{"id":41242,"date":"2017-12-12T09:00:14","date_gmt":"2017-12-12T14:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/?p=41242"},"modified":"2022-05-25T14:11:39","modified_gmt":"2022-05-25T18:11:39","slug":"how-to-use-graffiti-art-to-improve-your-street-photography","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/how-to-use-graffiti-art-to-improve-your-street-photography\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Use Graffiti Art to Improve Your Street Photography"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Before graffiti (or street art) photography was widely appreciated by onlookers and practiced by underground artists around the world, it was considered simple and thoughtless vandalism. Fortunately, majority of the world has caught on and taken notice of the beauty of these meaningful pieces of art often found on the walls of our neighborhoods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For many street photographers, graffiti changed the way photographers compose photos. With an interesting new background for their images, they\u2019ve started paying more attention to that element in the frame instead of just focusing on their subjects, thus creating more creative opportunities for each shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we\u2019ll provide you with some helpful tips on how you can use these unique scribblings and paintings to improve your images when doing street photography<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Graffiti Art Can Improve Street Photography<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"big
Image via Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Colorful street art is often best observed in person, but more and more people are featuring it in photos and showing it off to wider audiences. But while this provides graffiti artists with the benefit of gaining more exposure, it also offers a great benefit for street photographers as it can improve their images in the following ways:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Provides an interesting backdrop for portraits<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Graffiti is typically made of colorful patterns, designs, lines, shapes, and more. Therefore, when you get tired of those dull sidewalks and roads, graffiti walls can also serve as a good background for shooting portraits<\/a> of people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serves as a compelling subject in itself<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Apart from just looking aesthetically pleasing, graffiti art is also filled with meaning\u2014just like any other type of artwork. This makes it an interesting photography subject all on its own, even without adding a focal subject such as a person or an animal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gives your images a grungy look<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Graffiti often lends a grungy \u201cstreet\u201d feel to your photos. Street photography is all about showing beautifully gritty scenes and subjects, and including graffiti artwork in your images allows you to do that with minimal effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shows the personality or quirks of a neighborhood<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Graffiti art is usually reflective of the personality of the neighborhood where it is located. Thus, including it in your photos can give your viewers a look into the culture of the place and what it may be like to be in that particular setting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8 Tips for Shooting Street Artwork<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"couple
Image via Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Now that you\u2019re convinced that graffiti art can significantly improve your street photography, here are a few technical tips to help to capture and utilize them well in your future images.<\/p>\n\n\n\n