Travel and street photography from snapshots to great shots John Batdorff

TravelandStreetPhotography
FromSnapshotstoGreatShots
JohnBatdorff


TravelandStreetPhotography:FromSnapshotstoGreatShots
JohnBatdorff
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Acknowledgements
Mytravelpartners
StaciandAnna,theworldissomuchmoreinterestingwiththetwoofyoubymyside.
Staci,youareforevertheloveofmylife.You’rethemortarthatholdsusalltogether.
Anna,you’rethebrakes,slowingusdownandmakingusenjoyeveryminute.Welove
you,we’reproudofyou,andwatchingyougrowuphasbeenthebestjourneyofmylife.
Mom
Iwasthinkingofyoutheotherday,andwhilelookingthrougholdpicturesIfoundyour
dailyplanner.Icouldn’thelpbutsmilewhenIcameacrossyour“100goals,”and
photographingYosemiteandLakeLouisewereatthetopofthelist.Thankyouforplacing

thefirstcamerainmyhandandtellingme,“Weallneedahobby.”Itrulymissyouand
knowsomehowyou’vebeenwithmeforallmytravels.
Dad
Thankyouforyourguidanceandsupport.Yourgiftforstorytellingandpassionfor
writinghavebeenaninspiration,andourtripstogetherhavemeanttheworldtome.
ThePeachpitcrew
Thankyouforyourcontinuedsupport.I’vealwaysrespectedyourdedicationtoworking
withauthorsandartistsincreatingsuperiorproducts.
SusanRimerman
Youmakethisjobenjoyable,evenwhenyou’recrackingthewhip.Itrulydoappreciate
yourhonestfeedbackandyourabilitytomakemelaugh.
EmilyWolman
Thankyousomuchforchallengingmetomakethisbookasgoodaspossible.Thanksfor
puttingupwithmymessycopy,danglingmodifiers,andpoorformatting.Youdiditall
withanewborn….You’rethemastermultitasker!
LisaBrazieal
You’rearockstar,andyourcrewalwaysputstogetherawonderful-lookingbook.Thank
youandyourteamforallyoudo.
Toyou,thereader
Iwanttosincerelythankyouforgivingmethechancetosharemyinsightswithyou.I
hopeyouenjoythebook,andasalways,feelfreetocontactmeatwww.johnbatdorff.com
ifyouhaveanyquestions.


Contents
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER1:EQUIPMENT
What’sinmybag?
PoringOverthePicture
What’stheBestCamera?

SelectingLenses
SturdyFoundations
StockingUponAccessories
BuildingthePerfectKit
Chapter1Assignments
CHAPTER2:PLANNINGTHEJOURNEY
YourPhotographytrip,fromdeparturetoarrival
PoringOverthePicture
ResearchingYourTrip
CreatinganItinerary
CreatingtheShotList
Insurance
TravelingWorkflow
PackingYourGear
ArrivalsandDepartures
Chapter2Assignments
CHAPTER3:FINDINGTHELIGHT
Understandingexposure
PoringOverthePicture
ExposureExposed!
ISO
Aperture
ShutterSpeed
CameraSetup
MeteringModes


FindingtheLight
GuidedbytheLight
ExposureCompensation

Chapter3Assignments
CHAPTER4:COMPOSITION
Creatingwithintention
PoringOverthePicture
RuleofThirds
Lines
CreatingDepth
Shapes
Color
Patterns
Layers
FramesWithinFrames
Motion
Shadows
Reflections
Perspective
Juxtaposition
Humor
AddingLocalFlavor
ComposingwithIntention
Chapter4Assignments
CHAPTER5:OBSERVATIONVS.ENGAGEMENT
Howtoapproachstreetandtravelphotography
PoringOverthePicture
AreYouaStreetPhotographeroraTravelPhotographer?
ToObserveortoEngage?
Observing
Engaging
CaseStudies:Portraits

Chapter5Assignments
CHAPTER6:CITIESANDSTREETS
Gettingthemostoutofurbantravel
PoringOverthePicture
GearSuggestions
BecomingStreetSmart
AdvancedCreativeTechniques
Close-Ups
Cityscapes
NightPhotography
LongExposure
FoodandDrink
NoFlashAllowed!
Reflections
PublicTransportation
ShootingFilm
Chapter6Assignments
CHAPTER7:LANDSCAPES,RURALLIFE,ANDROADTRIPS
Gettingthemostoutoftraveltothecountryside
PoringOverthePicture
Landscapes
LocalFlavor
Wildlife
FlowersandLocalPlants
SpecificDestinations
TheFamilyRoadTrip
Chapter7Assignments
CHAPTER8:THELEGALITIES
Streetandtravelphotographers’rights

PoringOverthePicture
KnowingYourRights
PublicSpaces


SpecialConsiderations
PrivateProperty
Harassment
ModelReleases
PropertyReleases
Top10DosandDon’tstoStayLegal
Chapter8Assignments
CHAPTER9:WORKFLOW
Creativesystemsforthevisualartist
PoringOverthePicture
DevelopingaWorkflow
SystemConsiderations
Post-ProcessingWorkflow
ImportingImages
BackupSolutions
SelectingImages
ProcessingImages
DevelopingaPersonalStyle
Chapter9Assignments
INDEX


Introduction
I’vebeentakingphotographsforaslongasIcanremember.Mypassionbeganwhenmy
motherhandedmemyfirstKodakInstamaticin1977.Whatstartedoutasawaytokeepa

youngboyoutofmischiefblossomedintoalifelongpursuitofpersonalexpression.I’ve
alwaysbeenfascinatedbypeopleandbytheirrelationshipswithothersandtheir
environment.It’sthisnaturalcuriositythathasfueledmyaddictiontotravelandto
observingthroughthelens.

TheGoalofThisBook
Thenumber-onegoalofthisbookistohelpyoutakeyourstreetandtravelphotographyto
thenextlevel,andhelpyougettheimagesyouenvision.Photographycanbeconfusingat
times,butthetechnicalaspectsofexposureandcompositionshouldneverholdyouback
fromgettingthephotographyouwant.Imademanymistakesearlyonwithmy
photography,butthroughthemIhavelearnedalot,andI’mhappytosayIdiscover
somethingneweveryday.
Thisbookisn’tintendedtobethegospeloftravelandstreetphotography.Ratherit’sa
guidethatjump-startsyourcreativephotographicendeavorswhilehelpingyouavoida
fewbumpsandbruisesalongtheway.

WhatYouWillAccomplish
We’llstartoffbydiscussingpotentialcamerakits,tipsforplanningajourney,gettinga
goodexposure,andcreatingbettercompositions.It’simportanttonotethatIcanattest
onlytowhatIuseandhowIdothings.I’mnotafanofspeculationorrecommending
techniquesthatIdon’tuseeveryday.Ifyouaskagroupof20photographershowthey
wouldapproachaphotograph,you’llget20differentanswers.Photographyshould
challengeyou,anditshouldalsobesomethingwecanallenjoyregardlessofskilllevel.
It’smyhopethatIhavedistilledmyexperiencesintoaneasy-to-understandmethodology
thatyoucanduplicate—andimproveupon.
Onceyou’vecompletedChapters1through4,youshouldhaveastrongerfoundationin
photographyandbepreparedtobeginyourjourney.
StartingwithChapter5,we’lldiscusstheprosandconsofobservingandengagingyour
subject.Nextwe’lltraveltotheurbanenvironment,whereI’llshareinsightsintogetting
theshotsyouwantandusingbestpractices,andgiveyousomecreativetips.Thenwe’re

offtothecountryside,wherewe’llshiftourfocustocapturingsweepingvistas,rural
communities,androadtrips.I’llprovidedetailedinformationonhowtogetagreat
landscapeshotaswellasinteractwithpeopleinmoreruralsettings.Finally,we’llwrapup
bydiscussingthelegalitiesofstreetandtravelphotographyandhowtoorganizeyour
post-processingworkflow.
MakesuretodownloadbonusChapter10,“SharingYourWork.”Firstloginorjoin
Peachpit.com(it’sfree!),thenenterthebookisbn(032198823X)onthispage:
peachpit.com/store/register.asp.Afteryouregisterthebook,alinktoaccessbonuscontent


willappearonyourAccountpageintheRegisteredProductstab.NOTE:ifyoupurchased
anebook,you’recovered—thechapterisalreadyincluded.
Thisbookisajourneywewillmaketogether,andIwillbetherealongtheway,giving
guidanceandtips.Atanypointifyougetlostorstuck,youemailandI’llanswer.Feel
freetocontactmeatwww.johnbatdorff.com.

HowMuchExperienceDoYouNeed?
Iwrotethisbookwiththebeginner–to-intermediatephotographerinmind.Regardlessof
yourlevel,myhopeisyou’llfindthebooktobearesourceloadedwithuseful
information,personalexperiences,valuableassignments,andhelpfultips.
Whetheryourpassionisfortravelphotography,streetphotography,orboth,yourtopgoal
shouldbetoenjoyyourself.It’sagifttobeabletofollowapassionandcreateartatthe
sametime!
Asyouworkthroughthebook,Istronglyencourageyoutoshareyourimageswithmeat
www.flickr.com/groups/street_fromsnapshotstogreatshots.
Ifyoudon’tenjoytheprocess,youwon’tbehappywiththeoutcome—sorelax,havefun,
andcreatesomeart!


1.Equipment

ISO200•1/60sec.•f/3.2•27mmwitha24–70mmlens

What’sinmybag?
Foreventhesavviestofphotographers,packingyourcamerabagcanfeelabit
overwhelming.Youtrytopacklightsoyou’renotloadeddownwithtoomuchgear,but
youdon’twanttoleaveanythingbehindthatwouldcauseyoutomissagreatphoto.
Worseyet,themoreequipmentyouownthemoreyouwanttobring!Eventhoseweekend
tripstoNYCorSanFranciscoaretoughasyoutrytodecidewhatbagtouse,which
lens(es)tobring,orwhetherornotyou’llneedyourtripodandexternalflash.

PoringOverthePicture







ISO100•1/90sec.•f/8•80mmPrimelens
ThisimageofKilimanjarowastakenyearsafterIhikedtothesummit.Ididn’tgetgreat
photosofthemountainuntilthisreturntriptoAmboseliNationalParkinKenya,when
thefocusoftheentireexpeditionwasphotography.
Yearsago,IsummitedMountKilimanjaroonaguidedtrip,andIrememberourguide
barkingduringthepre-packingcheckto“Packonlywhatyouneedandonlywhatyoucan
carry!”Thenhecontinuedwithasmallgrin,“Butdon’tworry,I’lltellyouwhatyou’ll
need.”Mygoalinthischapteristohelpyouprepareyourgearforyournexttrip.WhileI
won’tbebarkinganyorders,Iwilldefinitelybemakingafewsuggestions.FirstI’llgo
overmanyoftheoptionsforgear,includingcameras,lenses,tripods,accessories,and
bags.Thenattheendofthischapter,I’llshowyouhowIgoaboutselectingmykitbased

ondifferenttypesoftrips.Also,don’tworryaboutthebrandofgearIuse;insteadfocus
onitspurposeandfunctionality.Honestly,Idon’thavestrongfeelingsaboutthedifferent
brands,butwhenIfindsomethingthatworksforme,Itypicallystickwithit.

What’stheBestCamera?
ItellpeopleallthetimethatIdon’tcarewhatcameratheyuse,whetheritbeaNikon,
Canon,Sony,Leica,etc.WhatIdocareaboutisthatyouownacamerayou’re
comfortableusing,becauseattheendofthedaythat’sgoingtobethebestcameraforyou.
AlltoooftenIhearofpeoplebuyingcamerasbasedstrictlyuponanotherperson’swork.
(“IlikeJohnDoe’swork,andheshootswithaNikonfull-frame,soI’mbuyingaNikon
full-frame.”)Ortheyreadareviewaboutacameraandsomesortofnewfeature,like
super-highISO(“Nolightneeded,justamatchandafastlens”),andthenextthingyou
knowUPSisdeliveringonetothedoor.
Alljokingaside,Iloveitwhenpeopleareenthusiasticaboutgear!I’mnottheguytotell
youtoavoidnewequipment,butIalwaysrecommendtakingapause,assessingyour
needs,doingyourresearch,and,wheneverpossible,holdingitinyourhandstoevaluateit
beforemakingapurchase.Acamera’sergonomics,shape,size,functionbuttons,menu
operation,andweightshouldallbeconsiderations.Somepeopledon’tminddrilling
throughmenustomakeadjustments,butI’mold-fashionedandstillprefermycamera
settingsintheformofadialorbutton.Isitbettertohavebuttonsthanadigitalmenu?No.
Butinorderformetooperateacamerawithspeed,that’sthewayitneedstobedesigned.
Youneedtoknowhowyouneedacameratobedesignedsothatyou’recomfortablewith
it.I’vewitnessedmanyphotographersoperatetheirMicroFourThirdsmenu-driven,
touch-screencameraswithoutmissingabeat,whileIwouldbefumblingandfrustrated.
Streetandtravelphotographersneedtobeabletoreactquicklytotheirenvironment,so
it’simperativethatacamera’soperationfeelslikesecondnature.
Tohelpfindwhatmayberightforyou,let’sreviewsomecamerachoicesaswellasthe
prosandconsofeach.

PhoneandTabletCameras
Mobilephoneswithbuilt-incamerasarecompactinsizeandoffertheconvenienceof
alwaysbeinghandy,asveryfewpeopleleavehomewithouttheirphones.There’salotof
greatworkbeingcreatedwithcameraphones—especiallyintightpublic-transportation
locationssuchastrainsandbuses—butformethey’remylastresortduetolowimage
qualityandtheriskoftheft.Therehasbeenanincreaseworldwideinsmartphonetheft,
andwithalltheconcernsregardingidentifytheft,Ithinktheriskoutweighsthebenefitsin
manysituations.IwillusemysmartphoneonlywhenI’mfamiliarwithmysurroundings
andhaveastrongsenseofsafety.
Tabletshavebecomepopularwithtravelers,especiallyforvideotaping,butonceagainthis
isaninstrumentoflastresortforanyonewhoisseriousaboutstreetortravelphotography.
Iwouldneversaytoforgoashotifatabletisallyouhavewithyou.But,muchlikea
phone,atabletisveryeasytostealduetohowweholdit,whichiscompoundedbythe
lackofastrap.Theyalsoholdahighresalevalue,soareadesirabletargetforthieves.
Again,keepyoursurroundingsinmind.It’sonethingtobetravelingthroughYellowstone
onabus,gettingoutinatourist-friendlyenvironment,andusingatablet.It’syetanother
tobewalkingthestreetsofNairobiatduskphotographingthecitywithone.Youcanfind
troubleanywhereintheworld,butthere’snoneedtowearyourvulnerabilitysoobviously,
whichisexactlyhowmanypeoplelookwhenthey’reholdinguptabletsonacrowded
street.Besmartwithyourgear,keepitclosetoyou,avoidbroadcastingyourpresence,
andalwaysremainawareofyoursurroundings.
Advantagesofphoneandtabletcameras:
•Readilyavailable.
•Smallsize.
•Peoplearedesensitizedtotheirpresence.
•Workwellintightpublicquartersorinlocationswherelargercamerasarenot
allowed.
Disadvantages:
•Expensive.
•Slowshutterreaction.

•Fixedfocalrange.
•Imagedistortion.
•ManyarelimitedtoonlyJPEGfiles.
•Cumbersometooperatewithanyspeed.
•Easilystolenandoftenloadedwithpersonaldata—notagoodcombination.(Thisis
mybiggesthesitationwithsmartphones.)


Compact(Point-and-Shoot)Cameras
We’reseeinggreatstridesincompact(point-and-shoot)cameraswithimprovementsin
ISO,manualsettings,rawfilecapture,GPSembedding,Wi-Ficapability,andthelistgoes
on.Thisisthecameratoownifyoudon’twanttospendalotofmoneybutwantbetter
qualitythanmostcameraphones.Iwillusemypoint-and-shootwhenIjustwanttoslipa
camerainmypocketforacasualstroll,whengoingtodinner,orwhenIneedtoleave
thingsunattended(forinstance,onthebeach).It’salsoagreattoolforscoutinganarea
priortobreakingoutyourmoreexpensivegear.I’vebeeninsituationswhereI’vebeen
unfamiliarwiththesurroundingsandheardreportsoftheft,soI’llleavemylargerkit
behindandtakejustasmallpoint-and-shoottoscoutthearea.
Advantagesofcompactcameras:
•Inexpensive.
•Smallsize.
•OftenbetterqualityfileswithRAWandJPEGoptions.
•Lessdistortionthanfromacameraphone.
•Variablelens.
•Fast.
•Easytouseandcarry.
Disadvantages:
•Smallimagesensorismoresusceptibletodigitalnoiseinlow-lightconditions.
•Built-inlensislimited.
•Oftenhasaverymenu-drivenoperation.

MirrorlessCameras
Thisisprobablyoneofthemostinterestingcamerasystemstoenterthemarketinthelast
decade,andpossiblythemostinfluentialsincethesingle-lensreflex(SLR).Inanutshell,
SLRsanddigitalSLRs(DSLRs)haveaviewfinderthatenablesyoutoviewyourimages
throughinterchangeablelenses.Theabilitytocomposeanimagethroughyourlenswas
suchatechnologicaladvancethatitbecamemainstream,whiletherangefinderbecamean
outdatedcultclassic.
Nowcomesthemirrorlessdigitalcamera,whichallowsyoutocomposeyourimagelike
you’reusingliveviewonaDSLRorviaadigitalviewfinder,whichprovidesamore
traditionalfeel,mimickingthatofamirroredsystem(Figures1.1and1.2).


Figure1.1ThisMicroFourThirds–stylePentaxcameraisanultracompact
mirrorlessandextremelylightweightoption.Ithasfullmanualcapabilitiesanda
goodsensor,thelensesareinterchangeable,anditmakesqualityimages—butits
greateststrengthisitsportability.

Figure1.2AlthoughsmallerthanaDSLR,thislargemirrorlessLeicarangefinder
hasamoretraditionalsizeandlookwithahigh-qualitysensor.Itsgreatest
strengthisimagequality.
Youmaybewonderingwhatallthefussisaboutwiththismirrorlesstechnology.The
majorbenefitofamirrorlesscameraistheabilitytoshortentheflangefocaldistance
(Figure1.3).Andamajorbenefitofashorterflangedistanceistheabilitytouseahostof
differentlensmanufacturers,providingyoucanfindtheappropriateadapter.Also,by
eliminatingthemirror,manufacturersareabletoshortenthelenstofilm(sensor)distance,
whichhelpsimprovequality,andreducethesizeofthelens,whichresultsinalighterweightkit(anexampleofwhichalsoisshowninFigure1.3).


Figure1.3Asyouseefromthegraphic,themirrorrequiresquiteabitofspaceto

allowustoseethroughthelens.Onceyoueliminatethemirrorandreducethe
prism(whichreflectstheimagefromthemirrortotheviewfinder),yourcamera’s
footprintbecomesmuchsmaller.
ManywouldarguethatLeicamadethefirstmirrorlesscamerasystemwithitsrangefinder


model.IsuspectCartier-BressonhaditrightwithhisLeicaM3rangefinder,which
allowedhimtomovearoundthestreetsphotographingmosteverythingwitha50mmlens.
However,todaytherearemanyhigh-qualitymirrorlesssystems,fromthosewithafixed
lens(calleddigitalsingle-lensmirrorless,orDSLMcameras)tothosewith
interchangeablelenses(calledmirrorlessinterchangeablelenscameras,orMILCs).Each
systemhasawiderangeofdigitalsensorsizesfromwhichtochoose,fromthevery
popularMicroFourThirdstothemoretraditionalfull-sizesensor.
Advantagesofmirrorlesscameras:
•Smallanddiscreet.
•OperationandfeelareverysimilartoDSLRs.
•Qualitysensors.
•Interchangeablelensesoffermorecreativeoptions.
Disadvantages:
•Moreexpensivethancompactcameras,andinsomecasesasexpensiveasDSLRs—
ifnotmore!
•Mostinterchangeablelensesarenotbackward-compatibletononmirrorlesssystems.
Anontraditionalviewfinderrelyingonback-of-cameraLCD(liquidcrystaldisplay)
forfocusandcompositionmaybeahugeobstacleforsomeusers.
•Puttingalargetelephotolensonasmallcamerawithoutatraditionaloptical
viewfindercanmakeitverydifficulttocomposeandholdthecamerasteadyfora
sharpimage.

DSLRs
ChancesaremanyofyouwhoboughtthisbookownaDSLR,andforgoodreason.These

camerasareveryreliableandofferthemostlenschoicesofanyofthepreviously
discussedsystems.Muchliketheirfilmversion(SLRs),DSLRsofferexcellent-quality
imageswithaneasyoperationthatisfamiliartomostphotographers.Plusthere’salarge
arrayofnewandusedDSLRcamerasonthemarketthatmeetanyphotographer’sneeds
andbudget(Figure1.4).Thishasbeenmycameraofchoicefornearly20yearsbecause
ofitsversatilityandthespeedatwhichI’mabletooperateit.


Figure1.4TogetasenseofsizedifferencebetweenvariousDSLRs,checkoutthis
full-frameDLSRCanonbodynexttoaMicroFourThirdsPentaxbody,bothwith
lenses.
AdvantagesofDSLRs:
•Widerangeofmodelsandlensesavailable.
•Easeofoperation.
•Greatercreativecontrol.
•Excellentlow-lightshooting.
•Fitanybudget.Youcanbuyacropped-sensorNikonorCanonwithalensforless
than$500atnearlyanycamerastoreoroutlet.
Disadvantages:
•Heavy.
•Notnearlyasdiscreetasacompactormirrorlesssystem.


ToBuyorNottoBuy?
Manyphotographers,includingmyself,havespentalifetimebuildingkits
aroundourcamerabodies.We’vecollectedallthelenses,filters,tripods,and
flash,andthusmakingamovetoanothercamerasystemshouldbe
consideredcarefully.Ialwaysstartbyaskingmyself,“Isitaneedorawant?
AndwillIreallyuseit?”
Yearsago,whenItriedtobeagolfer,IrememberconvincingmyselfthatI

couldprobablyplaybetterwithanewsetofclubs,soIranoutandbought
myselfabrand-newsetofbeautifulPings.Sixmonthslatermygamedidn’t
magicallyimprove,andInevertouchedthebagagainbecauseIblamedthe
clubs.NowIdon’tgolfatall!
Mypoint:Realizeyourpotentialwithyourcurrentgear.Whenyouthinkthat
potentialistrulylimited,considermakingequipmentadjustments.You
shouldn’tbuynewgearbecauseyou’refrustrated;youshouldbuyitbecause
you’vemasteredwhatyou’vegot.

SelectingLenses
Ifyou’reshootingwithacameraphoneoracompactcamera,yourlenschoicesare
alreadylimitedtothebuilt-inlens.Butforthoseofyouwhowillbeshootingwithan
interchangeablelenssystem,thesky’sthelimit(Figure1.5).

Figure1.5Whilecertainlynotanexhaustivelistoflensoptions,thesearesomeof
myfavorites:a15mmwide-angle,a35mmstreetphotography,a50mmportrait,
andmy70-200mmzoom.
Agoodlenscanreallyimprovethequalityofyourimages,solongasyou’reworkingwith
asolidfoundation.WhenIhavestudentswhoaredebatingupgradingtheircamerabodyto
thelatestandgreatest,I’llfirstassesstheirlenses—or,aswesayintheindustry,their