Guide to Street Photography Setting

Welcome to the Second installment in my series on Street photography as an art form. I'm Avanish Dureha, and whether you're a beginner or a seasoned shooter looking to reignite your creative spark, this series is for you. We'll explore the art of Street Photography pioneered by Henri Cartier-Bresson. If you enjoy this, subscribe on Substack (Dureha.substack.com) for more articles, tips, and exclusive challenges.

“A street photograph is one you can smell by looking at the photo.” - Bruce Gilden

Normally I am opposed to sharing or talking about settings, these change on the drop of a hat depending upon various issue. However My Street photowalk participants keep asking me for it and hence this artcile.

This guide shares my camera settings for capturing vibrant, candid street moments with ease. I've streamlined the tips to make them clear and beginner-friendly, tailored for quick shooting in dynamic environments.

Camera Settings

Camera Mode

• Aperture Priority (A/Av): I use this mode to control depth of field while the camera adjusts shutter speed. It’s perfect for fast-paced street scenes.

Aperture

• f/5.6 to f/8: These settings give a sharp focus range while keeping the subject distinct from the background. For low light or portraits, I open to f/2.8.

Shutter Speed

• Minimum 1/250s: This prevents blur from moving subjects or shaky hands. In bright light, it can go up to 1/1000s or faster.

ISO

• Auto ISO (capped at 3200 or 6400): This adjusts automatically for light conditions, keeping noise low and letting me focus on the shot.

Focus Mode

• Continuous Autofocus (AF-C): Great for moving subjects, using single-point or zone focus, often centered or in the lower third.

• Manual Prefocus: For close-up candids, I set focus to a specific distance (zone focusing) for quicker shots.

Drive Mode

• Continuous Shooting (3-5 fps): A low burst rate captures the perfect moment without overloading my memory card.

Lens Choice

• Compact Primes: I use 12mm–25mm (MFT), 23mm–35mm (APS-C), or 35mm–50mm (full-frame) for a natural perspective that keeps me close to the action.

Metering Mode

• Evaluative/Matrix Metering: Works for most scenes. For tricky lighting (like harsh sun or backlighting), I adjust exposure compensation to focus on the subject’s face.

White Balance

• Auto White Balance: Reliable for outdoor shots. For a warmer tone, I switch to Cloudy or Shade.

Additional Tips

• Silent Shutter: Keeps candid shots discreet.

• RAW Format: Gives flexibility to edit details in post-processing.

• Minimal Gear: Simple settings let me focus on the scene, not the camera.

By keeping these settings dialed in, I’m always ready to capture spontaneous, vivid moments as they happen on the streets. Tailor these suggestions to your camera and shooting style to develop your own street photography approach!

Favorite Cameras and Custom Settings

My Go-To Cameras

• Sony RX100 V: Compact, with a bright lens and fast autofocus—ideal for discreet, pocketable shooting.

• OM-D E-M10 Mark IV: Lightweight with a tilting touchscreen, great for long walks and hip shots.

• OM-M5 Mark: Weather-sealed, with excellent stabilization for any condition.

• OM-M3: Retro-styled, with a 20MP sensor, advanced autofocus, and durable build. My Latest and new favourite travel and street camera.

Exposure and ISO

• Manual Mode with Auto ISO: I control aperture and shutter speed while ISO adjusts automatically.

• Aperture/Shutter Priority: These modes let me adapt quickly, controlling depth of field or motion blur.

• Exposure Compensation: I tweak this to handle backlighting or high-contrast scenes.

ISO and Shutter Speed

• High ISO: Modern cameras handle high ISO well, so I don’t worry about noise to maintain fast shutter speeds.

• Handheld Shooting: With in-body stabilization (IBIS), I can shoot handheld at speeds as low as 1 second for low-light or creative shots.

Image Format and Autofocus

• RAW Only: Maximizes editing flexibility.

• Continuous Tracking AF: Tracks moving subjects reliably, though I avoid face tracking for more predictable results.

Extra Tips

• In-Body Stabilization (IBIS): Makes slow shutter speeds easier to manage.

• Simple Setup: I keep settings minimal to stay focused on capturing the moment.

These settings keep me ready to snap spontaneous street moments. Adjust them to fit your camera and style for the best results!

In the next installment i will go into details of street Photography - Advanced pointers, Harnessing Shadows, Colours and Contrasts. We will disuss evoking emotion, using juxtaposition and many other topics.