A handful of photographers have figured out how to create the complex, layered images that Alex Webb and Harry Gruyaert are known for. I haven't, so I want to start reverse-engineering what's going on in their best work and write it down, hoping the exercise makes me a better shooter.

I'd love to crowdsource this. What elements do you see in images that can be broken down, studied, and applied when we go out and shoot? I've started a list below. Add to it, discuss. And if you've found any books or resources particularly helpful for this kind of work, I'd love to hear about those.

Types of Places:
Bus stops, beaches, parks, outdoor markets, events.

Locations:
Some places are more conducive to this kind of work, where life happens outdoors, colors are vibrant, and people don't mind cameras: Cuba, Oaxaca, Istanbul.

How to Work a Scene:
Friendly body language. Insert yourself into group until you're ignored. Offer an instant print.

Compositional Tools:
Light poles, building corners, glass, shadows, doorways.

Lighting Situations:
Harsh midday light, gray skies, golden hour, blue hour.

Color:
What times of day offer the lighting you want?

Get close:
Where exactly do you put the camera? How close?

Layering:
Identifying situations with foreground, middle ground, background and knowing where to stand.

Timing:
Returning to a spot, spending time at a single location

Photo: Dante Sisofo

Hi everyone, I’m not entirely sure why, but I always feel like my photos lack visual clarity or "readability." To me, the readability of a composition is the most important element of an image. A good photographer knows exactly how to lead the viewer's eye right where it needs to go, but I feel like I am really struggling to achieve that.

I suspect a few different things might be causing this. First, I might not be choosing the right focal length or aperture. I am often shooting somewhere between f/5.6 and f/8, and I'm worried this might be flattening my images.

Second, it could be my in-camera settings. I shoot with a Fujifilm X-T5, and I deliberately lower the clarity and sharpness. I really dislike it when an image looks overly sharp or has that clinical "digital" look. I prefer a softer aesthetic, but I wonder if softening the image too much is destroying my subject separation and muddying the composition.

Did any of you run into these same issues when you first started photography?
If you have any specific exercises, composition tips, or things I should try to get better at guiding the viewer's eye, I would hugely appreciate it! Thanks in advance.

Some of us like minimal gear and some love to collect many cameras and lenses but if you are about to head out for a street photography day, what is your everyday carry? Do you tend to stick to one camera and lens or do you like to ‘chop and change’? What motivates you to make your choice?

I use a Sony A7C II and Voigtlander 40mm f2 Septon (or a TTArtisan 100mm f2 if I fancy a challenge) as it is fairly small and lightweight. Fullframe in a small package, manual focus and lens character are my main passions with my camera gear.

I've just been through One New Change, near St. Paul's in London. While I was there it got me thinking that pretty much every time I visit that place, I find a new angle or composition.

I know it is a photographer's favourite and it has been shot many times but I always find it an inspiring location.

Do you have locations that are similar for you? Is there somewhere you have been to many times but never get tired of it?

For some reason, whenever I hear this song I think of the "dance" of street photography more than I do actually dancing with someone. In street photography sometimes you need to ask someone to dance and if they say no, it's ok, but if they say yes, well that's the best!

https://open.spotify.com/track/43thKZxOf40xZaJlzaZX9T?si=9b633b39690847ad

Wanted to share this little interaction with put a smile on my face.
I went to take a candid shot of this lady on Thursday, as she looked very chilled with the sun catching her glasses. But as you can see in the photo, she spotted me as I press the shutter button.
So I went to talk to her, showed her what I do and had a nice chat. I did ask and got a close up portrait, but it wasn't any good.
After posting, I got this message which has cheered me up.
I spent last year testing myself by trying street portraits, building confidence to talk freely about photographing strangers on the streets. I got quite a if these few positive responses, people saying that the experience lifted their moods. No negatives at all, only two no's.
I highly recommend trying street portraits. Even if it's not normally your thing, it will definitely help you with classic candid street photo stuff.
I think many of us are introverts at heart, so start at events or with dogs. People love showing off their fur babies.

Hi everyone, I am new to the community and looking forward to joining and submitting a photo to this months assignment. Seems like a great one!

In addition the inspiration photos included in the assignment description does anyone else follow photographers who have some cool “Behind the glass” photos? I went out last night to take some shots and was having difficulties feeling inspired and coming up with cool photos ideas.

Thanks in advance !

I sometimes (often!) start to run out of ideas for what to photograph in familiar places. I’ve tried a few things to overcome the hurdle, with varying degrees of success.

One is using a completely different lens. About 95% of the time I shoot with a fixed lens on a Fuji X100, so changing my focal length can force me to see things differently.

Another is focusing on finding just one specific thing. My go-to is Selfridges bags. They don’t always result in great photos, but having a simple subject to look for gets me thinking differently and paying attention to details I might otherwise miss, and seems to kick start my brain

Do you have any tips or tricks for seeing new things in familiar places? How do you open your eyes to subjects you’ve walked past hundreds of times before?

Essentially, members' chat is a forum space for the following:

- Lengthy, thoughtful posts that stir conversation
- Dumb gifs
- Widow's Bay fan theories
- Cats

I think you get the drift. This is *our* community space. A mix of heady, thoughtful threads and low-brow tomfoolery. Don't take it too seriously. Or do. Josh and I have built it, and now it's your turn to make it what you want it to be.

Ps: if anything's broken, leave a message in Feedback and tag @heroesforsale