50mm Street Photography: Capturing the Beauty of the Street
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The choice of lens is a critical decision that shapes the narrative of your images. the 50mm lens was nicknamed the “nifty fifty” because of its reliability in shooting on the street.
street photography with 50mm is great for 5 main reasons. Finding the right lens is a personal journey, but I’ll provide insight into the positive aspects of using a 50mm lens.
1. Natural Perspective
When you look around, what you see feels ‘just right,’ doesn’t it? There’s a certain comfort in how we view the world with our own eyes. That’s exactly what a 50mm lens brings to your photographs—a sense of normalcy and familiarity. This lens captures scenes in a way that feels natural, avoiding the stretched sides of a wide-angle lens or the compressed space of a zoom lens.
This natural perspective makes the 50mm lens a secret weapon for street photographers. It’s great for when you want your photos to give that ‘you are there’ feeling, making anyone who looks at your picture feel like they’re standing right there on the street corner, watching the world go by.
And the best part? This lens keeps everything real. The proportions of buildings, the way people look—they all appear in your photos just as they are in life, without any odd distortions that can sometimes make images feel off. This helps your audience connect with your photos on a personal level, as if they’re peeking into a real moment.
2. Subject Isolation
The 50mm lens is great for choosing a subject that will pop against a busy background. With its ability to create a shallow depth of field, you can keep your subject sharply in focus while the background melts into a soft blur. This effect draws the viewer’s eye right where you want it to.
the 50mm lens simplifies the scene so these moments don’t get lost in the surrounding chaos. It’s like putting a frame around your subject, telling your viewer, “Look right here; this is what matters.” Simple, effective, and powerful.
3. Optimal Working Distance
The 50mm lens is often called the “friendly lens,” and for good reason. It provides you with an ideal balance of being close enough to capture the emotion and details of the scene without being so close that you’re invading someone’s personal space. This is what we call the optimal working distance.
In street photography, you want to be a part of the environment without disrupting it. The 50mm lens allows you to do just that. It gives you the space to observe and compose your shot thoughtfully, letting the scene unfold naturally.
This distance is also respectful to your subjects, often allowing for more candid and genuine expressions, which is the soul of street photography. It’s about capturing life as it is, and the 50mm lens is your perfect companion for this task.
4. Low Light Capability
In low light the 50mm lens proves its worth once again. Its large aperture allows a lot of light to reach the camera’s sensor, making it ideal for those darker street scenes. You can shoot in lower light without sacrificing shutter speed, which means you can still capture sharp images of moving subjects without a flash.
This capability is a game-changer in street photography, where every second counts and lighting can be unpredictable. The 50mm lens allows you to keep shooting even as the light changes, from the golden hour of sunset to the neon glow of a city at night. You won’t have to pack up when it gets dark; instead, you get to explore a whole new side of the streets that only comes alive after hours.
5. Ease of Focusing
The 50mm lens is able to be quick and accurate when focusing. Its fast autofocus and the ability to easily pre-focus at a specific distance, you can capture sharp images on the fly without fumbling with your gear. This makes the 50mm lens a reliable choice for snapping those sudden, once-in-a-lifetime shots that street photographers often encounter.
6. Portability and Discretion
One of the less celebrated but equally important advantages of the 50mm lens is its size and discreetness. Often more compact and lighter than zoom lenses, it makes for an unobtrusive addition to your camera. This can be crucial in street photography where blending into your surroundings and not drawing attention to yourself can make the difference in capturing a natural, candid shot.
The 50mm lens’s subtle presence means you’re less likely to intimidate people on the street, often resulting in more authentic and relaxed expressions. It’s a lens that doesn’t shout ‘professional photographer’, which can be a significant advantage in the streets where the essence of life unfolds unguarded and real.
This post contains affiliate links which means I may receive a commission from purchases made through links. I will only recommend products I know personally used, and can attest to their high quality. Learn more on my private policy page
