Over the past few years, I've been captivated by the possibilities of AI and its versatile applications. Among the various roles it has played in my life, one that stands out is as an unpaid consultant, where I've experienced the valuable insights AI can provide on numerous subjects. As a fervent enthusiast of street photography, I couldn't resist the temptation to explore how AI might perceive this dynamic and artful form of expression.

The reason why I decided to consult with AI for this particular article is that I’ve been thinking about new ways to approach my street photography when I’m traveling to new destinations. In the past, I’ve only had a very casual approach, which primarily consisted of just seeing what I could get using the same approach I’d use exploring familiar places at home in Mumbai. The problem is, many of the locales I visit in Mumbai consist of very specific subjects and I find myself shooting accordingly. This doesn’t really work for travel and street photography, not in the sense of having a plan and producing cohesive work on the road, no matter where I visit. The problem is, when I’m traveling I’m not necessarily going to know what I’ll encounter. But having a plan will put me on the right path to make sorting out the chaos a bit more manageable.

So just for fun, I asked AI to name me the top 10 street photography assignments that anyone can do. I put the question to the most popular (and probably the best as of this writing) platform, ChatGPT, and Google’s Bard, a relative newcomer but has the potential to become one of the best because of its big-money support. I’ve copy-pasted each of their responses in separate sections. My aim is to give my readers who are interested in street photography a non-biased and hopefully useful list of ideas that help them whether they’re at home or on the road traveling.

What ChatGPT Said

Street photography is a fantastic genre that allows photographers to capture candid moments and stories in everyday life. Here are ten creative and engaging street photography assignments that a photographer can do anywhere in the world:

1. Urban Geometry: Explore the geometry and patterns present in cityscapes. Look for unique angles, lines, and shapes formed by architecture, streets, and objects.

2. Shadows and Silhouettes: Focus on the interplay of light and shadows, capturing intriguing silhouettes and dynamic contrasts on the streets.

3. The Decisive Moment: Pay homage to Henri Cartier-Bresson's concept of the decisive moment. Try capturing fleeting moments that tell a story or reveal human emotions.

4. Colorful Characters: Seek out vibrant characters on the streets with interesting outfits, expressions, or personalities that stand out from the crowd.

5. Reflections: Look for reflective surfaces like puddles, windows, or mirrors, which can create unique compositions and add depth to your street photography.

6. Emotion in Motion: Capture the essence of movement in the streets, showcasing the hustle and bustle of city life or the serenity of someone in motion.

7. Minimalism: Embrace the power of simplicity and minimalism in your photographs. Focus on isolated subjects, clean backgrounds, and subtle details.

8. Culture Clash: Find locations where different cultures converge, creating compelling visuals that showcase diversity and coexistence.

9. Juxtaposition: Look for situations where contrasting elements come together unexpectedly, creating thought-provoking or humorous compositions.

10. The Unseen Faces: Highlight the often overlooked or unnoticed aspects of city life. This could include street vendors, construction workers, or any behind-the-scenes activity that contributes to the city's energy.

Remember, street photography is about observation, storytelling, and capturing the essence of life around you. Always respect people's privacy and local laws when taking photos in public spaces, and don't forget to enjoy the process of exploring and discovering the beauty in the world through your lens.

What Bard Said

Sure, here are 10 of the best and most creative street photography assignments that you can do anywhere in the world:

1. The 5 Yes, 5 No Assignment: This is a great way to overcome your fear of shooting street photography and to get practice asking people for permission to take their portrait. Simply walk around and ask 5 people if you can take their picture, and then ask 5 people if you can't. This will help you to learn how to read people's body language and to approach them in a way that is respectful and non-threatening.

   Opens in a new window erickimphotography.com

   
   
   
   

2. The Specific Feeling Assignment: This assignment is all about capturing a specific emotion or mood in your street photography. You could focus on happiness, sadness, loneliness, anger, or any other emotion that you find interesting. The key is to be intentional about your choices and to look for moments that capture the emotion that you are trying to convey.

   Opens in a new window www.digitalcameraworld.com

3. The Light and Shadows Assignment: This assignment is all about using light and shadows to create interesting and visually striking images. You could look for patterns of light and shadow on the ground, or you could focus on the way that light interacts with people's faces. The possibilities are endless, so experiment and see what you can create.

   Opens in a new window amateurphotographer.com

4. The Reflection Assignment: This assignment is all about capturing reflections in windows, mirrors, and other reflective surfaces. This can be a great way to add depth and interest to your images, and it can also be a fun way to play with perspective.

   Opens in a new window fujilove.com

5. The Street Portraiture Assignment: This assignment is all about capturing the people you see on the streets. You could focus on people's faces, their body language, or the way that they interact with their environment. The key is to be respectful of your subjects and to capture them in a way that is both candid and revealing.

   Opens in a new window amateurphotographer.com

6. The Story Assignment: This assignment is all about telling a story with your street photography. You could focus on a single person or group of people, or you could look for moments that capture a larger story about the city or the people who live there. The key is to be intentional about your choices and to create images that tell a complete and compelling story.

   Opens in a new window www.naina.co

   
   
   
   

7. The Environmental Portraiture Assignment: This assignment is all about capturing people in their environment. You could focus on people's interactions with their surroundings, or you could look for ways to show how people are shaped by their environment. The key is to be creative and to find ways to show the relationship between people and their environment.

   Opens in a new window brianmegens.com

8. The Color Assignment: This assignment is all about using color to create visually striking images. You could focus on a single color, or you could look for ways to create contrast between different colors. The key is to be intentional about your choices and to create images that are both visually appealing and meaningful.

   Opens in a new window www.exibartstreet.com

9. The Pattern Assignment: This assignment is all about finding and capturing patterns in the world around you. You could look for patterns in nature, in architecture, or in the way that people interact with each other. The key is to be observant and to find patterns that are both interesting and visually appealing.

   Opens in a new window blog.sigmaphoto.com

10. The Abstract Assignment: This assignment is all about capturing abstract moments in the world around you. You could look for shapes, textures, or colors that you find interesting, or you could experiment with different techniques to create abstract images. The key is to be creative and to find ways to capture the world in a new and unexpected way.

    Opens in a new window jamesmaherphotography.com

These are just a few of the many creative street photography assignments that you can do. The most important thing is to be creative and to have fun with it. So get out there and start shooting!

Comparing the Results of ChatGPT and Bard

Right off the bat, it’s clear that there are two very different approaches that each of these platforms takes to arrive at their answers. ChatGPT seems to provide a more general response from its data points and Bard simply combs the Internet and latches onto results that likely appear near the top results in a Google search and lists the URL of where it got the answer from. I can see advantages to both these approaches, which is why I wanted to share two AI samplings that handle questions very differently.

Interestingly, the two platforms only agree on two assignments. Both ChatGPT and Bard recommend an assignment based on shadows. ChatGPT called it “Shadows and Silhouettes” and Bard, “The Light and Shadows Assignment”. They both also recommended assignments based on reflections.

They both also agree on exploring patterns in architecture, although each of them had different assignment names for this, “Urban Geometry (ChatGPT)” and “The Pattern Assignment (Bard)”. So only a 30% agreement at best? I find this interesting. I’m sure if I asked each of them for a Top 20 or more, there would be more agreement. But with these combined results, you’re basically getting two of the most popular AI platforms’ Top 17 results for the street photography assignment query.

My Takeaway

My response to critics of AI who state that AI is doing all the work for you is that this isn’t true at all. For me, AI is like a sounding board that I bounce ideas off of. It’s a silent partner. It’s a consultant. It’s another way of using the Internet to my advantage that saves a lot of time without having to rephrase my queries in Internet search engines. Or worse still, from wasting my time combing through page after page of search engine results that are often skewed by advertising and big-name SEO hustlers.

What I’m seeing, based on my experience so far, is that I’m obtaining more democratic and coherent results, especially in the case of ChatGPT, which unfortunately isn’t as Internet savvy as Bard, which is naturally more Google-centric. But clearly, AI is going to be the entry point to the Internet for a great many users as it becomes more apparent to people how artificial intelligence can play a role in their daily lives.

Not surprisingly, I did get a few ideas from these street photography assignments that I may use in my street photography outings here at home and when I travel abroad. I’ll talk about this in an upcoming article.

Did any of these ideas help you? Let me know in the comments.