Street photography in small towns?

[TobiasL]

I'm curious, do you do street photography in your small town (if you live in one)?

I live in a small town and I find it quite difficult compared to larger cities. Only time it gets a little easier is when there are events, festivals where there are gatherings but otherwise people seem to avoid each other. In the winter the streets are pretty much empty which is rather boring if you are into street photography like me. I suppose I need to focus less on people.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

Or maybe to focus less on events and more on people...

Cheers,

Juan

 

[John Elder]

It is tougher in a smaller town or any town where people are not used ro being photographed. If the town is small enough and you always carry your camera, maybe the townspeople will get used to the fact that you are a photographer and stop paying attention to you shooting them, since they will get used to it

 

[FrankS]

In a small town, there is not the anonymity of the big city feeling that allows the (aloof) photographing of strangers. You pretty much have to be completely open and show examples of work and explain yourself first. Then you can usually expect a friendly reaction.

 

[dave lackey]

Just finished a photographic essay of a small town of less than 2,000. The way to get access to photographing the people is to spend a lot of time sitting down at the restaurant, on Main Street, at the counter in the shops, and getting to know them. Talk about everything and listen even more.

You will find you become friends with some of them and the relationship spreads. Take them some 5x7 prints of them or their business. Buy some things at their shops. Just become friends.🙂

After a few months of this, you will find it so much easier when you become a regular on the street.

 

[John Rountree]

There isn't as much going on in a small town. And, by definition there are fewer people on the street at any one time. That is why you find it easier to shoot at festivals.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

Oh, right... I thought TobiasL meant the interesting subject was the event, but yes, maybe he wants more events to focus on people and be less noticed...

Cheers,

Juan

 

[JayM]

My town is over 70k people but like many cities in the USA no one walks anywhere because everything is super far apart and designed to be reached by car. The only time I've seen people walking much here in the last decade was when it snowed and iced bad enough this winter that everything closed because you couldn't safely drive.

That said: just about every weekend I go to the farmer's market or something and photograph people. It's not New York nor is it Paris, but it can be fun and as long as you don't box yourself in with expectations some pretty quirky and enjoyable stuff can come from it.

Mundane may be in vogue. Try to be one step ahead by embracing the ULTRA-mundane 😉

 

[Lauffray]

Actually with regards to people I don't find it makes a lot of difference between big cities and small towns, unless you are a stranger to the town. Usually big city folks will happily ignore you as you snap away, while small town people tend to know each other and will be more confortable knowing you and talking to you, a contact you have less often in the city (that is, like I said if you're not a tourist in the town)
However, there isn't as much happening in a small town and that's the limiting factor

 

[elude]

I'm curious, do you do street photography in your small town (if you live in one)?

I live in a small town and I find it quite difficult compared to larger cities. Only time it gets a little easier is when there are events, festivals where there are gatherings but otherwise people seem to avoid each other. In the winter the streets are pretty much empty which is rather boring if you are into street photography like me. I suppose I need to focus less on people.

That depends, what is street photography to you ?
For that you need "streets" and that's not just the path one uses to navigate within the city.
It's cultural.
It's a phenomenon due to urbanization and high density of inhabitants.
Can't have it everywhere, that's a bummer and a blessing.

I live in Paris and I'm thinking of moving to a way tinier city. I'll miss street photography but I'm pretty sure there will be interesting stuff happening there too, just not the same.

 

[Steve M.]

Here in Las Cruces, NM I shoot on the street and at events all the time w/ only one encounter in 3 years, and that guy was just nuts, it had nothing to do w/ my street shooting. I consider Las Cruces to be small townish in the extreme, and very conservative. Hard to beat that New Mexico light though.

In large cities I feel uncomfortable because people are so paranoid, and there so many cops. rent a cops, and wanna be cops everywhere you look. Video cameras are everywhere looking at me, but I feel uncomfortable by people's reactions when I shoot. Too Big Brotherish for me anymore. Don't get me wrong, I'd much prefer to live in a livlier place, but photography-wise, smaller is better for me.

 

[Bingley]

You think small towns are tough for street photography, try suburbs...

 

[FrankS]

Actually with regards to people I don't find it makes a lot of difference between big cities and small towns, unless you are a stranger to the town. Usually big city folks will happily ignore you as you snap away, while small town people tend to know each other and will be more confortable knowing you and talking to you, a contact you have less often in the city (that is, like I said if you're not a tourist in the town)
However, there isn't as much happening in a small town and that's the limiting factor

True only if your definition includes a village. In a small town with thousands or tens of thousands, there are still many many more people that one doesn't know than people one does know.

 

[Turtle]

Maybe you could focus less rigidly on street photography and more on other things. I know this seems to avoid the question, but the better you get the know the area the more documentary work you might be able to do and I would wager that if you enjoy street photography you will find documentary interesting. Its true, its far easier in London to do street photography than in a small village up north, but were it me, I would focus on different things. Its about picking the approach to suit the environment rather than forcing things. But keep your camera with you, because tremendous photos emerge from nowhere and if you live in this town, its only a matter of time before you see them. Just make sure the camera is handy!

Have you considered what interesting things might lie await indoors, in peoples homes, or in wilderness areas (if applicable). If I were you I would go about finding out what is happening in my area that interests me and would motivate me to photograph

 

[jsrockit]

Perhaps you need to move? or maybe you just need to get in your car and find what you are looking for...

 

[DNG]

Maybe you could focus less rigidly on street photography and more on other things. I know this seems to avoid the question, but the better you get the know the area the more documentary work you might be able to do and I would wager that if you enjoy street photography you will find documentary interesting. Its true, its far easier in London to do street photography than in a small village up north, but were it me, I would focus on different things. Its about picking the approach to suit the environment rather than forcing things. But keep your camera with you, because tremendous photos emerge from nowhere and if you live in this town, its only a matter of time before you see them. Just make sure the camera is handy!

Have you considered what interesting things might lie await indoors, in peoples homes, or in wilderness areas (if applicable). If I were you I would go about finding out what is happening in my area that interests me and would motivate me to photograph

I live near a "1 light" downtown... (Actually 2 "1 Light")...

I usally focus on "Rural Scenic s" or close ups of things I may pass by.. Sometimes, with older homes, I will photograph them because "they just build them like that" anymore... I am talking about design, materials, etc. Old Farm Barns, or other "Country Road" eye-candy of old.

So, a documentary style of the whole areas uniqueness, always provides good photo opps.

my urban / rural gallery

 

[gb hill]

Jon Claremont was the best at small town street photography. He was a member here & passed away a few years ago. If you google his name I'm sure you will find his old website. Just look at his photos & follow his example!

 

[KenR]

You might try giving away prints to those you have photographed. That way people begin to know you as the photographer and not just some weird guy with a camera. Or have an informal gallery in a diner or popular restaurant with the same effect.

 

[jordanstarr]

I live in a town of 1500 and have very few problems shooting in it. Of course much of my work here is different from when I lived in NYC and the approach is completely different and the outcome is also different. However, you just need to work differently. I'd rather small town over suburbs any day -that's gotta be the most difficult area to photograph. Just imerse yourself and the photos will come. You can't take the same approach with big cities as with small towns -it just doesn't work. But like all documentary photography, the best photographs come when you have a relationship with your subject and you're genuine about it.

That being said, coming from NYC with a population of 19 million and moving on a farm in Cannington, Ontario with a population of 1500, I have ample opportunity to photograph -it's just different and sometimes harder to find, but it's there. In NYC, you get a lot of "dead air" shots of people just walking somewhere. It's hard to find anyone doing anything interesting. As a result, type "NYC" in flickr and everyone's photographs look the same (21-35mm shots of people walking around...often shots from the hip with little thought). It makes you lazy and end up shooting more and thinking less. Instead of shots of people simply walking down the street, you can get some interesting stuff like farmers on tractors waving to you as they pass. Small towns offer more for you to grow creatively and really think about your shots and interact with your subject. You don't have the shot handed to you like in large cities, you have to explore and find them and put yourself out there. As a result, you'll get better photos instead of just a big group of people and one of them happens to look at the camera (how creative and riske!). I welcome photographing my town with open arms and the people in it. Have a look at Colin Corneau's photographs in Brandon, Manitoba. Small city, but lots of character in his photographs, which I don't see much of in large cities.

 

[Neare]

Small or large it doesn't matter I don't find. What really matters is your interest in the location/subject. I live in a large city however as I find the city itself rather boring, I find it difficult to take photos there. If I take a drive out to a little town, I can find myself snapping away constantly.