The 1-day street photography workshop

Immersive, challenging and great fun: do the workshop, join the community!

London (South Bank / urban landscapes)

The 1-day UK street photography workshop

Working with Brian Lloyd Duckett, a highly experienced course leader (a full-time professional street photographer and photojournalist) in a small group, this is a powerful and immersive learning experience.

You will build an appreciation of the aesthetics of street photography which extends beyond random pictures of strangers walking past a wall or of people sitting in a cafe.

Our street photography workshops are structured, informative and relaxed. They are sometimes provocative, usually challenging and always highly enjoyable; they will stretch your imagination, develop your skills and boost your confidence. Whilst we cover the technicalities (such as camera settings, light and composition), our main focus is on teaching you the essential skills to help you become an accomplished street photographer, conquering your fear of shooting on the streets, understanding what makes a strong image and helping your develop your own style and approach.

This is as much about the art of street photography as it is about the technique and it is this combination which makes our workshops different. There is a structured, tried and tested formula designed to make you a better street photographer.

When choosing your workshop, please study the description for each of the variations listed above; apart from the geographical differences there are slight variations to the content of some - particularly the Saul Leiter and London City options.

Most street photography workshops start at 10.30am and finish around 4.45pm (Liverpool and Blackpool workshops run from 10am to 4.30pm).

Brian will help you . . .

  • Develop a street photographer’s eye and learn how to ‘read the streets’, spotting photo opportunities in everyday street scenes

  • Understand the aesthetics and the art of street photography

  • Nurture your own photographic style and learn how to conceive and develop projects

  • Understand the components of a great street image

  • Conquer your fear of photographing strangers, shooting your environment quietly and unobtrusively

  • Overcome the awkwardness of getting closer to your subjects

  • Learn the technical aspects of street photography: equipment, settings, composition, exposure, light and focus

  • Use layers to add volume and depth to your street photography images

  • Maximise the potential of your camera when shooting the streets

  • Learn how manual (zone) focusing can make you more effective as a street photographer

  • Find and develop your ‘voice’ as a photographer

  • Understand the key legal and ethical aspects of street photography

Who’s it for?

 

This workshop is designed to give you a thorough grounding in street photography so you’ll have the confidence and the skills to produce great images on your own. Because the groups are small (maximum of 6 participants) there’s plenty of one-to-one time so, whether you’re a beginner, an improver or an established street photographer, there’s bags of material for you to take away.

There are no strict requirements for joining the workshop but you will find it helpful if you have a basic grasp of your camera’s functions – aperture, shutter speed and ISO, for example.

And you don’t need masses of gear – just one camera and lens is fine – anything from a Lomo to a Leica!

What happens after the workshop?

 

 Workshop follow-up

We will send you an extensive follow-up document with a recommended reading list, links to films and videos and other helpful resources. Critique is an important part of the learning process and you’ll be invited to submit images for constructive critique to help keep your development on-track. As far as we’re concerned, ‘the workshop never ends’ and Brian is always here for support and advice as your street photography journey progresses.

The StreetSnappers Collective

You’ll be invited to join the StreetSnappers Collective, a wonderfully warm and inclusive street photography community. Membership is completely free and is available only to those who have participated in Brian’s workshops. It’s a small, select and welcoming group of people with a shared passion: street photography. Benefits of Collective membership include access to a lively, active and very warm Facebook group where you can post images for critique, ask questions (about gear, techniques or locations, for example) or create debate about street photography. Members can arrange meet-ups in their areas, form critique circles and organise their own events.

What gear do you need?

 

It really doesn’t matter! You can become an accomplished street photographer with anything from a £50 Olympus Trip to a £7,000 Leica. People come on workshops with compact cameras, DSLRs, rangefinder cameras, smartphones - and people using film are warmly welcomed.

The ideal camera is something small and unobtrusive (rangefinder cameras are ideal for street photography) with a lens in the range of between 28mm and 50mm, with 35mm being the sweet spot. You won’t need a flash, tripod or a big bag full of accessories - just one camera, one lens and a few spare batteries is all you need. To see the gear I personally use, please click here.

Fancy something further afield? We also run street photography workshops in Lisbon, Venice and Prague!

  • Join us on a weekend group workshop where we will explore the less-trodden Lisbon, the winding back alleys where sardines are being grilled on the street and the locals are selling their home-made tipple, Ginjinha. The city offers great weather, amazing light, terrific food and photo opportunities around every corner. Click HERE for full details.

  • Venice is a dream location for documentary and street photographers. Join us in the winter months when we’ll take you off the beaten track and to some of the city’s most photogrenic locations - away from the tourist hordes. There’s more information HERE.

  • This magical city, with its fairytale architecture, provides us with a great backdrop against which to learn and practice the art of street photography. We usually run workshops in the early autumn - please see HERE for details.

“If I saw something in my viewfinder that looked familiar to me, I would do something to shake it up”

- GARRY WINOGRAND