Street Photography Quick Tip 10 – Using Photographic Obstacles
My Street Photography Quick Tips are short, easy to read and easy to use tips that I think could help you while shooting in the streets. Today’s post is about using photographic obstacles to your advantage.
Have you ever found a parked car blocking that perfect view in a city you visit? Well, you can try to walk around, but sometimes that won’t help because the nice perspective disappears or there is another obstacle blocking your view.
Well, as simple solution can be: Use it to your advantage. Include it in the composition. It just might made an otherwise boring composition all that more interesting. In this case I included the front window and the roof of a parked car als reflection surface while taking this shot in Nuremberg’s historic Old Town below the Imperial Castle.
Try it yourself! Don’t be frustrated with this stupid obstacle, accept the challenge and have fun!
Find all my other Street Photography Quick Tips in my new free Learning Center.
Have a great Sunday!
Marcus
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Thank you for sharing the tips
You are so welcome, thanks for your great feedback! Marcus
Handy tip – cheers
Thanks, Chris, glad you find them useful! Marcus
That photo is amazing! That’s also really helpful advice, I have to try it out.
Thanks for commenting, Luna, glad you found the tip helpful! Marcus
Good one😊
Thanks 🙂
I love this tip. I’m really into my street / urban photography at the moment and have been experimenting a lot in local area’s close to where I live. I never thought of using intrusive objects within the images to make the image that bit more interesting. Brilliant tip, I cannot wait to try it out myslef on my next street photography adventure! Thanks for sharing!
http://www.shannie.blog
Thank you so much for your feedback, Shannie, this coming from an accomplished photographer like you means a lot! Looking forward to seeing your results, you got my follow 😉 ! Marcus
really helpful tips
Glad you find them helpful – thanks for the feedback! Marcus
Nice tips
Thanks, Felix, visit and comment much appreciated! Marcus
I like the filter you used for your main shot…I think I have the same on my lightroom…Portra 400??
Thanks for commenting ! Actually, I used a self built pre-set for this shot, but I agree, it is similar to the Portra.
Awesome. Please check out my blog when you have time, I write about turning a photography hobby into a business with stock photos. It’s not easy but can be done with a lot of work and talent. Brutallyhonestmicrostock.com
Did and followed! Thanks, Alex!
Nice post! I like the way you make your tips very short and easy to understand but helpful to most photographers. Great tip here. You’ve got my follow!
Thank you so much for this feedback, it really means a lot! Marcus
Hey Marcus, I always chose to avoid street photography because every time someone or something would come in between and having an OCD for perfect clicks and being impatient has always made me avoid this type of photography. With your tips I think I will try to reconsider street photography and be more creative next time.
Thank you for the tips. 🙂
Thanks, Niray, your feedback means so much! This is what I’m trying to achieve with my blog! So happy you like the tips! Marcus
That is helpful. I always give up when I see something blocking my view. Maybe, I can try this next time
Thank you, glad you found it helpful! Marcus
Love the reflection of the sky in the parked car! Really adds some dimension to the photo
Thank you so much for your kind words, much appreciated! Marcus
that’s right, the car is a part of a street after all.
Thanks for commenting :-)! Marcus
great tip!
Thanks for commenting 😊🙏!
Sehr guter Tipp!!
Danke 🙂 !
You have me really noticing reflections in general so much more!! What a fantastic shot Marcus!
Thanks, Elizabeth, have you tried the artificial puddles yet 😉 ?? Have a good day! Marcus
Not yet but got some water reflections recently anyway 👍
I’m happy to have stumbled across this post (and to a greater extent, your blog). I’ve never considered such a tactic, but clearly it’s one that works well. This is a tip I’ll definitely bear in mind.
Thanks Eric, this feedback means a lot! Marcus
What a pretty shot 🙂 As usual 🙂
Thank you for your kind words, Deepak! Marcus
I visited Nuremburg for the first time this past Saturday, beautiful city
Then we might have crossed ways, as I was shooting in the city 😉 Thanks for commenting!
clever. I have always tried to work around it or crop it out in the post processing, which doesn’t always work… I will have to learn to embrace 😉 Thanks for the tip!
Thanks for the comment, Stephen, I’m glad you found it helpful! Marcus
Very common problem and a clever solution. Have tried it a few times.
Thank you for your comment, so much appreciated! Have a good week! Marcus
I use this technique regularly when shooting nature shots. Now that I’m venturing into the real world, I will keep in mind. Great suggestion.
Thanks, Stephen, for taking the time to comment. Glad you find it useful! Marcus
Good tip
Thanks, much appreciated!
Excellent tip, Marcus! I am among those who walk around a car not knowing how to exclude it from the frame. Thanks a lot for this tip! And your photo is simply stunning!
Thanks, Kaya, as always much appreciated! Great if you can make use if the tip 😊👍! Have a splendid week! Marcus
Good tip!
Thank you very much for the feedback!
Excellent shot – you did well with this obstacle! And it looks like a clean car, too, since it reflects so well 😊 I hate it when they block the view and it can be hard to get creative! Thanks for the tip!
True, it was a clean car 😉! Glad if you found the tip helpful. Thanks for commenting and have a good week! Marcus
Thanks for the great tip. I never thought about using the reflection in a car window as part of the composition for my shot.
Thanks for taking the time to comment, so much appreciated 😊🙏! The fun thing with photography is that so much is possible! Have a good week! Marcus