, sorrow, anger, and every human emotion help build a stronger story on the street.

Adding Depth to the composition

Adding depth is crucial in street photography since it aids in focusing the viewer’s attention on the subject and fosters a feeling of intimacy. Getting close to your subject and placing meaningful objects in the background will help you generate a sense of depth that gives your photo a three-dimensional appearance. We generally do not use a  shallow depth of field that isolates our subject from the backdrop, rather we try and do placing proper complementary elements to create a perspective that brings depth to our picture. 

Getting up close to your subject will allow you to make them the main center of attraction of the photo, highlighting their significance and producing a greater compelling composition. In your street photography, adding depth through close-up pictures can also help to convey drama and tension. When photographing candid situations, this method can be especially effective because it gives the picture a feeling of gravity and intensity.

In short, street photography can be enhanced by getting near to your subject and making your subject the center of attention, and highlighting its significance, thereby creating the desired depth in the picture. This method can help to captivate the audience, foster closeness, and provide drama, and tension to your image.

Tips for Getting Close in Street Photography

1. Use a Wide-Angle Lens to express your creative vision

With street photography, a wide-angle lens can be a terrific method to get near your subject while also capturing some of the surroundings. As the name suggests, a wide-angle lens can cover a broad area of background as it has got briefer focal length than a traditional (normal) lens. Its broader field of vision enables you to keep your subject in focus while capturing more of the scene in your shot, including the surroundings.

For example, if you want to take a photo of a vegetable seller in a market, you may also like to include the buyers and other vendors to give a feel of the environment of the market palace. With a wide-angle lens and close proximity to your subject, you may convey closeness while retaining some of the scene’s context and surroundings. This is especially useful in street photography, as the surroundings can give an image additional context and dimension.

A wide-angle lens is also used to produce depth in a picture.  By using a wide-angle lens, the photographer could achieve a feel of wider perspective in the photo which ultimately aids to build a story. By doing this, the street photographer would accomplish the task of the arresting viewer’s attention thereby stimulating a feeling of immersion in the picture.    

One should be very careful of avoiding the distortion that is being produced by a typical wide-angle lens. A wide-angle lens can distort the subject to the extent that it might look unnatural. This can be reduced by paying attention to how your subject is placed and at what angles, as well as by utilizing post-processing tools to remove any distortion.

In short, a wide-angle lens is such a tool that allows one to get close to the subject as well as capture the main subject’s surroundings to achieve depth and perspective of the scene.  It can add depth and detail while maintaining subject focus, which is why street photographers find it to be a useful technique.In short, a wide-angle lens is such a tool that allows one to get close to the subject as well as capture the main subject’s surroundings to achieve depth and perspective of the scene.  It can add depth and detail while maintaining subject focus, which is why street photographers find it to be a useful technique.

2. Be Confident in getting close

Being self-assured is crucial to street photography, especially when getting up close to your subjects. It can be scary to come close to strangers and take their pictures, but if you appear uncertain or uneasy, your subject can feel the same, which will likely have a bad impact on the pictures you shoot.Being self-assured is crucial to street photography, especially when getting up close to your subjects. It can be scary to come close to strangers and take their pictures, but if you appear uncertain or uneasy, your subject can feel the same, which will likely have a bad impact on the pictures you shoot.

It’s crucial to tackle your issue with assurance and directness. If asked for your purpose of taking the photo, you should politely introduce yourself, explain what you’re doing and gain his confidence. Making your subject feel relaxed and at ease can be achieved in large part by being kind and considerate. It’s also crucial to be respectful and not press the issue if your subject rejects to be photographed. Continue your search for a new subject or setting to photograph.

You can take better photos if you have confidence in your photographic abilities. Your composition and timing may be affected by your hesitation to take the shot or lack of confidence, which will make the picture less powerful. It’s important to keep in mind that street photography is a kind of art, and you have the liberty to capture the surroundings around you the way you perceive a story. You are more likely to interact well with your subjects and take mesmerizing pictures if you approach them with confidence and respect.

In short, street photography demands a certain amount of self-assurance. Then it becomes easier for you to approach your subjects, improve your photography, and get along well with others.

3. Move Quickly to capture moments

With street photography, being able to move fast is crucial, especially when you spot an intriguing subject. The environment we live in is continuously shifting, and a potential subject might vanish in an instant. In order to get closer to them and take the photo before they vanish, you must act rapidly.

It’s crucial to move swiftly in their direction when you spot an intriguing subject. This may entail physically approaching them closer, shifting your position or viewpoint, or quickly altering your camera settings.

You can avoid drawing attention to yourself and your camera by moving fast. If you approach your topic too slowly, they could become mindful of your presence and feel awkward, which can spoil your image.

It’s important to keep in mind that moving quickly doesn’t always entail hurrying or being irresponsible. To ensure the finest possible image, you should still take the time to prepare your shot and tweak your settings. Yet, by moving swiftly, you might improve your chances of getting a striking and memorable picture.

In short, the ability to move fast is crucial for street photography. It’s crucial to move swiftly in their direction as soon as you spot an intriguing topic in order to get closer and shoot the photo before they go. You may avoid drawing attention to yourself, improve your chances of getting striking shots, and hone your street photography talents by moving swiftly.

4. Show Respect to people

Being polite is essential to street photography, especially when getting up close to your subjects. It’s important to respect their boundaries and personal space when getting near people in order to get strong and impactful photos. When approaching a subject, it’s crucial to accept their decision and move on to a different topic if they decline or look uneasy. Even when your subject has given you the go-ahead (either verbally or through their body language) to snap their picture, it’s still crucial to respect their privacy. Avoid approaching them too closely or acting inappropriately so as to not invade their privacy or make them feel uneasy.

Keeping in mind that your subject has a right to privacy and personal space is important. It is your duty as a street photographer to respect other people’s boundaries and make sure you are not inflicting any harm or distress.

In short, respect is a crucial component of street photography. Asking permission before approaching your topic (either verbally or through your body language) is politely appropriate. You should also take care not to invade their personal space or privacy and make sure that you are not inflicting any harm or suffering. You are more likely to interact positively with your subjects and take awesome and lasting pictures when you approach street photography mindfully and with respect.

5. Shoot From the Hip/ Bottom to get candid shots

In street photography parlance, “shooting from the hip” refers to a process of taking pictures from your west level even without looking at the scene through the viewfinder.  This method is more applicable when you want your subject to be completely unaware of your presence or don’t want to make them uncomfortable or embarrassed in front of your camera. In this case, you need to master the technic of gauging the part of the scene that would be captured by the lens and you should be clear in understanding what the composition would look like. To acquire a sense of how the lens captures things, you might need to practice taking pictures from various angles and situations. Now, most modern digital cameras allow you to tilt the screen so that you have a clear view of composition while taking photos from the hip or even from ground level. 

Although mastering this can take some time, with practice you can have a solid understanding of the camera’s perspective and learn to shoot photos that are both well-composed and powerful.Although mastering this can take some time, with practice you can have a solid understanding of the camera’s perspective and learn to shoot photos that are both well-composed and powerful.Although mastering this can take some time, with practice you can have a solid understanding of the camera’s perspective and learn to shoot photos that are both well-composed and powerful.Although mastering this can take some time, with practice you can have a solid understanding of the camera’s perspective and learn to shoot photos that are both well-composed and powerful.

6. Use a small camera

For a street photographer who wants to get close to people and record their emotions, using a compact camera setup can be quite helpful. The photographer can move around and get close to the subject discreetly when using a small camera, such as a mirrorless or compact camera. This is important for street photography since the objective is frequently to capture real emotions and unscripted moments. Also, a smaller camera is typically less fearful of the subject, which can lead to expressions that are more genuine, natural, and authentic. A smaller camera is also frequently less noticeable and bulkier, which makes it simpler for the photographer to blend in with the surroundings and capture genuine moments without interfering with the scenario.

7. Simple clothing will help

Simple clothing might help a street photographer blend in with the crowd and take more personal pictures. The photographer can avoid calling too much attention to oneself and instead concentrate on watching and capturing the images and feelings around them by dressing simply and comfortably. In street photography, when the objective is frequently to record sincere moments and emotions without upsetting the situation, this can be particularly crucial. The photographer can foster a sense of familiarity and trust with the subjects by dressing similarly to those around them, which can result in more candid and real pictures. Simple clothing also makes it easier and faster for the photographer to move around, which is important for catching spontaneous reactions and brief moments. Overall, dressing simply can make it easier for street photographers to blend in with their environment and take more personal and genuine pictures.

Conclusion

With the above discussion, I’m sure you have been able to understand the importance of getting close to your subject to achieve a certain impact in the street photo, especially when it comes to telling a story through the finest human emotion, like anger, joy sorrow, etc. It is also pertinent to maintain that certain norms are to be followed on the street to capture an awesome image by complying with certain technics as well as the behavioral approach of the photographer. Hope with, the photography tips I share with you in this article, you would be easily able to achieve success by going close to your subject.