Street Manual

A field guide for street photographers.

by Luke Carey

Projects1 month

Hands Only

No faces. Just hands.

Spend a month photographing hands - working hands, resting hands, hands holding things, hands gesturing. A constraint that forces you to look differently.

How to shoot it: Work markets, cafes, transport and workplaces where hands are busy and faces are occupied, so nobody notices you framing low. A short telephoto lets you isolate without crowding. Look for gesture and wear, the trader counting change, the knuckles on a walking stick, two hands not quite touching. Keep the shutter high, because hands move more than you expect.

The output: A series that functions as abstract portraiture.

Camera Settings

Macro or close focus. Any light.

The Assignment

For the rest of today, only photograph hands.

Free Course