Ever aspired to be a street photographer?

Discover the 10 essential factors that street photography maestro Valerie Jardin recommends considering before embarking on the journey to become a street photographer!

5 reasons why pursuing street photography might not be your calling

1. Your photos might not garner many 'likes.' Flowers, beauty, and cats often attract more 'likes' on platforms like Facebook. Many people haven't yet appreciated the beauty of authentic street photos. Hot girls, hot boys, or flowers usually get more 'likes.'

2. Your photos may not sell well. People usually don't pay attention to and purchase your photos unless you're a renowned street photographer. They also won't compensate for the time you spend wandering the streets taking photos. But if you don't mind making long-term efforts to gain fame, keep going.

3. This can be quite bothersome at times. People on the street may not always be comfortable with your photo invitations. However, if you're determined, you can learn and innovate alternative photography methods without inconveniencing pedestrians. And first and foremost, invest in a large focal length Telephoto lens.

4. Demands a great deal of patience and walking

You'll spend hours, or even an entire day, venturing outside to capture moments, possibly returning home with a memory card full of images. Uncovering meaningful stories in everyday actions, the ordinary faces, and seemingly mundane gestures of people will require the photographer to sacrifice a significant amount of time.

5. A technically good photo may not necessarily be a beautiful Streetlife picture

As mentioned earlier, every moment of the story will never happen again. With the dynamic nature of street photos, most frames will be wide, shaky, and challenging to focus. So, if you want to strike a balance between a technically good photo and a story hidden within it, the story usually prevails. First and foremost, you need to get acquainted with perceiving this fresh angle.

6 reasons why you should pursue street photography

1. You'll be part of a fascinating community

Only those who truly appreciate the art and value of street photography will empathize with you. And the 'likes' from this community will mean much more than casual social media approval. This community is a gathering of individuals passionate about this form of photography, considering it a meaningful way of life, and not for pleasing anyone. Hence, they are truly fascinating.

2. You are documenting life around you seriously

Street photography isn't a 'hot' genre in the art world. As a street photographer, you need to see the subject in a broader perspective. You are creating images reflecting moments of current life, something that can provide valuable insights for future generations. Look at old photos of Hanoi, Saigon, and recognize the timeless values they hold.

3. It's an addictive form of art

Street photography is never dull. The moments you truly capture a frame, it's pure passion, excitement, joy, and amazement as, at that instant, life is reflected in its most authentic form. Hence, street photos easily captivate people with profound passions.

4. Walking is great for health

For a 'addicted' street photographer, a day may involve walking no less than 10km with the mindset of hunting for that perfect shot! Find durable, comfortable shoes that immerse you in the lifestyle. Beyond capturing moments, it's also a form of enjoyable exercise.

5. Won't take much post-processing time

In general, street photography respects the essence of the scene captured and is relatively restrained in photo editing. Post-processing might involve cropping, adjusting light and dark. In reality, no tool can magically transform an unsuccessful photo into a beautiful one. Each photo is a comprehensive snapshot of the story, light, composition, elements that continually captivate street photographers on every journey.

According to PCWorld

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Reference: Mytour Travel Guide