Generally, when it comes to street photography, there seems to be two school of thought. Up close and personal with a 35mm lens (seems to be one of the most popular focal length for street) or far away with a telephoto lens (70mm and beyond).
The up-close folks may often argue that you want to make connection with the subject, it allows you to get permission first, get a more natural perspective or/and even share in the environment/experience of the subject.
The street photographers that shoot from afar often argues that it allows them to be incognito thus not disturbing the moment they are trying to capture and allow the use of tools such as compression to help magnify the background or DOF to help draw attention to the subject. Some photographers are not comfortable approaching the subject and asking permission (some say, it is easier to ask for forgiveness than ask for permission).
In any case, what is your general style between the two and why? Feel free to share your street images too :-)
I only use a 35mm because, apart from my 18-55 kit lens, it's what I have. I am comfortable with this but sometimes desire the zoom / less visible option. The 35mm is quite versatile however and was cheap... sometimes I ask people but everything depends on the moment! Here's one of mine @davidtom
What I like is to get eye contact and to achieve this you need to be reasonably close up. I took this in a service station. The girl was preparing my drink and I just took her photo. As you can see she looked straight at me but said nothing.
How ever i see some realy great street shots tha are taken from a distance but there is a clever use of the backdrop. It may be used for framing or a poster or avert that works well with the subject. In this shot the advertising for the watch behind worked nicely with the watch on the mans wrist.
I shoot with a telephoto lens. I supposed I could give several reasons for this but the main one is I am to chicken to go up close for the shot.
I was out on Monday taking some shots at 140 mm and like the fact that they don't have any idea I am taking their picture.
I took these with a 100mm macro lens, but I now use a 24mm. I always get 'up close and personal', but I always engage with the subject, have a bit of a chat and then take the shot, I find being sneaky much more nerve racking!
@jo13 You have some really nice street portraits and I love the lighting and post that you do on your portraits. I would encourage you to start a topic and share your experiences about approaching people for street portraits. I'm sure many would also love to hear about your thoughts on lighting when you do street portraits and your post processing.
I shoot for afar using my 70-300mm lens. Its just to dangerous in South Africa to get close and personal. The safest way is in the car while hubby is driving very slow.
I tend to be shy in street photography, but when it works, I'm really happy about it. This one was taken in Chile, and I crossed the street from the direction he was performing and facing because it was so crowded, and I planned to shoot him from the back when he suddenly turned around and walked right into this frame. Luck. I used a 50.
When I do street, it's not often, I step back with the f/4 70-200, even adding a tele-converter out to 400, since my D7100 easily auto focuses a max f/8 lens. I like the room, and I like the option of choosing different perspectives. And I really am not looking to "connect" with the subject at all, and I tend to get the unexpected that way. See the following at 500mm, unfortunately with the crappy 150-500 Sigma, but it suited the foggy mid-day. The unexpected perspective distortion I found sort of fun. "Street" in the street even. :)
My short answer is mostly as far away as possible, except with children - then I always ask (or don't shoot) Dad gave his OK for me to capture this little darling in her pink shoes at the local Farmer's Market.
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@davidtom
How ever i see some realy great street shots tha are taken from a distance but there is a clever use of the backdrop. It may be used for framing or a poster or avert that works well with the subject. In this shot the advertising for the watch behind worked nicely with the watch on the mans wrist.
I was out on Monday taking some shots at 140 mm and like the fact that they don't have any idea I am taking their picture.
I took these with a 100mm macro lens, but I now use a 24mm. I always get 'up close and personal', but I always engage with the subject, have a bit of a chat and then take the shot, I find being sneaky much more nerve racking!