I’ve shot over 121,146 street photography images. Here’s what I’ve learned.

[@colinthecameraguy]

OMG spare me the Elitists 🤦‍♂️ You are the first person (that I’ve seen on YT) that has completely grasped/understood/explained that whole ‘my way is the best way’ thing Bravo!

[@patkay]

man there are just SO many of them it’s insane 🤦‍♂️

[@aquilifergroup]

Grab your inspiration from wherever you can. Whether that’s the past or present really doesn’t matter. Art is full of prima donnas, it always has.

[@patkay]

and probably always will be

[@AmitSaxena79]

Loved how you emphasized on developing own style and not be beating ourselves for not deep all the time. I alsobliked your approach on themes and patterns. That way you are consiously shooting things and not confused /overwhelmed with which pic would be better

[@ernestosolfe]

Love this one! Took loads of notes. You diversify what is considered common knowledge and give your own twist on it. This video incapsulates all the reasons why I love this category and why I recently started my creative journey around it. Thanks for this video / lesson! Last point is masterful.

[@patkay]

thanks for watching!

[@cliffordluckvisuals]

Aint that deep is words to live by, I take pics of what I like. Im out there for me whether street or landscape. I share to hope it make someone else feel like I did when I saw it. Thats it! If it doesnt, im ok with that.

[@CosetteFelix]

Oh I love that you made this video. I agree, it is all personal preference, there is no good and no bad, just interpretations. Love love love!

[@alittlebitofskye]

As someone who tends to have an aversion to people, I fucking love street photography. The thing I love about it the most is that street photography is its own genre, but it crosses over so many over genres like landscapes, architecture, portraiture, photojournalism, black & white, travel, etc. I predominantly shoot landscapes but I’m finding myself so drawn to shooting street these days.

[@MarkaustinHasler]

Fantastic video! You have such a great way of communicating your ideas it's almost relaxing to watch ! Really interesting points and I really agree 😊

[@patkay]

thanks for watching!

[@Just_Kev_]

This was super helpful!!! Always feel inspired after watching your videos. Thx for this!

[@louiewgroenewald]

I just realized I liked your video before it started. It's because I already know it will be good. Your honest and clear explanation of the subject is appreciated. Thank you.

[@-grey]

Great video. Solid points. I find that the up close and personal thing is only half the advice. Rather than "get close for a good photo", it should be get close when it warrants a good photo, or step back when it warrants a good photo. Work a scene. I have seen far too many images of in-your-face babes or stylish old men where the background is a mess with no context or zero compositional thought put in. Signs half clipped out of frame etc. Usually, they need to desaturate the hell out of it because there are unforseen distracting colour elements behind. All the context of Time and Place is lost for the nostril cam view of frightened subjects.

[@DanaPushie]

Another well thought out video; clear, concise, articulate, and perhaps more importantly, in my opinion, encouraging. How creative are we when we try to reproduce the work of others? Yep, there is likely to be a great deal to learn from the old masters, but creativity is about risk, courage, original ideas, vision, and imigination. What sings to me may not sing to you. Take the risk. Great channel Pat and thanks for sharing.🤪

[@abelardojeda]

Agreed, prediction is basically the core of street photography.

[@dericyu2700]

"A photo made for the sake of capturing beauty is just as valid as a photo capturing a moment full of emotions and meaningful depth." 🤌🏻

[@pastelxloky]

Once again, such a great vidéo ! Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us and giving us a lot to think about!

[@patkay]

thanks for watching!

[@JennyWoodShangraw]

Fantastic! Take me to the STREETS!

[@stevepalmerphotoart]

Right on! All of it! Well considered and articulated.

[@kcluv123321]

Oooh that 1st point! Someone finally said it!

[@BadSloucher]

Great tips but I really just watched this video to catch glimpses of your favourite photos 😊 I could just watch a slideshow of all your street photography

[@iangill3613]

You nailed it…..thank you !

[@KennethStringer1985]

The tips and knowledge you shared on this topic are very helpful. This is a new genre of photography I've been wanting to explore, but I had no idea how to go about it. I found your video very helpful in guiding me through the process of getting started. Thank you.

[@timhill44]

'Its the story / moment, Technical quality is lenient'...spot on... Hi5 T

[@qnms101]

I think just like all art, it's more important to find your own style and take the photos you personally want to take, rather than to try and copy what has been popular in the past

[@patkay]

100%! sometimes we can get a little too attached. especially to the things we grew learning at the start of our journey

[@ashiqurrahman1469]

Thank you so much Pat!

[@JiriCvrk]

thank you very much Kay! 👍🙂👏

[@nameme2745]

Good advice Pat!

[@pani_banani]

Thank you for inspiration!

[@khengteoh4318]

What's your opinion on using phone cameras they would be the ultimate in size and inconspicuousness for street

[@johnmarston1817]

Very good video. Great thoughts and mindsets.

[@RiccardoGabarriniKazeatari]

Hi Pat! Great video as always! I'm going to stay in Japan for almost 3 months and hearing you talk about hard light and scale I thought I could practice one visual pattern per month doing street photography (I'm not a newbie but it's my first time with street). Which visual patterns should I choose? Thx!

[@patkay]

definitely should try it! check out my visual pattern series for some more ideas!

[@jimward9551]

Excellent vid. Thanks

[@Sean-Smith-Photos]

Point 1 really spoke to me

[@DebiSenGupta]

Two questions. You mentioned that the shutter speed needs to be higher if the subject is closer, didn't quite understand that. Also please share some books about some new photographers. I have also felt that too many people are only talking about the same greats again and again. I want to see what people are shooting now.

[@yeohi]

It's the speed of the subject moving in the frame. Motion is faster in or across the frame the closer it is. So a higher shutter speed is needed to stop the motion.

[@DebiSenGupta]

@@yeohi thank you

[@jabnakarramon5121]

i truely agree… this is the entire instagram… everybody takes nice looking photos but they all are the same… this include myself sometimes.. oh and elitist as well..😂

[@segercliffhanger]

Yeah. These are very true and meaningful insights, and they're very accurately mouthed. Which is an important and difficult art all by itself. I completely concur with six of them, and thanks again for formulating them so beautifully. The advice to use light gear however is evangelism. I don't think I need to explain that but I will. In my own very personal photography, I've come to learn that gear that hints at professional photography will put people who notice you into more expressionist behavior, into often clearer readable versions of themselves. Obviously, when you want to work invisibly, a big analog 8" tripodded plate cam with a black cloth will not work, on average. That's a more statistical, durable and less personal reason why I think that the advice to use small gear is evangelism. And while some evangelism can be helpful, this one is nonsense. Otherwise: absolutely great video. Thanks.

[@JustinEspejo]

There 👏 is 👏 just 👏preference. 👏

[@grahamfield1570]

Why not flip between styles as you go along according to what you are presented with?

[@RobertReilly-mc8zq]

I enjoyed the video; thank you for sharing. Reportedly, Robert Frank curated less than 100 photographs from well over 20,000 for his work The Americans. What is that, a so-called strike rate of five tenths of one percent or less? One wonders how much of a role randomness or luck has to play in getting "good" shots. But as you suggest, you can make your own luck in a way by being out there -- being out there a lot -- knowing the patterns, learning to predict, and getting the shots. Thanks again.

[@DebiSenGupta]

Please suggest some themes. Maybe your next video can cover it. Thanks in advance.

[@patkay]

check out my visual pattern playlist for a whole bunch of em

[@professionalpotato4764]

If anything, I hope the current trend of "street photography" on TikTok where people take portraits of strangers, either in a voyeuristic manner with a 70-200mm or asking for a portrait dies down asap.

[@patkay]

i’m so glad i don’t have tiktok 😂

[@yeohi]

@@patkay Me too! I already spend too much time watching KZbin Shorts.

[@samipso]

It's hard to see your own progress. Good to be reminded we just need to take many thousands more pictures.

[@DennisFreeland]

So as I understand your vid almost in a nutshell, find your sources of inspiration, past and present, develop your own visual style , know your camera to the point that its an extension of your hand, learn visual patterns, dont think that you will find the photographic Holy Grail and be entitled to PREACH it to others. Plus two of my own. I have no idea how many images I have taken since I have learned to cull, cull, cull. Saves on hard drives and improves morale and motivation when you do look at what remains. Finally dont be obsessed by social media and pleasing others know what you like and stick with it 😀

[@patkay]

i love it! thanks for sharing!

[@timhill44]

I love your heresy, if you were local, I.d buy you a pint, hi5 Ti

[@neiltuiza7095]

Third! Always, solid food for thoughts..

[@patkay]

thanks for watching!

[@patkay]

thanks for watching!

[@Elisha_the_bald_headed_prophet]

What did you learn about your own style? What focal lengths/settings were your favorite shots taken with?

[@Jinj.c]

Im first! Hello Patty

[@patkay]

haha you got it!

[@malikdhadhalinux]

I'm third...!

[@patkay]

haha someone juuuuuust beat you

[@rjaymolina]

Third!

[@patkay]

you got it! 😂

[@rjaymolina]

@@patkay Thanks for content! Always informative

[@Dplaysitcool]

I'm more inspired by cinema, anime/manga, even music, and painted art. And I'm a street photographer. Street photography is whatever you want it to be. End of.

[@Dplaysitcool]

There's no right or wrong when it comes to street photography. It's art. And art is subjective. These purists come at it like it's objective.

[@Dplaysitcool]

I think we can all agree that no matter what your style or view is. Street photography makes us ALL look at the world in appreciative and unique ways

[@grahamfield1570]

Everyone should strive to produce something original rather than tirelessly repeating the work of tgeir heroes in the genre.

[@mightyjoeyoung1234]

I am second :D

[@patkay]

you are 😂

[@slothsarecool]

almost none of my images are meaningful haha, just try to capture nice looking stuff 😅

[@The_Red_Comet]

Looking nice is meaningful too!

[@carlosmcse]

I hate the whole idea of the term “street photography”. It’s sort of meaningless. If something can be anything then it’s nothing at all. Cartier Bresson never called himself a “street photographer”. He has been given that label. If I look at your work, i can show you the source for it. I think everything you can think of has been taken probably by the 1940’s.