Waiting is the Hardest Part

One of the most challenging things to do as a photographer is wait. Waiting for something to happen is hard. And tedious. And, quite often, boring. Nonetheless, patience is critical to our success. To fulfill our creative vision at times, we must wait. And wait. And wait some more. For dramatic landscapes at sunrise, we go out long before dawn, set up, and wait for the light. In wildlife photography, we often get ourselves into a pre-determined position, set up, and wait for the action. Everything takes time. Even in street photography, we should be patient and wait. Street photography seems a fluid endeavor with continuous movement and very little waiting. However, my favorite technique for street photography is finding a scene featuring great light and activity, setting myself up discreetly, and waiting for something interesting to happen. While in the ancient Stone City of Zanzibar, I found a small crossroad with beautiful light, brilliant shadows, and colorful pedestrians. Ducking into the shadows of an alley, I sat on a stoop and waited. I waited quite a while, a half hour or so, for this moment that happened in seconds. On your next outing, as you pack your camera bag with hardware and stuff, leave plenty of room for your patience. It can only help.

Photograph What You Feel

Fuji XT5

Fujinon 27mm f2.8 Lens

ISO: 250

APT: f5

EXP: 1/1250th of a Second Hand Held While Trying to be Invisible

Alley of Light and Shadow in Zanzibar

A Red Scooter in Zanzibar

Alley Life in Zanzibar