Street Manual

A field guide for street photographers.

by Luke Carey

Projects2 hours

The Reluctant Subject

People who don't want to be photographed but haven't said no.

The person who sees your camera and angles away. The person who puts their hand up. The person who scowls. The relationship between photographer and unwilling subject is itself the subject.

How to shoot it: The subject is the relationship itself, so make the hesitation visible, the angled-away face, the raised hand, the scowl caught mid-turn. Shoot openly rather than sneakily, because the tension only reads when the person knows. Keep it brief and respectful, and if a no is clear, honour it. That refusal can belong in the series as a caption, not as a stolen frame.

The output: A series about permission, public space, and the act of photography itself.

Camera Settings

Any.

The Assignment

Pay attention to people's reactions to your camera. Photograph the reactions.

Free Course