HOW TO GET STARTED WITH URBAN PHOTOGRAPHY

We've all heard the term 'urban photography', but what does it actually mean and how do you go about W photographing it? In this article I'm going to teach you all about this interesting and accessible genre of photography and how to get started with it.

- Jo Plumridge

WHAT IS URBAN PHOTOGRAPHY? 

People often confuse urban photography with street photography, but urban is a far broader genre that can include anything within a built-up urban environment. This can include architecture and people, but also the surroundings and settings of the urban environment you're in.

You might also wonder what an urban environment is. It is essentially any built up area where people live and work, so encompasses towns and cities.

CAMERA GEAR

There are no specific requirements for urban photography, but there are a few things that will make your life easier. A camera that's good in low light is particularly useful, as the urban environment can often be lacking in ambient light. And a decent autofocus system that can cope with moving subjects will help if you want to capture people or transport going about a town or city. While I'm generally a fan of fixed (prime) lenses, I actually think zoom lenses are of far more use in an urban environment. A zoom means that you can quickly cover multiple focal lengths, which is useful if something starts happening in a different part of your scene.