i've been dying to ask this question... and i'm guessing a few others here may be curious, too.
you folks who are able to take snaps of strangers at point blank range... how do you do it? is this something you learned to get comfortable with or did it always come easy? ever feel intimidated? anyone ever try to do something to you (or your camera) when you do take random snaps of them?
here's an example from this guy's work, @rich57 ... who's project i love and follow and have often faved.
you truly have balls of steel and i think i may TRY to attempt next year's project to be more "in your face" due to this type of inspiration...
I've taken a few close-ups of strangers here and there. I always feel intrusive though; so it's not something I do very often at all. What I find most interesting is the massive difference in reactions you tend to get. More often than not, people go a little coy after you've snapped them and say something like, 'Aww no; what did you do that for?!"
However, I had one fellow who demanded that I deleted the photograph while he watched. He was *not* a happy chappy. The worst of that scenario is that no amount of apologising can make the annoyed subject any happier.
@grecican *Smirk!* I did it again here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/goleudy/6334703412/ Although the guy closest to me *did* hear my shutter. He turned around and I smiled at him sweetly...then about 5 minutes later her offered me some coffee from his flask. Result!
@dmortega Unfortunately on most DSLR's the shutter sound is actually mechanical....dang it. I will have to figure out another way to be suprip...surip...suriptiou....sneaky about it. Cough cough rustle rustle!
I have a hard time shooting strangers from across the street! Forget an in your face shot! I've been told to act like your shooting the building...etc. behind them and then shift and snap at the last second!
Going to a crowded public place, like an outdoor market, is a great way to start and get over the shyness. or zoo or a known tourist area,, these places you would expect cameras and you wont stick out as much...
Oh, I'm a bit disappointed. When I saw the title of this thread, I thought it would be about me! Ah well...
I used to do a lot of street photography. I never really had a problem with it myself. I felt comfortable shooting photos of strangers in public places because I know, at the very least, I wasn't doing anything illegal. I haven't been a shy person for years. Just look at some recent photos for proof of that.
As for shooting good candids of people...I suggest you use a telephoto lens. I often use my Sigma 150mm lens because it gives a very nice, soft background because of the DOF. Standing that far away people will never hear your shutter and usually don't even notice you.
Sometimes though I use my wide angle lens. Like the one below. I was walking through the streets of York, UK when I saw these street performers. I quickly slapped on my 12-24mm lens and got right up in their faces to snap this photo. They smiled, I smiled, I went on about my business.
I find people who work in public like performers, vendors, and service people are more apt to be fine with their photo being taken. Others not so much. I shot a wide photo once of the Boardwalk in Myrtle Beach that included hundreds of people. Almost immediately this man with a young daughter storms over and demands I give him my memory card. Give it to him! I offered to delete the photo but he didn't believe me. He actually called the police. The police arrived but politely explained to the man I was shooting in a public space and wasn't breaking any laws. He threatened to sue everyone and their mother. I just went on about my business. Eleswhere, though, cause the guy followed me for awhile.
The best way to get comfortable is to just do it. Smile, be happy, look professional. Don't wear a shirt that says "I'm With Stupid". After you snap the photo, talk to the person. Offer to email them a copy of the photo. If they give you a really dirty look, turn the opposite direction and shoot another photo.
I have found a lot of times people are uncomfortable because they think you are shooting a photo of only them. They are suspicious. They want to know why you singled them out. If they see you shooting candid street photos of everyone it puts them at ease.
And if all else fails...be sneaky. The photo below I used my 50mm lens but the man was turned around so he didn't know what I was doing. Don't be a creeper and hide up in a tree. But *do* stand next to a tree trunk, or squat on the ground, or sit on a bench. If you stand in the middle of a street with a big honkin' telephoto lens pointed at someone fifty feet away you're gonna stand out like Keira Knightley in a monastery.
@grecican I'm going to try my first 'street/people/street people' photoshoot this weekend and I'm scurred. :) I can't turn off my shutter noise, because I'm shooting on film, and this camera is srsly loud. So I'm going to use a zoom lens and hope for the best.
LOL...I totally thought this was going to be something from Jani about his uncontrollable ball obsession!!
People shots scare me. Took this while hiding behind a magazine at the docs office.
@grecican I take a lot of street shots of people - though don't post too many. For me I take several approuches: 1) sneaky shots without being noticed or using fake texting 2) direct open shots 3) permission shots. It all depends upon the situation. But regardless it does take some getting used and finding a comfort zone. Ive had people yell at me, demand my camera, but mostly no problems. Most important is to develop ability to get a quick read on the situation, get your head in the zone and act accordingly.
Haha nice thread Tina. I can say that for the photo you used at the top I was just stood next to the lady at a crossing and took a shot with my phone whilst pretending to take a call. I've very rarely asked anyone for a shot and so far no-one has challenged me either. I do use my phone for a lot of these especially on public transport. I'm also a big fan of the hip shot. Set my camera to a reasonable shutter speed (around 1/100) to avoid shake and snap away. To be fair though I do take most of my candid street shots in London. It's a lot easier in a big big lively metropolis full of camera toting tourists than in a small town high street full on a Wednesday afternoon. Funnily enough Ive just been hanging out with @andycoleborn and @Azza_l attempting a mix of street candids and night shots.
Oh and to properly answer your question. I'd never attempted any street or candid photography before starting on 365. I just kind of stumbled into it and felt comfortable with it. Partly because you don't need to be technically perfect to get good results! What I'd say is just go and do it - if it's for you, you'll get over your inhibitions quickly.
@grecican lol... as if that man needs any more publicity @rich57 :-)...
Echo tho what Rich says, it is an awful lot easier in central London... and with the hipsta app that allows you to get up close and pretend to take a call or check your texts... from the hip shooting is also a good place to start.. maybe wear your camera around your neck and just click away as you walk down the road.. no one will pay any attentionand some of the results can be half decent.
Be prepared for tons of rubbish pics of pavements, feet etc
maybe start by finding intesting backdrops, shops, walls etc and capture people as they pass...
I personally think a true test of Candids are examples by @shutterbugger@rich57 so closer the better I think to capture that close up action and expression in people faces! If you want to do it slyly, get yourself an iPhone put on silent and snap away :) Good luck!
@azza_l@andycoleborn@rich57 thanks to all of you for responding... makes sense. my bulky ass Canon Rebel just won't make the cut in regards to trying to be inconspicuous... but practice makes better. that does it... gonna go for it this weekend. you may just see a candid shot of a stranger... or that of my busted bloody nose after a stranger hit me.
@grecican I was trying hip shots with my Canon 500D today and got some good uns. Practice makes perfect, I'm now much better at getting the framing right without using the viewfinder, but that's after 100's of pavement shots!
@grecican a tactic I've developed when hip shooting with the big camera is to identify your subject and break stride when taking the shot, I've started looking the other way as I click the shutter too. helps if you're in noisy environment (again, central London works well).
I'm all for asking someone for a photo in terms of politeness but aside from the avoiding rejection issue I've found that the best candid portraits are unsolicited and much more natural that way...
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I've taken a few close-ups of strangers here and there. I always feel intrusive though; so it's not something I do very often at all. What I find most interesting is the massive difference in reactions you tend to get. More often than not, people go a little coy after you've snapped them and say something like, 'Aww no; what did you do that for?!"
However, I had one fellow who demanded that I deleted the photograph while he watched. He was *not* a happy chappy. The worst of that scenario is that no amount of apologising can make the annoyed subject any happier.
That's why I tend to eschew 'in-your-face' shots these days. Instead, I just take surreptitious side shots ;) http://www.flickr.com/photos/goleudy/6334702884/
A great way to help you overcome your fear would be to do this project.
http://100strangers.com/
The more you ask someone for their photo the easier it gets to ask. ;-)
I used to do a lot of street photography. I never really had a problem with it myself. I felt comfortable shooting photos of strangers in public places because I know, at the very least, I wasn't doing anything illegal. I haven't been a shy person for years. Just look at some recent photos for proof of that.
As for shooting good candids of people...I suggest you use a telephoto lens. I often use my Sigma 150mm lens because it gives a very nice, soft background because of the DOF. Standing that far away people will never hear your shutter and usually don't even notice you.
Sometimes though I use my wide angle lens. Like the one below. I was walking through the streets of York, UK when I saw these street performers. I quickly slapped on my 12-24mm lens and got right up in their faces to snap this photo. They smiled, I smiled, I went on about my business.
I find people who work in public like performers, vendors, and service people are more apt to be fine with their photo being taken. Others not so much. I shot a wide photo once of the Boardwalk in Myrtle Beach that included hundreds of people. Almost immediately this man with a young daughter storms over and demands I give him my memory card. Give it to him! I offered to delete the photo but he didn't believe me. He actually called the police. The police arrived but politely explained to the man I was shooting in a public space and wasn't breaking any laws. He threatened to sue everyone and their mother. I just went on about my business. Eleswhere, though, cause the guy followed me for awhile.
The best way to get comfortable is to just do it. Smile, be happy, look professional. Don't wear a shirt that says "I'm With Stupid". After you snap the photo, talk to the person. Offer to email them a copy of the photo. If they give you a really dirty look, turn the opposite direction and shoot another photo.
I have found a lot of times people are uncomfortable because they think you are shooting a photo of only them. They are suspicious. They want to know why you singled them out. If they see you shooting candid street photos of everyone it puts them at ease.
And if all else fails...be sneaky. The photo below I used my 50mm lens but the man was turned around so he didn't know what I was doing. Don't be a creeper and hide up in a tree. But *do* stand next to a tree trunk, or squat on the ground, or sit on a bench. If you stand in the middle of a street with a big honkin' telephoto lens pointed at someone fifty feet away you're gonna stand out like Keira Knightley in a monastery.
People shots scare me. Took this while hiding behind a magazine at the docs office.
Echo tho what Rich says, it is an awful lot easier in central London... and with the hipsta app that allows you to get up close and pretend to take a call or check your texts... from the hip shooting is also a good place to start.. maybe wear your camera around your neck and just click away as you walk down the road.. no one will pay any attentionand some of the results can be half decent.
Be prepared for tons of rubbish pics of pavements, feet etc
maybe start by finding intesting backdrops, shops, walls etc and capture people as they pass...
@grecican Totally missed my little dig or chose to ignore it....what evs.
@azza_l @andycoleborn @rich57 thanks to all of you for responding... makes sense. my bulky ass Canon Rebel just won't make the cut in regards to trying to be inconspicuous... but practice makes better. that does it... gonna go for it this weekend. you may just see a candid shot of a stranger... or that of my busted bloody nose after a stranger hit me.
wish me luck!
I'm all for asking someone for a photo in terms of politeness but aside from the avoiding rejection issue I've found that the best candid portraits are unsolicited and much more natural that way...