Street photographers, like any photography enthusiast, do stupid things occasionally. And I’m not above it all; I’ve ticked most of the boxes on this list. The point is to learn and grow as street photographers and not repeat the same mistakes that hold us back.
I compiled the ‘7 Stupid Things That Street Photographers Do’ list based on my past mistakes and those of photographers I’ve explored the streets with over the past eight years in India and worldwide.

I’ve coined a term for stopping up to your maximum aperture on the lens and walking around in Aperture Priority mode on Auto ISO: Goofy Mode. It’s what everyone is bound to do when they purchase a fast prime lens (like a Sony 85mm 1.8.) and set out and about and put it through the paces.

I see a lot of crazy shit in Mumbai and if I’m packing one of my cameras, the chances are that I’m going to capture the moment even if the image isn’t technically immaculate. My definition of crazy shit may differ from yours, but for the sake of argument, let’s just say that crazy shit is a good thing and not necessarily a bad thing and hence desirable to capture. It could crossover into Bresson’s decisive moment territory, and I don’t see why it wouldn’t ever not be the case. Crazy shit is memorable. Crazy shit tends to stir up conversation. And Crazy shit can be epic. I’m always on the lookout for crazy shit in my street photography.

I think most street photographers out there would scoff at the idea of working out just for leisurely activity like street photography, where walking is already a large part of it and a physical activity unto itself. But I’d like to point out that stair climbing is a fantastic workout, one that I adapted during the pandemic as an alternative to doing absolutely nothing physically. After a few weeks of stair climbing when I first got started, I could definitely tell there had been an improvement in my stamina and how this activity could be a great way to prepare street photographers for long outings.

There's an aperture priority mode which was introduced in the third iteration of full-frame Sonys. This super aperture priority mode really takes this semi-automatic mode to the next level. It's also a must if you shoot street photography. Here's a quick set-up guide.