Go minimalist

Create maximum impact by filling the frame with just a few elements

One of the challenges of shooting urban scenes is coming up with clean and simple compositions. A telephoto zoom comes in extremely handy when you do want to strip things down, as you can quickly isolate scenes within the wider view. Consider converting a shot to black and white when you process it, as this will remove distracting colours. You’ll also be able to boost the contrast to a greater extent than you typically can with a colour image. If you’re shooting on an overcast day, then you can use the white sky as blank canvas, too – something that doesn’t always work as well when you’re working with colour. If you’re using a tripod, experiment with longer exposures to blur moving elements such as traffic and pedestrians. Consider the use of space to create graphic shots.