Street Style Photography: Best Lenses and Approaches for Capturing Urban Fashion
Street style photography is a genre that captures people and their fashion in public spaces. It is all about capturing real-life, authentic fashion moments on the streets, from high-end couture to everyday casual wear. Street-style photography has become increasingly popular in recent years, with many photographers and bloggers sharing their work online. In this blog post, we'll explore the best lenses for street-style photography, ways to approach it, and the importance of light in creating stunning images.
Best Lenses for Street Style Photography
The best lens for street-style photography depends on your personal style, the look you want to achieve, and the type of camera you use. However, there are a few lenses that are particularly well-suited for street-style photography.
50mm Lens: The 50mm lens is considered a "normal" lens and provides a natural field of view. This makes it a great choice for street-style photography because it allows you to capture the subject in their natural environment without distorting their appearance.
35mm Lens: The 35mm lens is a great choice for street-style photography because it provides a wide-angle view that allows you to capture more of the background and context of your subject.
85mm Lens: The 85mm lens is a great choice for street-style photography because it provides a shallow depth of field, which can help to isolate the subject from the background. This makes it ideal for portraits.
Approaches to Street Style Photography
Be Respectful: Street-style photography involves photographing people in public spaces. It is important to be respectful of your subjects and their personal space. Always ask for permission before taking someone's photo, and avoid photographing people who do not want to be photographed.
Be Prepared: Street-style photography is often spontaneous, so it's important to be prepared. Make sure your camera is charged and ready to go and carry extra memory cards and batteries.
Be Observant: Street-style photography is all about capturing real-life fashion moments. Keep your eyes open for interesting subjects, such as people with unique fashion sense, eye-catching outfits, or interesting accessories.
Be Creative: Street-style photography is a great opportunity to get creative with your photography. Experiment with different angles, perspectives, and compositions to create unique and eye-catching photos.
Be Timeless: Street style photography is a great opportunity to capture fashion trends and styles, but it's also important to create timeless images that will still look great years from now.
Lighting is one of the most important aspects of street-style photography. Good lighting can make all the difference between a mediocre photo and an eye-catching image. When it comes to street-style photography, the light can come from a variety of sources, including the sun, streetlights, and shop windows. Understanding the importance of light and how to use it to your advantage is crucial to creating stunning street-style photos.
Natural Light: Natural light is one of the most important elements in street-style photography. The quality and direction of natural light can greatly impact the mood and atmosphere of your photos. For example, shooting in the early morning or late afternoon can provide a warm and soft light that is ideal for portraits. On the other hand, shooting in the middle of the day when the sun is high in the sky can result in harsh shadows and blown-out highlights.
Backlight: Backlight is a technique where the subject is positioned between the camera and the light source, such as the sun or a street light. Backlight creates a halo effect around the subject, which can add depth and drama to your photos.
Window Light: Shop windows can provide a great source of light for street-style photography, especially on cloudy days when the natural light is flat. Window light provides a soft and even light that can be used to illuminate your subjects.
Artificial Light: Streetlights, lamps, and other artificial lights can provide interesting lighting effects for street-style photography. For example, using a street light to illuminate a subject can create a dramatic and moody atmosphere.
Conclusion
Street-style photography is a fun and challenging genre of photography that can provide a great opportunity to capture real-life fashion moments on the streets. Whether you're using a 50mm, 35mm, or 85mm lens, the key to great street-style photography is being respectful, prepared, observant, creative, and timeless in the best lighting setting. So, grab your camera and start exploring the streets to capture the latest in urban fashion!
