Achieving a unique visual language and bringing surrealism to candid and unstaged photography is not an easy task, especially at the beginning of a photography journey.
As intimidating as it might sound, there are tools and techniques that can help you achieve surrealism and, therefore, a new artistic layer in your work.
Let’s cover a few of them:
1. Reflections
glas roof reflection - 2022, Kraków
bus station billboard reflection - 2022, Kraków
Reflections are an easy way to start experimenting with abstraction by combining several subjects and objects into one frame. Whether shooting through windows, incorporating billboards (2), or making use of available mirrors (1).
The reason I think it's the easiest entry point is that technically it's no different from common candid photography. Put your camera in Aperture priority mode with the aperture as closed as available light allows you to. Look for an interesting reflection, work on your composition, and wait until something interesting happens.
2. Motion Blur
handheld, 1/10th sec, "camera turn" - 2023, Kraków
Tripod, 1/8th sec - 2022, Kraków
To achieve motion blur with a slow shutter speed during the daytime, you will most likely need an ND filter. These sunglasses for your lens will allow you to decrease the shutter speed for longer exposures, allowing motion blur to occur. Some cameras (Ricoh GRIII/IIIx, Fujifilm x100v) have internal NDs, while for others, they need to be purchased separately.
Your best bet here is to use a tripod, but also handheld camera motions can make a rather boring composition more dynamic.
3. Defocussing
zone focussed on 40cm, open aperture - 2023, Kraków
out of focus street lights, 35mm - 2021 KRAKÓw
While many photographers use manual and zone focusing methods to achieve focus faster, the same methods can be applied to intentionally put your subjects out of focus. It sounds counterintuitive, but especially for photographing people, it can add a sense of anonymity and uncertainty.
4. Juxtaposition and forced perspective
Happy accident, Foreground & Background, Kraków, 2021
Forced perspective, 2021, Kraków
Juxtaposition methods are almost as old as street photography itself. And this method is arguably one of the hardest, and one I need to learn a lot about myself. Trying to combine foreground & background into one, changing perspective forcefully, and capturing happy accidents.
Forced juxtaposition, 2021, Kraków
happy accident/juxtaposition, 2021, Kraków
