Street Manual

A field guide for street photographers.

by Luke Carey

ProjectsVariable

People Asleep in Public

The suspended moment.

People asleep on trains, buses, in parks, at events, in waiting rooms. Sleep in public is a moment of total vulnerability. It's also surprisingly funny.

How to shoot it: Trains, buses, parks, waiting rooms and events, anywhere people drop off in public. Shoot quietly and quickly, and draw a clear line, there is comedy in a commuter slumped at an odd angle, but never photograph the homeless or vulnerable for a laugh. A longer lens keeps your distance. Look for the surreal pose and its context, and leave if anyone wakes and objects.

The output: A series that's tender and slightly comic simultaneously.

Camera Settings

Quiet shutter. Any light.

The Assignment

Find someone asleep in public. Photograph them with care.

Free Course