KEEP IT SIMPLE

Avoid overcomplicating your composition for more striking street insights

Urban landscapes can be noisy and chaotic, so the challenge is to capture this energy and excitement in a balanced and controlled way. By keeping some composition options in mind, you can guide yourself through the environment to create images that celebrate the unexpected.

These could include getting close up for detail, or showing the whole cityscape in one image. However, analysing the environment is vital, and will give you more ideas. Windows, for example, can be found everywhere in the city, and their reflections captivate the viewer, as they show two different street insights in one frame.

Street scenes are often cluttered, so one technique to balance the elements is to use a shallow depth of field or strong light to focus on specific elements of the scene. The former technique requires getting close to the subject, while the latter offers more visual strategies to captivate the viewer. This is one reason why street images are often converted into black and white. By removing the colour, distractions are minimised, while other elements are highlighted, including light and shadows. This helps you focus on one part of the image, especially when working with strong light.

It’s also worth experimenting with black and white to see how it changes the frame’s appearance. “When I’m reviewing images, I look out for shots where I feel that by stripping away the colour, the focus is shifted to the raw element of the scene,” explains Jamie. “Contrast, shapes, textures, and the interplay of light and shadow in a scene can all potentially intensify the emotional impact and storytelling within the photo.”