Street Photography Misconceptions and Myths that Hold Photographers Back
There’s plenty of room for subjectivity within many aspects of street photography, which I think is one reason there are a number of misconceptions surrounding it.
I’ve seen people express ideas or opinions about street photography that are just outright wrong. Some inflammatory, others more harmless.
Most of the misconceptions I go over here are ones that could potentially hold street photographers back.
You Need Expensive Camera Gear to Do Street Photography
I think a lot of us are guilty of thinking that if we just get the right camera for street photography, our photos are going to be better. Even if we don’t admit it to ourselves. I know I’m guilty of frequently lusting after new cameras and lenses.
But I think we all also know on some level that we don’t really need the latest gear. The legendary street photographers created the genre as an art form had nowhere near the technology that we have today. They were working with film cameras that were primitive compared to the digital cameras we have access to now. And yet they created incredible work.
So it’s just a fact that it’s not necessary to have a flagship camera with all the bells and whistles or a Leica. You can create great work on a Leica, but it’s not a requirement.
It’s hard sometimes, but I try to focus more on the photos I take rather than on the cameras I make them with. I try to remind myself of all the great reasons why I do street photography rather than obsess over gear.
You Need to Be a Technical Expert
On the one hand, I think you should know the exposure triangle and other camera settings for street photography if you’re going to take it seriously. On the other, it’s not necessary to take pictures. There are automatic modes that can help you, and that’s perfectly fine.
When I started in photography, I learned everything I could about camera settings and exposure. It seemed a bit daunting at first, but ultimately it’s really not that complicated. For a while, I only shot in manual mode. I did this so that I could get the reps in and internalize what I had learned.
Once you’ve learned the technical side of things, that’s when you can make the best use of your camera’s automatic or semi-automatic modes. Because I know how my camera settings work, I know that during the day, when there’s good light, I can put my camera in aperture priority mode for street photography so I can choose a small aperture to get deep depth of field. At night, I know I can put it in shutter priority mode so that I can choose a shutter speed that won’t give me motion blur and then let the camera do the rest.
With all this said, none of this is really necessary to make pictures. Using automatic mode or P-mode (auto mode without flash) is perfectly fine. Especially when you’re just starting out - I see no problem with using these. They help free your mind so that you can focus your attention on finding interesting scenes, subjects, and composing your photos.
You Need Permission to Take Photos of People in the Street
In the United States of America, you do NOT need permission to take photos of anyone in any public space. Most countries have similar laws on the books, but they vary by country.
Street photography is considered similar to documentary photojournalism and is protected under the law as a form of free speech. There is no expectation of privacy in public places.
Street Photography Is Creepy
When I see the work done by great street photographers, I’m impressed by the art they were able to create. Turning a chaotic scene in public spaces into something artistic is no easy feat.
So when I hear people express that street photography is creepy in some way or that it violates privacy in some way, I’m a little baffled.
Sure, the act of doing street photography is a bit outside the norm, but when I see the work created, I think it’s worth it. If someone gets a bit uncomfortable here and there, so be it.
You Need to Be in a Big City to Do It
I really struggle with this one. I’m from Kansas City. It’s a mid-size city that has pockets of life in it, but it’s pretty spread out. I’ve long wanted to move to New York City (I live in Philadelphia now, so I’m not far), so I can be where the action is and do street photography more regularly. The community of street photographers there would also be great to be a part of.
But it’s not necessary to do street photography. Sure, there are tremendous advantages and a lot more interesting things going on in big cities. There are way more opportunities to photograph people.
However, this mindset is limiting. Street photography is absolutely possible in smaller cities. I think you just need to make some adjustments to your strategy and manage your expectations. For one, if you want to photograph people, you should figure out the areas where people tend to be and at what times. I also think keeping an eye out for events and photographing around those is a good idea.
A cool thing about photographing in smaller cities is that you can be one of the first photographers to really do it. Smaller cities also have unique aspects to them that maybe the world hasn’t seen.
I recently discovered a new YouTube channel of a street photographer named Jaren Winslow who made a video on this topic of doing street photography in a small town:
You Need to Be an Extrovert
Sometimes I’m feeling chatty and end up having a conversation with people on the street. It has led to taking street portraits on occasion.
Other times, I feel quieter and don’t feel much like interacting with people. When I’ve felt more introverted, I never had a problem making street photos. I just make my little pictures and go to the next spot.
Many Things Can Hold You Back in Street Photography
Some of these misconceptions about street photography can hold you back from practicing street photography or reaching any goals you may have. So I think it’s a good idea to work through them if they’re limiting beliefs for you.
