What is Street Photography? (And 10 Types to Try)

What makes a good street photograph? What kinds of street photography can you do? And what even is street photography? Well in this video I explore the answer to all of those questions.
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Chapters:
00:00 - Introeo

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed it please pop a like and a comment - really helps with the algorithm! 🔴

[@shy-guy5544]

Excellent video - very interesting and informative. Thanks

[@marycarron5118]

Thanks for another very informative video, Tim. You put a lot of work into making your videos relevant and helpful to the viewer. I have watched a lot of your past videos and they have given me the motivation to try new things in street photography and brought the fun back to what had become a little stale. Thanks so much. I'm always excited to see a new video from you and I love your images.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thanks, Mary! I really appreciate the comment. I’m glad you’re finding my videos helpful and hearing that keeps my motivation up to make more 🙏🏻

[@TDtog2112]

Nice to see someone else's view of what street photography is. My view is that if you took your shot standing on the street with a view of the street then it's a street photo regardless of the subject matter. I also picked up a copy of Bystander following your recommendation and have to agree it is a great book. Nice to see that at some point you were in my town of Hastings. With so many events happening here it is just great for street photography. Keep snapping and I look forward to the next one.

[@raymondcragg7282]

In my opinion Street Photography is photography that embraces the vibrancy of humanity as and when it happens

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Very nicely put!

[@film.fiasco]

Tim, honestly, I am incredibly skeptical when the algorithm recommends these kinds of videos on "street photography", and since almost everything that is on KZbin is just an endless ,blah, camera great, blah, the lens you need, blah, watch this before buying X,Y,Z... BUT, I think you crafted an excellent summary and recommendations. You got yourself a new follower. Cheers mate :)!

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thanks so much! Appreciate that mate 🙏🏻

[@mariosnicolaou8770]

Great video Tim. Very interesting and informative. I think you managed to convey the essence of street photography beautifully, along with the feelings and emotions a great street photo can evoke better than anybody else I've heard on this topic. Thank you. Subscribed :)

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thank you, Marios! Glad you think so 🙏🏻

[@stephen-wahl]

Love it, just got that Fujifilm as well!

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Excellent!

[@freygallery]

Right On! Thanks.

[@MSladekPhoto]

Thanks for these thoughts and helpful tips. I appreciate that these are easy to think about and apply to my own photos. Cheers!

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thanks so much, Michael! Really appreciate it 🙏🏻

[@EliseoMartelli]

Hey Tim! Great video! I find myself in this definition: "It helps me express what I'm feeling at a moment in time by using the interaction of light with the subjects in the frame". I find this bucket "fitting" because it's my way of journaling (almost daily)

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Hey Eliseo! Great comment, really appreciate your definition - very poetic! 🙏🏻

[@ironalf1961]

I completely agree with your definition of street photography and all the subcategories. Very interesting video

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thanks a lot! Glad to hear it 🙏🏻

[@engene-zm5po]

this is a great video!! Something about street photography is really appealing to me and i hope to learn more

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thanks very much! Glad you enjoyed it 👍🏻

[@ImmersiveSportsScience]

bloody hell Tim the last time I looked at your channel it was 1k. keep it going man

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Haha thanks a lot! KZbin is a rollercoaster but I’m enjoying it 👌🏻🙏🏻

[@billyburg4870]

You have some fantastic shots there! Another great and informative video

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thanks, Billy! Glad you enjoyed it 🙏🏻

[@Jhmphotographyllc]

I was chastised for a post on FB under "street Photography" and I am relatively new to this genre. I took it on the chin but did my own investigation. He had a very narrow scope and my scope is much broader than his. I think we are both correct. And...for me...I shot my own work and enjoy it. Call it what you want, we don;t have to be the same in our definition. Thanks for the video.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Ahh sorry to hear that. Most people who comment on photos online saying it is or isn’t something are full of shit. Street photography is a wide genre which encompasses a whole range of different ways of going about it. If you feel your work is street photography then it is and try to ignore anyone online who says it isn’t - their work is likely to stink anyway so aren’t worth listening to

[@Termidryna]

Thanks. I agree with your definition. As for me street photography is a way of recording/saving of human reality.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thanks! And yeah absolutely agree with that. It’s an important thing to do I think 🙏🏻

[@SeeBuilding]

Thank you for letting me build knowledge that I didn't know :) I get a lot of things. 📖

[@timjamiesonphotos]

My pleasure! Glad you enjoyed 🙏🏻

[@cansayil330]

Great video mate!

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thanks a lot! Glad you think so 😊

[@LeslieABronxBebeFalu]

Hi, I'm so glad I found you and your channel! Been trying to find some channels about actual street photography on here. Some bore me because most of them take the same pics of buildings, sundown, etc all the time. What about actual people? So I watched videos and documentaries about legendary photographers. Who did exactly what you showed giving me inspiration I needed. Hello from the US!

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Hey, Leslie! Really happy to hear that!! Love to hear that my videos are helpful, keeps me wanting to make more ✌🏻👌🏻🙏🏻

[@ronaldburks504]

Nice job and great content !!

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thanks, Ronald! Much appreciated 🙏🏻

[@davehandelman2832]

The algorithm sent you to me. Bro, your shots are FANTASTIC!!! You NEED to make a book, that GRAPEFRUIT shot should be the cover!!!

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thank you, Dave! That’s very kind 🙏🏻

[@davidclode3601]

Very helpful, thank you.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Glad to hear it! 🙏🏻

[@paultaylorphotography9499]

As a news photographer often I have to pose set up subjects but my own preference by your definition is documentary street photography I absolutely thrive on it I shoot many styles of photography but the one that’s gets me fizzing is documentary. Another great presentation Tim cheers Saturday night here and instead of being out on the lash I’m binge watching your vids happy days

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Ah that’s so kind, Paul! Appreciate the support. Always better to have a good sleep on a Friday or Saturday night to make the most of photographic opportunities the next day doncha think? 😉

[@paultaylorphotography9499]

@@timjamiesonphotos haha truth right there 📷

[@qimsim_]

Top-notch stuff🙌

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thanks so much mate! 🙏🏻

[@TryingtoLearntheuke]

Hi Tim-Very enjoyable video.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thanks, Pam! Glad you enjoyed it 🙏🏻

[@mrwebname]

Yes, yes, yes ... street photography liberated from the 'Street Police'! Subscribed.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thank you!

[@bryanladdphotography]

It seems like people where I live are hyper aware of photographers. They stop walking so they don't 'get in the way', turn the other way, ask what I'm doing (8/10 times), or block their face.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Oh really? Where do you live? Can always try a more abstract style of street photography, or a smaller camera perhaps. But agree it would be very difficult if everyone is acting that way!

[@Grumpygrumpo]

that just means they dont want to be photographed so i hope you respect that lol

[@TheUrbandilema]

Awesome video Tom..as a newbie I love the following Silliowhetes Minimal Documentary Candid Black and white My challenging is night..I remember your tutorial on night street photography Ps make the video for the tips Keep safe bro

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thanks a lot! Glad you enjoyed the video - happy shooting 🙏🏻

[@TheHutchMusic]

I struggle to do street photography. I often feel self-conscious and worry I may upset someone. Yet feel a lot easy with a camera at events / festivals! There is an oddity around street since mobile camera got so good allowing everyone to become some kind of photographer / happy snapper which seems a lot more acceptable. But point a DSLR around, and you get some odd looks or disapproval. Why? More mobile photos end up published online via mobiles these days after all. A few years ago whilst taking photos near a well attended Lighthouse (touristy) one man threatened to smash my DSLR if I didn't delete the photos I just took as he hadn't given me permission. Well ironically I had not been taking any pictures with him in the frame but he himself had been taking snaps of the Lighthouse and people on an iPhone only minutes earlier. I was polite, he wasn't.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Hey! What country do you live in? It’s perfectly legal in the UK and these days I get quite close and obvious to people to make the kind of photos I want. But rarely if ever do I have a negative interaction, so I’m sorry to hear someone overacted to you. I would say, go out and do it anyway (I know easier said than done) and it will get easier over time. I’ll be doing a video about that soon though! :)

[@jzf128]

Wel i had about the same in my city , famous for 1000 tourists a day. I myself have been photographed a or videotaped a lot because tourisits point their smartphoine or video cam where ever they are. I just smile at them. Once i had problem with a tourist if i had photographed his wife, which was not? I told him you are photographing here with your i phone locals and all kind of things, how do i know what you are doing with it? Should i also make a claim , not? He walked awazy. I mean lets be reasonable, if one is not making obscene photos in the open it is ok doesn t it. I mean being streetphotographer is also showing your love for the day to day life as it is.

[@blakelyle2158]

good video! I feel like a lot of these aren’t actually sub genres. For example, I would argue silhouettes and lines and shapes photography can fall into “abstract” photography. All these sub-genres can be in black and white or color. Just a thought I had while watching…Great stuff though!

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thanks! Yeah I just broke it down for beginners really :)

[@michaelajoseph6856]

I think also that there’s no right of wrong in defining street photography. Going out and taking photos should be a joyful experience. In time we learn anyway.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Exactly!

[@badger67]

If I were to give a label to my photography, it would be exciting. I photograph landscapes, people, buildings, planetary conjunctions, the Milky Way, plants, anything really that interests me, oh, apart from sports action 😅. I really do push the boundaries of my kit, as it's rather old. No IBIS, no VR and no prime lens. It's very challenging, especially street photography at night, but I love it. Maybe I'm a masochist. Masochist photography, a new genre 😂🤣🤣🤣👍

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Haha love it! I also love taking photos that aren’t street photography too, but for now I’m marketing my KZbin channel as street photography, so it makes sense. Maybe down the line it will morph into a general photography channel but we’ll see! Thanks for the comment and support as always mate! 🙏🏻

[@CourtneyG.]

👏 👏 👏

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thanks so much mate! 🙏🏻

[@williamshakespeare9815]

With your definition in mind, would you say that Fan Ho wasnt a street photographer as he staged a lot of his shots?

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Good question! A lot of fan Ho’s work was candid, so for that reason I’d definitely call him a street photographer, though yeah some of his work was definitely staged which I don’t really like, feels like cheating to me 🤷🏻

[@jorghahn2903]

I agree on the four ingredients that make a good street photo but struggle most with story. In your example, if questions like “who is this person” or “what is he doing” is the key for this photo telling a story then in reality all photos with a person on it would tell a story because you can always make these questions... Not sure, maybe I misunderstood you, but in my opinion there must be more for a photo to tell a story than just these questions.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Well the questions I mentioned are in relation to the example I showed while I was explaining my point 🤷🏻. In that particular photo the human in it, the pose and the mystery, adds to the story and prompts questions. You can tell a story with street photography when you include a person, doesn’t mean it’s a good story, it’s up to the photographer to capture the moment and then the viewer to interpret it in their own way. Like I said I was just touching on it a bit, but there is much more to what makes a good street photo, which warrants its own video :)

[@jorghahn2903]

@@timjamiesonphotos I guess the problem is that I may have a totally wrong understanding of what storytelling in (street) photography really means, but don't get me wrong, I like the photo also without this story element, and actually I bought your digital zine because your Morocco photos are really great. Would be cool if you could make a video about storytelling in street or other types of photography.

[@yeohi]

There is no inherent story in a street photo. Any story derived from it is a personal interpretation or is created with added text to give context. So I think story should not be considered when shooting unless you want to create a story using two or more photos. Single street photos do not a story make.

[@jorghahn2903]

@@yeohi Thank you! That is exactly my opinion as well, and that is why I always struggle with trying to "tell a story" with just one photo and why I'm always confused when others say that this and that photo tells a story... and it's getting even more confusing when people talk about story telling in landscape photography...

[@Grumpygrumpo]

@@yeohi this. its all subjective. ive seen snobs say some old photo tells a story but it doesnt at least not explicitly most of the time, its just some people in some street objectively speaking. street photography most of the time needs some nostalgia to be good. lots of "crappy" photos today would be great in 10+ years when we have nostalgia for the past.

[@pifilos]

The thumbnail was kinda provoking so I clicked to watch the video while being ready to disagree haha. But that turned out to be the exact opposite. Cheers for making useful videos them being either pov videos or like this one.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Haha, great! I know the thumbnail is a bit click-baity but it can be hard to grab folks attention on KZbin! Glad you enjoyed the video and found it useful

[@itonuoro3813]

My definition: Go out and take photos!

[@timjamiesonphotos]

👌🏻

[@yeohi]

@@timjamiesonphotos You are kind.

[@TheWooloomoolloo]

Well, if masters like Ronis and Doisneau had no scruples about ' slightly improving' some of their street photos, we can sometimes stage some of our shots, too. :) I agree with AI's and your definition of StPh. I'd never take frames like the one at 1:32 or look at them twice, though. Too vague, too much architecture in it.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Fair enough! Appreciate the comment 🙏🏻

[@klartext2225]

Yes. Boring.

[@DannyoptixandOdin]

You should come out with your own book!

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thanks man! I’m working on a couple of ebooks at the moment, but yeah I’d love to produce a photo book one day but that’s a while away yet! Appreciate the support 🙏🏻

[@harryp6312]

@@timjamiesonphotos Zine perhaps? Something physical other than pdf format.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

@@harryp6312I have just finished a digital zine actually, but not physical… yet! Definitely something I’m exploring at the moment making a physical product :)

[@harryp6312]

@@timjamiesonphotos I used to enjoy Roman Fox before he took the route of travel documentary vlogs, or whatever it is he does now. He mentioned publishing a book and i was rather keen, then he sprung it was an ebook at £20+ I would have bought the book but not in that format. Personal choices, I'm a book person over a Kindle reader everyday.

[@klartext2225]

Good video with the right examples. BUT... BUT: What I hate is the intro and the way you are shooting here! Not one of the great street photographers from the 50s / 60s / 70s took any pic without looking through the viewfinder. Check a docu about HCB. Of course back then there was no digital monitor. But what was essential for them - and is for me - is blocking out everything that does not belong in the frame / in this special picture. (Very low angles are the rare exceptions. Then I used the fold-out monitor of the NIKON D 750.)

[@timjamiesonphotos]

I’m not one of the great street photographers from the 50s-70s using a film camera, so of course I’m using my screen which is the functionality of modern cameras… If you like using only the viewfinder then good for you, it doesn’t mean it results in better photos 😂

[@klartext2225]

@@timjamiesonphotos An emoji always ends the discussion.

[@Grumpygrumpo]

thats a technique. means absolutely nothing. street photography is capturing human life. tahts it. you may or may not like a photo but its still a street photography photo

[@RonanAquilius]

Street photography is literally photography of streets, this may or may not include people. Most street photography can also be categorised as Candid photography, though related they're not synonymous. The problem with a lot of people's definition of street photography is instead of defining it literally they just define it based on what they subjectively THINK of when they think of street photography. It's like me saying "the definition of a car is a ferrari" yes that is one type of car but that is not literally what a car is.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

That’s one way of thinking about it sure :)

[@nickfanzo]

A photograph you take yourself, with a camera, on the public sidewalk, is street photography. Doesn’t matter how close or far something is. Any other definition of styles and or themes is erroneous

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thanks for the comment, Nicholas :)

[@robinbhairam7508]

You’re costing me a fortune today - think I may have to unsubscribe 😂 (bill so far, 50mm f2 and the two books!) 😂

[@timjamiesonphotos]

😅😅 Haha, sorry about that! Glad you’re finding the vids useful though 🙏🏻

[@robinbhairam7508]

@@timjamiesonphotos Bystander is stunning … I can’t put it down! The 50 has also just arrived … I would have never considered it as a street lens … but I can see what you mean … thanks again (but please NO MORE RECOMMENDATIONS or I’ll be forced to move in with you!) Keep these excellent vids coming 😊

[@iaincphotography6051]

There is nothing worse than someone putting rules on a creative subject, (genre police). So I call it "Streetish" it may even be an empty street, that tells a story or begs the question? So all of your sub genres and more. I couldn't care less what camera or lens they use, or if you only use a smartphone, just get out there, take shots and enjoy yourself. Liked and subscribed.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Great comment! Really enjoy that philosophy and I wholeheartedly agree with you 🙏🏻

[@timjamiesonphotos]

And thanks for subscribing!! 🙏🏻

[@iaincphotography6051]

@-ca-- I agree with that, I shoot under streetish, which is on the street, but the people could be off the street and in a park or on the beach. Or the street could be obvious but with no people, just shadow and light, reflections from a shop window, a set of empty steps.

[@gonzotravelling]

Street photography for me has to be documenting life. 99.9% of "street photography" just whack photos of people walking in the street doing nothing of interest, questionable stalker shots, and b&w fine art repetitive hipster fodder. There are countless trumpet blowing look at me youtube channels where they harp on about the masters, yet they haven't looked at what the masters actually did - document life.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

‘Questionable stalker shots’ 😂

[@ericredelman2568]

Finally, someone is the arbiter of what is good and bad art. Thanks oh great one! Lol goober

[@primefotoNL]

Street photography is what the founders made it to be and not what modern day photogs think it might be. It is: "photographing natural human behavior in a public place." That means you are never inside in private space. You can shoot inside from outside. There is always a human with natural behavior. Natural behavior means no reaction on the presence of the photographer, witch means candid. It is that simple a one sentence definition. The origin is documentary journalism. The founders are Henri Cartier Bresson, Robert Capa and the likes of them. Study them en then do with it what ever you want to do. Do your own thing.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

That’s a pretty strong opinion which you’re entitled too but I don’t think street photography needs to be that strict

[@primefotoNL]

It is what the founders of intended it to be. That is not my opinion. I took their description and definition. I didn't make that up, like a lot of photogs make up all kinda definitions to fit their wants. You use your opinion that it does not need to be so strict, but if you really think about it it isn't that strict at all. Street photography is about people behavior in public space. So people and a public space need to be in there. Not much of a restriction is it now? You need to differentiate photo's taken on the street from street photography. They are not the same. The name street photography might be not the best name for it, but then let us change the name and not the definition. Check out everybody street. @@timjamiesonphotos

[@gkp76]

I see a lot of street photography that looks really boring, like photos I would take

[@timjamiesonphotos]

You have to start somewhere, this is a video for beginners giving my take on what street photography is and some achievable ideas to get you started

[@SonChae21]

Been having trouble finding some “real” street photographers I can follow. The so called “street” photographers today only focuses on aesthetics.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Well that depends on how you define street photography 🤭

[@dt-classics]

For me, street photography means photographing people. People in special situations in their living space. Because without people it would be architecture photography or photography of cities. And it's always about mini-stories. Randomly photographing anyone from behind has no story and is not street photography meaningful. This is boring voyeurism. Best regards, greetings from Germany, Dirk (DT-Classics)

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thanks for your message Dirk, interesting observations - some of which I agree with! Happy shooting 🙏🏻

[@paulstevenson200]

The muzak interferes with your narrative. Not pleasant to listen to.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

You can’t please everyone 🤷🏻

[@mr_cramberry]

Is an AI generated street photo is 'street photography' 🤯

[@timjamiesonphotos]

🤭

[@goggobus4076]

You don’t need people on the photos.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Maybe

[@garykinmun]

Stop taking boring photos

[@timjamiesonphotos]

I don’t take comments like this seriously at all unless you’re willing to share your work, so let’s see your portfolio and we’ll see if you have the credentials to judge if a photo is boring or not…

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Exactly as I thought

[@deanmiller8558]

Awesome stuff. Tried to follow your insta. The link is coming up as broken😢 I'll search your name and no doubt find you👍

[@timjamiesonphotos]

😮 oh dear, which link is broken?! Need to fix it. Thanks a lot though, Dean! Glad you enjoyed the video 🙏🏻

[@timjamiesonphotos]

I think it’s instagram links in general, all seem to be broken at the moment! Hopefully it gets fixed soon