The Ultimate Guide for City Photography

Any photographer wanting to capture the most breathtaking shots of the city needs to understand that certain unsaid rules need to be followed without fail. This street photography guide is meant to inform you of the most basic rules that will get you started on capturing a city’s beauty. If you follow these rules, you can always move forward with some experimentation of your own without feeling like you are missing out on something important.

For the Golden Hour

The golden hour is the hour spanning the time from just before sunrise to just after sunset. The changing hues are softer than when the sun is at the top. The softer tones need to be photographed with precision to get the best results. The main pointers to keep in mind are:

Opt for a smaller aperture: This is the easiest way to capture the sun as a star and not as a big ball of blinding light. Getting the sunbeams and their softness will be better executed with an aperture of f/8 or f/11.
Maintain the equilibrium: When you capture the sun, any street photography guide would advise you to balance how you present the city so that the sunlight does not overpower the shot. You can also go for manual focus to make the shot as perfect as possible.

For the Blue Hour

The blue hour is dominated by the blue sky before dawn and the twilight period, which follows the sunset. Since you will expect low light from the atmosphere, relying on some tips before you begin is a good approach.

Go with a manual setting: You want the proper depth of field no matter where you are placing the camera. Based on your object, you should be the one taking control. An aperture of f/8 and f/11 works great.
Choose some light: If you add some objects which are lit up, you will have a better chance of clicking photos with better visibility. It will help add a new dimension of drama to your photos. Since this is a street photography guide, we recommend choosing a street lamp for some preliminary shots.

Find the Right Spot

In an urban setting, clicking photos of an empty place seems off-kilter because it is people who give life to the place. If you want to truly capture the essence of a spot, wait in the spot and capture photos when you feel it is at its peak. This way, you will capture the culture and activity rather than a blank canvas.

The Takeaway

This street photography guide is meant to make you more confident when you travel around the city to click photos of people and places. Do not forget to not intrude on anyone’s privacy and make the most of each shot by making adjustments as the daylight shifts. If you are starting out, it is best to start with minor adjustments and make changes as you start to get comfortable with the camera in your hand.