Street photography in Japan

Japan is a great place for photographers and street photography in particular is super exciting.

Almost everyone enjoys taking pictures. In Japan, I daresay EVERYONE enjoys taking pictures! Whether it’s the camera built into modern smartphones or high-end digital SLRs, cameras have become an integral part of our lives. And so has photography. My dad was an avid photographer and had a Pentax film camera which became the first camera I ever used when I was only 6 years old. Times have changed since then, and I’ve grown old too! And technology has also come a long way. Digital cameras are now everywhere and with the advent of the smartphone age, most of us carry a fairly sophisticated camera with us at all times. And this is excellent in the context of street photography. “Street photography” is about capturing the sights, moods, and moments of the people and places around us when we’re on the go. The idea is to just walk the streets of the city and take pictures of ordinary people doing everyday things, or if you’re really lucky, unusual people doing unusual things!

Unlike many other countries, Japan is quite liberal when it comes to taking photos on the streets. I have been walking the streets of Tokyo for several years and so far I have not had any problems with the police or anyone else. But I saw a news report recently, where a 40-year-old Japanese man was arrested for taking a picture of a woman sitting next to him on the train. While the debate continues as to whether or not he was at fault, my opinion is that the arrested photographer crossed a line of basic decency when he took the lady’s picture without his permission. It doesn’t matter that he wasn’t trying to take an “inappropriate” picture, but the right thing to do is ask permission first. On an open street, taking casual photos where people will obviously be in the frame is usually fine, but in a restricted space like a train, clicking on a woman without her permission would be strictly prohibited anywhere in the world.

Tokyo is a paradise for street photographers! From the old back streets of Asakusa to the ultra-modern high-end streets of the Marunouchi district, there is never a dull moment for the photographer. But street photography is also very challenging because you can never anticipate the perfect moment. The scene is always so dynamic that you have to keep your eyes peeled, watch for the slightest indicators, and be really quick with your camera.

Helpful tips.

Here are some tips that should come in handy if you’re looking to get started with street photography.

1. It makes sense to look at a map (Google Maps is great) of the area you plan to visit. Street photography involves a lot of walking, so depending on your health, fitness, and patience, you need to determine a feasible route to follow. This route is only a guide. So feel free to swerve into that little back lane that suddenly catches your eye. But having a route is definitely recommended.

2. Stay out of trouble or do anything that might get you into trouble. Japan, although quite liberal, also has strict laws on the violation of privacy and public indecency or any kind of nuisance. As mentioned above, while it would generally be fine to casually take a photo of people on the streets, approaching and taking “inappropriate” photos of women or children is simply not acceptable. When in doubt, just drop the idea and move on. Being a pervert won’t do you any good. Sometimes you may come across a situation where someone you just clicked or is about to click objects asks you to stop. If you haven’t clicked yet, just smile, say sorry, and move on. If you’ve already clicked and the person confronts you, it’s a good idea to apologize and delete the photo in the person’s presence and settle the matter amicably. If it gets out of control and the police get involved. Well then, the situation could get complicated and a lot would depend on how effectively you can communicate with everyone and hopefully get out of trouble without legal ramifications. Keep in mind that laws in Japan are often open to interpretation and who ends up on the winning side often depends on nationality (foreigners find it more difficult) and the ability to communicate fluently and convincingly in Japanese. .

3. Some of the best street shots are of people caught in expressive and emotional moments. Beware of hipsters and young trendsetters! Tokyo is full of fun people. The young crowds of Harajuku, Shinjuku, and Shibuya offer ample opportunities for photographers, and from my personal experience, they enjoy being photographed! And while you’re at it, watch your eyes. No matter what faces and dresses say, eyes speak volumes and convey emotions that can often be the difference between a good photograph and a stunning one.

4. Visit places that are a mix of old and new. And Tokyo has many such places. Again, Asakusa, Shinjuku, Shibuya and many other parts of the city have the best of both worlds. From the old-fashioned shops selling everything from kimonos to Japanese handicrafts, to the high-end shopping streets of Ginza and Harajuku. Tokyo has it all.

5. Look for the details…look for those interesting plays of light and shadow. Street photography isn’t always about wide shots of countless people on the street. Some of the most impressive street shots are the ones that can isolate a moment from the hustle and bustle of the surroundings and light plays a huge part in that.

6. When you’re not photographing people, look for interesting shops, graffiti on the walls, signs, old houses, interesting means of transportation (such as streetcars, streetcars, or hand-pulled rickshaws).

7. When it comes to the technical aspects of street photography, it depends on what you’re shooting with. If it’s your smartphone camera, it’s basically just point and shoot. Following rules like the “Rule of Thirds” or playing with angles and elevations can give you great results. If you have a proper DSLR then you have a much wider set of options. Personally, I love shooting with a medium width lens (24mm, 35mm, 50mm) or a standard 18 – 200mm zoom lens, which gives me the flexibility to shoot wider or zoom in on a larger area. nearby if I wish. An f1.8 or faster lens will give you great depth of field variations and help you achieve a wonderful effect called “Bokeh”, especially if you have bright lights in the background of your subject. Since your subject would often be in motion, setting a higher ISO (800 or higher, but no higher than 1600) helps freeze motion and get really sharp, in-focus shots without blur. Be careful not to go beyond ISO 1600, as you can end up with substantial “noise” in your photos that can ruin a fabulous frame. Also practice moving fast. As I mentioned earlier, street photography is challenging because if you are not ready, you can miss out on a wonderful shot. So the trick is to always be ready, not to mess around with your camera settings too much, and be prepared to click one or multiple shots of the same scene (taking multiple shots gives you a better chance of later selecting your favorite frame… the The advantage of digital photography is that you can delete the shots you don’t like at no additional cost, as in the case of film).

Go out, click and have fun!

These are just simple ideas. I do not claim to be an expert or a professional by any stretch of the imagination. My only intention in writing this article is to share with you what I have learned from my experience as a street photographer and in the hope that it will at least encourage you to get out there and start taking pictures. For me, photography has been more than just fun; It has also been therapeutic! I dream of exploring more places around the world and over a period of time, creating an archive of some of my best work for the world to see and appreciate.

So get out there and happy clicking!