Capturing Emotions in Street Photography

Capturing emotions is at the core of street photography, from raw expression like those seen in Henri Cartier-Bresson or Mary Ellen Mark’s photos, to subtler depictions. But doing it successfully requires patience, observance and preparedness when moments present themselves.

Body language can reveal people’s emotions. Anger may be shown through tight fists and tense body language or wide eyes; sadness by tears and frowns, while love can be shown through hugs and tender moments; lonelyness can be expressed by slumped shoulders with expressions of longing; you can also observe hand gestures as a means to read emotions – such as rubbing their face or holding down their head can signal sadness while an open hand might indicate joy.

Composition can help communicate emotions as well. For instance, using a wide-angle lens can make the subject appear more powerful or dominant while taking photos from low angles can give the effect that they’re vulnerable or invisible. Lighting also plays an important role in setting mood in photographs – it affects how the subject is seen by viewers.

Keep this in mind when trying to capture emotions through street photography: for most authentic results, unrehearsed and spontaneous shots are best. Staging a scene may result in subjects showing more forced emotional responses.