STREET PHOTOGRAPHY
There's a wealth of subjects just walking about in the street - but how do you set about photographing people as they go about their everyday lives? Here we look at some answers.

Click the images below to find out how the photographs were taken

Busker, Cheltenham Spa, England	Singing dog, Ireland
Back street, Nefta, Tunisia	Saltair, Yorkshire, England

The best way
Your approach to being at large with a camera to photograph what goes on around you will depend very much on your own personality, and in what circumstances you intend to work. Let's assume you simply want to move around and take pictures of people going about their business without drawing too much attention to yourself; by far the best way.

The key to succesful candid photography is to blend into the background as much as possible - easier said than done in some overseas countries when the presence of a foreigner is bound to attract attention. Still, you can go some way to help yourself by dressing for the part; wear subdued colours and avoid those fancy camera straps with makers names on them. The same applies to camera bags. Try to keep them as small and inconspicuous as possible, and don't hang lots of cameras round your neck - you'll look silly and boastful and might just attract the wrong sort of attention from thieves.

Rapport
Often I carry no camera bag at all, I just pop a camera into n old canvas shoulder bag with a couple of lenses and some film. It is really all you need, and will give you a much better chance of going unnoticed. Also, if you do want to get a stranger to pose for you, it will give you chance to get chatting without him knowing you are a photographer. Then, once a rapport has been established, you can rummage around in your bag, pull out your camera and ask to take a picture.

In normal circumstances, though, the best place for your camera is around your neck and tucked away under your jacket so that it is instantly accessible when you see a picture taking shape. And that is the other key to sucessful street photography - be aware of what is going on around you and anticipate the possibility of a photograph about to happen. It needs lots of practise, but stick at it and the rewards will be tremendous.

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