Three quick setups
- Aperture Priority, wide open (f/1.8–f/2) — subject isolation and bokeh.
- Shutter Priority, fast (1/500–1/1000 s) — freeze quick movement (raise ISO in bright light).
- Manual, f/5.6–f/8 — balanced DOF; set shutter and ISO for the light.
The reliable "hip-shot" method (Peter Lee)
- Wide lens (~28mm) for whole scenes and discreet, waist-level shooting.
- Small aperture (f/8–f/11) so subjects near and far stay sharp.
- Fast shutter (~1/250 s; 1/125 at a minimum) to avoid blur.
- Preset focus ~1.5 m — or autofocus on something at that distance, then flick to MF to lock it (zone focusing).
- Auto ISO (ISO AUTO) capped at ~6400 — a noisy shot beats a blurry one; free your attention for composition.
Zone focusing setup
Small aperture (f/8–f/11), manual focus, distance set to your expected band (~2–5 m). Now you can shoot instantly without the camera hunting.
Five field tips (Mike Harris)
- Pack light — a nifty-fifty or one small kit; you'll walk far.
- Know your camera — Aperture Priority or Manual + Auto ISO; adjust as you move.
- Focus and recompose — single-point AF-S, half-press held, recompose without moving fore/back.
- Stay inconspicuous — no huge rig or tripod; use a tilting screen at waist level; dial settings before raising the camera.
- Try black & white — mutes colourful distractions; or use contrasting colours deliberately.
Silhouettes (Bryan Peterson)
Aperture Priority, f/22 at −2/3 EV (−0.7), ISO 200–400 — the dark human form reads boldly against bright/transparent backgrounds.
Hipstamatic combos for street
Commit to one combo per walk, like a roll of film. Strong picks: Frida + Mercado 35 (expressive urban colour), Akira + BlacKeys Extra Fine (high-contrast mono), Lowy + Blanko BL4 (restrained documentary). Keeping to one colour and one mono combo builds a consistent visual identity.
The observation method (Meredith Schofield)
- Small camera, small lens, blend in. No big bags.
- Find a great composition first and wait for a subject to walk into it — rather than chasing people around.
- Be quiet and unobtrusive, or be open and friendly to let guards down. Pick one; the middle reads as furtive.
- Wait · observe · wait again · shoot once · go with it if it's good. Few frames — don't overshoot.
- Use multiple vantage points, explore, avoid tourist traps, and think about the time of day and the scale of things.
- Ask what the frame is for: daily life, mood of an urban environment, a social or ethical comment, a place and time.
Reactive starting settings
Aperture Priority (A), f/5.6, ISO 400 and adjust, shutter 1/60 s and faster, single shot, centre focus grouping, AF-S. A wide-angle prime or a wide-to-normal zoom.
Location discipline
Pick a single street, no more than three blocks, and choose three or four backgrounds — storytelling signage, alleyways, architecture, pools of light. Work one spot for about 20 minutes, then rotate. Return to the good ones.
Know where you stand legally before someone challenges you: see Street Photographer's Rights (Australia).
Consolidated from notes: Street photography; Street photography techniques; Street Photography settings; Understanding Street Photography (Bryan Peterson); Best hipstamatic setups; Zone focusing