I’ve been thinking about this topic for some time, and Alexander Merc’s Guest Post last week on the Battle of Street Photography further inspired me. Unsurprisingly, as a member of Street Hunters, one way and another, I see quite a lot of street photos every day. The photos I see are a mix of street shots submitted by the established street photography big hitters, photos presented by up-and-coming street photographers, and photos from those just starting out on their street photography journey. The work I see is at all kinds of levels – some of it totally blows me away, at other times I can clearly see when a photographer needs more time and practice to develop their skills.

The Problem With Black and White Street Photography

There is something in particular that I identify more often than not in a street photographer’s work, and it’s often particularly evident in a street photographer who’s at an early stage in their photographic journey. I’m talking about shooting street photographs exclusively in black and white. Or as I see it, neglecting the importance of colour in a street photography. I firmly believe that some photographers when they first start out with street photography are holding themselves back by shooting exclusively in monochrome, and they should really consider using colour.