Street Photography: Telling a Complete Story

While street photography can often seem like a stream of random and unrelated moments all jumbled together, the reality of the genre is the complete opposite of this.

The magic of street photography is taking these moments and weaving them together to create a feeling, tell a story or show a place—and often all three together. This is an art form within the art form of street photography, and the sky is the limit with what you can create.

So here are some tips to help you do all of this.

Create Collections:

Collections in Lightroom (and similar album systems for other programs) are an extremely important part of the editing process. For any idea or story that I have, I will create a collection, which allows me to keep my related photos in one place without physically moving them on my hard drive.

As I’m going through my work, if I see a photo that could work within one of these collections, I’ll drag it in there. Then I will go through these collections frequently to see what’s working and what’s not. I often delete photos from collections as well.

Grow Your Vision Organically:

The more I do this with collections, the more I find photographs that start to relate to each other in my work. As the collection progresses, it often changes drastically, and photos I loved at first just don’t fit anymore. It’s a fun, organic process that allows me to notice more when I’m out shooting, to find more photos that fit within these ideas.

Over time, this organic process grows more concrete and I can put words to what I’m doing. I notice more subjects that fit within the idea, and will then even be able to go searching for specific types of images to fit that theme.

Use the Star System:

I couldn’t live without the star system when editing my work and creating projects. This allows me to quickly pick out my best photos as well as the photos that I’m not sure about, so I can find them easily later.

Typically, I’ll give my photos either zero stars (which I’ll later delete), three stars (which are photos I’m not sure about) and five stars (which I love, at least initially). But the three-star photos are just as important as the fives. I often go through these folders months later and will find incredible three-star photos that I was not sure of at the moment, but with some time clearly stood out.

Create a Project:

So how do you come up with an idea for a project? There are a bunch of ways!

The first is to do it organically, as I mentioned earlier. Just go out and shoot a lot, go to new areas, revisit favorite places again and just build your archive. This is such an important step to give yourself time to find enough great moments and to also train your eyes.

After a while, you’ll start to notice photos that you relate to most and that relate to each other, and this will begin to spark loose ideas. You’ll start to find more and more moments that fit while you’re out shooting, and the idea and feeling in the work will grow organically until one day it becomes concrete.

The next way is to choose an area and tell the story of it. I typically recommend choosing the area where you live or just a place you frequent, obviously because this will give you the most time to shoot—after all, they’re the places you know the best.

Capture the people, the buildings, the general scenes, interesting details and even nature. Tell a complete story. Try to put your spin on how you feel about the place and what makes it unique (or not unique). Put your feelings into it.

And the final strategy is just to sit down and brainstorm an idea for a project. To help do this, I think doing photographer research is vital. Look through projects, photographers and photo books you love for inspiration to help spark the right idea. Jot them all down on paper and eventually one will stick!

Build a Book Mockup:

After some point, I’ll begin to go through my collections to sequence them, weave together a story and eventually create a mock book through the book module in Lightroom and Blurb. It’s such a fun experience seeing your hard work all bound together.

The Golden Ratio Applied to Photographic Composition

If you have been using The Rule of Thirds in your photographic compositions, you may have discovered an inherent shortcoming. Composing for the Rule of Thirds involves lining up a subject with one of the recommended intersections or lines. This can sometimes result in the subject being crowded too close to the edge of the frame.

The problem can be minimized, if not eliminated using the Golden Ratio Grid, rather than the standard equally spaced Rule of Thirds grid.

What is the Golden Ratio?

It is worth while taking a look at what the Golden Ratio is before applying it. The concept was discussed as far back as 300BC as being mathematically interesting, and in addition to being called the Golden Ratio it is also referred to as the Golden Mean or Divine Proportion.

In simple terms, it refers to two measurements where the ratio of the sum of both measurements and the largest measurement is the same as the ratio of the largest and the smallest. In other words a + b / a is the same as a / b. This ratio is 1 to 1.618 and is often quoted to be found in nature, architecture, art and music amongst other things.

The mathematics of the Golden Ratio was further explored by a man called Fibonacci to deliver the Fibonacci Sequence of numbers. Start with 0 and 1 then progressively add the previous two numbers together to obtain the next. The sequence would progress as 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, and so on. The interesting thing is that the further the progression advances, the closer to the golden ratio becomes the result of dividing the next to the last number in sequence by the last number in sequence. For example, 55/34 is 1.617647…, and the result of 233/144 is 1.618055…

This sequence is used to generate another composition variation called the Golden Spiral. There are opinions that this spiral can be seen in a Nautilus shell, the seeds on a pine cone, and even the arms of the milky way. Such is the interest in the Golden Ratio that many regard it as the universal constant that all things in life relate to in one way or another.

How Do You Apply the Golden Ratio to Your Photos?

One simple way to apply the Golden Ratio is to apply it to a rule of thirds grid. But, instead of the three columns and rows being of equal width and height, the center column and row is 0.618 the measurement of the other two. If you place a subject at a row/column intersection now, you effectively move the subject further from the edge of the image frame, giving the subject more space.

You can also employ the Golden Spiral to place the main point of interest within the inside of the spiral. The spiral is created from the Fibonacci sequence, which when plotted as a series of Golden Rectangles with a series of arcs drawn within the rectangles, results in the spiral overlay. You can see this graphically represented on my website.  Adobe Lightroom provides composition overlays for the Golden Ratio grid and for the Golden Spiral.

DPC Spiti Trip Photo Review Session and Members Meetup

This give us immense pleasure to Invite you all DPC members for the DPC Spiti Trip Photo Review Session and Members Meetup this Saturday .

Spiti Travellers: Please get photos that you want to review and share with us in Pen drive, Selected pictures will also be featured on DPC website and DPC social Media posts .
Date : 23rd April 2022 
Time : 4 pm to 6 pm

Venue: DPC Lounge Shahpur Jat

For more info call
8826712162 or DM if interested!
For any queries:
hi@delhiphotographyclub.com

DPC PhotoBus Trip to SPITI 10th to 17th April 2022

DPC one more most amazing trip to Spiti

DPC PHOTOBUS TRIP TO SPITI

About Spiti

This time we are going to Spiti, During our trip we will witness and capture the most beautiful monasteries, landscapes and the local people.

It’s going to be an 8 days trip.

We will be covering everything by Tempo Traveller.Just Remember : We are going on a road trip and there will be ample opportunity to click good pictures. We will stop at places and spend time clicking and create good pictures.

Meeting point : SDA market (opp. IIT main Gate )

Date : 10th Apr 6.00 AM Sunday Morning
We are going by 9 seater Tempo Traveler

Itinerary

Day 1. 10 th Apr Delhi to Rampur Busher .

Day 2. 11 th Apr Rampur to Tabo

DAY 3: 12 th Apr Kaza- key- Dhankar

DAY 4: 13 th Apr Kibber- key and others

DAY 5: 14 th Apr Langza Komik Hikkim.

DAY 6: 15 th. Apr Kaza to Chandratal ( if way to Chandrataal is Open)

DAY 7: 16 th Apr Starting Back from Chandratal (If it’s Open )

and reaching Delhi on 17th Apr

Other Important Details

Stay: Will be on a twin sharing basis in a home stay environment. And you can opt for single sitting rooms wherever possible ( on extra charges)

Mode of travel: We will be traveling in an AC TEMPO traveller together.

Gear: You can carry tripods and wide angle lenses for cameras. Any camera is good for this trip so long as it is digital

Clothing: Please carry woollen clothes , comfortable shoes, take hats/caps, shades and sunscreen!Please carry winter clothing for 3-4 layers temp would be around 6-7 degree. Days are pleasant , Nights are a bit chilly.
Please carry a few edible items with you for munching like Dry Fruits , chocolates and nuts.

All the small bags and camera bags can be kept inside the tempo traveller and rest will go on the top of the tempo. So manage wisely. Please carry one small bag and your moderate size bag.
Fee (per person) : 32000 (including registration fee)

For DPC Members : 30000

Fee includes travel & group transfers, stay and meals

For more info call
8826712162 or DM if interested!
For any queries:
hi@delhiphotographyclub.com

DPC PhotoBus Trip to Jaisalmer -Sam-Bikaner 15th Dec 2021

DPC one more most amazing trip to Jaisalmer-Sam-Bikaner 

About Jaisalmer-Sam-Bikaner

Jaisalmer holds a major place in the tourism landscape of Rajasthan. Located in the northwestern part of the Indian State, it is popularly called as the golden city because of its bounteous golden sand dunes and castles built with golden honey sandstones.

The city is adorned with a number of lagoons, ornamental Jain places of worship, and lavish havelis. This is however one side of the coin. Jaisalmer is also known for its offbeat desert safari experience. The city offers pleasant stays in the middle of the vast spread Thar desert and loads of adventure activities to give you a completely unforgettable experience. The city is also packed with colorful handicraft marketplaces that will take you back in the timeline to offer you an experience of Indian culture and heritage.

Jaisalmer is home to some of the most sought after attractions of the nation like the majestic Jaisalmer Fort, full of live desert national park, ancient Kuldhara Village, beautifully designed Jain temples, surreal Gadisar Lake, rustic Sam Sand Dunes, artistic Tazia Tower and Badal Palace, intricately designed Patwon ki Haveli, glorious bada bagh, and many more significant places of tourist attractions.

In the course of your visit to the city of Jaisalmer, you can indulge in a number of desert experiences which are not only adventurous but also filled with fun. Heading out on a safari tour on a jeep or camel and traversing your way through the sands is certainly a great experience. The desert camps have also got loads of other fun for you. You will be spending amazing evening hours at the campsite witnessing the traditional performances of music and dance. The campsites are also known to offer the best ever authentic Rajasthani dishes to delight your taste buds.

The details for the trip are as follows:

DPC Photobus Trip to Jaiselmer – sam – Bikaner

Day 1: Explore Jaiselmer Local
After travelling overnight and Check In at Hotel we will get ready for exploring the real heritage of india
We will be visiting – Jaiselmer fort, Patwon ki Haweli, Gadisar Lake
Nathmal ki Haweli, Sunset at Gadhisar Lake and Sunrise from Jaiselmer Fort
Overnight Stay In Jaiselmer ( Heritage Hotel)

Day 2 : Visiting Sam Sand Dunes
After exploring the heritage Spots, we will be going to the heart of the desert by camel ride to sunset point .
will be spending time watching the heart taking mesmerizing sunset and will get to Camp where we will have bonfire and Dinner.
Overnight stay in Sam at Camp
Day 3 : Sam- Jaisalmer – Bikaner
After freshening up we will checkout Camp and will be leaving for Kuldhara
After a long drive/Ride we will be reaching Bikaner and will Check In hotel,
Day 4 : Local Bikaner
Morning After breakfast we will be visiting Junagarh Fort and Local Market.
Evening 3 Pm Leaving Bikaner and Reaching Delhi by 11pm.

Other Important Details:
1. Stay: will be on a sharing basis at a comfortable guest house or Heritage haveli. You Can opt for individual rooms at extra cost .
2. Mode of travel: We will be travelling in an AC TEMPO traveller together.
3. Gear: Jaisalmer offers some breathtaking shots. Hence wide angle and zoom lens are advised with camera covers because of desert festival Celebrations.
Please wear comfortable clothes according to the weather, comfortable shoes as there will be a lot of walking, take your hats/caps, shades and sunscreen.
4. Meal: Simple vegetarian meals will be provided by the club.
The group will follow the itinerary mentioned above, however if one wants to visit places at one’s own will, can visit accordingly on their own.
Fee: Rs. 17500 per person, DPC members: Rs. 16500 per person.
The cost includes stay, travel and food. Does not include tickets for camera and equipment if any.