Street Photography @ 50mm

The use of 50mm in SP is almost a legacy.

Without going through the discussion of telezoom vs prime lens, let’s just keep in mind that street photography is all about narrative. To have narrative, to tell a story, you have to be near the main character(s) in order to put the viewer in the same place. And if you’re documenting a time and a place your images should look precisely like that.

Like if you were there.

And that’s why the photos you like from the “Master of Photography” look so real (leaving lots of aspects aside, of course): the focal length. The 35mm look more real, put you right there even if with some distortion, but 50mm is close enough too, and without disturbing the scenery and providing enough set for your characters.

Of course there’s always the discussion of the crop factor (Canon’s 1,6x sensor will turn a 50mm lens into a 80mm and Nikon and most brands 1,5x sensor into a 75mm, and so on...), but you’re documenting our time and to do so you (have to) use the present equipment.

And that’s all that matter. That, and a true representation of reality, whether chosen by moment and/or composition.

You might find interesting comparing with this

Have a great Week