If you feel that your street photos are uninteresting or just aren’t working anymore, it could be because your scenes are too cluttered. Learn five useful techniques that can help you minimize distracting elements from your compositions.
While minimalism has been a popular visual approach to street photography in recent times, Tatiana Hopper reminds us that there were masters who laid the groundwork for it decades back. Among them was Chinese photographer, film director, and actor Fan Ho, who immortalized Hong Kong during the 1950s and 1960s through his iconic black and white photography. In the video above, Hopper dissects five distinct techniques that we can learn from his work, and how we can use them today to rid our compositions of clutter.
As Hopper also notes, Fan Ho saw the street as a stage where he spent hours waiting for the picture-perfect scene to unfold. Often, that meant paying attention to the way light behaves in his chosen settings. He also made clever use of negative space to create masterfully minimalist compositions where tension, drama, and intent take center stage.
Hopper’s analysis is a short but sweet introduction (or reintroduction) into Fan Ho’s work, breaking down his style into a simple and practical guide that any photographer can incorporate into their own workflow. These tips include utilizing light as a structure, incorporating a lone human subject, and using negative space with a purpose. All of these elements are commonly used by many street photographers today, yet Fan Ho’s eye for detail, observation skills, and command of the scene remain unmatched.
Make sure to watch Tatiana Hopper’s full video to learn from and get inspired by Fan Ho’s esteemed street photography.