I believe in one thing: if you lecture a subject, then you have to also practice, especially when the topic you lecture is a practical one. Yesterday I was out with some students, and we took to the streets of Valletta. It was great seeing my students trying and also succeeding in shooting well exposed images. I spent the majority of the time directing, helping and anticipating shots with them. At one point though I had to simply let them go, that is how we learn then, when we are left to walking alone without having our hands held.

Meanwhile I wanted a challenge. I do not usually shoot people up close in the streets. I am more interested in buildings and how people interact with the buildings. However yesterday I wanted to try something that is outside of my comfort zone. Going close and focusing on the people. We were in an area of Valletta that was not so busy, and I shot. Quite frankly I couldn't stop. I got curious. What was the lady in purple doing waiting at the door? Where was that gentleman going? What were those two men saying?

One thing I learnt in street photography is that you have to be curious about others. Not nosy, not paparazzi, but simply and genuinely interested into people around you or the topic you are shooting. This is how I get my frames.

NOTE:

For the technically minded my gear is Canon 5D mkIII with a 35mm f/1.4 lens

For those asking about Data Protection: I am not after ridiculing people. My sole interest lies in how people behave in the street. My photography work in the street are purely for research purposes. I genuinely document the streets for posterity.