Street Photography - technical stuff

[BarryG]

There are a few threads about the rights and wrongs of street photography, but I thought it would useful to have one about what you do with the camera.

I always want to get nice DoF, but with moving targets that's not always so easy. Mostly I'll shoot in aperture priority at f/8 and keep the ISO as low as possible. If I am in a crowded place with lots going on, the camera is usually near my face ready to grab the picture.

What is your preferred technique?

 

[mrtoad]

aperture priority set at f4 and on the zoom position...or if i have the light speed priority at 1/500 and iso 80
i like to separate the kill from the rest...
i dont do it a lot unless i am abroad and people look 'different' and have some character in their faces...more like candid rather than the whole scene...
also i feel they may never see their photo and wont be compromised by it when i show it on a forum...

recently on a tour in the uk with a group i was mesmerised by one persons face and facial hair.. an elderly man...sort of harry wheatcroft look alike...i took him candid as we stood in groups listening to lectures...and never got up the courage to ask for a portrait sit...

 

[Dman]

There are a few threads about the rights and wrongs of street photography, but I thought it would useful to have one about what you do with the camera.

I always want to get nice DoF, but with moving targets that's not always so easy. Mostly I'll shoot in aperture priority at f/8 and keep the ISO as low as possible. If I am in a crowded place with lots going on, the camera is usually near my face ready to grab the picture.

What is your preferred technique?

I'm struggling with this a bit. It's going to be a lot easier shooting moving targets at 2.8 with a nice quick shutter speed (and getting a nice dof in the process) than it is to be shooting at f/8, at ISO 200 and with a much lower shutter speed and possible blur.

I always shoot at around 2.5-2.8 if the available light allows, going as wide as 1.4 when the evening starts to set in. I'll put the ISO up to as much as 1600 when the light starts to fail.

 

[Wail]

For Street, I almost always prefer primes simply for them being faster than any zoom.

I use Aperture priority, setting to no more than f/2 with shutter speed not less than 1/500. I bump up ISO to as high as is needed. This is the prime reason why I got a D700, and I love pushing this to its' limits.

Of course, when it gets dark, I change my subject style, and choose more stationary individuals and maintain my Aperture to no more than f/2, but my shutter speed to 1/focal length.

I have to say, I like to get really close, and I mean really close into my subject's working space. It's caused me the odd look, once in a while, but generally people are very accepting to this especially if you choose the right attitude and approach .

 

[Wail]

<snip>

I always shoot at around 2.5-2.8 if the available light allows, going as wide as 1.4 when the evening starts to set in. I'll put the ISO up to as much as 1600 when the light starts to fail.

I never go down to f/1.4 unless I really really can't get a shot steady. I just find that the DoF becomes so shallow that a slight breathing-in, by the subject or me, can render the subject out of focus.

With the D700, I have no problem with going all the way up to ISO 6400, and I've even used Hi-1 and Hi-2.

 

[BarryG]

I've had many out of focus great shots, that's why I generally stick to f/8.

If the subject was stationary and I had time, def get the aperture into low numbers.

The background and surroundings are very important to me, so while still relevant, depth of field isn't so important for me.

Smash and grab, that's my style. Well, the style I like anyhow!

 

[itsdavedotnet]

I've had many out of focus great shots, that's why I generally stick to f/8.

If the subject was stationary and I had time, def get the aperture into low numbers.

The background and surroundings are very important to me, so while still relevant, depth of field isn't so important for me.

Smash and grab, that's my style. Well, the style I like anyhow!

get more comfortable with the autofocus settings and modes on your camera, people walking on a street is quite a slow moving thing for it to focus on compared to what it can do.

 

[BarryG]

I suppose, but when you are down the 2.8 end there isn't much room for manoeuvre!

What about pre focussing?

 

[Dman]

I never go down to f/1.4 unless I really really can't get a shot steady. I just find that the DoF becomes so shallow that a slight breathing-in, by the subject or me, can render the subject out of focus.

With the D700, I have no problem with going all the way up to ISO 6400, and I've even used Hi-1 and Hi-2.

I haven't had a street session with the D700 yet, I always used to use the 30mm 1.4 with the D90 and never had a problem with dof at 1.4 as I change my approach and shoot based on what will work that wide. I'm itching to have a go with the D700, generally I would always use a prime, so the 50 1.4 would be perfect, however I am tempted to use the 24-70 next time out.