If you’re a street photographer, you know the importance of capturing candid shots that tell stories and evoke emotion. And with so much to remember when taking those memorable photos — from snapping the perfect angle to scouting out intriguing subjects—it’s no wonder why street photography can take so much energy and focus. So if you’re looking for ways to optimize your shooting skills, try adding these six exercises to your routine.
A pedestrian
Select a pedestrian and follow him. Just shoot not him, but what you meet along the way. Consider that you are a passenger on a train driven by a pedestrian of your choice. When you lose sight of it, find a new one and repeat the exercise.
180 degrees
Whenever you find something interesting to take a picture of, turn around and take another picture. Exciting things can happen behind you too. You want to take advantage of this!
Shooting reflections
Hunt for puddles and aim to catch the reflection of your target in them. Again, be creative and try to get as much detail as possible. You can take this exercise further by adding different elements like balloons or colored paper into the reflections.
Bus stop
Come to the bus stop and take a picture of everyone waiting for the bus. When the bus comes, don’t get on it. Wait for new passengers and take another picture. It’s tricky because you can’t click and run away. It is the task.
Sketches
Your failed shots are your best sketches. Appreciate these photos as an artist appreciates his sketches. Print these pictures, thereby “legitimizing” them. Put your prints in your pocket and travel with them. Study them at your leisure. Think about how elements from different shots can be found in the same image. Use them for analysis to avoid making the same mistakes in the future.
A place of power
Find a place where there are lots of people. You want to take a picture of them, but not just any picture. You want to make it look like they are frozen in time. First, start with two people. Then three, four, and so on. You need to study how people move around to arrange them in the photo the way you want. It’s like playing a game of archery. You must feel powerful and in control of your reality to take the perfect picture.
