Photography around your community

Almost every adult living in cities around the world has a decent camera attached to the mobile phone. As we await the pandemic to be over, photography around your community is a great idea for two reasons: you can develop a hobby and complete the quota of your daily exercise as you walk around with your camera!

Photography around your community gives you the opportunity to capture exciting and vibrant moments in a natural setting. It has its joys and challenges. Here are a few techniques I learnt to enjoy and stay safe while doing a street photography adventure.

Choose wisely

As you are walking the streets, choose wisely. Watch people’s body language and avoid anyone who seems confrontational. When confrontations happen, say ‘sorry’ and walk away without escalating the situation.

“Great photography is about depth of feeling, not depth of field.”

Follow the signs

Some places, locations are prohibited for photography (e.g. high security zone, handicraft shops). Some places (e.g. place of worship) require you to remove foot ware before you enter. If in doubt, always ask or lookout for signs. Always keep your mind and eyes open for people and situations that aren’t what you expected.

Be Friendly

When you’re shooting on the streets, smile and connect with people. If you see someone who looks interesting and you’d like to take a close-up portrait of them, approach them. Let them know that you’re shooting street portraits, and ask for permission. People may say no, and as hard as rejection is, that’s OK — just move on and try not to feel too discouraged by it. You may be surprised by how many people are happy to pose for you.

Be Honest and Respectful

As you hit the streets, remember that every one of us deserves respect. When you shoot portraits, approach everyone with respect. Strive to capture life in its truest form. It’s your job to look into a scene and reveal people’s souls. Your camera is a powerful tool. Strive to capture something honest and expressive of your subjects.

"A good photograph is one that communicates a fact, touches the heart and leaves the viewer a changed person for having seen it."

Final Thoughts

The true beauty of street photography is the act of going outside, getting lost in thought, and just enjoying the experience. You will be pleasantly surprised at the opportunities to capture wonderful moments and people. Often, we fear going into the world; we fear how people will react to us. Street photography is a rebellion against this fear. If you’re completely new to photography as a hobby, get started with capturing the nature and landscapes.

"photography is an art of observation. It’s about finding something interesting in an ordinary place"

Ps. Besides all this, as we work our way through the pandemic, make sure to take extra precautions such as social distancing, wearing a mask …etc.

Here are some ideas in pictures through my mobile phone camera shot in Singapore and around the region: