Explore why I've shifted from Aperture Priority to Manual Mode in my photography. Learn about the benefits of full control over camera settings for clearer, more intentional images. Join my street photography workshops in Mumbai and around the world to master Manual Mode and transform your photographic approach.

Join Craig Boehman as he guides you through the nuances of collaborative street photography. Discover tips on interacting with subjects, finding unique angles, and directing shots in urban landscapes. Transform ordinary moments into stunning art. Learn more in our Street Photography Bootcamp to elevate your craft.

Explore Craig Boehman's venture into fine art with "Desolation," where street photography meets the innovative realms of Generative AI. Witness a fusion that challenges traditional boundaries, blending real-life captures with imaginative AI elements to craft Impressionist-inspired prints that redefine creativity in the digital age.

Elevate your morning street photography with our "5 Tips for Morning Street Photography" guide. Learn to harness the golden hour, prepare your gear the night before, and find beauty in spontaneous moments. Dive into the full article for insights on capturing the essence of early mornings, wherever you are.

I’m not advising you to avoid visiting Mumbai’s own Dhobi Ghat, the largest outdoor laundry in the world. This article only serves as a warning to photographers who may want to visit inside: be prepared to be let down by the experience.

Street photography has all kinds of benefits. I want to share a few of these with you because even if you’re not a hardcore enthusiast, you might be surprised by what the genre can do for you if you decide to pursue it even occasionally. I’m personally working on my ninth year of shooting street photography and I hope to be doing it for decades to come. Here’s what I’ve learned so far.

Knowing your purpose in street photography is one thing; packaging it and presenting it to the world is quite another. I guess I’ve known all along what my purpose has been in street photography and photography in general: turning people into art. It may sound generic. It may sound too vague. After all, isn’t that what portrait painters do? Or any number of other artists, for that matter?

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 don't consider myself a documentary photographer. I occasionally take pictures, that if were part of a much larger and more precise body of work, could be considered documentary in nature. But the reality is there's only one project that has been dear to me in the past decade and I only photograph that part of Kolkata real estate too infrequently.

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.

A frame within a frame is always on my brain - when I'm shooting wide on my 24mm prime lens. That's because I'm always considering foreground layers when it comes to composition. Shooting subjects straight on can be unflattering compared to other focal lengths that come with nice bokeh when opened wide up. The 24mm needs help, in my opinion.

If you've ever visited Howrah Station and taken the bridge across to reach there, you may have noticed the intermittent but neverending stream of porters sluffing bags to and from the station. When you get up close and personal with them, you get to see how hard and tiring that kind of work is.

I’ve heard too few photographers talk about the phenomenon between how we feel when we’re taking pictures and the results. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Germans had a multi-syllable word for it. But we English-speakers certainly do not. So here’s a common scenario to describe what I’m talking about.

I’ll be the first to admit that shooting street photography on vacation isn’t always a fruitful endeavor. Whenever I travel to Goa, I have the same conversation with myself. Should I take the camera or leave it at home? If I take it, I’ll likely not use it that much and have to pack onto the flight with me as carry-on. If I don’t take it, there’s always the chance that I’ll miss the shot of a lifetime.

In Chapter 1 of Tales of Mumbai Street Photography, I’ll share a few of my favorite images from the past and recent shots from 2022. The purpose of these posts is to act as supplemental material for my Street Photography projects page.

Mumbai is one of India's most prominent mega cities with a population in excess of 18 million residents. It is also arguably one of the best places in India for street photography. As a resident and avid street photographer myself, I offer a glimpse into many of the best spots in Mumbai for street photography.