The more painterly street photographs tend to achieve their design through the interplay of contrast and negative space. A shaft of light in an alley. The sharp contrast from one side of the street to the other. A lone bicyclist on a contrasty crossroad. Yes, light & shadow can tell stories as powerful as pure action.
“Find beauty not only in the thing itself but in the pattern of the shadows, the light and dark which that thing provides.”
– Junichiro Tanizaki
Seek out the work of Saul Leiter and Ernst Hass for light & shadow inspiration.
Look for areas in the shade where light slips through openings. Be patient as subjects move in and out of the light. Vehicles. People. Structures. People wearing light colours will stand out from the shadows and dark colours will fade into them.
- Dramatic interplay of light & shadow
- Negative space
- Strong, naturally framed subjects
- Isolated subjects in well defined light
- Sharp lines of contrast
