Street photography has always been a form of photography that I love, some of my main influences are Robert Adams, Robert Frank and Garry Winogrand (just to name a few!!)
I've always been too nervous to take photos of people without asking though... do you guys have any tips on how to do it, in the street as well as on trains and trams? Also, what's the best way to go about asking a stranger for a portrait on the street?
I really want to have a good go at doing it, even though I know it'll push me way out of my comfort zone!
Just get out and do it, simple as that. I don't ever ask permission, the idea is to catch people in the act of whatever they are doing, not to pose for the camera. Just take your camera out and do a lot of walking around, camera always in hand and at the ready. Don't think to much about the shot you are going to take, just do it on instinct.
@jasehoad Thanks Jase! I walk around with my camera a lot, but haven't seemed to be able to get the confidence up to take photos of many people yet. I think I just need to go ahead and do it! I'm sure it'll get easier with practice.
Don't live where you know everybody - I can't do street photography where I am - although I've done some - much easier when I'm in London or somewhere where I really don't know many people.
You'll get a few people who love to show you their middle finger for some reason, and sometimes you'll end up having conversations with people you've never met and you'll be thankful you had your camera with you while out and about!
Like Jase said, just do it. It's a great way to get out of your comfort zone and capture the most genuine of moments. Good luck with it! Can't wait to see what you come up with!
As a tip I'd say start off with something small. P&S or phone as people get more wary with a DSLR pointing at them! I got into street photography kind of without realising. I was taking shots of colourful shopfronts and waiting for the passers-by to clear when I realised the shot was so much better with a person or two in it. It wasn't long before I wasn't interested in the shop anymore but the people! What I'm getting at is that maybe as a starting point find an interesting shop/cafe/fountain/etc and take pictures of it as people pass by. You can tell yourself you're photographing the scene not the people if it helps with the nerves! Soon enough you'll hopefully have gained confidence through the experience and try more candids. Best of luck.
There is a FREE downloadable E-Book by THOMAS LEUTHARD..entitled Going Candid....It has all the help and tips you will ever need...
Check him out on Flickr.. username:- 85mm
Hope this helps.. :D
Having an iphone is a good idea, you can pretend you're txting etc when in theory your taking a shot of said subject. Or a 300mm lense for keeping your distance.
or try shooting from the hip, google will give a good explaination.
I find people aren't too uncomfortable if you take one photo. Where they start to squirm is if you continue to focus the lens on them. Don't stop, look at the photo and then try to get a better shot. You get one opportunity to shoot them without disturbing their day. Half the time, they never even saw you take the photo.
Also, the better you are with your camera the faster you are with setting the focal point and focusing, the easier this gets. The longer that camera is aimed at someone, the more likely they are to notice you and get uncomfortable.
Don't stop and evaluate every photo you take. Just take them and move on. Smile at people if they look at you.
Start in areas where you have lots of possibilities. And events like a parade or festival can make it easier to take candid people photos without them paying much attention to you. Places where people are really active like playing sports, getting on a train, or buying from street vendors also make easy targets.
Work your way up to places where you are more nervous, and hopefully by then you won't be. Sometimes, I'm just not in position to get the shot I want and can't do so subtly. Those shots are just lost.
I've worn a bright pink winter coat the entire time I've been taking this winter's candid photos. I easily am a happy person who smiles a lot. And for some reason, I'm nearly invisible to people.
Have a secondary target such as a colorful storefront, a beautiful tree etc can help too. Sometimes I pick my "back drop" and then wait for someone to walk through it.
Take the pressure off yourself by taking a perfectly good photo of something else that you could use for 365 before you try to get your street shots. That way you won't be as concerned about the photos you do get.
One thing, is adults is fine, but be very careful about photographing children! Nowadays I get permission for that if I can, or show the parent after and offer to delete it if they wish (along with an explanation of why I am taking pictures).
@jenirainbow Offer to delete OR send it to them via email if you get a good one, with the explanation of why you are taking pictures. ;) On very rare occasions I've had parents state that this photo is better than anything they can get making their kids pose and thank me for the offer for the photo. (And I do mean VERY rare) :)
HMMM – Street Photography is a nice twist of the word Voyeurism. Perform this art tastefully and above all, be respectful!
Case in point – Several years ago I was in Nashville, wielding a camera, and along the way a cabbie drove up to the terminal. “Great Shot”, I thought and grabbed my instrument of time capture. Not noticing exactly what was going to be the outcome from my hip-shot, I waited a couple of days to see what I had indeed captured.
Finally, when I had time to see what jewels the lens god had furnished me, there it was!
One picture of an unknown cabbie ( drum roll here ) picking his nose!
I suppose he thought that he was still in his ‘invisible suit’!
Sorry for the length of this colorful story but be glad that you weren’t there!
Enjoy :)
Thanks for the replies everyone! Everything you guys said was really helpful. In fact... I took my camera on my commute to the city today and got a few photos!
This was my favourite from today (though I'm not sure what the etiquette is when taking photos of people sleeping!):
@oblique Hahaha oh my goodness! My phone is going to die so I can't get you the exact link, but I have a very similar photo from a bus. I think its in last months folder. You'll laugh :)
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Like Jase said, just do it. It's a great way to get out of your comfort zone and capture the most genuine of moments. Good luck with it! Can't wait to see what you come up with!
Check him out on Flickr.. username:- 85mm
Hope this helps.. :D
or try shooting from the hip, google will give a good explaination.
Also, the better you are with your camera the faster you are with setting the focal point and focusing, the easier this gets. The longer that camera is aimed at someone, the more likely they are to notice you and get uncomfortable.
Don't stop and evaluate every photo you take. Just take them and move on. Smile at people if they look at you.
Start in areas where you have lots of possibilities. And events like a parade or festival can make it easier to take candid people photos without them paying much attention to you. Places where people are really active like playing sports, getting on a train, or buying from street vendors also make easy targets.
Work your way up to places where you are more nervous, and hopefully by then you won't be. Sometimes, I'm just not in position to get the shot I want and can't do so subtly. Those shots are just lost.
I've worn a bright pink winter coat the entire time I've been taking this winter's candid photos. I easily am a happy person who smiles a lot. And for some reason, I'm nearly invisible to people.
Have a secondary target such as a colorful storefront, a beautiful tree etc can help too. Sometimes I pick my "back drop" and then wait for someone to walk through it.
Take the pressure off yourself by taking a perfectly good photo of something else that you could use for 365 before you try to get your street shots. That way you won't be as concerned about the photos you do get.
Case in point – Several years ago I was in Nashville, wielding a camera, and along the way a cabbie drove up to the terminal. “Great Shot”, I thought and grabbed my instrument of time capture. Not noticing exactly what was going to be the outcome from my hip-shot, I waited a couple of days to see what I had indeed captured.
Finally, when I had time to see what jewels the lens god had furnished me, there it was!
One picture of an unknown cabbie ( drum roll here ) picking his nose!
I suppose he thought that he was still in his ‘invisible suit’!
Sorry for the length of this colorful story but be glad that you weren’t there!
Enjoy :)
Thanks for the replies everyone! Everything you guys said was really helpful. In fact... I took my camera on my commute to the city today and got a few photos!
This was my favourite from today (though I'm not sure what the etiquette is when taking photos of people sleeping!):
I wonder if this worker is on Twitter or maybe he is looking at his GPS to place the cone exactly on the mark :)
Enjoy :)
:)
I was on my way to Denver from California, and this guy kept talking and talking.......and then, he just passed out in a very unique position.
@azza_l Shhh haha! Maybe just a little 0:-)