I really enjoy viewing candids but it`s not a genre that I`ve had much experience in...I feel quite awkward about pointing the camera at people I don`t know.
Took this shot recently in a busy Grafton Street in Dublin and the guy leaning on the newspaper vendor`s stand kept checking to see if I was pointing the camera in his direction....while I pretended to be shooting at something further down the street...I found the whole thing very uncomfortable.
I really like street photography, but like most people, I find it difficult/uncomfortable at times. In all of these pictures, the people were not aware of my presence, which made it easier for me.
I think that my favorite kinds of street photos are not the ones that focus on peoples' faces and facial expressions, but rather ones that show a person in the context of some environment/surroundings.
First post ever :P. Don't know how the thumb function works but ok.
I'm a big fan of street photography, would to show you guys one of mine.Critique's are welcome.
Yeah, I agree with you on that one, boysets fire. I love the work I am seeing on this! By the way afraidtech, Thats a great shot. It captures the guys loneliness in a beatiful way. I like the use of DOF too!
when shooting someone on the street, how do you approach them (or do you)? Is it a "hello, can i take your picture?", or do you just start shooting and hope they don't notice?
I'm always worried that I'll start taking pictures and people will become offended and then paranoyed that they're being exploited in some way. How do you overcome this, or do you just let pigs fly?
Does the photographer walking down the street just start taking people pics without asking?
There are so many times where I see people or situations in public places that might make a good pic but I am always hesitant to take my camera out and take pics of people.
I just have this notion that people will get bothered by me taking pics unless otherwise asked and if I do ask what would be my response as to why I am taking their picture.
when shooting someone on the street, how do you approach them (or do you)? Is it a "hello, can i take your picture?", or do you just start shooting and hope they don't notice?
I'm always worried that I'll start taking pictures and people will become offended and then paranoyed that they're being exploited in some way. How do you overcome this, or do you just let pigs fly?
Sometimes I ask. Sometimes I just walk up to them, point to the camera, smile, and wait for a nod. Sometimes they flag me down to take their picture. And sometimes I'll get rejected.
You'll always get a mix of yes and no. But I've found the more confident and respectful you are, the better your chances of getting them to say yes.
Taking nothing away from Pawdrix (who's stuff rules, by the way) or anyone else ... street shooting in New York City is MUCH easier than say the suburbs, or a small city. People in NYC just go about doing there own thing, ignoring everyone - people with cameras included.
Years ago I went to China Town in NYC with a group from a different website. This guy(who lives in NYC and was "showing us how to do it") was literally sticking the camera right in peoples faces ... and they acted like he wasn't there. It was amazing.
It's still not "easy" ... just sometimes "easier".
Originally posted by JoeCan30d:
These are some really great pics.
Does the photographer walking down the street just start taking people pics without asking?
There are so many times where I see people or situations in public places that might make a good pic but I am always hesitant to take my camera out and take pics of people.
I just have this notion that people will get bothered by me taking pics unless otherwise asked and if I do ask what would be my response as to why I am taking their picture.
Taking nothing away from Pawdrix (who's stuff rules, by the way) or anyone else ... street shooting in New York City is MUCH easier than say the suburbs, or a small city. People in NYC just go about doing there own thing, ignoring everyone - people with cameras included.
Years ago I went to China Town in NYC with a group from a different website. This guy(who lives in NYC and was "showing us how to do it") was literally sticking the camera right in peoples faces ... and they acted like he wasn't there. It was amazing.
It's still not "easy" ... just sometimes "easier".
I've almost gotten in a tussle or two or five, especially when street vendors fear that they are in frame. Illegal goods perhaps? I nearly got whacked once when shooting around Tompkins Square Park where lots of junkies hang out. People in Chinatown are also very shy about the camera I've found and when they wave me off I go with their wishes.
Tourist areas where there are millions of cameras out and around you'll never have an issue but when you stand out....like alone, in a tough neighborhood, it can get real dodgy.
I took this one on at 7:20 AM on NY's Lower East Side surrounded by homeless shelters, rehab clinics, crack heads, junkies, drunks crwling out of after hours joints etc. Trust me, I was very nervous. No picnic.
I think average shots are easy to get, by the million but good ones take a lot of energy.
Well, this one seems to not want to die. So here's some more of my stuff, just to keep things up ;-)
Challenge entries for the most part - it's more fun here if you restrict yourself in approach sometimes.
As to the recurrent question of 'how do you get up the nerve'? Well, I'm not sure I have an answer. I'm not a pushy person - I don't call people chasing work, get in people's faces, hassle for stuff, generally. But the strange magic things that people do in public is irresistable; you have to be quick, you have to be accurate, you have to be able to assess a composition in a split second, you have to know absolutely how your camera works without taking your eyes off your subject. Never ask permission, never approach your subject - otherwise they know you're there, know you're shooting, and what would be the point of that? You'd get a series of photographs of people basically posing for the camera; you might as well get your friends and family to dress up for you and save a lot of potential hassle.
Looking back over the shots I took at the recent London GTG I wonder if these qualify as street candids? The first one I called "Dead End Job?" and the second "Images BC - Before Cameras". The first shot was also an experiment with the high pass filter and selective colour, so it is probably a bit of a dog's dinner!
taken on one of the NYC gtg's in central park. its tough to do these street shots, people are especially weary of big white lenses, make s it a little tougher :P
taken on one of the NYC gtg's in central park. its tough to do these street shots, people are especially weary of big white lenses, make s it a little tougher :P
-Dan
That's exactly the reason the Leica M-series was so popular, and regarded as such an essential by the greats of this kind of photography. Discretion.
well put, Steve ... i've always envied people like yourself who have the courage for this type of photography
much respect
:)
Originally posted by pawdrix:
Originally posted by hopper:
Taking nothing away from Pawdrix (who's stuff rules, by the way) or anyone else ... street shooting in New York City is MUCH easier than say the suburbs, or a small city. People in NYC just go about doing there own thing, ignoring everyone - people with cameras included.
Years ago I went to China Town in NYC with a group from a different website. This guy(who lives in NYC and was "showing us how to do it") was literally sticking the camera right in peoples faces ... and they acted like he wasn't there. It was amazing.
It's still not "easy" ... just sometimes "easier".
I've almost gotten in a tussle or two or five, especially when street vendors fear that they are in frame. Illegal goods perhaps? I nearly got whacked once when shooting around Tompkins Square Park where lots of junkies hang out. People in Chinatown are also very shy about the camera I've found and when they wave me off I go with their wishes.
Tourist areas where there are millions of cameras out and around you'll never have an issue but when you stand out....like alone, in a tough neighborhood, it can get real dodgy.
I took this one on at 7:20 AM on NY's Lower East Side surrounded by homeless shelters, rehab clinics, crack heads, junkies, drunks crwling out of after hours joints etc. Trust me, I was very nervous. No picnic.
I think average shots are easy to get, by the million but good ones take a lot of energy.
