Street Photography in Phoenix

Roosevelt Row, or RoRo, is downtown Phoenix's arts district, packed with murals and galleries in old bungalows and warehouses. Dani of Dani the Explorer points to the countless murals here, including one of hundreds of birds in flight on the side of monOrchid. The murals change often, which Andrea Neff says is what makes it fun. On most days it is quiet, so use a mural as the background and wait for one person to walk into it. The real show is First Friday, from 6 to 10pm on the first Friday of each month. The busiest stretch is Roosevelt Street between Central Avenue and 7th Street.

Heritage Square is a block of restored houses from the late 1800s and early 1900s in the middle of downtown, anchored by the Victorian Rosson House. Andrea Neff calls it the perfect touch of green, with brick pathways and pockets of nature. The Arizona Science Center shares the courtyard, and its minimal modern architecture makes a strong contrast with the old houses. Families visiting the museum and people eating at the restaurants in the old houses are your subjects. The trees give shade, which means softer light at midday than anywhere else downtown. Frame a walker between a porch column and a palm. It is a short walk from Washington Street and the light rail.

The corner of Washington Street and Central Avenue is the centre of downtown, next to CityScape and the busiest light rail stop. Dani calls the crosswalk here a great spot for urban photos, and warns you to watch out for the trains. Andrea Neff likes to use crosswalks and building architecture in the same way. The best times are weekday lunch and evening events, when people come out of the towers. Stand on a corner and wait for a train to pass behind someone crossing. Phoenix City Hall, with its big steps, is a block west. The light is harsh at midday, so work the shade of the towers or come back late in the day.

Chase Field is the home of the Arizona Diamondbacks, on the southern edge of downtown. It is empty on most days, but game days change the whole area. Fans in team colours stream in from the light rail, and the bars nearby fill before the first pitch. Stand on Jefferson Street before a game and shoot the crowd moving toward the gates. Afternoon and evening games give you warm, low light and long shadows across the street. Keep a longer lens for faces in the crowd. Inside the ballpark, the team's rules on cameras apply, so check them before you bring a large lens.

West Portland Street is a short, palm-lined street that Dani says could pass for Los Angeles. It sits close to Margaret T. Hance Park, which is built over the freeway, and the Japanese Friendship Garden. This is a quieter corner of downtown, with walkers and cyclists in the early morning. The tall palms make strong vertical lines, so try a low angle with a figure small at the bottom of the frame. Morning light runs along the street early in the day. It is residential, so keep it low key and avoid pointing a camera at people's homes.

Grand Avenue cuts diagonally northwest from downtown, and its older stretch is home to galleries and studios in old commercial buildings. Artlink says First Friday activity now spreads beyond Roosevelt Row to Historic Grand Avenue. It is grittier and quieter than RoRo, with murals and old signs between empty lots. On a normal afternoon, look for single figures walking past painted walls, with long shadows on the sidewalk. The diagonal street gives unusual angles on the city grid. It is a longer walk from the light rail, so drive or cycle, and be aware of your surroundings on empty blocks.

Mill Avenue is downtown Tempe's main street, next to Arizona State University and a short light rail ride from Phoenix. It has the youngest crowd in the metro, with students heading to bars and restaurants and street life into the night. Dani lists the Mill Avenue Bridge and the pedestrian bridge over Tempe Town Lake as photo spots, and the lake end gives you open skies and water. Evenings are best, after the heat breaks and people head out. Stand under the awnings along the street and frame people crossing in the headlights. Weekend nights get rowdy, so keep gear small.