7 Key Camera Settings From a Street Photography Pro (VIDEO)
Get ready for some expert advice from a Finnish pro who reveals seven smart camera settings that are guaranteed to change how you shoot on the street. The promise is that there will be no more missed shots or incorrect exposures if you heed Peter Forsgard’s advice.
Forsgard is a highly respected Helsinki-based photographer whose street photography tutorials explore the art and techniques of capturing the essence of urban life while remaining invisible and working fast to grab those fleeting candid moments. And that difficult to do if the camera settings you choose aren’t up to the task.
These time-tested recommendations are designed to work in just about any situation you confront from bright daylight to dark alleys, and Forsgard says, “it’s a real workflow that I use every single day.” He begins with a discussion of shutter speed options, both fast and slow, that have a huge impact on the look and feel of your images.
Forsgard’s examples illustrate why this setting is all about motion control. This important decision hinges on whether you want a pin-sharp subject that’s frozen in time, or one that conveys a sense of movement with light trails from passing cars or wispy pedestrians rushing through the frame.
Next on the list is a thoughtful approach to aperture for maximum control over depth and dimension, and the f/stop you choose depends upon the specific effect you intend to create. In other words, you can stop down for a maximum range of sharpness and context or open up wide to accentuate a key subject against a soft clutter-free background.
Forsgard also reveals the ISO strategy that he recommends for any light, and how to take corrective action with exposure compensation when tricky light confuses your camera’s meter. As this eye-opening lesson proceeds you’ll learn Forsgard’s approach to autofocus configuration, a Manual mode zone-focusing technique, and his Camera Always On workflow. And if you’re interested in the gear that Forsgard prefers, there a list in the description beneath the video.
Forsgard’s YouTube channel contains many more how-to videos on street photography tips and techniques.
And don’t miss the tutorial we featured earlier with a post-processing expert who demonstrates how Lightroom’s new Color Variance tool enables you to quickly fix photographs with annoying color-balance problems.
