APOY 2016 Round 7: Big Brother – Street Photos

***Please visit the APOY 2016 home page to find all the rules for entry, terms and conditions, the APOY ENTRY EMAIL ADDRESS and the disclaimers that must be copied and past into an email entry. This round is Street Photography

Entries for Round 7: Big Brother – Street Photos must be received midnight (UK time) on 25 September 2016 

Street photography is as popular as it ever has been, and is perhaps the most accessible genre available to photographers. Even if we don’t live in a street alongside other people, we almost certainly travel to, and work in, places where the rich tapestry of street life chugs along like a well-oiled machine. All you have to do is photograph it, and show the rest of the world what happens in that location. There can be a great temptation to head to the biggest, most bustling, place you can find, but you really don’t need to.

Street photography can be shot as easily beside the quiet and seemingly empty village post office as it can among the maddening crowds that stream past the Bank of England. The trick is to develop a keen eye for candid moments. Events on the street can develop both at the micro and macro levels – spend some time observing locations and the behaviour of the people who inhabit it. Even the most subtle scenes can lead to images that are utterly captivating. Turn the page for some tips and ideas.

This month’s prize

Win a Sigma 24-35mm f/2 DG HSM lens and a Sigma 82mm WR ceramic protector

The winner of APOY round seven will receive a Sigma 24-35mm DG HSM lens, the world’s first large-aperture full-frame wideangle zoom lens offering f/2 brightness throughout the zoom range. This allows photographers to carry one lens to do the work of three fixed-focal-length lenses (24mm, 28mm and 35mm) with top optical performance. Also, the inner focusing system eliminates front lens rotation, enhancing the stability of the lens and allowing the use of circular polarising filters. This specification is particularly convenient for shooting video.

The Super Multi-Layer Coating reduces flare and ghosting, and provides sharp and high-contrast images even in backlit conditions. The Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) ensures a silent, high-speed AF function. By optimising the AF algorithm, smoother AF is achieved.

The winner will also receive an 82mm ceramic protector to ensure the lens remains dust and scratch free.

That brings the Sigma prize total to £1,054.98.

A few tips to set you on your way to shooting street photography

Shapes and Lines

Every street structure we see is made from lines and shapes, and you should make the most of them to create impact in your pictures.

The Absurd

The people we encounter on the streets are certainly a strange bunch. One of the hallmarks of street photography is recognising absurd and strange situations, and then reacting quickly, as we see in this image.

Fresh Angles

Make your pictures stand out. Shooting from waist level is a good start, and for a more dramatic angle you could place the camera close to the ground to give your subjects a dramatic presence. Or, as in this picture, get high up and shoot downwards.

Using Light

Light gets funnelled between buildings, through tunnels and under bridges. On a clear day, you can use this directional light to frame your subjects with a powerful beam and deep dark shadows.

Entries must be received midnight (UK time) on 25 September 2016 

***Please visit the APOY 2016 home page to find all the rules for entry, terms and conditions, the APOY ENTRY EMAIL ADDRESS and the disclaimers that must be copied and past into an email entry.