Different Kinds of Lighting for Street Photography
Introduction:
Let’s make things clear from the offset. There is no ‘best' kind of lighting for street photography. As street photography is about moments, scenes, people, places, there are multiple factors that determine whether or not a street shot is a good one. Lighting might be one of them, but it is by no means the be all and end all, and it certainly shouldn’t be a deciding factor as to whether or not you pick up your camera and go out and shoot. Different lighting yields different results and, whilst certain types of lighting might be conducive to certain types of results, I would encourage you to take to the streets in all lighting conditions - with overcast lighting, when it’s raining, at night, in bright sunlight - to see what you can get for yourself.
However, understanding of the best types of lighting for street photography can help you get the best out of your time on the streets and can help you determine the best composition, camera settings and subject choices to create photos that are truly special.
It’s also worth noting and repeating (one of) my mantra(‘s) for street photography (or any type of photography for that matter):
Light isn’t as important as how you capture the light.
If you’re presented with beautiful light but you blow out the highlights, or you shoot from a less optimal angle, or you mess up the composition, you won’t be getting the best out of your moments and your photos will suffer for it. Don’t underestimate the importance of lighting, but don’t overestimate it to the extent that it eclipses the other aspects of what makes a good photograph. It’s also worth considering whether or not lighting is secondary in importance to capturing a specific moment - especially for street photography.
With that being said, let’s take a look at some of the possible lighting settings you might encounter and dive deeper into how you can get the best out of it. I hope you’ll find it illuminating.
Consider how lighting illuminates both your scene and your subjects.
Street Lighting: Backlight
As the name suggests, this kind of lighting is where your primary source of light is behind the subject and, depending on brightness, can result in a partial or complete silhouette. Positioning of the backlighting can also result in rim lighting - illumination of the edges of the subject - that creates a dramatic lighting effect.
When used correctly backlighting can produce vivid and dramatic results. I’d recommend heading out into the city and experimenting with a variety of subjects using the low sun as a natural source of backlight to see what kind of silhouette and rim lighting you can achieve in your shots.
Street Photography Backlighting
Often results in silhouettes and shadows.
Street Lighting: Golden Hour
Shooting street photography during golden hour offers numerous benefits, including soft, warm light that creates a pleasing and flattering effect on subjects, long shadows that add depth and dimension, and enhanced colors that make photos more vibrant and rich.
The unique atmosphere of golden hour adds a magical, surreal quality to images, while the directional light provides creative opportunities for effects like lens flares and backlighting. These elements combine to make golden hour an ideal time for capturing stunning street photography. Have you tried shooting during this time before? If so, what was your experience like?
Golden Hour Light
Ideal for softer lighting and lens flares.
Street Lighting: Bright Sunlight
Shooting street photography during bright sunlight offers several benefits, including high-contrast lighting that simplifies scenes and produces dramatic shadows, and an abundance of light that allows for faster shutter speeds to capture sharp, detailed images of moving subjects.
Bright sunlight enhances colors, making photos more vivid and eye-catching, while the strong light and shadows add depth and dimension to compositions, making them more dynamic and engaging. Additionally, the harsh lighting can create a unique mood and atmosphere, often giving photos a more intense and energetic feel. Have you tried shooting street photography in bright sunlight before? If so, what challenges did you face?
Bright Sunlight
For vivid, eye-catching colours and depth.
Street Lighting: Night Light
Shooting street photography at night offers the dynamic interplay of various light sources like street lamps, neon signs, and car headlights, creating dramatic and colorful scenes. The nighttime atmosphere adds a mysterious and moody vibe, with pronounced shadows and contrasts that give your images a unique look.
The less crowded streets allow for more intimate and unobstructed scenes, while the low light conditions challenge you to experiment with different camera settings and techniques, such as long exposures and light trails, resulting in stunning and creative shots. Additionally, the unique behavior and attire of people at night provide interesting subjects and candid moments that are not typically found during the day.
Street Photography at Night
Relies on artificial sources of light to set the scene.
SUMMARY
Whilst light is crucial for photographers, capturing the moment often takes precedence over finding the perfect light. Use the above as rough guidelines to make you aware of what lighting conditions you’ll encounter when you’re out and about shooting, but remember that unique moments are what you should be looking for.
Good luck!
