Street photography tip: Photograph people as part of their surroundings
Thursday 3 July 2025, 16:16 by Michiel Heijmans | 2,364 views | 2 commentsThis article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.
One reason why 28mm and 35mm lenses are so popular among street photographers is that you can also give an impression of your subject's surroundings with such a lens.
A photo of a person is just a photo of a person. By including the surroundings in your photo, for example by photographing at a well-known spot in a city, your photo suddenly gains more meaning.
Take the Zeedijk or the Oudegracht, for example. At Blaak, you don't need to explain to anyone where you are!
What's more, it's often easier to wait for an interesting subject in a beautiful place in a city than to follow an interesting person to a hopefully interesting place. You're a photographer, not a stalker!
Of course, it's useful if you can photograph in a place where a lot is happening. That's why you often see street photographers at events such as markets, book fairs or demonstrations.
This is where street photography sometimes suddenly overlaps with photojournalism. It makes perfect sense: both are about recording what is happening NOW.
About the author
Michiel is professioneel straatfotograaf en geeft workshops en lezingen over straatfotografie. Hij schrijft columns voor Focus Magazine en is erg actief op Instagram. Daar vind je dagelijks inspiratie en tips voor je eigen straatfotografie!
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2 comments
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Donald Willemsen wrote on Thursday 3 July 2025 at 18:48 | replyMichiel, het klopt wel wat je schrijft. Maar het meest opvalende aan het artikel vind ik de foto die ter illustratie toegevoegd is. Een prima foto overigens, maar één ding viel me er meteen aan op: alle mensen in de foto heb je onherkenbaar in beeld gebracht.
This comment was written in another language and has not been translated yet.
Heb je dat gedaan ivm de Europse regelgeving betreffende de privacy? -
Michiel Heijmans
wrote on Thursday 3 July 2025 at 22:13
| reply
Hee Donald,
This comment was written in another language and has not been translated yet.
Dankjewel! En je hebt helaas geen gelijk: er zijn er maar weinig onherkenbaar. De dame recht is herkenbaar, en ook de man met weinig haar en het streepjesshirt is door die combinatie voor meer mensen herkenbaar dan alleen zijn moeder. Het portretrecht gaat niet over of een gezicht zichtbaar is, maar of iemand te herkennen is.
Dit en meer staat onder meer in mijn nieuwe ebook De Wet van de Straat, dat ik schreef met juriste Charlotte Meindersma, zie https://www.charlotteslaw.nl/product/de-wet-van-de-straat/
Overigens is dit ook geen publieke ruimte, maar het binnenplein van het Palais Royal in Parijs. Die is publiek toegankelijk, maar dat is iets anders.
Het is veel grijs gebied en vaak aan de fotograaf om in te schatten of een foto onschuldig genoeg is om er geen gedoe mee te krijgen. Ik ben niet bang dat ik met deze foto gedoe krijg
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