PICK OUT THE DETAILS
Take a closer look at the small elements which create the atmosphere of a city
Having the ability to see the bigger picture is not always an advantage, not least when trying to convey to viewers of a two-dimensional photograph what it was like to visit a city they may never have seen before. Wide vistas or views of entire buildings certainly convey drama, but if we want to make viewing our images an immersive experience, which transports the audience into the scene, we need to appeal to more of their senses.
What many of us miss is that the essence of a place is often in the small details. As we explore a location we subconsciously recognise clues about the atmosphere it possesses and sum together lots of snippets of visual information to form a wider impression. This is why sometimes a place can remind us of somewhere else and we’re not sure why – it’s because it shares a colour scheme, similar smells and textures and physical layout. If we focus on shooting a collage of smaller characteristic details, we can build up a more lifelike and emotive picture of a city.
This is yet another advantage of knowing the city you are shooting intimately – you already recognise its atmosphere and have an insight into the aspects which make it unique. Look for people doing business associated with the city, such as those working at a famous market, or serving people at a waterfront cafe. Focus on colourful buildings and interesting staircases.
If there are unique buildings, exaggerate their difference from structures you’d find elsewhere, using strong perspective, or by incorporating contrasting architecture in the frame.
The secret to successful citylife images does not relate so much to what you capture, rather it’s how you capture it. The missing element in many less impactful photos is a lack of interaction between people and their environment. The images with the greatest story are those which depict the residents of the city living within it! Often this symbiosis is most visible when the photographer homes in on a simpler view and makes a feature of the individual elements which make the city alive.