Street Manual

A field guide for street photographers.

by Luke Carey

Projects2–3 hours

Car Boot Sales

Everything for sale. Everything has a story.

Car boot sales are extraordinary - the goods, the sellers, the buyers, the negotiations, the things that people no longer want.

How to shoot it: Go early, before the good stuff goes and while the light is low. Shoot the goods laid out, the sellers behind their tables, the buyers crouched and rummaging, and the small negotiations. A wide lens takes in the chaos of objects, a tighter one finds the single telling item. Colour, always, and chat and buy as you go to keep the pitch friendly.

The output: A series about objects, value, and the second-hand economy.

Camera Settings

Any. Early morning light is best.

The Assignment

Go to a car boot sale at opening time. Photograph the objects and the people selling them.

Free Course