Exploring Street Photography
Amsterdam, The Netherlands 26 February 2025: My shadow
Finding Inspiration in Street Photography
I have always loved the street photography of artists like Sean Tucker. Their images captivate me, but I never felt drawn to take my camera and hit the streets to photograph people myself. To me, it feels invasive somehow. I feel uncomfortable taking pictures of people without their consent. I also lack the patience, not to find a nice composition, but to wait for the perfect actors walking through the scene.
My chaotic mind is so easily distracted by beautiful light, nice shadows, curious objects and so much more. It feels almost impossible to wait patiently for the perfect subject to walk into my scene at just the right moment.
Breaking Free from the Rules of Street Photography
It also doesn't help that there are voices in the back of my mind that make me insecure.
Street photography comes with so many so-called rules - What lens to use, what subjects to capture, what counts as 'real' street photography. It felt too restrictive. So, I decided I do not dabble in street photography but instead I take photos on the street. This bending of the meaning helps me to feel more comfortable. Because to me, it is all about creating, finding images that invoke something in me. That make me feel something. And it helps to remind myself, that In the first place I create art for me, myself and I. It is my journey and I do not need the approval of every photographer or art expert. I believe that somewhere in the world, at least one person will connect with my work. And that's Okay.
Capturing the Moment: Light, Shadows, and Stories
So I wandered the streets and found myself at Amsterdam Central Station. Beneath the big square in front of the station, there are several metro exits. When I looked down, I saw the shadows people cast on the wall, and it immediately piqued my interest. While I still feel hesitant about directly photographing people, I find myself drawn to the way they interact with light and space—the stories they don’t intend to tell. To me, it felt like their shadow, their dark side or secret, was following them wherever they went. A bright figure emerged from the dark underground, yet her shadow clung to her, an inescapable companion. And so, I captured this moment.
Learning Through Experimentation
For me, it is not yet clear what settings I need to use to create the image I want. As I experimented, I had to find the right balance. I wanted the shadow to be the focal point without losing detail in the highlights. Since my subject was moving, I needed a fast shutter speed, but I also didn’t want a shallow depth of field. After some trial and error, I landed on a 1/800 exposure, an f-stop of f8, and an ISO of 320.
Conclusion: Embracing Growth in Street Photography
This is a learning process. Maybe I could have slowed down my shutter speed to lower my ISO. But for me, dabbling in 'taking-photos-on-the-street,' this day was a success. I stepped outside my comfort zone, captured a moment that resonated with me, and most importantly—I learned. And that’s what matters.
