Street Photography Books Archives

Two particular books that I’ve published this year are interesting, and of great value to the right read

Berlin Street Photography Book | The Art of Creative street Photography

My enthusiasm for Creative Street Photography has led me to my publisher’s desk where I have compiled a series of street photography photos. The combination of text that takes the reader on a journey through my thoughts on the process, blended in with some of my favourite street photos, makes for an interesting and satisfying read.

Book Cover by Sean P. Durham

Art is a matter of choice of medium. Any artist worth their salt will tell you, that curiosity and the willingness to explore and experiment is key to finishing successful projects in art and creative work.

The Berlin Street Photography book took time.

Writing is a flow. Its nature is flowing and twisting, it unrolls the story, sometimes like a dripping tap, sometimes like a bus careening through a built-up town. Story telling with words and camera go well together.

Street Photography in Berlin, is a mixture of my words, my reactions to what I do, and how I see the street. The book is 132 pages long, and contains a lot of street photos, all of them taken on the streets of Berlin in winter and summer.

The second book is “Short Stories – Love & Fear” (Previously known as, “Coffee, Croissants, and Broken Dreams”)

A compilation of short stories that reflect on everyday life. How we strive for love, but are thwarted by fear. Those sentiments were with me as I began to write.

The biggest problems in our lives are those that are driven by fears, unfounded. Yet those fears can lead us astray.

The stories are reflections and fictions. I try to dig into the heart of the matter and reflect the ideas that concern us all; love and fear.

There are many books on street photography available these days. After all, it’s a practice that has increased in interest for many photographers, and the digital camera has helped ordinary photographers to test their know-how, their knowledge, and their artistic abilities with the help of cameras that do half the work of capturing a photo for them. Many people like to switch the camera onto automatic, and go out and enjoy themselves.

The hard part is the “art” part. That takes time and patience, above all it takes the will to create something artistic out of what you see on the street.

I’ve done my best to understand the digital camera and use it like a tool – that’s all it is – my principal thought is always, how do I create a great composition, how do I handle the light and the shadows, and end up with a well framed photograph of a passing moment.

It’s all about what I want, and has nothing to do with an automated process of the camera will do it for me – that’s a mindless activity.

Street Photography is a practical activity.

We all do it for various reasons, fun, art, relaxation and many other reasons.

But, most of us do have a desire to achieve a high standard when we’re behind the camera.

A little inspiration and help from two excellent Street Photographers, Matt Stuart and David Gibson, show us, prompt us, and generally motivate us to pick up our cameras and get outside for more of the good stuff on the street.

A good street photographer steps onto the street with solid intention and a positive frame of mind. These two books will help to develop your positive way of thinking so that even when you’re ‘not feeling it’, or just plain tired, you can motivate yourself to get something positive from your efforts.

“The Street Photographer’s Manual”, by David Gibson, is packed with photos by various street photographers from around the world.

Instead of focusing on only his own work, he gives us a panoramic view of the variety of photography that is street photography.

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Each chapter of the book is headed with an idea. Quiet, Busy, Abstract, Still, Subjects. And each time we delve into one of these aspects of street photography and the possibilities open to us, we can walk the streets, camera in hand, with these thoughts in mind.

Intention, in photography, is everything. Without a strong intent we meander. With solid ideas we know what we want – that’s when we see those ideas right in front of us.

Reading juicy books like these two helps us to formulate our own intentions and come away with ideas that give us street photographer’s framework of thinking, and a deeper appreciation of what street photography is all about.

Matt Stuart’s book on Street Photography, “Think Like a Street Photographer“, is impressive, exciting, and full of brilliant ideas that make you want to get up and go. Reading this book makes you want to get out the door and go hunting for those shots you always knew were out there somewhere.

He puts a strong tone of positivity in Street Photography. It seems to me that Matt Stuart is all about “go out and look for it, then you’ll find it – do it with a positive mind”.

He’s absolutely right. It’s only when we are tired, over worked, and distracted that the thought of marching through the streets on a not particularly inspiring day seems daunting.

But when you read a few pages of Matt’s book you end up with a feeling that you can always make it happen. Everything is possible.

He’s managed to put a spark of life into the pages that lights up the mind. That it’s definitely worth going out without a cue from the weather, or a prompt from other people. But sometimes, we need a push.

Matt manages that with “Think Like a Street Photographer”, and a welcome push it is.

After all, Matt’s first chapter is titled, “Think Lucky, Be Lucky”, so you’ll find plenty of positive reasons to do street photography in Matt Stuart’s book.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not all about being positive and brave. The book is filled with Matt’s photography – brilliant shots of the streets of London, creative, and inspiring, as well as just plain gorgeous to sit and look at.

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Both books sit well together as companions to your own street photography process.

“I love them for what they are; books that I can pick up, again and again, to look through the photos and study the angles.“

To pick up and read a chapter. To think about constructive ideas that help me focus my thoughts. Exactly what I’m looking for in street photography.

These books have helped me get there.

Street photography is fast moving, and a broad idea of photographic practice. It offers you the photographer the opportunity to develop your all round photography skills.

Close up, wide angled, different lens sizes, and from Smartphone to DSLR / Mirrorless street photography.

If you’re a Smartphone photographer. This book has a lot to offer you. If you use a DSLR or Mirrorless camera, the same. The Street Photographer’s Manual, and Think Like a Street Photographer, should be on your shelves.

Above all don’t miss out on these gems. Books come and go, and sometimes even the gems don’t get republished.

Every street photographer should have these books on their shelves. Where they are always easily accessible for quick reference and damned good reading.

Some of the links in this article may be Affiliate links. If you use them and purchase an item, I will receive a small commission in return.

Berlin Street Photography Book | The Art of Creative Street Photography

Berlin Street Photography Book | The Art of Creative street Photography

I’ve been a Berlin street photographer for at least 15 years. I’ve now finished my first Berlin Street Photography book.

I’m never too rushed, or over enthusiastic to hit the “publish” button; I need to know that what I write and publish is going to be of value to the reader.

Two particular books that I’ve published this year are interesting, and of great value to the right read

The medium of digital photography is direct, quick, and captures a single moment in time which may or may not be of value to the viewer. It’s something that any urban explorer can get into, and enjoy – you never know, you might discover that urban street photography is right up your alley.