a couple of quotes from the article .. Today, photography – and street photography in particular – is a contested sphere in which all our collective anxieties converge: terrorism, paedophilia, intrusion, surveillance. We insist on the right to privacy and, simultaneously, snap anything and everyone we see and everything we do – in public and in private – on mobile phones and digital cameras ..
To be a street photographer today, you need, as Martin Parr recently put it, "obsession, dedication and balls".
It's always been that way. I recall back in the 60s shooting street photos in center city Phila.. got some strange looks and one woman in the Italian Market shook a dead chicken at me. I didn't stick around to see what she was planning to do next.
It's always been that way. I recall back in the 60s shooting street photos in center city Phila.. got some strange looks and one woman in the Italian Market shook a dead chicken at me. I didn't stick around to see what she was planning to do next.
Good article, Roz!
Jo.. I really admire street photographers .. and it's like they lose themselves in those moments ..
it's something I would love to do but find quite daunting ..
that's crazy about the dead chicken .. !! ..
I think the trick is to shoot from the hip. That way ppl don't know you're taking their pic and it's probably best to use a cell phone. So much easier these days!
I think the trick is to shoot from the hip. That way ppl don't know you're taking their pic and it's probably best to use a cell phone. So much easier these days!
I don't do it much, but with my camera's rotating screen I can hold the camera at waist level and look down to frame the image. But I also shoot from the hip (or other positions) without using either the screen or viewfinder ...
If you're clever you can shoot with a camera so that ppl don't know your taking pics. I've done that and it works but unless you have a rotating screen it's catch-as-catch-can.
You need to be able to overlook "technical issues" and see if the image conveys the spirit of the situation ... of course I try to apply that to (virtually) all photos ...
If you're clever you can shoot with a camera so that ppl don't know your taking pics. I've done that and it works but unless you have a rotating screen it's catch-as-catch-can.
I've tried all that .. shooting from the hip etc etc .. and now I've got a rotating lcd screen with the Olympus mirrorless .. but when I go out in public and want to shoot on the street I lose my nerve..
I suppose I've just got to get over myself and do it ..
face your fears they say .. ;)
It's like shooting videos for YouTube..if you're not comfortable in front of the camera it can be very difficult. With street photography you have to get over the feeling that everyone's watching you and just start shooting. If you're in a town area it's often best to locate yourself somewhere out of the way like by a building or in an alcove and stay there. You should be able to get a lot of interesting shots from that vantage point. Most of what we did was in New Hope which is a tourist attraction so there were a lot of ppl walking around. You can also look for unusual things in alleyways or behind stores like mannequins and who-knows-what.
as Cory said a 400mm is fine too. Shoot from the hip is one of the tricks. Mobile app on the phone connected with the camera works as well. A flip screen works well but if you practice your angles you don't need it :)
I think the trick is to shoot from the hip. That way ppl don't know you're taking their pic and it's probably best to use a cell phone. So much easier these days!
And we should definitely have another “shoot from the hip” challenge that was fun.... street photography gives me a real buzz.. . I love it!
