I remember well how I started as a street photographer. 1 year ago. And my fear initially was not the fact of facing unfamiliar people and recorder their images in unusual or normal everyday situations of a big city, but rather the fear of violence.

Source - Design by me

And the fear of violence is something normal for a Brazilian photographer residing in Brazil, for all reports of assaults to photographers. The scene is the same: The thief approaches the photographer, shows a gun, asks for his camera and leaves. That camera that both you dreamed and fought, joined your coins for months to buy, fades away in less than 5 minutes. It is revolting.

It was not easy to overcome this fear and I confess that I still have a little fear, but I adopted some safety measures (techniques) that I learned with some photographers who have been working for many years in street photography, who have made me "exorcise" this fear and I would like to share some these techniques with you:

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Some Safety Tips for Shooting on the Street

My Shadow Down the Street

• When shooting on the street, wear dark clothing. Today I don't go to street to shoot without dark clothes like black pants (or black shorts), black shirt and black sneakers. If it is not possible black clothes, any piece of clothing in dark colors like navy, gray graphite, etc ... In this way we stay "invisible" in the street, discrete and we do not call so much attention. The people practically ignore or don't feel our presence.

• Don't shoot on streets or avenues deserted or without people moving. The risk of a thief addresses you be enormous.

• I don't walk with the camera all the time in my hands. Because can pass some thief running or cycling and pull my camera. If possible, put your backpack on the front of the body. Seeing something interesting to shoot, open the bag, remove the camera, shoot and put it back in the backpack. Fast movements.

• Attention to those who come behind, on your side or in front of you. Look around and just take your camera out of your backpack to shoot if you feel you are safe for it.

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Today analyzing, I understand that fear is something inevitable to the human being and the photographer as a human being it will certainly have yours. But, if he loves his profession, what he does, he must abdicate them and face them. His success depends on his courage and daring.

I know that we are in a crazy world nowadays, where people don't respect each other, violence (not only here in Brazil, but in the world) is very great, but in our life we ​​have to face our own fears of the front. To create weights and difficulties in our work will only aggravate a situation and paralyze us.

Overcome our fears with joy, daring, will to win and to capture incredible images, aiming for our professional success, should be our motivations as photographers. These are my motivations and today I leave no more the fear nor shame get in my way.

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Courage and Determination Must Be our Fuel!

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Thanks for reading my post and stay tuned for the next posts!

Obrigado por ter lido o meu post e fiquem atentos às minhas próximas postagens!

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