The prime and often cringe-worthy examples of juxtapositions that we've come across are those by tourists "holding up" the sun or the moon. But, street photographers across the world are using the composition trick to not just catch your attention, but also tell stories. The term refers to a side-by-side placement of elements in order to either compare or contrast them, or to show similarities. Photographers often employ the technique to insert an element of surprise, or humour. People are not stationary and, therefore, it's not an easy concept to master. Three visual storytellers, who have managed to ace it, tell us what it takes to be at the right place, and at the right time.

'You have to anticipate the moment'

Yash Sheth, a 26-year-old electronics engineer from Mumbai, picked up the skill by browsing through the work of photographers from Magnum—an international photography cooperative founded in Paris in 1947—to understand their method and approach. "For me, street photography is all about patience and curiosity. But, I am not an instinctive photographer. So, I consciously observe small things around me, wherever I go. One must also learn to anticipate the moment. The image is made in my mind before the camera." Sheth says it helps to keep a low-profile when shooting on streets, and his failed images have only helped improve and sharpen his sense of timing. He is also part of Bambai Collective on Instagram, which comprises street and documentary photographers.