If you want to practice your photographic skills or expand your portfolio, then look no further than your very own urban backyard. Whether you are an amateur photographer or a snap-happy tourist, the urban environment provides ample opportunity for amazing photographs. Here are a few photography tips you can try out, with pictures of Cape Town used as examples.
Take your camera wherever you go
This is a definite, otherwise you risk missing a fantastic but short-lived photographic moment. I always carry a digital compact camera in my handbag, and keep an old digital SLR in the boot of my car for “˜photo emergencies’.
Be a tourist in your own city
A good place to start is the tourist sites or monuments in your city. The challenge here is to capture these over-photographed sites without resorting to the “˜postcard’ look. A great way to do this is to photograph them from a perspective other than eye level. If the monument is famous and easily recognisable, you could also try capturing just a hint of it in your photograph.
Include people, pets, and urban wildlife
Try to inject some life into your composition by including people or animals in your shots [how to photograph portraits]. If you are too shy to photograph strangers, then try your hand at photographing the urban wildlife (e.g. pigeons, seagulls, or even rats). Document their interactions with the city folk or make a statement about their ability to thrive within our concrete habitat.
Photograph under different conditions
Early morning and evening photography usually provides the best lighting, but try taking shots during other times of the day. The bold highlights and strong shadows cast by the midday sun can present a wonderful opportunity to photograph architecture. Street lamps and other artificial lighting during the night make cityscapes an ideal subject for photography, but don’t forget to bring a tripod or a beanbag to steady your camera during those long exposures.
Weather conditions can also be used to emphasize your subject or create a surreal mood. An overcast day can be beautiful for portraiture, and dark storm clouds can give an ominous feeling to a cityscape. White clouds against a blue sky can be enhanced with the use of a polarizing filter. And of course, the most brilliant sunsets/sunrises occur when the sky is partially cloudy.
Explore with friends
This is worthwhile for two reasons: your friends can watch for unsavoury characters when you are busy setting up a shot, but more importantly, they can provide a different perspective on a shot. This is a great exercise if you want to push your boundaries and try a new approach to photography.
Get off the beaten track
You will be amazed at the gems you’ll find when you try to “˜get lost’ in a city. Walking is the best way to explore the city, and make an effort to check out the neighbourhood parks, narrow alleyways, and local marketplaces.
But also take notice of your familiar surroundings
This may seem like a frivolous exercise, but it is astounding what opportunities you can find when you make an effort to look around you. For example, I was stuck in traffic on my way to work when I noticed how the water pipes on the walls of houses formed interesting geometric patterns. Also take note of the lighting conditions and time of day, so that you can decide on the optimal time for photographing the area. You can also scope out the best vantage points for photos of sunsets and sunrises.
Attend a sporting event, parade, or any other public gathering
This is a perfect opportunity to photograph people in a fast-paced and somewhat challenging environment. And don’t be surprised if the spectators sometimes appear more interesting than the actual event!
Experiment with different equipment
Try using a few different lenses: a zoom lens (my favourite: 40-150mm) which gives you the flexibility to shoot at any range, a wide angle lens for architecture and cityscapes, and a single focal length lens for portraits [how to focus correctly]. A film camera will compel you to spend more time contemplating your composition before you actually press the shutter button. Just make sure that you are familiar with the equipment, as you may only have one chance to capture the moment.
Push your photographic boundaries
If you normally photograph landscapes, then try photographing people instead, and vice versa. The challenge of trying something different may inspire you to do more!
Try, and try again
That’s the beauty of photographing your own city: if your first attempt doesn’t work, you can always go back and try again. And if you were visiting the city as a tourist, this will give you a good excuse to return for a second time.
And most importantly, have fun
Take these tips to the streets and enter your urban photographs in this month’s Facebook photo competition!
Click here for more photography tips from the Getaway blog.
