What is street photography?

Street photography, a genre of photography that records everyday life in a public place. The very publicness of the setting enables the photographer to take candid pictures of strangers, often without their knowledge. Street photography is also an attitude, a state of mind, a way of being. “Street photographers do not necessarily have a social purpose in mind, but they prefer to isolate and capture moments which might otherwise go unnoticed” (Encyclopaedia Brittanica).

General concept I want to focus on:

“The People of China”–As a huge country with the second large population, Chinese people have a variety of lifestyles. Hutongs are traditional places where Chinese people have lived for generations. Therefore, I want to capture interesting people and their colorful lives.

6 concepts I chose:

  • The decisive moment: “The decisive moment” is essentially capturing the photo with perfect timing.
  • Work the scene–don’t just take one photo: People won’t always know when the “best” decisive moment will occur, so you can take several pictures of the same scene to find the best one.
  • Capture gestures: Capturing gestures (facial gesture, hand gesture, etc.) can convey strong emotions.
  • Eye contact: To make more impactful or impressive photos, take photos in which the subject of your photo is looking directly at you (the photographer).
  • Focus on the background: Using the background to express the mood, style or idea behind the photograph. Backgrounds also tell stories.
  • Edges and corners and the frame: Use composition (edges, corners, frame, etc.) to lead the viewer’s attention on what the photographer wants the viewer’s to focus on.

Brainstorm of ideas (mind map)

Mood board

My project, “The People of China,” aims to capture the vibrant daily life and unique interactions within the hutongs, evoking a sense of connection and appreciation for the diverse stories of the people living there.