Street Photography - India
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Getting The Shot
Street interaction levels with locals is relatively open and friendly. This allows visitors to capture an untold amount of random street portraits wherever one travels through India. Lively action with lots of humor amongst locals is normal. Like in most other countries, capturing random street portraits begins by directly interacting with subjects.
Below, a street portrait of a local with chin tattoo taken along the Indian-Nepali border region.
Getting The Shot
Don't self-curse yourself because you missed getting the shot. Random street captures can take 3-5 connective snaps at one particular subject to get the desired result.
Getting The Shot
Indian coastlines are buzzing with fisherman. Capturing action shots like the above are best when boats return with their catch loads. Taking close-ups, and moving out of the way is a part of the action.
Getting The Shot
The D3 and 85mm 1.4 prime lens are my still go to camera gear in the 2020s for random street photography. The DSLR combo has worked consecutively since 2013 with no issues. As mentioned numerous times through this website, if camera gear still works, why replace it? Be content what you have and use it.
Getting The Shot
Bustling street markets in India are full of potential portrait subjects. This vendor was flat out busy selling product who had no time looking in my direction. Even with the pushing and shoving by locals passing beside me, I managed to capture a few soft shots.
Getting The Shot
Positive interaction with shy subjects normally creates plenty of fun and laughter while taking shots.
Getting The Shot
It's amazing what one can discover in India. Generations old, mounted deer and Bengali tiger skin from the 1950's era. Hunting all forms of wildlife in India was banned in 1972.
Getting The Shot
Random street photography is about capturing images that are appealing to the person taking them. Almost every street, laneway or footpath through India has something of interest worth photographing. Image, a young local from the national cadet corps directing street traffic.
Getting The Shot
Random Street Photography
The positive advantage of street photography through India are the endless amounts of unique looking locals seen out and about roaming or relaxing near outdoor markets. Interaction with subjects may be required first to capture images like above. This elderly local sipping on chai didn't mind being photographed up close with a bulky DSLR and prime lens.
Getting The Shot
Are your interaction levels up to scratch? If so, you could probably interact and capture random street portraits of almost anyone. Without having no basic interaction skills, forget about trying to take closeup images like above. This capture was within a low light hustle bustle location with the subject in transit which usually means a one time shot with no time to adjust any camera settings.
Getting The Shot
With minimal time, this close-up street portrait was captured while the subject was in motion riding past on a bicycle. One can't think too long grabbing moving snaps that may be interesting. Image captures like this are gone within seconds.
Getting The Shot
A local captured strolling through an underground walkway into ambient light.
Getting The Shot
In transit snaps like above are easily captured being on some form of open moving transport. One should avoid stepping out on highways in India. Highway traffic doesn't stop for anyone.
Getting The Shot
Location and split second rapid capture using a Nikon D3 body and 85 f/1.4 lens.
Getting The Shot
Taking street portrait images through India is an endless feat. Using small amounts of positive interaction, closeup street captures will look like this without using any flash.
Getting The Shot
The art of wrapping and positioning a head turban to carry heavy loads of product.
Street carriers normally work in groups off-loading and loading trucks situated close to market areas.
The best locations capturing images like this are at busy bustling locations with little or no room to move. Images were captured with a Nikon D3 12MP body & AF-S Nikkor 200-400mm f/4 VR II lens.
Getting The Shot
There doesn't pass a day when roaming the streets in India of someone suddenly out of the blue catches your eye. It could be the dress style, the eye color, or facial composure. This local didn't hesitate happily staring straight in to the lens. Image was captured with a Nikon D3S 12MP & AF Nikon 85mm f/1.4D lens.
Getting The Shot
Indians in general love using their smart phone cameras. It's rare to spot Indians without cell phones, even in the middle of nowhere. Cell towers are scattered far and wide across the country. Personally, I avoid using cell phone cameras like the plague. I prefer taking still captures with DSLR full frame photo gear, and at times with point and shoots. This image snap was captured using a DSLR D3 after dark.
Getting The Shot
Capturing random group shots of locals through India is like anywhere else around the planet. It begins by using positive interaction. The above images are quick examples showing nothing much has changed in India since my first overland journey during the 1980s. Without using some form of interaction dialogue these shots wouldn't exist.
Getting The Shot
The first item one should have already packed and ready to go even before arriving to India is some camera gear. Off-course, this excludes plasticky foreigners, especially flight babies, who head directly to chill out on the beaches of Goa without any intention of traveling elsewhere through the country. I would suggest to at least have an upmarket point and shoot. DSLR photo gear is still king when it relates to optics. I don't promote brands on this website even though I've been a vivid Nikon user for decades. A semi-pro body with a couple of prime lenses and zoom lens is adequate. Don't be like others, which are many, who have regretted traveling through India without camera gear.
Yes, I'm still using a couple of 12MP Nikon bodies in the 2020s. I prefer the D3/S with prime lenses over other later model DSLR's. Some may ask why is that? It's because I know my shots will come out relatively with the same results like above image every time. Those into the "must have latest" camera gear are usually those who require all the new user friendly options. Being sponsored and showered with free gifts from Nikon and Canon are pipe dreams. Think about it, the above image was captured with a 2007 D3 body. Those D3 full frame 12 megapixel NEF files don't clog up storage space, and easily enlarged to poster size canvas prints and still look great.
Since the early '80s I've captured all kinds of different street images offshore. Consistency is what it's all about, not just a fad that suddenly disappears from lack of vision or boredom. Carrying, traveling and using photo gear has been an on-going event for decades. Some of my classic street snaps, like below still remain as vivid from the day they were taken more than three plus decades ago. Below, low res SLR roll film street snap of curd when it was commonly manually prepared.
Some of the most rewarding street shots through India are of individual vendors selling their wares found along most footpaths and sidewalks. This particular book seller had a good selection of different reading material i.e. How to Sell Yourself, Elon Musk, The Alchemist, The Power of Your Subconscious Mind etc.
Getting The Shot
