I’ll start by stating the obvious, a good street photographer is aware of her surroundings at all times.
In addition, the photographer understands human nature to the point that she can anticipate reactions to events. She can identify both the typical and atypical responses which in turn helps her chose what to shoot.
The street photographer must also be aware of the social rules surrounding the scene. How do the people being photographed feel about being the subjects of the photographer’s gaze? Discretion, not secretiveness, is almost always the best approach. At her finest, the photographer is an observer whose goal is to collect and share insights into the human condition. At her most base, she merely exploits a situation, showing people as caricatures or stereotypes.
The picture above is an example of situational awareness. The real drama is not shown.
While walking through the Tuileries I had just been approached by a Gypsy scam artist (the second in less than an hour). Horse mounted police had been watching and they swept in to arrest the man that had been harassing me. As they led him off, I noticed the man in the chair watching the mini drama and took his picture.
Why didn’t I take a picture of the police and the Gypsy? The Parisian police are well disciplined and very helpful to tourists. However, they are often less than happy to have their photographs taken. In the past, I’d had encounters with them while photographing demonstrations or other street scenes.
While a picture of the mounted police with the arrested man would have been interesting, I found the man sitting in the sun, distracted from his reading, a more universal image.