"Nice Guy Who Let Me Take His Picture" It's a start...
For my get-pushed challenge. @l2lumom challenged me to do some "street photography." She said "Get out and shoot some strangers." I assumed from the 365 context she was not suggesting mass murder. Not an artful photo, but -- baby steps. I took a few others of people from far away or from behind them. This is on campus and I saw this guy approaching down the sidewalk. I stepped back and aimed at the spot in front of me, just waiting for him to pass. I'm such a coward -- I hoped he would just think I was photographing the scenery -- which is exactly what he thought and so he stopped so as not to ruin my shot. I told him it was alright and confessed I'd been challenged to photo strangers and would it be ok for me to take his picture. He obliged me and I took one quick photo. He and I looked at it on the screen (hard to do outside in sunny conditions). I thanked him and he went on his way. I promise I will continue with the challenge and try to get something more interesting.
i know exactly how you feel, i hate approaching strangers to photograph them, i usually snipe them with my long lens and then feel like some kind of stalker when i download the shots
Braver than me by far - so well done! Don't know if you can watch BBC stuff where you are but last night's documentary on Vivian Maier blew my mind - she just walked around in NY and Chicago taking (beautiful) pictures of people in the street armed with an enormous Rolleiflex...
Good natural portrait, I thought it was just us Brits who were 'reserved' about taking such impromptu images of strangers :)
I agree it is a challenge but the results are well worth persevering with the technique for.
I have the same fear of taking people photos. If it's any help, I think people are more open to a woman. If I want to photograph a strange man he thinks I'm weird, and a strange woman she thinks I'm a lecher. At least that's my fear. So you have an advantage I think.
@semjaja Thanks for commiserating with me. Part of what makes me so hesitant is that they may not want their picture taken or shown -- so if I take it without their knowledge, is that right? But if I pluck up my courage and first ask if I can take it, it feels like it would be double hard to then ask if I can share it here if it turns out good. I suppose there are lots and lots of congenial folks like this guy who don't mind (I wouldn't), and all they could say is no, if they do mind and don't want me to take their picture. So I vacillate...
@philr Sadly, I can't watch BBC TV programs -- unless it gets picked up by a network here. I can listen to BBC radio online and on podcast and have gotten quite addicted to doing that. But TV is another ballgame. I did read about Vivian Maier on the internet after the artist challenge was issued. So inspiring.
@omabluebird Thanks. I knew there were other gracious subjects out there perfectly willing to be photographed. Could you point me toward the person you found? :-)
@dragonwhistle You might be right, James -- at least to an extent. I've never thought of that from a man's perspective. I have no prior experience with photographing strangers, but oodles and oodles of experience conversing with them. I wonder if engaging in conversation first and then asking to take their photograph would humanize the situation and lay some fears to rest? Or come out and let them know we're doing this 365 project and trying to increase our skills in photographing strangers? I'd like to find out what the people who are really good at it do. I suppose I should search the discussion threads. There are undoubtedly some answers there...
I agree it is a challenge but the results are well worth persevering with the technique for.