I think that the whole camera gear for street photography conversations are blown out of proportion. It isn’t necessary to have the latest model. A camera is just a tool. You are responsible for choosing the composition and exposure.

Forget the camera, forget the lens, forget all of that. With any four-dollar camera, you can capture the best picture.  Alberto Korda

The only exception to this in street photography might be the lens that you use. If you are looking to create straight ahead street photography, it should always be with a wide angle lens. Not zooming in on your subject from afar.

Monochrome is fabulous in street photography as it highlights the composition. Stripes are a real favorite.

Black and White Stripes, New York City, November 2019

Get your camera settings ready for shooting and then give all of your attention to observing your environment. Otherwise you miss opportunities to capture so many photos.

Black and white street photos have a classic look to them. By getting rid of the colors, the focus is on the subject.

Seeing people in stride with legs apart as well as creating a leading line by shooting at an angle to a wall can create a sense of motion.

The irony of this photo is observing an observer.

More raindrops

Raindrops on 14th Street, New York City, March 2017

Identify the most interesting things you see and photograph them. Your vision will lead you. I happen to like capturing legs in motion.

The beauty of street photography is that you don’t know what you’ll get. I was very happy to capture a triangle of 3 people coming around the corner.

January is often the time when people want to create new subjects to photo. One subject I particularly like to shoot is store front windows. And hats are always a favorite!

How much is the hat in the window?, New York City, 28 December 2020

Did you know that there’s a Shoot New York City newsletter? The most recent issue is the 125th! It comes out the 1st and 15th of each month and is delivered to your inbox to read at your leisure. Subscribe online.

I host workshops in all 4 seasons. Shooting in the winter means you have to dress so you can forget about the cold. Oh, and you need to have some spare batteries as they don’t like extreme cold. Otherwise, we had lots of fun during this workshop.

Winter Weather, New York City, 17 December 2020

Shooting is just one part of the equation. Processing also plays a big part.

Issue 123 of the SNYC Newsletter - 1 January 2021 is about pushing the reset button and starting your photography fresh with the new year. It’s also a time to assess what you achieved in the previous year and what you would like to concentrate in the new year. It’s easy to subscribe online.

This is the first issue hosted on Substack. Previous issues have been archived.

Raindrops in the foreground are fabulous and you can do this indoors.

Union Square Rainy Day, New York City, March 2017

Street photography should be an enjoyable activity. Shoot because you enjoy it. Not to gain social media followers.

If you have your camera set up and your eyes on the street you will see and capture moments of human interaction. So it’s a good idea to not look at your previews often. You will miss shots if you do.