Street Photography At Night: I have gotten into doing street photography. All of my work so far has been during the day light hours. But I am leaving for Key West in a few weeks. I was...

Girl with A Canon Loc: Myrtle Beach,SC

I have gotten into doing street photography. All of my work so far has been during the day light hours. But I am leaving for Key West in a few weeks. I was there last year and know now that the night life is what it is all about. I saw the crowds on Duval Street and at Mallory Square. This year I want to photograph the action. So here is my question. I will use my Canon Rebel as it is lighter then my 7d. I was told to get a fast fixed lens like a 28mm or 35mm. Now for what I really need to know. I just can not carry with me at night in these places a tripod or a monopod. I do think it would be in the way and also I will be shooting while I am walking around. So has anyone out there done night street photography handheld?

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Girl with A Canon wrote:

I have gotten into doing street photography. All o... (show quote)

Yup.
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-306146-1.html

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-306877-1.html

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-306894-1.html

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-306901-1.html

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-307078-1.html

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-286431-1.html

The first one was done using a Zeiss 80mm f/2.8 lens. I'm not sure the exif data reflects that.

--Bob

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

I have.

#1
A fast lens helps (f2?) and high ISO (3200+) values helps.
Or
#2
A not so fast lens and image stabilisation along with high ISO (1600+)values.

#3
As for #2 and add i bit of fill in flash. This example has had a lot of PPing

In all cases shoot RAW and be prepared to do some noise reduction when post processing. Also a B&W conversion (as in Bob's examples) can help with the noise.
Practice, a lot, before you go.

The examples were all shot with older camers (C2005 & 2006) and from personal experience with new bodies (Canon 70D and Olympus E-M5Mark II) I wouldn't have any problems using ISO 12800 especially for web publication and smaller prints.

1/25 @ f2 & ISO 3200 & F=35mm hand held

(Download)

1/15 @ f4 & ISO 1600 F=24mm hand held

(Download)

1/25 @ f4 ISO 1600 F=47mm Fill in flash - hand held

(Download)

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

RichardTaylor wrote:

I have. br br #1 br A fast lens helps (f2?) and h... (show quote)

Richard, I really like the third image. Very nice.
--Bob

tradio Loc: Oxford, Ohio

I'm not sure a tripod would be of much use shooting action shots, it would be fine for landscape but shooting action, I think your only alternative is a fast wide lens and push ISO as necessary.

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

Thanks Bob.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

You have been there, so you know---Day or night, Key West is great for street photography. I would carry a 35mm 1.4.

Drala2k Loc: Vermont

You can use a good walking stick as a monopod stand in and so not appear to obvious. Or this http://www.amazon.com/Promaster-Monopod-Walking-Stick-Black/dp/B001S3O450/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452721570&sr=8-1&keywords=camera+monopod+walking+stick

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

Robert Malarz - re your excellent, deeply moving "rock bottom" images -- no, no, no...the real Rock Bottom is when you chance upon some besmudged old geezer from UHH sitting on the curb with his feet in the gutter clutching a digital SLR and one of those Metabones adapters...too far gone to be saved.

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

rjaywallace wrote:

Robert Malarz - re your excellent, deeply moving "rock bottom" images -- no, no, no...the real Rock Bottom is when you chance upon some besmudged old geezer from UHH sitting on the curb with his feet in the gutter clutching a digital SLR and one of those Metabones adapters...too far gone to be saved.

I'm smiling.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Girl with A Canon wrote:

I have gotten into doing street photography. All o... (show quote)

Remember that you are shooting with an APS-C crop factor camera, so 28mm or 35mm have the equivalent field of view of 45mm to 55mm lenses on a full frame (35mm film equivalent ) camera. The wide aperture is a good thing, but pricey. Those will be some good options for some situations, but if you want a wide angle you may need to go shorter. Even a fisheye can produce interesting results, or a mobile phone...

Paris, Le Marais - Canon T3i, handheld, Samyang 8mm fisheye

Paris, Le Marais - Canon T3i handheld, Samyang 8mm fisheye

New Orleans - iPhone 4S handheld

Leitz Loc: Solms

The Street Photography section was set up for the purpose of posting pictures and comments on the subject of street photography:

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-121-1.html

Bazbo Loc: Lisboa, Portugal

Girl with A Canon wrote:

I have gotten into doing street photography. All o... (show quote)

No advice on your project--just checking in to let you know there is a new forum on UHH devoted to street photography. If you did know about it, check it out.

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-121-1.html

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

Girl with A Canon wrote:

I have gotten into doing street photography. All o... (show quote)

I have the Canon 24mm f2.8 for my T4i and that's my recommendation, in fact it's packed for a trip right now, it's a pancake so it's less obtrusive than some other lenses. Bob.

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

Drala2k wrote:

You can use a good walking stick as a monopod stand in and so not appear to obvious. Or this http://www.amazon.com/Promaster-Monopod-Walking-Stick-Black/dp/B001S3O450/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452721570&sr=8-1&keywords=camera+monopod+walking+stick

Not sure the brand but quite often I've seen less expensive monopods at Walmart, and you don't have to wait for delivery, monopods are not a thing that requires a lot of quality in my thinking. Bob.