You don’t have time? Perfect, me neither!
We both have one major challenge: time.
While you may be reading this in an office right now, I write it in one as well: the EHS headquarters in Amsterdam. Producing fine art street photography while running an international fine art street photography label takes time…a lot of time!
Throughout the years one key insight blew my mind.
Less is more, even in your fine art street photography journey. You can vastly improve your street photos…by saving time!
Let me share with you my top 3 strategies that not only save you time, but also improve your street photos. I guarantee you that they will help a lot! I use them for my own fine art street photos and they work wonders!
1 YOU ARE BORN FOR FINE ART GOLD! DON’T EVEN TOUCH STREET PHOTOGRAPHY SILVER.
I’ve made that mistake a million times: Don’t waste your time on street photos that aren’t worth polishing. It just feels nice to bring a street photo gold home after a long walk, doesn’t it? However, if you don’t, just move on. Don’t ever waste time on post-processing mediocre or “kinda good” street photos. That’s just polished silver, but no street photo gold!
“Midnight Cowboy”by VICE (Amsterdam, 2015)
I learned that lesson in 2013 when I produced fine art street photography 365 days in a row. Honestly, I could upload another 365 with the street photo silver I left in the Lightroom drawer.
What this means for your fine art street photography:
Don’t waste any time on polishing “kinda good” street photos. Only post-process the street photos that actually have a well-composed golden moment. The hour you spent post-processing 10 mediocre photos should be spent on 1 really great one!
2 FINE ART STREET PHOTOGRAPHY DIAMONDS ARE MADE UNDER PRESSURE. READY TO CRANK IT UP?
Yes, quality comes from quantity. The more you shoot, the better you get. However, it depends how you use that time.
A really good buddy of mine is an amazing programmer. We talked about how we reached excellence in our craft one night. Of course, the 10000 hour rule popped up again. My buddy hit the nail on the head about them:
“It’s not about the 10.000 hours, it’s about how efficient you use them!”
“Ready For Take off” by EHS VICE (Amsterdam, 2016)
It’s so true. You could take street photos for many years and never improve. Efficiency is the key to success here. To be honest, I realized the magical power of deadlines way too late in my 365 project. Deadlines are vital to your street photography success as you from the 7th habit of highly creative street photographers.
Between your office and heading home with your car you walk for 3 minutes? Perfect, that’s your deadline! You have 3 minutes to produce something.
You are psyched for your day off? Limit your street photo walk to one hour. That’s it! 60 minutes is all you have. Diamonds are made under pressure, remember? The less time you have, the more you zone into your fine art photography!
What this means for your fine art street photography:
5 minutes, 10 minutes, 30 minutes or a maximum of 60 minutes should be your limit. Use your phone to set an alarm. Stop as soon as it rings. The pressure will save you time and squeeze out every bit of creative energy you have…and you will feel that in your street photos!
3 LET YOUR FINE ART STREET PHOTO WALKS COME TO YOU!
You know you could be a better fine art street photographer, if you just had more time to shoot. I know that challenge! What you do is let your photo walk come to you from now on.
Just because it has the name street photography, doesn’t mean you need to be “on the streets”. To me, I see it as candid photography. Whether you are on a farm, in an office, on the train or in strip mall, it’s all street photography. Embrace that!
Waiting for your partner in the department store? Shoot the people in the store.
Just missed the bus? No worries, capture strangers through a puddle.
You are having the flu and can’t leave your room? There is always a window!
“The Rear Window” by EHS VICE (Amsterdam, 2016)
Use your phone or carry your camera with you at all times. That way, you don’t even need a photo walk anymore. Your everyday life becomes one!
What this means for your fine art street photography:
You save tremendous amounts of time by turning your everyday life into photo walks! That way, you also open up new street photo opportunities around you. You won’t believe how fascinating a cubicle farm can be once you unleash your eye, heart and soul:
“Monday Blues” by EHS VICE (Amsterdam, 2016)
“The 13th Floor” by VICE (Amsterdam, 2016)
“Cubicle Sunset” by EHS VICE (Amsterdam, 2016)
About the Author
Marius “VICE” Vieth is an award-winning fine-art photographer, entrepreneur and coach based in Amsterdam. His brand new Label Eye, Heart & Soul (www.eyeheartandsoul.com) empowers uprising and established photographers worldwide. Make sure to check out his website, connect with EHS on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to level up your photography game! This article was also published here and shared with permission.
