Black and White Street Photography Tips | What Fan Ho can teach us

For many, street photography is about running around snapping pics of everything you see and applying some LUTS. But how do we really improve?

In this video we take a look at the incredible work of Fan Ho - a master of composition and light. Walking around the streets of Hong Kong with an old rolleiflex camera, he shows us that it's the emotion in a picture that counts, not the gear that you have. Learn to imitate his ability to visualize light and studies his photos...these tips will improve your street photography too.

Music licensed on Music Bed, Adrian Disch
Some stock footage: Video by Taryn Elliott and Louis Quintoro from Pexels

Support Fan Ho's legacy buy visiting the official site:

[Danyel]

Every time I look at Fan Ho's work I am amazed. Pure poetry. Thanks for the explanation of his images.

[NathanOBrien]

Thank you for this video. Honestly the most interesting and humble appreciation of an artist I’ve seen in a long time. I’d never heard of this photographer Fan Ho, so again thank you for the introduction.

[rawvoltairephoto]

In fact, a good composition makes all the difference 🤌

[jorg]

In my 50 years of photographing things I thought I knew it all... well a lot of it at least. But this opened my eyes a bit. Thanks!

[A-RA-N]

it makes me happy to hear your words about street shots

[BTNFILM]

Truly inspirational video. I love his work. It’s almost like watching a movie. His pictures are juicy treats for my eyes. Thanks for sharing.

[MrAllenMo]

Thoroughly enjoyed this video. Like the way you dissect the photos to show, not only the technical aspects, but also the emotional. You just gained a new fan. Thank you.

[SidJ]

Thanks for putting it up in-the-face ! It’s true that the essence of photography is getting lost.

You just got a subscriber !

[robinbhairam]

Really interesting video thank you. Fan Ho is definitely in my top five all time, his work is exquisite. The only caveat I would add to the narrative is that by his own commentary he staged designed and managed most of his famous images. For example Approaching Shadow (1954), his signature shot, and probably his most iconic work, featured his cousin and he actually added the famous triangle in the dark room edit. His ability as a film director, actor and story teller is his evident throughout his body of work. Yes, he had the vision and talent, but he also had the skill to stage manage his images. Thanks again.

[theghostofGeorgehalas]

Great video. As an aspiring photographer its so nice to hear someone talk about the humanity, and art in photography.

Lately when I’ve been trying to learn something its been some bullshit version of a how to video to be “JuST LIke A pRofesional.”

thank you for this wonderful video.

[WilliamCruzingphotos]

When I was younger I saw his photos there, there was no citation of who it was. It was a few years until I learned who took those photos. Been a fan ever since. Sometimes when I question my shots regarding shadows and light I remember his work.

[Enrique-the-photographer]

Nice video and definitely food for thought. Today you see many street photographers (especially on you-tube) using the “spray and pray” technique, I have to admit that sometimes they do get “lucky” and get a nice shot. I started photography using film, many years before digital cameras and now that I have a fancy (LOL) mirrorless camera (Fuji X-T4) I still slow down and pay attention to subject matter, lighting and composition, there are days when I go out for a three hour (or longer) walk and don’t take a single shot. I always enjoy your videos. Stay safe.

[richardowen]

Thank you for highlighting Fan Ho's work. Very inspiring! I need to do further research on his work.

[robertmathieson]

I've just found your channel and I must say it is wonderful. I have admired both Fan Ho (and Ansel Adams) for many years. Your vlog does you credit. Keep them coming.

[samv]

Thoroughly enjoyed your presentation, thank you for going through in such details.

[wanderingwongs]

Stumbled upon your channel. Brilliant video. Subscribed.

[abcd]

Apart from being a very good photographer you can be a great story writer and story teller 👍

[kannonfps]

recently i started to feel the same way about the way i was doing my street photos, so i decided to challenge myself.

I reduced the available space on my SD card up to 50images, compared to the usuall 2000photos i can shoot on my 64go card 50 is a really low number to me
i turned off the screen and image review, full manual, manual focus and tried to get the best shot i could. I was a little bit too focused on my exposure since i'm still strugling with that so nothing really stood up but it was a great experience, not being able to watch what i got till i got home felt pretty good actually.

Because of that experience i managed to deal with my shity exposure quite a lot, most shot were exposed the way i wanted and only and few where blown out or under exposed

i'm gonna do this "challenge" as much as possible cause for real it help a lot with dealing with settings right from the start. and obviously when you don't need to think about exposition anymore you can focus 200% for the composition, the light and the subject

fan ho is my favorite photographer of all no question asked, he's trully a master at his craft and i can only hope to be one day able to get that kind of power out of my photos

[rentedtux]

Amazing video. Thank you. I'm a new sub.

[Pixelpeeps-]

Yes your so right that these days people worry about their mega pixels and camera lens rather than concentrating on how to get the shot with composition and light