As street photographers, just what do we look for when we are out shooting?
v.1©soliven/Virac.2016
One of my personal favorite dog shots is part of series of images culminating into this neat formation and well seen family of four enjoying their moment by the seashore perfectly framed between the legs of our canine character.
For the seasoned street photographer, this should be just a fundamental composition using handy techniques in framing and timing. As always the human presence provides strong element for this combo.
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Virac, Catanduanes [2016travel]
As both a long time travel and street photographer, it’s an opportunistic matter to capture both genres, I still love shooting sunsets. When able, you get to see that wide spectrum of the localities’ culture, architecture, the people, colors, the seascape, the gift of beautiful unique-to-the-place sunrise/s, transportation modes, and basically life unfolding.
Mornings if not raining are usually allocated for an hour of jog-walk-shoot-jog activity. I always have a ready pair of running shoes neatly tucked in my travel backpack. The run is of course for the body and health conditioning, that’s for sure. The rest of the day is then dedicated to the different design functions.
©soliven/Virac

©soliven/Virac

©soliven/Virac
©soliven/Virac

©soliven/Virac


soliven/Virac
©soliven/Virac
©soliven/Virac
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Over the years I have carefully managed to carry my camera relatively stable while jogging-running. The point of destination would usually be the market, parks, and the bay walk area. Teeming with life and morning activities such as the exercises, vendors, fishermen unloading their catch, people warming up to the morning sun’s vitamin c, jeepneys, buses, boats unloading-uploading passengers, people either on pace or rushing to the office, or just the normal slice-of-life things you’d normally see in a provincial setting.
… and shoot street style!
So given this particular wide bay are area to shoot where subjects’ movements are a little slow, laid back, relaxed, we have all the time to really see and scan what is happening around, and you are in for about anything that will interest you, move you, or attract your eyes and senses. It is also a little of an advantage of your ‘touristy’ get up as people tend to be just passive if not friendly. As a side note, one must always be ready to know how to mingle and socialize, talk your way when the situation calls for it. It eases up whatever negative notions they may be thinking at that moment. And more often than not, they somehow give that subtle silent nod of acceptance. If you happen to run again the next day to the same place, rest assured you have planted a good vibe with the local folks today!
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So as street photographers, just what do we look for when we are out shooting ?
For the experienced photographer, the different techniques, styles practiced over the years are all now embodied in the fundamental process that is just ready to be applied to a corresponding specific scene and subject. And of course the quickness of the eyes and the sense of anticipation plays a BIG role in spotting what could be potential winner.
So after a long back and forth of confused viewing, I was finally able to see light, organize, analyze this particular time and set of images from this shoot, and slowly the Dog’s character started to build up having been able to record his moments from sleep to getting up and scanning his surroundings, probably his territory.
Thus, this blog!
So our main character is a canine.
Returning from a 2nd round of run around from end to end of the boulevard, this scene came into view, and I felt this has a potential to evolve into a more interesting turn. So rightfully so, I stayed in the spot and just about ready to record the moments!
v.3©soliven/Virac.2016

v.4©soliven/Virac v.5©soliven/Virac
v.6©soliven/Virac
V3, V4, V5. Anticipation. At this point, this canine, fresh from its slumber, slowly and lazily got up to establish his morning routine.
V6 frame is a build up to the moment the people in the background all fall into the frame between the dog’s legs, this is quick. The eye contact is much ideal here for the connection to the viewer as well.
Final selections, V1 and V2 below.
v1©soliven/Virac
v2©soliven/Virac
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For the 2 final selections, I’ll leave it up to everyone to make their own reading, analyses and appreciation.
Happy viewing!
”Spotting a potential street scene, and that character of interest ” – ©soliven/may2020
#alwaysCANDID #CANDIDalways #spontaniety #decisivemoment #serendipity #framing #kalye5