Street photography is a daunting activity. To be a good street photographer, you must be highly confident and work outside your comfort zone. To photograph people and the stories which unfold in front of you is a huge part of street photography. You honestly don't know how a person will react to having their photo taken. Even if you've mastered the art of hiding in plain sight, you still run the risk of being seen, which of course, comes with the risk of an adverse reaction.
With this in mind, I've discovered shooting through a window pane can provide a comfort zone, as the glass acts as both a physical and psychological barrier. Often the person is too engrossed in their coffee, sandwich or conversation to realise they are the subject of my latest snap. And if they spot me, interaction is never more than fleeting eye contact or a smile, if I'm fortunate.
While photographing people through window panes is an easy way to avoid working out of my comfort zone. It does create some fantastic photography. If shot at the right angle or time of day, the glass can become a subject in itself, often reflecting excellent light, or passersby on the street, who'd usually be out of shot, creating a scene within a scene, and let's face it, everyone loves layers in photography. It's one of the critical aspects of a great photograph.
If you enjoyed this post please feel free to 'like', comment and share.