How to Make Street Photography in a Small Town | Photography Tips & Observations

In this video, I talk about observations I've made making street photography in my small town, and offer tips and ideas for how you can apply it to start documenting your town too. We can document life anywhere, because life is happening anywhere, we may just have to shift our expectations of what we'll find. You're documenting life and capturing the environment, and that in it's essence, can be seen as street photography.

Gear I use!

0:00 Intro
2:31 Shifting your expectations
3:22 Observations from my town
5:41 You don't have to have people in your photos
7:28 Inspiration from Dan Baker
8:13 Capture the Small Town atmosphere, not the city atmosphere
8:25 Tips to get you going
8:45 Get creative with framing / composition
8:58 Capture the mood / character of your town
9:07 Look for shadow, light, color, and texture
9:29 Go Downtown if possible
9:52 Shoot in different weather conditions
10:06 You never know what you'll find
11:16 If nobody's capturing your town, be the person who is
12:08 Documenting life, wherever it is, is street photography
12:35 Conclusion

#streetphotography #photography #photographytips

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Street Photography, Small Town Street Photography, Making street photography in a small town, how to make street photography in a small town, can you do street photography in a small town? Canon t7i, Canon Street Photography, Is canon good for street photography?, canon, canon photography, Canon T7i street photography, how to improve your street photography, how to become a better street photographer, Street Photography in a small city, street photography tips, how to shoot street photography, what camera for street photography?, best camera for street photography, Faizal Wescott, Pierre Lambert, Northborders, photography, photographer, canon rebel, Canon T7i for Street Photography

[aok]

"What makes my town the town that it is?" Now that is an exceptional question.

[mattmcmaniac]

I recently went through this mental reframing since I'm living in a very quiet rural place. One thing I keep in mind is that a view that seems so mundane and every day to me could be very interesting to someone in another part of the world. Also, there's a beauty in capturing the subtleness and nuance that surrounds us.

[ZuZusGramp]

I really love what you're saying here. And I like your photographs a lot. I'd like to make a suggestion. Please reconsider the active film dust background you use behind the stills. They don't need it, and it really, really distracts from the images. It works under the titles where you've used it, but I find it very hard to see the still images with the visual destruction of the dancing motes around them.

Thank you for what you're doing, and keep up the good work.

[Poloinwm]

Jared, you have a very calming voice…it encourages me to listen and pay attention. Your videos, with accompanying talk and supportive images are the highlight of my day! I glad that you don’t get hooked-up on gear - but promote the images. I had a Sony mirrorless DSLR for several years. Now, I use my iPhone camera exclusively. Thank you (!) very kindly for your videos and encouragement.

[scottchapin]

I have watched many videos on street photography, but your short one here, opened my eyes (and mind) to a whole new outlook. Thank you

[dobbsgraphica]

Had to stop half way through to comment. Don't get too hooked up on labelling your genre of photography. Your town is full of opportunities to shoot, and I would rather see your authentic style in this environment than try to make it something it's not. To me living in Australia your town looks straight out of a movie, with its flagged porches and that Fire Station! It's probably one of those situations where everyone thinks the grass is always greener in someone else's town!

[JjackVideo]

"I've never seen anymore else shooting around here"
That's a fantastic thing. A hidden pearl waiting to be captured.

[ianbaker]

Sorry I was washing the pots and listening and missed the fact that you had shown Dan Baker's Name. I live across the river in the City and he photographs my childhood playground seaside experiences and thus brings back memories which is great for me as i don't have any photos of those days. But some good memories.

[zainolsharif]

Nice video, beautiful places, very informative, super like 521, wonderful sharing my friend 👍🙂📸📷❤️😍😊

[duanemcclun]

I really enjoyed this video because it really hit home with me!! I live in a small town (population 9, 000) and have had trouble photographing people because it seems they are suspicious of their photographs being taken - even though I have lived here for 40 years and am known. I have even attempted to photograph using my cell phone and old digi-cams so to not stand out carrying a DSLR. Again, a great video!! Best of luck in your photography journey!
Best,
Duane

[michiganmale]

This was extremely inspirational. I live in a smaller town...this gave me some great ideas...and motivation to go out and shoot...thank you so much!

[fourmckeels]

Thanks so much for this. Great photos, great advice, inspiring. I’ll be documenting my small city.

[TyeMorrisVlog]

Thanks for this video!
I’ve lived in big cities like Vancouver, B.C. and New Delhi, but I found I had to make this same switch when I moved home to Salt Lake City, Utah, to take care of family business.
I knew I’d be here for at least a few years, so I decided to pivot my photography towards documenting a city that’s become one of the fastest changing/growing in the US. Part of that impetus came from my coming back from living in India for a few years and seeing how drastically my home town had changed in the time I’d been gone. A lot of the charm and history had been lost, so I made it a personal mission to document what was left and what it was turning into.
Right now it’s just a personal project on a separate IG account from my professional profile, but I’m doing it for the love of doing so. I’m finding the act of creating for the sake of creating incredibly fulfilling so far. Maybe some day I’ll publish the whole project, or maybe I’ll donate it to the city, who knows.
Anyways, great vid, keep up the good work!

[daniellefernandes]

I was just looking up small town photography, and glad I came across your video. I’m from RI and this is all we have to work with

[cydengel]

Great topic, great job here. Love your thoughtful images! Such an important point of view…there are so many big city shooters…all looking for odd people, strange signs…cheap shots many times…like shooting fish in a barrel with spray shooting. Slowing down to look has great value and you’re right, it’s all documenting life. Keep up the good work!

[alcairns]

Really great points you make. My favourite is that we maybe the first to document our small home town. A real eye-opener!

[michaelmihalcic]

Love your work, great advice and inspirational, keep up the great work.

[northernboy]

I live in the countryside in north-west England, surrounded by towns that are struggling and are in need of regenerating. While I can go into Manchester, the typical Brit will think anything greater than 30 minutes travel time is too far. This video was what I needed to get inspired to go out into the local towns nearby and try and capture their essence, rather than try and follow the crowd and go for cities. Great video! Also, well done for pronouncing Cleethorpes correctly

[kevinmoore]

It's strange i live in a pretty boring town in England not far from London and i go into London often for street photography and it just feels natural. I have never thought about walking around my town and documenting it as it would feel strange but you are right i am sure i could find something interesting to photograph and i will give it a try, nice video.

[scottcharleslumix]

Great video, definitely lots of good suggestions on where or what to shoot..especially in small towns. I live just north of Rhode Island, been there a thousand times and always without a camera, with lots of places by the ocean to capture is helpful, especially when you think there's nothing to capture. I'm inspired by this video to go out and get "downtown" and shoot, and walk and shoot. Thanks