Street Photography: Standing in the Same Spot, on the Same Street, in the Same City, Til Someone Totally Cool Walks by, Cuz That’s a Bad Ass Background.

Street Photography: Standing in the Same Spot, on the Same Street, in the Same City, Til Someone Totally Cool Walks by, Cuz That’s a Bad Ass Background.

It was a warm afternoon last August, when I stumbled upon a really cool mural on the corner of Brattle and Church Streets in Harvard Square, in the home of “Our Fair City” as Click and Clack refer to it. (That’s Cambridge, Massachusetts for those of you ‘from away’, or who have yet to experience the joy that is Car Talk on Public Radio).

The side of a building was painted a deep purple with an intricate white schooner painted on the right side. Tons of converging lines and shapes and interesting details created what would become a perfect canvas for the day.

As I stood on the opposite corner watching walkers unknowingly pass right through the artwork they were helping to create, I noticed that their silhouettes popped. The scene became less about the subjects and more about how they interacted with the shapes in the mural behind them: The stunning red head’s hair blowing in the wind, the young blonde with her funky top and oversized bag, the buff dude in his tight t-shirt and ripped biceps. Alone, these young urbanites would have made for interesting shots. After all, interesting people are typically what make interesting street photography.

However, by sticking to one background for all my shots, something quite different happened. Something unique. The photo now focused more on the personality of the person. The background now acted as a canvas for a new mural, one created by the photographer and the subject.

The next time you’re wandering around town looking for cool street photography subjects, remember sometimes the best subjects actually start with the best background. Don’t be afraid to chill on a street corner waiting for your perfect canvas to emerge.