Table Of ContentStreet Photography
With both training and preparation, a street photographer needs to make rapid
decisions; there may be only a fraction of a second to immortalize a moment in
time that has never happened before and will never happen again. This is where
Street Photography: Creative Vision Behind the Lens comes in.
Follow Valérie Jardin on an inspiring photo walk around the world. After an
overview of the practical and technical aspects of street photography, Valérie
takes you along on a personal photographic journey as she hits the streets of her
favorite urban haunts. She shows you the art of storytelling through her
photographs, from envisioning the image to actually capturing it in the camera.
Learn about the technical and compositional choices she makes and the thought
processes that spur the click of the shutter.
Perfect for both new photographers excited to capture the world around them
and experienced street photographers wishing to improve their techniques and
images, Street Photography requires no special equipment, just a passion for
seeing and capturing the extraordinary in the ordinary.
After working as a commercial photographer, Valérie Jardin now dedicates her
time and passion to educating others. Since 2012, Valérie has taken her camera all
over the world, teaching students the art of storytelling in places where the
people and streets abound: Paris, New York, Rome, Amsterdam, Melbourne, and
San Francisco, just to name a few.
Apart from teaching, Valérie is the author of two e-books, has written nearly
one hundred articles for various publications, writes her own blog, and records
her own photography podcast called Hit the Streets with Valérie Jardin. She
regularly speaks at conferences worldwide, contributes to numerous podcasts,
sells fine art prints, and exhibits her work in various galleries. Valérie’s talent as a
photographer and skill as a business owner caught the eye of Fujifilm USA, and
in 2015 she became an official Fujifilm X-Photographer.
Street Photography
Creative Vision Behind the Lens
Valérie Jardin
First published 2018
by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
and by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2018 Taylor & Francis
The right of Valérie Jardin to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance
with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any
electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and
recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the
publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used
only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
A catalog record for this book has been requested ISBN: 978-1-138-23892-3 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-138-23893-0 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-29641-8 (ebk)
Typeset in Minion Pro and Avenir
by Apex CoVantage, LLC
Pour mes parents que j’aime et la patience dont ils ont fait preuve pour élever une
enfant passionnée et intrépide.
For my parents whom I love and their enduring patience in raising a passionate
and fearless child.
Contents
PART I: THE FUNDAMENTALS OF STREET PHOTOGRAPHY
1 What Is Street Photography?
2 Getting Started
What Drives Street Photographers?
If This Is New for You, Then Reset Your Expectations
Is It Legal, and Do I Need Permission?
Is It Ethical?
What Gear Should I Use?
What Should I Bring on a Photo Walk?
The Fear of Photographing Strangers
Should You Pick a Theme or Go Out Empty?
The Power of Limitations
Share Your Work
3 Different Ways to Approach Street Photography
React to a Situation
Be Part of the Scene
Find a Stage
Incorporate the Human Element Into the Urban Landscape
The Eye Contact
Street Portraits
Abstract
4 Elements That Make a Strong Street Photograph
Strong Subjects
Expression and Gesture
Appearance
The Importance of Capturing the Correct Stepping Motion
Composition
Point of View and Perspective
Rule of Thirds
Creating Tension
Triangles
Leading Lines
Adding a Sense of Place in the Background
Juxtapositions
Interconnections
Depth
Layers
Negative Space
Light
Extraordinary Light
Shadows
Silhouettes
Reflections
Mystery of the Night
Techniques
Motion
Looking in/Out
Humor and Respect
Color or Black and White
Photographing a Mini Series of Images
A Few Words on Photographing Children
PART II: PHOTO WALKS
Stories in a Single Frame
Paris
Normandy
Brussels and Bruges
Rome
New York City
Seattle
Vancouver
Chicago
San Francisco
Austin
Minneapolis and Surroundings
Stories in Series
La Pétanque
Beautiful Smiles of Strangers
A Dreamy 19th Century Christmas
