Street Photography Classes in Hong Kong
If you're passionate about capturing the vibrant essence of this dynamic city through your lens, you've come to the right place. Join us as we explore the bustling streets, hidden alleys, and captivating stories that Hong Kong has to offer.
Whether you're a beginner looking to master the basics or an experienced photographer seeking to refine your skills, our street photography lessons will take your artistry to new heights. Get ready to immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Hong Kong's urban landscape and unleash your creativity. Let's embark on an exciting journey of visual storytelling together!
Check out some of the knowledge Blair has shared on street photography in Hong Kong by visiting the articles page here.
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Select a section on to get started, or book a single session walk with Blair below.
What is Street Photography?
Definitions of street photography are many and varied, but the most widely accepted definition of the art is that street photography is a captivating and dynamic genre of photography that captures the essence of everyday life in public spaces. It is an art form that thrives on spontaneity, observation, and the ability to seize fleeting moments in urban environments.
Street photography aims to document authentic human interactions, cultural nuances, and the unique stories that unfold on the streets. With its roots deeply embedded in the tradition of documentary photography, street photography has evolved into a distinct style characterized by its rawness, candidness, and ability to provoke emotions. It offers a window into the pulse of a city, reflecting the diverse tapestry of life and inviting viewers to see the world through the eyes of the photographer.
Why Choose Street Photography?
Why not immerse yourself in the captivating world of street photography? Life unfolds all around us, with countless interactions and moments of significance passing by in the blink of an eye. Through the lens of street photography, you have the power to capture and preserve these fleeting moments that resonate with you as a photographer. With every click of the shutter, you curate a visual narrative that reflects your perspective, your artistic vision, and your unique view of the world. By selecting and immortalizing these chosen snippets of time, street photography allows you to share your interpretation of human behavior, urban environments, and daily interactions, inviting viewers to experience the world through your lens.
If you possess a fascination for human dynamics, the urban landscape, and the beauty of everyday life, it's time to hit the streets and discover how you can infuse your own distinct style into the art of photography. Unleash your creativity and embrace the allure of street photography as you embark on a visual journey like no other.
How to Get Started with Street Photography
It’s actually simple. Pick up a camera, any camera that has manual settings, choose a lens (most focal lengths will work), and take to the streets. Even if you don’t have one of those, a phone that allows you to manually adjust the settings will also be fine. It’s less about what gear you need and more about making what gear you have work to your advantage. Don’t have a Leica Q3? No problem, a basic Canon will do. Don’t have a 35mm F1.4 for those mushy, soft backgrounds? Don’t worry, a 24 - 70 F2.8 will be just fine. Only have one lens? Perfect, you don’t need to choose. You get the point - less thinking, more doing. It’s about using what you have to develop your technique to better show your vision of the world. I’d recommend spending at least one day a week out on the streets walking around with a camera and observing the situations that unfold around you.
Pick an area to walk about in and see what you get. Once you’ve got some shots to work with, have a go at editing them using Lightroom to see if you can drill down into the vision and message that your image is trying to convey. Show it to friends and family and ask them what they see, how it makes them feel, and determine if it aligns with your vision of street photography. This feedback loop will also help refine your photography moving forward.
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How to Improve Your Street Photography
Time. Practice. Patience.
The way that you would improve any skill, really. There is no magical formula, no online courses, no method of instruction that is going to equal hours of practice experience and time spent on the streets. There are some methods you can use to develop your eye for photography, experiment with different situations and scenarios, and test and learn to strive for better results. Here are some suggestions for what you can try:
One lens only: Abandon all lenses bar one. Use that lens for a street photography session and see what you can do with the composition and lighting.
Different Times, Different Looks: Don’t just go to a place once and leave it. Venture back there at different times of the day to see if the lighting and composition can give a better look to your photos.
Themes and Subjects: Pick a theme and look for patterns. Maybe there are common traits, themes or focus points that can combine to make a connection. Esteemed photography Michael Wolf has an entire book on fallen laundry in Hong Kong.
Develop a story: Think about the story behind your images and how you can convey a message. Start with the story first and work from there. Weave a particular story into your photography collection.
Take Classes: Getting a 3rd party to guide you and review your work can be useful in accelerating your creative process and getting you to where you’d like to go. If you’d like to improve faster, classes are a viable option.
How to Choose Locations for Street Photography
Check out some of the guides and Google a location beforehand to see what kind of surroundings you’ll encounter when you visit. Make use of Instagram to see what composition and architecture you’ll see when you’re in a specific location. For Hong Kong, I’ve put together a list of secret gems here.
Are Street Photography Lessons Worth It?
If you’re someone who benefits from being pointed in the right direction, then yes, street photography lessons can help guide you and potentially accelerate your development. Good lessons will allow you to discover your own style, allowing you to stand out from the crowd. It’s a case of giving a man a fish or teaching a man to fish. Bad street photography lessons will focus only on the session and results from the session. Good lessons will give you a path and a direction that will stick with you after the practical session has ended, ensuring that you can pick them up and run with them.
Investing in lessons (and believe me it is an investment) will obviously depend on your individual goals, learning style, and level of experience. If you’re someone who would just benefit from hitting the streets more, consider doing that for a fair chunk of time before you look for guidance. If you’d like some instruction, feedback, and motivation to keep you going, lessons are a good way to go.
Here’s some of the reasons why you might want to look at street photography lessons:
Skill Development: Street photography lessons provide an opportunity to learn and refine essential skills specific to the genre. Experienced instructors can teach you techniques for composition, lighting, storytelling, and how to approach and interact with subjects. These lessons can accelerate your learning curve, helping you improve your photography skills more quickly than through self-guided practice alone.
Feedback and Critique: One of the valuable aspects of lessons is receiving feedback and critique from instructors and peers. Constructive criticism can offer insights into areas for improvement, identify your strengths, and provide guidance on how to enhance your street photography. This feedback can be instrumental in honing your artistic vision and pushing you to new creative heights.
Inspiration and Motivation: Participating in street photography lessons can be a great source of inspiration and motivation. Interacting with fellow photographers and engaging in discussions about the art form can spark fresh ideas, broaden your perspectives, and reignite your passion for photography. Additionally, seeing the work of instructors and peers can inspire you to explore new techniques and push the boundaries of your creativity.
Access to Expertise: Enrolling in street photography lessons gives you access to the knowledge and expertise of experienced instructors. They can share their insights, tips, and tricks gained from years of practice and offer guidance tailored to your specific needs. Learning from professionals can save you time and effort by helping you avoid common pitfalls and providing you with valuable insights that may take years to discover on your own.
Networking Opportunities: Engaging in street photography lessons can help you connect with a community of like-minded individuals who share your passion for the art form. Building relationships with fellow photographers can lead to collaborations, mentorship opportunities, and a supportive network that can enhance your growth as a street photographer.
Getting Started with Street Photography Lessons
This is where I come in.
I’ve been shooting photos of Hong Kong’s streets for the past 5 years, and have developed (pun always intended) an understanding of composition, lighting, subjects, themes, and storytelling. I can work with you to build your portfolio and add direction to your photography journey.
Get in touch with me and book a 30 min consultation and we can go over everything together. I’ll put together a custom lesson plan and we’ll take to the streets together to capture some of the magical moments that HK has to offer. If you’re abroad, we can work around online lessons and weekly assignments to get you to a stage where you can continue to evolve as a competent photographer.
Course Curriculum
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In this first module let’s set the foundation for becoming a competent street photography, including learning a bit about the history, looking at some well known street photographers and discussing the ethics and considerations when shooting in public places.
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Learn what settings to use to make the most of your time on the streets. Understand how different ISO, aperture and shutter speed will affect your results.
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Learn how to use artificial and natural light to draw attention to your subjects. Understand the best composition rules for shooting on the streets.
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Want to approach and photograph strangers? This module will look at how to make a connection with your subjects in a specific environment including how to shoot your subjects in a candid and natural way.
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We’ll look at the best editing techniques in Lightroom and Photoshop to enhance your photos and bring out their best qualities. This module will also focus on developing a cohesive body of work.
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Let’s look back on the course and discuss how you can continue to build your portfolio, showcase your work and build a street photography business.
Course Details:
Participants based in Hong Kong can opt for practical, in-person lessons, otherwise these will be done remotely with assignments.
Required equipment: Camera with a manual setting, SD card.
Custom lesson plans are available upon enquiry.
