{"id":1285,"date":"2015-08-04T08:14:20","date_gmt":"2015-08-04T12:14:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/decisiveshot.com\/?p=1285"},"modified":"2015-08-04T08:14:20","modified_gmt":"2015-08-04T12:14:20","slug":"the-importance-of-speed-in-street-photography","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/decisiveshot.com\/the-importance-of-speed-in-street-photography\/","title":{"rendered":"The Importance Of Speed In Street Photography"},"content":{"rendered":"

The decisive moment can be fleeting at best, my mind is the only medium that’s recorded some of my best shots because my body was too slow to capture them.\u00a0 One specific shot I will never forget was missed near the Flatiron building in NYC last fall, a fire truck came whizzing past with its lights on and as if in slow motion I look up to see a rough-looking fire fighter with a large cigar hanging out of his mouth, turning the large wheel that controls the tuck and looking back at me as if to say “should have had your camera ready, Sucker”.\u00a0 Since then, I walk with my camera in the ready position with my finger on the shutter button 99% of the time I have it.\u00a0 You’ve got to be quick.<\/p>\n

The shot above was taken as the man was backing his truck up to the Benedum Theater in Pittsburgh.\u00a0 A second later and he was out of his truck and I’d have missed the shot.\u00a0 Below is a photograph of a rather large woman resting against the bus stop.\u00a0 Her large hair and body looked interesting pressed against the glass, a second later and she had moved to an upright position.\u00a0 These are all moments in time that would have slipped through my fingers had my camera not been in the ready position.<\/p>\n

\"JMB_9702\"<\/a>If you are quick enough you can capture candid shots without your subject knowing you were ever there.\u00a0 If you aren’t quick enough, and they spot you, the shot can still be taken but that candid moment will be lost.\u00a0 With that being said, sometimes the reaction someone has to having their photo taken is better than a candid shot would be.\u00a0 The shot below was captured before the subject lifted his head and would have spotted me, he looked to be in a bad mood so he may have been peeved I was taking his picture… I was quick like a bunny and he never knew I was there.<\/p>\n

\"JMB_9666\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Imagine if you could snap a shot as quickly as you recognize it…\u00a0 In a blink of an eye you’d have exactly what you saw framed the way you imagined it.\u00a0 Until Apple invents that, you’ll have to settle for increasing your physical ability to snap a shot quickly and precisely.<\/p>\n

Notice I said precisely?\u00a0 You could walk around town with your camera at your waste and snap shots all day long without anyone knowing, and rather quickly, but most of your shots will end up looking like crap and you will be surprised at how many good ones you completely missed.\u00a0 Be sure to bring your camera to eye level and compose properly through the viewfinder or LCD screen if you don’t have a viewfinder.\u00a0 Here are some tips to increase your reaction time:<\/p>\n

T<\/span>ips To Increase Your Speed<\/h3>\n