How to photograph the street: Compose and wait

One of my favorite photographers is National Geographic photographer Sam Abell. His work is quiet, melodious and thoughtful. See an interview with Abell here.

One of his tenets in photography is to compose a picture and wait for the moment. That is a great strategy when you’re photographing on the street.

Last week, I visited New York City with my family. I decided to photograph the morning commute on Wall Street.

One of things that makes photographing in a big city like New York so great is the quality of light and shadow, especially on a sunny morning like the one I witnessed. 

Still, the vertical composition suited this shot since I could see the tall building rising up into the sky line.

Finally, I waited and photographed as commuters made their way along the sidewalk. This is what Abell means by “compose and wait” and it’s a great way to make a street photograph.

I didn't get the photograph I really wanted, but I still like the results and it's a nice illustration of Abell's lesson. 

Sean Cayton is a professional photographer based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. See his wedding work at www.caytonphotography.com and editorial work atwww.seancayton.com. This column first appeared in his weekly column A Photo Life online at the Colorado Springs Independent.