Written by Neil Milton
“The unicorn.”
What?
“The UNICORN!”
Oh bloody hell!
The area around Plac Konstytucji in Warsaw’s city center was teeming with defiant demonstrators marching through the streets. In response to the rise of the far-right in Poland and the once-benign, now nationalist-tainted, Independence Day march, an anti-fascist street party had been organized.
I walked among them, and backing up to take a photograph, I had almost crashed straight into a man dressed, in true pantomime fashion, as a unicorn.
Making street photography among crowds may be challenging, but can offer many opportunities to create great work.
The situation, whether in a busy street environment or among a parade or demonstration, will dictate how to work, and what considerations are necessary. How to photograph at a tense, febrile protest, will differ from shooting at an ebullient, joyful parade.
Here are a few things to think about and tips to make strong street photography images when photographing parades, protests, or any other type of crowd.
Tips for Photographing Street Parades & Events
1. Find Singular Moments in the Crowd
Street photography is often surprising. One afternoon, when it should be busy, the street is deserted. At other times, when it is expected to be quiet, the street is overflowing with kinetic, chaotic energy.
When the street is found in cacophonous tumult, it is tempting to rush in with an itchy shutter finger. It’s important, however, to find the tempo and rhythm of the moment and join it.
Though both are alive with people, a bustling Oxford Street, London is found at a different pace to a lively Central Park.
Take a breath, look around, and find moments of order in the chaos.
Photographers from Kertesz to Kalvar, from Winogrand to Webb find small pockets of space in the crowd, and look for singular moments of expression, emotion, or interaction to stand out from the visual noise.
Eyes and ears open, concentrating on what is around, and anticipating what may come. A flicker of frustration or anger, the warm embrace of old friends, the wry comedy of juxtaposition of expression with scene? All things to look out for when joining the throng.
A key tenet is to expect the unexpected.
In the midst of the dynamic, undulating waves of the crowd, it is easy to be swept up in the undertow. Excitement or adrenaline takes over and easy mistakes are made. In that state of mind, I have loaded film poorly and found, to my cost, later that the film had not advanced. On another occasion, I have rushed in with such abandon that a member of the public had to tell me, with great vicarious embarrassment, that my lens cap was still attached. Take the all important beat before diving in.
The fast-paced energy of crowds can make a clean, well-organized rectangle a challenge. It is beyond a joke how often I snatch an otherwise well-composed moment of interaction to develop the picture and find some interloper in the background pulling the reader’s attention away. It is crucial to be aware of the foreground, the middle ground, and the background. Using depth of field is one manner of guiding the viewers eye to the subject of the scene, however, the wider the aperture, the more important the precise focus, and if using zone focusing on a manual camera, this can prove costly. Street photography among crowds is being fleet of foot as much as it is of framing. Having the presence of mind to step a few paces to the left, or jog a little to catch the subject just as you want them, to to simplify the scene, is as important as anticipating the moment itself.
2. Plan Before Parades & Events
Unless stumbled upon in a chance encounter, photography made among street parades, carnivals, or sporting events may benefit from some planning and preparation.
Using the annual Pride parade in most major cities in the world as an example, it is only a moment’s work to find photographs of the previous years and understand how busy it may be and where the best locations to photograph from are.
If possible, it is wise to find the route the parade may take and arrive early to walk the path to get a feel for the place before it begins. Taking note of the weather can save some discomfort later, also.
3. Travel Light
Travel light, and be agile. No reveler at carnival wants to be buffeted around by a bulky camera bag, and with less on your back, it is far easier to squeeze into tight spots to make photographs.
In my time shooting street photography on film, I have slowly traveled down an ever-descending staircase of load I’m willing to carry. I began with a canvas satchel that could comfortably carry a small car. I am, however, a fundamentally lazy man, and so now my day-to-day carry is a small field pouch. Just big enough to fit my Leica M3, a few rolls of Kodak Tri-X, and a light meter.
While an event may require two cameras and a change of lens for convenience, take only what you need and leave the rest behind.
4. Try an Unexpected Perspective
With the preparation over, it’s time to step out into the crowd and make some photographs.
Early in my photographic journey, as it were, I was fortunate to see Cartier-Bresson’s photography of the coronation of King George VI of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. While others’ cameras were trained on the King and courtiers, Cartier-Bresson turned his back on the pomp and circumstance and faced the crowd, where the true humanity of the day was to be found.
At the recent Corpus Christi religious holiday in Warsaw, I began at the front of the procession, and, as it moved, I slowly worked my way towards the back, in effect marching against the flow of the crowd. Moving quietly and kind, I could capture small moments of emotion and gesture from the front without intruding.
In contrast to the quiet reverence of the religious observance, the Pride parade only a few days later was a chaotic clamor, however, taking the same approach, I faced the party, all the better to capture the emotions and the atmosphere of the afternoon.
5. Get Closer
In amongst the throng, don’t be shy and get closer. Those participating in parades and events tend to understand there will be cameras and expect to be photographed.
It is important to remember, though, that if someone does react or object, they may have their reasons and to be respectful and friendly.
Look for interesting faces, for costumes, or for angles or perspectives that will tell a story in one frame. Consider what story you wish to tell as part of the day, and how interactions, reactions, expressions, and gestures can help to tell the story.
Don’t be afraid to incorporate the crowd itself into the photographs as a story element.
Tips for Photographing Protests and Demonstrations
Photographing demonstrations or protests can require more thought than that of an event or parade. Demonstrations can be tense, rising to fierce, febrile affairs.
1. Pay Attention to the Atmosphere
It is important to recognize the atmosphere around you. In the worst cases, the mood or emotional intensity can change in moments, so remaining focused and aware is vital.
Understanding the cause that gave rise to the protest will in turn help to appreciate the motivations of those in attendance. It will also help to recognize the different groups in attendance.
While difficult, no matter whether you agree with the convictions of the protesters or not, it is advisable to remain impartial – at least on the outside – and maintain a healthy respect for the participants.
While this is more difficult than it sounds, you are there to make photographs, and it will be easier to do so if you are seen to be neutral.
2. Be Aware of Potential Risks & Safety Concerns
By being inattentive during protests and demonstrations that I photographed early in my career, I made small mistakes that, in retrospect, put my safety at risk.
Be aware of the environment, and mindful of potential risks or any possible confrontations. These may come from protesters or authorities alike, and knowing from where and when they might appear can help to side-step them.
Have some business cards handy in the event you are confronted. This can quell protester fears that you are, in fact, surveillance. Wearing dark clothes without obvious colors or logos will help to better blend in with the crowd and go unnoticed.
As unlikely as it is, if things do turn sour it is best to be prepared. If the authorities ‘kettle’ the protesters and confine them to a certain area, it is wise to have an exit strategy when things turn, otherwise there may be a long wait. In that case, a bottle of water and and a couple of energy bars won’t go amiss.
While this all seems foreboding, most often demonstrations are peaceful and defiant with little to no trouble, but it is best to be prepared nevertheless.
3. Look for Moments that Tell a Story & Know Your Purpose
In much the same way as photographing in the busy street or at more celebratory events, body language, gestures, and expressions are the key to making engaging photography at a protest.
Whether angry flash-points with authorities, or moments of levity between demonstrators, look for the moments that will tell small stories within the frame.
Signs, banners, and slogans will provoke reactions and those reactions may make for good photographs.
Before attending a protest it is good practice to ask yourself why are you making photographs? Is it to document the demonstration? Perhaps it is to raise awareness of the cause?
The answer to this question will offer a sense of purpose and direction to the work on the day. Pre-visualize the photographs that may arise from the demonstration. Imagine the emotions you will convey. Then attempt to show a complete picture of your experience.
Final Thoughts
Making street photography in large crowds, whether in the bustle of the street, a celebratory parade, or a fevered protest, can be a challenging but rewarding experience.
The results may be strong, individual frames, or a collection that forms an essay telling the story of the day.
Whichever form it takes, the experience should offer the opportunity for making engaging photographs.
Thank you so much, Neil! Neil is a regular contributor here at Shoot It With Film, and you can check out his other articles here, such as 5 Tips to Improve Your Street Photography and What is Zone Focusing and How to Use It for Street Photography.
You can find more of Neil’s work on his website, and sign up for his street photography newsletter here.
Leave your questions about creating street photography images in a large crowd below in the comments!
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