Street photography tip: Take an overview shot too
Wednesday 18 October 2023, 22:11 by Michiel Heijmans | 2,953 views | 2 commentsThis article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.
The main advantage of a wider lens is that you can get very close and still take a sharp photo. But there is more! With a lens like this, for example a 24mm or 35mm, you can show much more of the surroundings.
If you want to make a so-called 'establishing shot', an overview photo of the place where you are, a wide-angle lens is simply the best choice. You may need that photo for a series, a set of photos that belong together, that you are working on.
As mentioned, there are also photographers who use a wide-angle lens to get closer. With a lens like this, especially one of up to around 24mm, you can photograph someone almost right in front of their face.
The tip is to place the face in the centre of your photo. The wider the lens, the more distortion you will get at the edges. Keep that in mind.
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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Jan Kebeck wrote on Tuesday 24 October 2023 at 23:27 | replyCan I just take a photo of everyone on the street or are there rules about this?
Translated from Dutch.
Kind regards Jan Kebeck -
Michiel Heijmans
wrote on Thursday 26 October 2023 at 13:50
| reply
Hi Jan,
Translated from Dutch.
Strictly speaking, that's true. Everyone in a public space may be photographed. But of course there are some catches. For example, famous Dutch people have "more portrait rights" than you and I do. They are their brand, and therefore more protected (rightly so, in my opinion). You also may not photograph people in places where they may expect more privacy, such as in a restaurant. At a train station you may take photographs for private use, but for commercial projects you need a permit. In most shopping streets you may take photographs freely, but Rotterdam's Koopgoot is owned by the retailers' association, so the concept of "public space" does not apply here.
Many of the boundaries, incidentally, only begin with commercial publication. If you would like to discuss this sometime, feel free to book one of my workshops! See https://michielheijmans.com/workshops.
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