I am a huge proponent of negative learning, that you can learn more by taking on the opposite approach. Philosopher Nassim Taleb calls this “via negativa”. It is the idea that the best way to gain “happiness” in life isn’t chasing what makes us happy, but by vehemently avoiding what makes us unhappy (a long commute to work, a horrible micro-managing boss, poisonous and negative “friends”, and an expensive house mortgage).
I also believe strongly that one should never listen to “rules” of anything in life (especially street photography). However, below is a list of things (which has personally helped me) I avoid in street photography . Pick and choose what resonates with you, and leave the rest:
50 Things I Try to Avoid in Street Photography
- “Chimping” (checking the LCD screen) after taking photos on the streets
- Using more than one lens for street photography (I prefer a 35mm)
- Not mixing my digital and film photos in a project
- Letting the number of “favorites” or “likes” dictate whether a photo is good or not
- Letting criticism affect me negatively. Rather, I try to use it to empower me to find weaknesses in my work.
- Uploading a photo online publicly without having at least 3 people critique it in-person first
- Spending a lot of time looking at photos online ; rather I spend more time looking at photo books
- Leaving the house without a camera
- Hesitating before taking a street photograph
- Cluttered backgrounds
- Showing my bad photos (I have tons of them)
- Shooting more than one type of film at a time (Kodak Portra 400 for color, Kodak Tri-X for black and white)
- Going a full day without taking a photograph
- Involving myself in online debates about the definition of “street photography”
- Meeting my photography friends without some new work to show them and get critique on
- Charging money for my photos
- Taking a photo of someone on the streets without saying “thank you” by smiling at them
- Not to focus on single images. Rather, I try to focus on projects
- Looking at gear review sites (when I’m bored) unless I’m serious about buying a new camera
- I don’t own more than one lens for my camera (only a 35mm)
- I don’t care about sharpness
- I don’t like bokeh in street photography
- Forgetting how lucky I am to be able to go out and take photos
- Taking boring photos
- Taking check-in luggage when I travel
- Comparing myself to other photographers
- Developing my film for at least 3 months after I shoot it
- Uploading photos online until letting it “marinate” for at least 6 months to a year
- Not to falling into the trap that buying a new camera will make me suddenly become more “creative” and “inspired” in my photography
- I don’t mind asking for permission to take someone’s photo in the street
- I don’t check comments on my photos more than once a week
- Spending more time on social media, and less time out shooting on the streets
- Leaving comments or critiques on other people’s photos that are shorter than 4 sentences long
- Only taking photos of people
- I rarely take photos of homeless people
- Taking photos of street performers
- Deleting photos (unless they are really nice or the photo is boring)
- Taking the film out of my camera when someone asks me to
- Shooting to please my critics
- I ultimately don’t shoot for anybody else but myself
- Making excuses when a photo doesn’t work
- I don’t like photos without emotion
- Recommending zoom lenses in street photography
- Recommending lenses longer than 50mm for street photography
- Shooting wide open on the streets (generally at f/8-f/16)
- Recommending selective color or HDR for post-processing street photographs
- I don’t mind “killing my babies” (photos that I think are good but really aren’t)
- Shooting in bad light without a flash
- Sharing more than one photo a week on social media
- I don’t think you should listen to everything in this list. Rather, make your own!
Editor’s note: what things do you try and avoid when you’re doing photography of any kind? Share your list with us in the comment section below!
The post 50 Things I Try to Avoid in Street Photography by Eric Kim appeared first on Digital Photography School.
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