Looking Busy While Doing Nothing

Street Photography: The Art of Looking Busy While Doing Absolutely Nothing

Ah, street photography. That noble art of lurking in alleyways, loitering near bus stops, and making strangers wonder if you're a private investigator or just lost. If you've ever found yourself staring at a crumpled newspaper on the pavement, thinking, "Wow, the interplay of light and shadow here really speaks to me, " congratulations! You, my friend, are well on your way to becoming a street photographer.

Breaking News: Street Photography is Not Just on the Street

Let's get one thing straight—despite what the name suggests, street photography is not confined to the street. That would be way too easy. No, you can take street photos in parks, cafés, underground stations, or even while hanging halfway out of a moving bus (not recommended, but commitment is key). The only rule? Capture reality as it unfolds. Or, at least, make it look like you did.

Because here's the dirty little secret: even the most candid-looking shots are, in some way, shaped by the photographer. Maybe you stepped into someone's path to make them glance at your lens. Maybe you dramatically raised your camera to see if they'd react. You didn't tell them what to do, but let's be honest—you nudged fate just a little.

Social Media: The Great Equalizer (Or The Great Copy-Paste Machine?)

Once upon a time, street photography was about discovering the unseen, revealing the poetry of the everyday. Now, thanks to Instagram, we all are seeing the exact same thing. Every third photo: a person in a red coat walking past a red wall. A moody silhouette in front of neon lights. Someone dramatically holding an umbrella while thinking deep thoughts (probably just wondering where they parked their bike).

The cycle is endless: one viral photo inspires a thousand identical ones. And suddenly, your groundbreaking shot of a pigeon aggressively side-eyeing a businessman? Yeah, it's already been done. Twice, at least.

The Skater Connection: From Grinding Rails to Shooting Frames

It's no coincidence that many street photographers were once skaters. Both require an ability to navigate urban landscapes, anticipate movement, and, most importantly, develop an unshakable resistance to angry pedestrians yelling at you.

In my early days, I followed the Bruce Gilden method: get close, get personal, and, if necessary, get yelled at. Flash in hand, I went full paparazzi on unsuspecting city dwellers. Over time, though, I softened. I discovered Saul Leiter and Ernst Haas—masters of color, abstraction, and subtlety. I swapped my wide-angle lens for something longer, moved away from faces, and started noticing textures, light, and how cities breathe.

Now, I bounce between styles, never settling, because why should I? Street photography is about movement—both in what you capture and how you evolve.

Find Your Own Way (Or at Least Pretend You Did)

At the end of the day, the best advice is to develop your style, but don't stress about it. Take photos, experiment, chase light, and follow your instincts.

And if all else fails, find a guy in a funny hat, wait for him to walk past an interesting backdrop and boom—you're a street photographer.