Street photography tip: Avoid cars in your photos
Sunday 19 May 2024, 22:33 by Michiel Heijmans | 2,778 views | 8 commentsThis article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.
During a workshop in Paris, the teacher told me to avoid cars in my photos as much as possible. I wondered why she had made this comment. Cars place a photo in a particular time period. It actually makes perfect sense.
I am now firmly convinced that there are more types of street photographers than there are players in a football team. One documents the present, and wants to show someone with a mobile phone in colour.
The other wants a timeless black-and-white photo, and hates all those people on their phones. It is a choice. But what I do know for certain is that my street photos are better without cars. A car is a prominent element that often distracts attention. I usually avoid them.
You can often do that by taking a lower viewpoint and pointing your camera upwards, or by isolating your subject and not photographing the entire street from left to right. Or simply walking into a pedestrian area!
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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8 comments
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Donald Willemsen wrote on Sunday 19 May 2024 at 22:59 | replyCars indeed give a certain picture of the times, but so do a building, street furniture or the clothes people wear!!!
Translated from Dutch.
Avoiding cars in the image on the grounds that they give a certain picture of the times is therefore complete nonsense.
It just depends on what you actually want to show.
'Avoid cars' is completely superfluous advice. -
guest wrote on Monday 20 May 2024 at 14:37 | replyPretty unnuanced again, Donald. What you’re saying simply isn’t correct. Concrete example: in Paris, you have old streets that let you happily drift away, and if there’s a Tesla parked there, you know that beautiful black-and-white print with that gentleman in a long coat and fantastic hat certainly wasn’t taken in the 1950s. You take away the illusion.
Translated from Dutch.
But of course you’re entitled to your own opinion, eh. You just express it rather black and white. There are always nuances. -
Donald Willemsen wrote on Monday 20 May 2024 at 22:31 | reply
@guest, why are you hiding behind anonymity?
Translated from Dutch.
Black and white works really well in street photography. So I'm right with my comment. Ok, sometimes a little colour is fine too. -
Michiel Heijmans wrote on Tuesday 21 May 2024 at 07:28 | replyNo anonymity, but the website that was being difficult. Greetings, Michiel
Translated from Dutch. -
Mac wrote on Tuesday 21 May 2024 at 08:43 | reply
I agree with Donald.
Translated from Dutch.
If you look at the example photo, then you can also place it in a certain period because of the laptop bag.
if you have bicycles in it, then those also represent a certain period.
And if you photograph a person with a long coat and hat in an old street, and there is an electric scooter, then you also have a snapshot of a certain period.
The only reason why I try to avoid cars in street photos, is because I personally often don't find it beautiful. -
Donald Willemsen wrote on Tuesday 21 May 2024 at 11:03 | reply
@Mac, that's a legitimate reason. Your personal taste. You can't avoid it. You will always get an element in the frame that gives a certain impression of the time. Making a timeless street photo is simply impossible. You have to make do with the setting you have at hand.
Translated from Dutch. -
Astrid Roox wrote on Tuesday 21 May 2024 at 14:09 | reply
Or you consciously choose the car that adds value, or not. It all depends on your subject and what you want to show.
Translated from Dutch. -
guest wrote on Saturday 25 May 2024 at 18:15 | reply
Sometimes a picture says more than words.
Translated from Dutch.
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