Street photography is an endlessly diverse and rewarding activity, writes pro shooter Drew Hopper. In the second and final installment of his new two-part series he shares his best tips for capturing striking images of daily life, from technical considerations such as which gear and settings to use, to creative considerations like timing and composition.
01 SHOOT FROM THE HIP
As a general rule in street photography, if you can get the shot with the camera to your eye, you'll get a better image. However, there are times when it's not possible to raise the camera to your eye, so shooting from the hip is a useful method of capturing a decisive moment. When I first started shooting on the street I found it difficult to hold the camera to my eye and point it at strangers, so I started holding the camera by my hip to capture more candid pictures. At first I wasn't successful, but once I started to get a feel for my camera and the best focal length I was able to capture some great candid moments. This approach is even easier if you have a tilting LCD or viewfinder.
A shaft of sunlight illuminates a woman carrying produce in Hanoi, Vietnam. I noticed the light first and just had to wait for the right subject to walk by. Canon 5D Mk II, 70-200mm @ 200mm, 1/2500s @ f/2.8, 400 ISO, handheld. Curves, levels, contrast and sharpening in Photoshop CS5.
02 LIGHT THE NIGHT
Night photography on the street offers some great opportunities for unique images. It's not as easy as shooting during the day; you'll need to be mindful of using slow shutter speeds and you'll have to understand how to avoid blur (if that's what you want to achieve). High ISOs and wide apertures can compensate for very low light. You could also take a tripod with you if you plan to make long exposures, but sometimes that's just another thing to carry! By using a fast aperture lens (f/2.8 or faster) you'll be able to shoot low-light scenes and still freeze the action. When you're shooting at night try to find interesting lines, shadows and compositions to give your image a bold visual impact. Silhouetted subjects are also interesting and can create nice compositions with the shadow filling the foreground.
03 GOOD IDEAS
Powerful ideas and emotions can be portrayed through the simplest of compositions. Most people wrongly associate street photography with people or portraits on the street. You don't always need people in the frame, or to capture interesting juxtapositions, or fit as many different people or objects into the frame as possible. It might be difficult in busy places, but take a walk down a quiet alleyway or side street and search for different subjects. You'll find there are opportunities for all kinds of images, with or without people. While I was in Vietnam I spent time wandering the streets photographing bicycles, which I have turned into a small series titled 'Transportation', and it's been quite popular amongst the photo community. This wasn't my intention, but by doing something different I was able to stand out in the photography scene.
Low-angle perspective of a passing bicycle in Hoi An, Vietnam. It wasn’t comfortable lying on my stomach in the gutter to capture this photo, but the end result was worthwhile. Canon 5D Mk II, 24-70mm @ 24mm, 1/60s, f/4.5, 400 ISO, handheld. Converted to monochrome, contrast and curves in Photoshop CS5.
04 QUALITY ISN'T EVERYTHING
Some photographers might disagree with me on this point, but from my experience shooting on the street I haven't been concerned with image quality as much as I am when I'm shooting landscapes or commercial images. You should strive for high image quality where possible, but arguably with street photography it's not as important. Composition, light, drama and the story you're trying to tell are more important than image quality. If your images capture those four elements, then you're on the right path to becoming a better street shooter. Sharpness, low noise and immaculate image quality are worthless if you have a poor composition, bad light or your picture does not tell a story. Remember, focus on what's important because that's essentially what makes a great street image.
Vietnamese boy poses with a peace sign, Hoi An, Vietnam. The blue window frame in the background made a perfect composition to help frame the shot. Canon EOS 5D Mk II, 35mm f/1.4 @ 35mm, 1/320s @ f/1.4, 100 ISO, handheld. Curves and levels adjustment, sharpening in Photoshop CS5.
05 HAVE FUN!
Like all genres of photography it's important to enjoy what you do and do what you enjoy. If shooting on the street doesn't sound like your kind of thing, chances are you'll probably be making ordinary images. Creativity flows from where the passion lives, so do what makes you happy, not what other people expect to see from you. I love shooting the street because it gets me out and about, meeting interesting people and seeing everyday life from a fresh perspective. That's what inspires me to do what I do, and that flows into my creative output.
Bustling market, Hoi An, Vietnam. Working in the afternoon light made for an atmospheric image. This is my favourite time to be shooting. Canon 5D Mk II, 35mm @ f/4.5, 1/1600s, 250 ISO, handheld. Curves, contrast, colour balance and sharpening in Photoshop CS5.
06 JUST DO IT
Street photography is a discipline you force upon yourself and you do it for the little joys you derive from it.
I'd argue this style of picture taking is really the most challenging genre in our craft. It requires practice, and the more you get out there, the more your photographic 'eye' will develop and your confidence will grow. The basic approach to this style of image-making is much simpler than some other genres. In this field I believe manipulation should be kept to the minimum, with hardly any post-processing. The only post production I tend to do with my street photography is through my camera viewfinder when I compose my shot. Perception and intuition are really the most important factors in making more creative 'street' images. Perception requires a great eye for detail and a high attention level. Intuition, on the other hand, is immediate and isn't duty bound to any attentive thinking. When you're in the right groove, these two factors can combine to create Cartier-Bresson's famous 'decisive moment'. It's an amazing process and it can take your images to the next level. I believe the best street photos come from powerful ideas and emotions captured in a simple way. Street photography comes down to perception, and forcing yourself out and about with your camera in search of the decisive moments which will inevitably unfold in front of you. But street photos aren't ultimately made in the mind, they're made in streets – so go out, take photos, and love it! 
A Vietnamese woman carries a heavy load of fruit and vegetables across a street in Hanoi, Vietnam. I took this image from the balcony of my hotel with my telephoto lens. Canon 5D Mk II, 70-200 @ 185mm, 1/640s @ f/5.6, 400 ISO, handheld. Contrast, saturation, clarity and sharpening in Photoshop CS5.
ABOVE
Businessmen wait for their ride home in Sydney CBD. I wanted to capture a sense of motion so setting the camera on a tripod I was able to blur passing traffic. Canon 5D Mk II, Canon 17-40mm @ 39mm, 0.5s @ f/4.5, ISO 400, tripod. Curves, contrast, saturation and sharpness in Photoshop CS5.
OPPOSITE
Bustling market in Hoi An, Vietnam, in the afternoon golden hour. Working in the afternoon light made for an atmospheric image full of life.
My favourite time to be shooting. Canon 5D Mk II, 35mm @ f/4.5, 1/1600s, ISO 250, handheld. Curves, contrast, colour balance and sharpening in Photoshop CS5.
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HOT Tips Shoot the Street
HOT Tips Shoot the Street
ABOVE
A street vendor wearing a conical hat in Hanoi, Vietnam. I like the different textures in this scene. The shadows and contrast of colour add dimension to the image. Canon 5D Mk II, 70-200mm @ 200mm, 1/2500 @ f/2.8, ISO 400, handheld. Curves, contrast, saturation, clarity and sharpening in Photoshop CS5.
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A couple sits by the river taking in the cityscape from Captain Burke Park, under the Story Bridge at Kangaroo Point. I liked the atmosphere created by the street light and the lights reflecting on the water. Canon 5D Mk II, 17-40mm @ 20mm, 3s @ f/14, ISO 3200, tripod. Converted to monochrome, contrast, noise reduction and sharpening in Photoshop CS5.
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Rays of natural light hit the street as a woman carries her produce to market in Hanoi, Vietnam. I waited for my subject to walk into frame to be highlighted by the beam. Canon 5D Mk II, 70-200mm @ 200mm, 1/2500s @ f/2.8, ISO 400, handheld. Curves, levels, contrast and sharpening in Photoshop CS5.
HOT Tips Shoot the Street
streetThe daily commute in Vietnam. I liked the tones and textures in the wall, so I waited about an hour for my subjects to come into frame. Canon 5D Mk II, 24-70mm @ 42mm, 1/640s @ f/4.5, ISO 250. Curves, contrast, colour balance and sharpening in Photoshop CS5.