Hi everyone, thought I’d share some tips and techniques I like to keep in mind when going out to shoot the streets of New York. Hope you can find some insight and inspiration ;)
Finding the light
It can be frustrating to come back from a photo session empty handed, so It’s important for me to understand the limitations and the odds of getting a good image before I even leave the house by checking weather conditions. I can try to force it but I know if its completely overcast for example I need to lower my expectation of the work I will be able to capture. Managing expectations can really make the process more enjoyable, which in turn helps me produce better images.
If the forecast is not completely overcast chances are there’s potential for good imagery. The most special light I like to shoot is in the two or three hours just after sunrise or before sunset. Obviously good images can be captured even in overcast days, but I do prefer the city views in harsher light.
Fog and mist is difficult to forecast properly so I always look at it as an added bonus when it occurs. Locations are scouted usually beforehand. Knowing the position of the sun at any given time with tools like the Sun Surveyor app is super helpful as I’ve mentioned in previous posts.
Using the light in creative ways for example backlit to highlight subjects and buildings always helps the image pop and adds a very nice depth. I look closely to see how light is reflecting off surfaces and people.
Artificial light can also produce some great results. Observing how the light interacts with the environment is the most enjoyable part of exploring a scene and the potential of what may be possible in a location.
In the image below what caught my eye first in this unplanned shot was actually the raindrops being lit by the strong headlights of the vehicles. Waiting a bit longer for subjects to cross the street was a natural second step.
With good light comes good shadows too. Keeping an open eye out for them is just as important to an interesting image. It all comes down to lots of exploration and chance observations that can be applied to other locations, and also understanding where the sun might produce the effects that I am after.
Composition
I’m mentioning this obvious tip mostly just to share that I don’t like to follow a strict rule. I like to experiment by climbing up something to get a more elevated view or getting low down to the ground and seeing how it looks from there. Curiosity is key to developing better compositions.
I usually try many different angles for each scene I’m shooting and will often return multiple times to see how the same scene might look in different lighting situations as well.
Reviewing your images and trying to find the reason I selected the images I did is key to improving going forward. Choices become second nature eventually and everything becomes more effective. I can also move on to the next scene quicker.
Layering
This is an extension of of composition. Being aware of what I am putting in the foreground and what I am isolating in the background with my framing can make or break the image. Like mentioned previously, I move around, experiment! Curiosity is key. This one is something I’m always scanning for when shooting and its always surprising how a composition might improve drastically by simply moving myself around.
I questions if there’s any subjects I can put in the foreground and background. Its like painting with the real world. Longer lenses help a lot with compressing scenes so I usually use a 50mm on up to aid with this.
Expressing your creativity and having fun
I will always create the best images when I’m feeling adventurous and curious. Also challenging myself to produce images in a seemingly mundane area is helpful in inducing the drive to shoot.
A pattern I’ve also found that boosts my output of good images is listening to music while out shooting. This could be any genre, but for me a lot of the time I find listening to movie soundtracks incredibly helpful in boosting creative juices. Not having lyrics is best in certain scenarios as it will help me get into a state of mind that opens up my eyes to potential images easier. Not entirely sure why, but I think it helps my mind enter into a daydream state and I end up capturing more interesting images.
