The Simple Formula for Incredible Street Photos

There are three main parts to an amazing street photo and in this video I'll show you what they are and how to master each element to make your best work yet (don't worry, no maths required).
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[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed it please hit the like button so it can spread to more people to see. Check out this video next! kzbin.info/www/bejne/iorHinmsaduYlZIsi=6KmfPtEpZXEac9u1

[@franksfiddle9031]

It doesn't really matter if anyone agrees or not, the beauty of videos like this, is that they make you think. It's made me think and I am of the opinion that composition is number 1, but if we never think about things like this we'll never improve. Good video, Mike

[@timjamiesonphotos]

I agree! Thanks Mike 🙏🏻

[@jnicholls8146]

I’ve watched so many of these videos. This entire series is all you really need.😊

[@rakov1]

Totally agree - there's many great photos out there but it's the ones with 'a moment' which are the best of the photos.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thank you! 🙏🏻

[@yeohi]

That's because moments are essential and by far the most important element in a street photo with people in it. I would add gesture and expression as part of the moment. Composition is next in importance. The light can improve the photo but does not save a street photo without an interesting subject and moment.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

@@yeohiyeah that’s basically exactly what I said in the video 🤭

[@peterebel7899]

Great video I would like to add two Ps to the formula - not for the photograph, but for the photographer: - patience - passion There is no photographer on earth never shooting boring pictures. Those going on and learning are those shooting excellent pictures.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Yes absolutely agree with that! 99% of the photos I take are boring, but in the pursuit of something interesting. I think having an idea of what ‘great’ is and then pursuing it is what it’s all about 🙏🏻

[@yeohi]

need patience but not passion unless you mean enthusisam.

[@peterebel7899]

@@yeohi For the really good stuff enthusiasm is not enough, passion is the thing motivating again and again.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

@@peterebel7899absolutely agree with this!

[@chesslover8829]

A photo's emotional impact could be a fourth element.

[@islandbyfilm]

So informative. “Light Composition and Moment” you should really make a t-shirt with this on it. I’d buy it for sure. 👍🏼

[@kenjonesstudio]

Great video again Tim. Can't believe I'm living in NY for ten years now and I've never explored night photography 🤦‍♂️🤣🤦‍♂️. Thanks for the inspiration 👍👊

[@zainolsharif8597]

Great video, very informative, interesting, super like, thanks for sharing my friend 👍👍

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thank you for the kind comment! Much appreciated 🙏🏻

[@neilmarshment2910]

I agree on the moment. I would add a fourth - observation. Spending time observing a street scene will give you time to consider compositions and shots you may wish to capture and you can often predict when the moment may happen. For example noticing a shaft of light and that this silhouettes people as they walk through - you might wait for a cyclist.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Certainly observation is what it’s all about , that’s how you see the light, composition and moment to capture 🙏🏻

[@qcumberpatch]

Good video. I would add that "moment" can also be interchangeable with "context".

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thanks. Personally I disagree as you can have a great moment without showing any context (which often makes the moment better). Equally you can have a great moment while showing the context of the scene too :)

[@qcumberpatch]

@@timjamiesonphotos For context I refer to capturing the essence. The decisive moment (as per HCB) is a temporal element. Other factors exist which may require more "artistic" interpretation. For example conveying movement or other dynamic elements of the scene. Perhaps this is a 4th dimension to the photo?!

[@papawinters]

GREAT VIDEO! THANKS!!

[@timjamiesonphotos]

My pleasure!

[@BGTuyau]

Nice, thoughtful analysis of the key elements ...

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thanks!

[@tinacatswhiskers]

Great video Tim. I wonder if you could share a video on some of your favourite books for inspiration to us just starting out in this genre? 😊 Thankyou

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thanks heaps! Yeah I will definitely do a video like that soon :)

[@musaquazi3495]

Absolutely blown away! Thank you.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

That’s very kind thank you! Glad you enjoyed it 🙏🏻

[@Walt.2013]

Confidence. Yep! Don't have it, but your excellent video has inspired me to give it another go. While trying to explore a new photography genre to expand my horizons, I tried some street shooting. All of my rational thinking disappeared into turmoil when actually out there looking for a scene to shoot. I felt like an intruder, and very self-conscious. But I like a good street comp, and your video showed why, and provided a road map, of sorts. Having this guidance has already improved my confidence and I am looking forward to putting it to the test! Thanks!

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thank you, Walt! What a lovely comment to read and the perfect antithesis to a couple of trolls I had comments from earlier today. Street photography can certainly be daunting but I think everyone should try it. Get out in the world and observe, capture with our cameras and interact with the people and environments in which we live. It can definitely be uncomfortable but I think that’s part of the fun, the genre pushes us out of our comfort zones and that can only be a good thing. Happy shooting 📸

[@JonathanRobinson11]

Awesome video! I have learned that, much in the way photo books help train the eye, philosophy videos on taking photos are also super helpful. Your photos are fantastic.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thank you, Johnathan! That’s much appreciated and glad you’re enjoying the videos. I’ve got a photography philosophy video I’ve put a lot of work into coming out next weekend by the way, so you might be interested in that one!

[@GeoffGrant2010]

Thanks Tim. Good video, generalizable to all of photography, and really good summary for street. Each of your three elements has synonyms that can help elaborate the thought process, for example “moment” can also be story and subject. Anyway, good guide. Also good video, nice mix of you, text, and excellent sample photos! Thanks. I’ll keep LCM in mind! Geoff

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thank you, Geoff! Much appreciated - and yes absolutely moment encapsulates story and subject, topics to cover further in future videos for sure 🙏🏻

[@markswishereatsstuff2500]

Henri Cartier-Bresson's book, The Decisive Moment, was on our coffee table as a child. That influenced me to pursue a major in photography at RIT in the early 80's. I did a lot of street photography and have some awesome "decisive" images. Became a advertising commercial shooter and a pretty good portrait guy with a simple lighting style.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

It’s a good book

[@christeralmqvist1820]

Good advice, very well and nicely presented.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thank you very much - I appreciate that 🙏🏻

[@jettubby17]

Great video, Tim. Not only Photography but the key of life is being a great observer. Observing being the first skill, and using the tool of the camera to capture it, maybe the tougher, but second skill 🙏🏻

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thanks mate! And yeah exactly 🙏🏻

[@yeohi]

blind people also have a lfe

[@trevorbrooks813]

Hi Tim, a thoughtful video. I guess 'moments' is where most of us begin, family life, birthdays, holidays, parties, you name it. Those moments have certainly played a big part in my photography and these are the photos we keep looking back on. Thanks for posting.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Yes what a lovely way of putting it! You’re absolutely right that moments are where most of us begin (wish I’d actually said that in the video haha), but I think they can be lost a bit, especially with the rise of making images that pop on social media - great comment 🙏🏻

[@trevorbrooks813]

Yes, completely agree.@@timjamiesonphotos

[@paultaylorphotography9499]

Totally agree Tim I shoot for newspapers often there’s no light at all the editors don’t care they want an image so emotional impact is king during my street documentary work light and composition is way behind the moment. I personally find shots of lone strangers doing nothing in good light in a well balanced scene pretty hum drum but that’s just me I’d sooner see something with more impact. I loaded a vid today funnily enough with my tips and thoughts and the one thing that stands out like a blind cobblers thumb is how polished your presentation is opposed to mine so for that you just got a new sub cheers Tim really enjoyed the vid

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thank you so much! I appreciate the kind words. It’s very hard to come across well on camera, it’s taking me a lot of practice and trial and error, so glad I come across ok! I also am bored of the line figure in an environment kind of photos, so trying to get away from that these days 🙏🏻

[@paultaylorphotography9499]

@@timjamiesonphotos haha tell me about it I have a face for radio and a voice for silence but hell I don’t let that stop me I enjoy doing KZbin it’s a massive creative outlet a huge learning curve and a great use of spare time. Having a thick Yorkshire accent living in NZ means I can generally say what I like and most folk don’t get it haha saying that most of what I say isn’t worth getting anyway. Yeah agreed I think the world is totally over saturated with photography now it’s hard to make an image with impact so getting closer looking for those tiny fleeting moments means more than some tiny random in a cityscape imho of course.

[@nikos146]

Excellent video! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thanks heaps!

[@TheUrbandilema]

Man tim u hit the spot so true 😅 love the phneomics you used here will have to save this for the future to come back and revise.. glad to see u back have Sunday here in my country we have carnival weekend so I gonna be outta to make some documentary photography later

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Fantastic! Sounds great, I’m also photographing an event this weekend - trying to get back to it. Good luck 📸

[@MSladekPhoto]

Welcome back! Thanks for sharing this - especially the thoughts at improving seeing moments. That's something I want to improve in my photos, and now have a couple of ideas from you to apply. Thanks!

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thank you, Michael! It’s been a bit longer than I wanted to be, had lost my mojo a bit, but glad to be back. Glad you found the video useful. I also plan to do more videos about moments, subjects and stories soon too :)

[@MSladekPhoto]

@@timjamiesonphotos Glad you paid attention to how you were feeling and took a break. Looking forward to your future videos. Cheers!

[@CourtneyG.]

Great video, Tim!

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thank you as always, Courts! Hope you’re enjoying your holiday :)

[@CourtneyG.]

@@timjamiesonphotos ahh thanks mate, having a lovely time!

[@davidclode3601]

Excellent video, thank you!😊

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thanks!

[@gelosoriano]

Priceless advice. 🙇‍♂

[@timjamiesonphotos]

That’s very kind thank you!

[@erick-gd7wo]

Thank you for your tips as well from.your other video. Sometimes luck factor plays part on my experience

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thank you! Oh absolutely, luck is king in street photography but you have to be out there and ready and observing to make the most of good luck :)

[@erick-gd7wo]

@@timjamiesonphotos thank you as well for having nice conversation, especially me, using smartphone. I learned photography with Pentax K1000 back in 90's...

[@robs9516]

I found this video and think it is very clear and makes sense; thanks for taking your time to create this. I have not done street photography but think I will have a go and see if it leads anywhere (streets usually do 🙂). Are there any issues when you include people that are recognisable in the frame (thinking if you published them anywhere without a model release); assuming here that the photography will be done in streets therefore public domain? Any advice anyone has will help keep me from trouble I am sure.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thank you! Glad you found the video useful :). In the UK photos of people in public is legal and there is a long and celebrated history of photographers documenting the streets all around the world. Sean Tucker did a great video on the legality of street photography I always recommend. You should definitely give street photography a go, it’s a lot of fun!

[@robs9516]

@@timjamiesonphotos Thanks for the quick reply, I'll find and watch of Sean's video too; I am UK based so it sounds very positive. I like the idea from your vid that all light is good light for Street photography, which is perfect for me as I struggle to get out in the best light of the day due to lots of other stuff in life.

[@russellburton541]

Hi Tim, just been binge watching some of your videos as I'm getting bored with landscape photography. I'm in the UK where I'll be trying street out, what's the rules/guidance on photographing identifiable children and then dispalaying those images on social media? I always thought children were taboo in street photography.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Glad you’re enjoying my vids mate! Personally I want to document life on the street so if I don’t include children then that would mean missing out on documenting what the streets are really like. I never take photos in public with malicious intent, I just take photographs of things I find interesting and sometimes that includes kids. Legally in the uk you can photograph anyone or anything in a public place. It’s up to you what you think is appropriate or not. Check out Martin Parr’s work in the UK, often includes children and he’s a world renowned magnum photographer that makes excellent images

[@MonsieurK_photography]

Great Vid.. congrats !

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thank you, Jean! 🙏🏻

[@raulslorencis158]

Thanks, Tim! 😉👍

[@timjamiesonphotos]

My pleasure! Glad you liked it 🙏🏻

[@raulslorencis158]

@@timjamiesonphotos I have a problem with the first point, which itself breaks the rules. Here in Latvia, the light is completely gray in winter - thick clouds and snow on the ground, and then everything looks flat. It's more complicated than just a boring place. 🤭 In such a situation, I use a telephoto lens to isolate the subject. But I really like shooting with wide-angle lenses.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

@@raulslorencis158yeah that’s fine! I don’t think light is important - moment is what I like the most now and flat light is fine for that! 🙏🏻

[@edmundhayes7982]

Great video

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thank you very much 🙏🏻

[@adventurecoalition3690]

Thanks for this video, very helpful

[@timjamiesonphotos]

My pleasure! Glad you liked it 🙏🏻

[@scotskinner4350]

I don't think I've ever captured a "moment". But then I only started street photography last Spring.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Plenty of time to find some moments to capture down the line!

[@Paul_anderson_creative]

Photo at 11:20 excellent.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Reminds me of the photos on your Instagram

[@AMillion-o9i]

so good

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thank you! That’s very kind 🙏🏻

[@paulm8157]

Quality post and cogent points, well explained and illustrated, Tim. Skill set, experience, and creativity add to the photographic eye. Gear has to become part of you first, IMO - second nature, if that makes sense. I don’t think you intended to imply that “simple formula” means “easy” or “mechanical” such that anyone can pick up a camera and get amazing results “out of the box” “every time”. Process is more difficult than it might appear, especially to new shooters. BTW, did you lose weight? (Face seems a bit slimmer - no kidding.) Cheers!

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thanks Paul! Yeah formula is obvs just a metaphor/easy way to get the info across - definitely not as simple as that for sure! But want to make my channel about helping people improve their photography explained simply as possible, as I really think everyone should give street photography a go, so want to be the ‘go-to’ place on KZbin for that if I can. Haha thanks mate, I look a bit ill in this video as I was sick when I recorded it haha. My weight doesn’t fluctuate much, but I have been running a lot recently - training for a race! :)

[@steve3751]

What's the book at 10:10? Do you have a list of recommended street photography books?

[@timjamiesonphotos]

It’s Reclaim the Street - great book. Another couple of favourites are Bystander (for a history of street photography) and Magnum Streetwise - an excellent book for inspiration. Enjoy!

[@steve3751]

@@timjamiesonphotos Thank you

[@stephenrichie4646]

Yup.

[@HoLeeChit11]

Formula for taking good creative photos: L=MC”

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Interesting take!

[@grahamrichards8531]

E=MCsquared?

[@HoLeeChit11]

@@grahamrichards8531 🤦🏼‍♂️

[@elliecottrell4574]

♥️ love this

[@timjamiesonphotos]

🙏🏻

[@belaacs5238]

If you follow or think about the rules while taking an image, you never catch a moment. Moments have no rules.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Perhaps, but I’ve found beginners can get overwhelmed trying to photograph moments, so focusing on light and composition can be an easier introduction to street photography and a way to build confidence and skills which then trickle down subconsciously into how you make the most of capturing a moment when you see it :)

[@SourPlanet]

@belaacs I don't follow. Moments aren't subject to rules in this video. Regardless, following and thinking about rules is literally how creatives remain consistent and effective. They're limitless in their ideas not their approach. They experiment with approach separately but retain consistent standards. I get the whole punk rock ethos thing you're going for.. but that's for kids. Creativity can be culled up and learned, it doesn't have to be some luck of the draw dark stab.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

@@SourPlanetyes I didn’t say anything to the contrary of that in this video :)

[@SourPlanet]

@@timjamiesonphotos Oh yeah, I totally agree. I was responding to the other guy ha. It's classic social media. "Oh, so you suggest eating oranges for vitamin c? Well apples have fiber." People are wild. Good video, well worded and arranged. Not sure why folks get confused. But keep up the good work ✌️

[@r423fplip]

Preset focus, aperture, shutter speed and set iso to auto. Away to go !

[@Sean-Smith-Photos]

The title of this video should be "that's a topic for another video", lol

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Lots of topics to talk about, can’t fit them all in one video 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@pitsmamba7749]

do you notice that in our generation were going to a colorless world, our modern buildings are colored in gray black or white, our new camera model even celphone all are colored with black white or gray, cars even fashion trends now are all the same color black gray or white, not like the old days where saturate color our every where, dont get me wrong but there are still many vibrant color everywhere but i think as time goes we will be going to colorless generattion, as a newbie in photograph its hard to practice vibrant color in photography now, and also i read that vibrant colors makes us happy, maybe this is one of the reason why many people today our depress,

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Valid point, it does feel that way sometimes but maybe more in the winter. London is such a colourful vibrant place I think doing some photography in a bigger city helps in finding colour 🙏🏻

[@babettesfeast6347]

I go out with an open mind and walk around looking for interesting people and scenes. Don’t follow any rules

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Ok

[@yeohi]

It's disappointing when the segment about composition begins promoting the rule of thirds. That rule shpuld be replaced with a suggestion to beginners to not always put the subject dead center of the frame. Learning rules of composition to later ignore is not productive and can interfere with creativity.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

I disagree. Rule of thirds is helpful for beginners, it was for me when I first started and it helped me make much better photos and be more proud of my work when I learned more about it. To say not to put subjects in the centre instead is the same as suggesting the rule of thirds. Some of the photos I’m most proud of have a subject dead centre, so if I suggested the fundamentals should be to not put something dead centre then I’d be suggesting to break that rule later anyway, thus the same as suggesting rule of thirds then breaking it :)