The ideal scene for street photography

Many street photographers say the ideal lens focal length is 35mm, because this wide-angle focus on the crowded street to the photographer enough space for the composition, covers a wide range, can be the characters and most of the surrounding environment, also some people say 50mm ideal, like Bresson, almost all works are used 50mm shooting, Because he thinks 50mm is the focal length of the human eye, WYSIWYG, this is the word that the programmer commonly used, "what you are What you get", namely "WYSIWYG", see by the view window the thing that sees with 50mm is equal to your naked eye to see. But with the 50mm lens is also involved in the camera is called the full amplitude machine, because the camera with 50mm conversion will become about 80mm of focal length, most of the consumer camera is not full amplitude, that is, you see in the viewing window is not the actual image of 50mm. (This is another topic that is interested in surfing the internet to see what a full camera is).

Whether it is 28mm,35mm or 50mm, or the recent Canon 40mm Cookie mirror, I think as long as the Gio are suitable for street photography, the following is from my experience to see why the fixed-focus mirror is more suitable for street photography.

　　

(Photo source: b&h)

Light

Street photography usually has to walk all the time, the fixed-focus mirror is usually relatively small, light and easy to carry, with large zoom telescopic mirror for me it is like walking in the street walking dumbbells.

　　

Launch ~ (Photo source: Visualizeus)

Big Aperture

Usually the focal lens has a larger aperture, the most common such as f/1.4,f/2,f/2.8, Lycra and out to the f/0.95 (this lens aperture open the most of the nose may be the eyes of the mouth will be paste), so at night or cloudy condition is also better to shoot, can give you a faster shutter, Of course, you can also in the light of the low when the ISO to the highest, I personally do not like the photos appear too much noise, so usually the highest ISO is not more than 800. The big aperture also has the advantage, is can make a lot of people love like the cream dissolve and Paris eight inside ambiguous background, also called bokeh.

　　

South Gate Market/Seoul/Korea by Ethan Chiang

The innate limitations of Gio make you think about composition

Used to use zoom lens often see the target after the left hand began to adjust the focal length, the focal length to the furthest shot a few, transferred to the middle to take a few, and then make a short one to take a few shots, finished looking at the LCD screen rolling turntable, um ... No, then put the camera up to zoom in a few, this constant filming hope to be a few of the behavior called "Spray and Pray", is "luck" meaning. Zoom lens Adjustable Focal length selection will make you hesitate, the picture will not be able to determine the temporary focus of the composition, such as light 24-70mm between the number of focal length can be selected? Changing Gio will make you unable to concentrate and constantly try to press the shutter, without thinking or feeling the environment or object you are photographing. But the fixed-focus mirror you do not choose, to rely on the legs to zoom in the zoom out, fixed-focus mirror will let me slow down observation, seriously consider the composition, and more sure to press the shutter. With fixed Gio on the street to take a day to exercise weight loss effect ... It's true....

　　

Xinyi Business Circle/Taipei/Taiwan by Ethan Chiang

"Depth" of the photo

When the Gio is transferred to the distal focal length, the distance between the subject and the background will become very close, meaning that the space between the subject and the background is squeezed, so that the photo can easily lose its visual "depth".

Comparison will not be noticed

Street photography is usually taken when people are in a state of nature, meaning to try not to let people find out you're shooting, but if you take is a medium-long type zoom mirror, it is difficult not to be noticed, fixed-focus mirror is like star Ye described the folding stool, "The mystery of the folding stool, it can be hidden in the residential areas, readily available, you can sit it to hide the murder, Even if you're caught by the police, you're the first of seven weapons! ... Okay, I know this analogy is a little far-fetched, but you know what I mean ...

　　

Myeong-dong/Seoul/Korea by Ethan Chiang

See more details

In the street photography with the telephoto zoom lens can only stand in the distance to lock the "obvious" target, like a person in the distance, a car, a big sign, with a fixed-focus mirror can let you walk into the crowd, see more in the distance from the lens to see the details, such as the small action between lovers, interaction between parents, light and light changes and so on.

　　

Zhen dong/Seoul/Korea by Ethan Chiang

I prefer 50mm when shooting on the street, and maybe 35mm and 28mm can cover more of the picture, but I'm attracted by a phrase that describes the layout of the photographic outfit,

"Bresson doesn't believe in wide-angle or long lenses, and thinks that only distorts human nature and distorts what the eyes see." ”