Ten Tips For Beginner Street Photography With A DSLR

Everybody is taking photographs these days. And with phone technology rapidly approaching "keeper photos" status, that trend is likely to continue.

If you are a person who appreciates higher quality photos than even the best smartphone can offer, then DSLR(digital single lens reflex) photography might be in your bag. With camera prices extremely affordable, it is time to learn how to shoot these "prosumer" cameras.

I own Canon gear, and for this tips column, I will focus on entry level EOS Rebel cameras, the consumer's DSLR. Mine is an older Rebel, the XTi. This camera is just that, a camera. No video, no HDR, no high ISO.

This camera, out there used for around $150, shoots at 10.1 megapixels, and has a fast shutter of 1/4000 second. The consumer Canons all come with "Scene" settings and the XTi is no different. Night Photos, Sports, Close-up, Landscape, and Portrait modes make the camera ultra versatile for a new user. Full Auto mode makes the XTi usable for anybody, including teenage kids.

To begin, a new DSLR owner should get to know the camera's functions, settings, and layout. Most Canons are similar, and the XTi has the On/Off Dial on the top, along with the scroll wheel. The scroll wheel functions as the adjuster for most settings. Hence, when in Aperture Priority, the scroll wheel changes the f-stop when turned.

Canon 7D with EF 50mm f1.4, Rexagon 135mm f2.8, and a Sunpak flash unit.

The Full Auto mode is where the beginner should start. Shoot in Full Auto while you learn about ISO speed, White Balance, Jpeg vs. Raw, and other advanced options. Shooting in auto mode will also help the new user to get used to the autofocus and shutter mechanism, as well as get the newbie photographer to "frame" shots.

It is important to relax when shooting, and doubly so for engaging the shutter mechanism. Get used to composing the picture(half shutter), waiting for focus recognition(beep and/or light), and getting the shot. Knowing how this all comes together, will increase accuracy, and will improve the quality of your photos.

As you get better at framing photos correctly, and as you become more comfortable with your camera, then the journey into manual settings begins.

Most DSLR cameras have similar functions, if different layouts. ISO, autofocus, white balance, and metering mode, are all functions one can expect to see on the back of most cameras in this class. Exposure compensation and shooting mode is also in the same area on my Canon XTi.

Canon XTi, top right.

As experience becomes usable, framing photos correctly will lead to using different kinds of light, anticipating shooting times, and being ready for action.

Early lessons in Full Auto mode, consist of filling the frame and seeing colorful photos ahead of shooting them. Lessons in white balance from simply observing images taken in differing light, can be priceless. Watch how your camera responds to bronzish light, fluorescents, and lowlight conditions like heavy cloud cover.

Observe shutter speed and its relation to aperture as well. The camera, and the photographer, if in tune to light and the correct settings, can produce gorgeous images. Let's take a look...


ISO

The ISO(International Standards Organization) refers to how the camera body responds to light. Even though many new cameras have higher than ever ISO capabilities, it is generally better to shoot at 100 to 400 ISO. And when experienced, ISOs of 1000 or so can produce nice images. The higher the ISO number, the more responsive the camera sensor is to light, so in daylight sun, ISO 100 is the norm. Cloudy days and low light are in the 400 ISO range, and extreme low light is 800 to 1600, but like I said, rarely if ever do I want to shoot 1600. Setting your ISO directly influences how the camera responds with shutter speed and aperture blades.

APERTURE

The aperture, called "f-stop," is the bladed diaphragm in the lens that opens and closes to light specifications. A small numbered aperture is actually a huge opening in the diaphragm. In accordance, a large numbered aperture is a pinhole effect, or a smaller opening.

As the aperture directs light, it also determines depth of field. A large opening, small numbered aperture, will have a compact depth of field, whereas the smaller aperture openings will have deeper depths of field, and this results in more of the frame being in focus. In short, f2.8 blurs backgrounds, and fll focuses the background as well as the foreground.

Like the ISO, the Aperture setting directly influences shutter speed. A closed f-stop will result in a slower shutter, because less light is getting to the sensor.

SHUTTER

The shutter opens and closes to expose the image. The photo is reliant on the shutter, to provide clarity and definition. Most photos need to be sharp, and the shutter is most responsible for that aspect. In these days of "shake" control, where Canon has "Image Stabilzer" and others have their own, newbie photogs forget(or never knew) that the length of the focal can be a reference for shutter speed.

The idea is to match the numbers, so if you are shooting a 100mm lens, to achieve handshake vibration control, the shutter has to be 1/100 second. If the lens is 50mm, then our shutter should be at least 1/50 second to achieve sharpness.

In Shutter Priority, the camera will react to your preset ISO and the shutter you set, to achieve the correct aperture. A fast shutter will open the f-stop.


Now that we know how to set up our gear, let's go do some street photography. For reading the manual thoroughly and for learning the basics of your DSLR, here are your Top Ten Beginner Tips For Street Photography:

1)   Before leaving the house, clean the gear. Mostly, this consists of wiping clean filters and lenses, with microfiber cloth. Always keep lenses and filters squeaky clean.

2)   Before shooting, determine your camera's settings based on surroundings. Set the camera up before shooting in the field.

3)   Compose every photo. Look in the viewfinder and assess the shot you are about to take. Is it metered correctly? Is it framed correctly? Is your depth of field desirable? The key here is to take your time and get a quality shot.

4)   Keep your eyes peeled. You might miss something.

5)   Don't be scared. You have rights to take candid street photos. Do not let anybody tell you different.

6)   Be polite. Sometimes, ask for a photo. Offer emailed photos. Be respectful!

7)   See color. Colorful scenes are a pleasure to the eyes, hunt for color and contrast. The key here also applies to backgrounds, as they are relevant to most photos. Find backgrounds that are dead, exposing your subject. Or backgrounds with color, that add to your image.

8)   Framing. Use the viewfinder to frame scenes for vivid and unbridled clarity. A photo that has wasted space or misses a key element is essentially much less of an image. And possible worthless. Fill the frame with the scene.

9)   Keep shooting! Street photography is in a constant motion, with things happening every moment. Capture your shots daily, and keep shooting.

10) Anticipate. See scenes before, or as they unfold. Be prepared to shoot them.

Some notes:

When advancing into manual settings, understanding the shutter and aperture will help to adjust to changing conditions in the field. For example, to catch action like sports or wildlife, using Shutter Priority with a 1/400 second shutter will eliminate blur. For a low light portrait, Aperture Priority will help isolate the subject while letting more light through the lens.

Use light and experiment with it. Shoot into light, shoot backlit subjects, and other varying light. Embrace light, however harsh at times.

Many new users of DSLRs, experience blur in their photos far too much. The shutter mode is perfect to solve this problem. Just remember the no-blur equation: For every 100 mm, a 1/100 second shutter speed is needed to eliminate blur. Assuming you can hold the lens still as well.

Understanding depth of field is critical to getting great photos. Realize that wide open apertures may not focus the entire scene, as their depth of field is shallow.

I shot NCAA college football the first weekend I owned the Canon XTI, with two kit lenses at that. Remember to shoot in Full Auto or Sports Mode when confronted with sports, or any fast action.When experienced, determine shooting mode based on personal taste.

When metering is hard, like when contrast between bright sky and children playing shade, is harsh and produces horrible photos, meter the shot against the sky, then recompose and shoot the scene. The "*" icon does this, when pressed during metering. You can also do this manually, by setting the metered settings yourself. Meter the bright sky, set the exposure in Manual Mode, and then brighten the shadows in post processing.

Windows Live Photo Viewer has a decent photo editor, as does Google Picasa, Yahoo Flickr, and other internet photo storage sites.

READ THE MANUAL!! I cannot stress how important this is. The Camera User Manual will teach you everything about the camera and its functions. Read it repeatedly.


SOME LINKS:

RonaldBorstJournalism on Flickr, some 2200 photos as of this writing.

Reviews,
Canon EF 28-135mm f3.5-5.6 IS USM
Canon XTi EOS Rebel

Street Stuff, an article from my blog about street shooting.