Maybe you have heard of urban photography and of street photography and you have probably even thought that they are the same. Sometimes labels are seen as something negative, but on other occasions it helps to understand concepts and to know where we want to go. In fact, for years both have been one and many times the term is used interchangeably, but today I am going to tell you what urban photography is and how it differs from street photography. ‘Cause with the new styles they’re gone pulling away more and more, although they continue to be found in many places.
The idea with this article is not to catalog, label, or judge, or anything like that, but to open new doors to creativity, give you new photographic ideas and that you can spread your wings and fly what the cities leave you and where your imagination takes you. .
To delve deeper into street photography, do not miss the mega guide that we have prepared for you with all the tips and tricks of Street Photography.
Now, let’s go to the mess with the urban.
What is urban photography?
Urban photography is one that is carried out in the urban environment, within cities and that pursues an aesthetic and creative purpose, but requires a careful technique. Capture urban elements, architecture, objects or even urban landscapes.
Urban photography captures any element and action in cities
What are the differences between urban photography and street photography?
The main difference is that the urban photography pursues aesthetics Y the street the message. While the first one is more demanding in terms of image quality, in the street one, the emotion or the story it conveys takes precedence.
Other important differences are that an urban photograph can be prepared, while a street girl does not. An urban photo could be more of a street photo, but not a photo of street. Street photography is spontaneous and natural, the photographer should never influence the moment or the scene, but capture what happens.
For example, if you catch a person jumping a puddle in a natural way, it would be street photography. If you make your colleague jump the puddle to shoot from the best perspective, achieve the ideal frame and with the most spectacular jump, then it is not street photography, but urban photography. The street photography the only preparation is to anticipate the situation, in the urban you can manipulate the scene at will to achieve the image you have in your head.
For example, this jump has nothing to do with the famous photograph by Henry Cartier-Bresson that marked the decisive moment. Which does not mean that it is not a well executed, creative, attractive and interesting photo. It simply is a different style with a different goal.
Urban photography
From all this it can be deduced that street photography puts more emphasis on equipment while street photography accepts any camera, regardless of the image quality it offers, as long as the photo is capable of pinching your stomach.
Equipment for urban photography
As I was saying, in urban photography, being the aesthetic purpose, it requires a higher demand in terms of image quality. Let’s see what is the equipment recommended for the urban photographer.
Camera for the urban photographer
The recommended cameras for the urban photographer are those that allow you to photograph in manual mode and control all the parameters to achieve exactly the photograph you are looking for and be able to unleash your creativity.
Namely, mirrorless (or mirrorless), SLR and advanced compact. Is a cell phone worth it? It depends on the mobile and how you use it ;P
Having a camera with manual controls, which will allow you to express your creativity will be the objectives.
The best camera is the one that adapts to you and your needs
Objectives
Any objective can be used for urban photography because in this case creativity has no limits and it doesn’t matter if you distort reality, because here fidelity and spontaneity is not the objective but rather, as I was saying, the end is more aesthetic.
From the fisheye type lens with those characteristic effects to telephoto lenses that compact the planes and make it seem that two skyscrapers are next to each other to jump over them when in reality they are hundreds of meters away.
The important thing is that you understand the concept of focal length and know what you can get from each of them. Because it will not be the same that you want to capture details than large urban settings.
On the other hand, also take into account the luminosity, since the brighter the lens, in addition to being able to capture more light, you will be able to achieve greater background blur.
You also have the possibility of using fixed lenses or zoom. Everything will depend on your style and the type of photography you like to do. If you have any questions regarding the objectives in this article you can solve them all.
Get the best out of every lens. creativity to power
Accessories for urban photography
When it comes to not putting limits on creativity, accessories can be a great ally. They are not essential, of course, but depending on what type of images you are looking for, they can be very useful and even necessary.
- Tripod and trigger. To achieve night or long exposure images and capture movement. The tripod is essential, the shutter release is to avoid camera shake, although you can use the camera’s delayed shutter release or an application to shoot from your smartphone if your camera allows it.
- polarizing filters. The city is full of glass and other reflective surfaces. If certain reflections that are not wanted bother you, with a polarizing filter you can keep them at bay.
- Extra battery and cards. This is a recommendation, but everything will depend on the sessions you usually do and your needs.
- comfortable strap To walk around the city looking for the best snapshots, the ideal is that you wear a comfortable one, choose the strap that best suits your needs and tastes.
- Backpack. While in street photography the ideal is to go with the camera and that’s it, in urban photography sessions it is likely that you will carry more than one lens, the tripod and even the flash, if you like its effects. In this case, a comfortable backpack is always welcome.
- Flash. It is not essential either, but it is another resource to achieve spectacular and most creative images. Of course, I am talking about external flash, we are clear about it, right?
- drone. If you own one or are able to purchase one, it can be an incredible experience for capturing urban scenes. But don’t use a drone without reading this first.
Street Photography Tips
In this section I am going to tell you some of the aspects that you must take into account when taking urban photography, at the same time that I introduce some tips that will be very useful to you.
Light
Depending on the time of day you can achieve very different images. Sunrises and sunsets give you warm and side lights, and so does the blue hour, a spectacular time for street photography where the blue of the sky contrasts perfectly with the artificial lights. The photographs at this time are impressive.
Backlights are another type of photography you can achieve when the sun is lower. Time to achieve silhouettes or flares that add warmth to your images.
On the other hand, the central hours of the day allow you to capture shadows and high-contrast photos and this harsher light also makes colors appear brighter and more saturated.
Knowing how light behaves and planning your urban photography sessions taking into account the type of light will help you achieve the most impressive images and reinforce the message you want to convey.
The light of sunset in urban photography offers a multitude of possibilities
And what happens when night falls? Do you keep the camera? Not at all, friend! Another world of possibilities opens before you: car lights, signs, neons, illuminated buildings and shop windows, etc. And if you surround the light with darkness it will shine even more. Time to achieve incredible effects if you have already mastered the external flash.
The night is a party of lights, are you going to miss it?
Composition in urban photography
Composition is essential in urban photography, the way you place the elements within the frame will help you give them more or less prominence. A good composition can be the difference between the viewer stopping to enjoy your image or passing by.
You have certain resources to capture the viewer’s attention or give prominence to the center of interest. These are the most used compositional resources in urban photography:
- Framing. The vertical frame is more dynamic, it helps to emphasize the height of the buildings and to convey more force. The horizontal provides greater stability.
- Perspective. The angle from which you shoot your photograph can completely change the effect it has on the viewer. For example, it will not be the same as photographing a skater jumping at eye level than if you do it at ground level.
- Lines. The lines help guide the gaze. The diagonals create tension, the horizontal ones stability, the vertical ones dynamism and the curves are more seductive and subtle.
- Vanishing Point. When the lines converge at a point, it is known as a vanishing point and this acts as an accurate arrow. The lower the perspective you shoot from, the more powerful the vanishing point effect will be.
- patterns. Several repeated elements form a pattern, this can be more or less uniform but when it is interrupted by a different element it becomes the center of interest. You can use to create rhythm in your image.
- Nature frame. When you use urban elements to frame your protagonist within the image, it is known as natural framing. This causes the gaze to focus directly on him.
The natural setting highlights the center of interest
- Reflexes. Take advantage of all the reflective surfaces to achieve interesting compositions. Puddles, glass, mirrors, metallic surfaces, etc., will be your allies in the city.
- human element. In urban photography it is not necessary for the human element to appear, which does not mean that it can be included or that it does not add interest. As humans we are we feel immediately identified. In addition, a human figure not only works as a center of interest, but also includes size scale and can help reinforce the dynamism or stability of an image depending on the action it performs.
- graffiti. The city is full of them, combine them with the human element, with the natural setting or play with perspective, but it is a resource that you should not overlook in urban photography.
- Architecture. Architecture is the ideal complement to your urban photographs, as a background, as a protagonist, as a co-protagonist, to use its lines as a conductive element, etc.
- Color. Use color to…