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Street photography: 3 steps to beat the fear
Taking pictures in public is scary sometimes. Here’s how I overcame my fear in three steps.
I get a lot of questions, especially from beginners, who are intimidated about shooting in public places. I get it! It was the same for me and sometimes it still is. I didn’t have a framework for dealing with it. However in hindsight a kind of process emerged that I am going to explain.
First things first: Sometimes you are right to be scared, so don’t disregard that. There are places where you shouldn’t be taking pictures or where you shouldn’t really be in the first place. A camera is not an access pass! This article is based on the fact that I live in Norway. Laws and cultures vary and we should respect that.
Why are we intimidated about photographing in public?
Have you ever taken pictures of your friends or family in public? Likely yes, and I bet that didn’t feel awkward at all. Yet when you are alone this changes. Why is that?
Turns out there’s a very basic human factor at play here. We are social group animals that evolved to place great importance on being accepted by society. Being rejected, or in the more modern sense, not fitting in is actually an existential threat. In…
