London Buses:
A Guide to Visual Storytelling

Do you ever find yourself feeling creatively un-inspired? I can’t deny that sometimes I get a little overwhelmed with street photography, a bit like writer’s block, but the photography version of it – photographer’s block, perhaps?

As a photographer, it’s important to keep yourself inspired to capture images that are both visually impactful, and enjoyable to capture in the first place. It’s easy to fall into the trap of heading out on a photography walk and getting the same types of images you always aim for. After a while, the process can start to feel repetitive, and you may get back to the desk feeling slightly underwhelmed with the results.

The fact is, every creative has different things that drive them and keep them inspired. As a London based street photographer, my drive is exploration. No matter how many times I’ve explored London, there’s always something new to see. Along with that, my next driving factor is the the silence of the process. Yep, you read that right; the silence. Even when I’m in the most bustling cities in the world, having the ability to go out with just my camera, and switch off from every other distraction around me feels like therapy.

The Creative Anchor: London Buses

So this is where buses come into it. To combat that overwhelm, I wanted to give myself a simple creative brief for the day. The goal was to capture as many images as I could centred around the theme of London buses.

With that in mind, I constrained my focus to one core element. Instead of chasing everything, I let the buses steer my inspiration. What followed was a mix of fleeting moments, layered compositions, and interesting interactions all tied together by one familiar thread.

Some Notes About The Gallery

Photographing a theme based on London buses was a genuinely fun challenge. But it took a little while to figure out how to move beyond simply documenting the buses themselves, and the key was to look for the additional “nudges” or gifts around them. So here’s some things I looked out for and the approach I took to capture the set;

• • Reflections in the glass of bus and bus shelters

    Glass always offers an interesting object to play with in street photography; it can effortlessly add layers and textures and if you get the elements just right can often elevate an image to tell a complex story.

  • Interesting characters waiting at bus stop

    The bus stop is where PEOPLE STOP too. So you can take advantage of this and subtly capture some cool candid portraits while people are distracted looking out for their bus. People will often look past you, so you can work the space and find your composition with out too much disruption.

  • Quiet, isolated moments on the bus

    When I’m a passenger on a bus, especially when seated, I often take the opportunity to just slow down and rest. Unlike trains, I can’t use my phone on the bus (travel sickness etc), so I’ll often just look out of the window. Keep a look out for these types of people – the ones that take advantage of their commute to just look out the window, and embrace the moment…. You never know, you might end up capturing my portrait some time 🙂

Recommended Equipment

The kit you use is very subjective and has to suit your style and approach (which I talk about in more detail in this post: Best Street Photography Cameras). But to put it simple, for me, street photography is about being light and inconspicuous. This will help you blend into a scene or scenario in the least disruptive way and can lead to authentic, documentary style imagery.

But being inconspicuous isn’t just about the gear; it’s also about observing. When you’re at a bus stop, or on a bus, people are often distracted. Either looking out for the next bus, or bus stop. So it’s a great opportunity to observe this, and use it to your advantage to get in close for some cool candid portraits.

Of course there are some street photographers like Bruce Gilden that want to be disruptive so that they can encourage interaction with the subject. So it’s a case of deciding on the types of images you want to capture.

Keeping it simple: one camera and one lens.

Most often it’s a 35mm pancake lens, a focal length I find works so well for capturing street. It allows me to get in close, but still captures the context of a scene. If I decide to choose a 50mm or 85mm instead, I make that decision before I set off and stick with that single lens all day. Limiting my gear helps me stay focused on storytelling rather than switching equipment.

Outside of that, my bag usually just carries essentials; a coat, spare batteries, snacks, and of course, water.

The Benefit of Setting a Theme

The benefit of setting a theme like this is that it forces you to slow down and notice the details you’d normally rush past. It turns an ordinary day of street photography into something more intentional.

Instead of searching for anything and everything, you’re pushing yourself to see variations of one subject, and that’s where creative magic can happen.