NYC: Summer Collection I

[Calzinger]

New York City: Summer Collection - Part I
Saturday, July 15th, 2006
Location(s): Times Square, Central Park
Day Setting: Overcast
Outfit: 350D + 70-200 f/2.8L

I went to NYC with my cousin and a friend so I could give my new 70-200 2.8L a workout. For an overcast, I was quite impressed. I did learn one lesson though: big white lenses don't do any justice for candids!

First we went to Times Square to have lunch. I could've bought a lens for the same price as lunch. Then we walked around Times Square taking some candids. It started to rain so we went to the American Museum of Natural History for about an hour. The sun came out when we were finished at around 6PM. We walked around Central Park for a bit and closed the day at around 9PM.

As always, all of the shots from the day are available on my website:
New York City: Candids (http://calzinger.net/index.php?id=main-BrowseCategory.php&cat=33)
New York City: Central Park (http://calzinger.net/index.php?id=main-BrowseCategory.php&cat=49)
New York City: City Life (http://calzinger.net/index.php?id=main-BrowseCategory.php&cat=7)

Of course comments and critique are welcome!

Candids
http://photo.calzinger.net/_sitecontent/_cache/_photos/nyc_candid/250.166._MG_0479.jpg (http://photo.calzinger.net/_sitecontent/_cache/_photos/nyc_candid/864.576._MG_0479.jpg) #1
http://photo.calzinger.net/_sitecontent/_cache/_photos/nyc_candid/250.166._MG_0480.jpg (http://photo.calzinger.net/_sitecontent/_cache/_photos/nyc_candid/864.576._MG_0480.jpg) #2
http://photo.calzinger.net/_sitecontent/_cache/_photos/nyc_candid/250.166._MG_0484.jpg (http://photo.calzinger.net/_sitecontent/_cache/_photos/nyc_candid/864.576._MG_0484.jpg) #3 - Nose Itch
http://photo.calzinger.net/_sitecontent/_cache/_photos/nyc_candid/250.166._MG_0485.jpg (http://photo.calzinger.net/_sitecontent/_cache/_photos/nyc_candid/864.576._MG_0485.jpg) #4 - Not me!
http://photo.calzinger.net/_sitecontent/_cache/_photos/nyc_candid/250.166._MG_0494.jpg (http://photo.calzinger.net/_sitecontent/_cache/_photos/nyc_candid/864.576._MG_0494.jpg) #5 - Afroman

http://photo.calzinger.net/_sitecontent/_cache/_photos/nyc_candid/250.166._MG_0697.jpg (http://photo.calzinger.net/_sitecontent/_cache/_photos/nyc_candid/864.576._MG_0697.jpg) #6

City Life
[/url] #8 - 8K59b
[url=http://photo.calzinger.net/_sitecontent/_cache/_photos/nyc/864.576._MG_0507.jpg]http://photo.calzinger.net/_sitecontent/_cache/_photos/nyc/250.166._MG_0507.jpg (http://photo.calzinger.net/_sitecontent/_cache/_photos/nyc/250.166._MG_0458.jpg[/img) #9 - Rainbow Transit
http://photo.calzinger.net/_sitecontent/_cache/_photos/nyc/250.375._MG_0633.jpg (http://photo.calzinger.net/_sitecontent/_cache/_photos/nyc/576.864._MG_0633.jpg) #10 - the Bubbler
http://photo.calzinger.net/_sitecontent/_cache/_photos/nyc/250.375._MG_0685.jpg (http://photo.calzinger.net/_sitecontent/_cache/_photos/nyc/576.864._MG_0685.jpg) #11 - Whet
http://photo.calzinger.net/_sitecontent/_cache/_photos/nyc/250.166._MG_0716.jpg (http://photo.calzinger.net/_sitecontent/_cache/_photos/nyc/864.576._MG_0716.jpg) #12 - Yo
http://photo.calzinger.net/_sitecontent/_cache/_photos/nyc/250.166._MG_0724.jpg (http://photo.calzinger.net/_sitecontent/_cache/_photos/nyc/864.576._MG_0724.jpg) #13 - Yo Yo

Central Park
http://photo.calzinger.net/_sitecontent/_cache/_photos/nyc_centralpark/250.166._MG_0795.jpg (http://photo.calzinger.net/_sitecontent/_cache/_photos/nyc_centralpark/864.576._MG_0795.jpg) #14 - Shakespeare in Central Park
http://photo.calzinger.net/_sitecontent/_cache/_photos/nyc_centralpark/250.166._MG_6768.jpg (http://photo.calzinger.net/_sitecontent/_cache/_photos/nyc_centralpark/960.640._MG_6768.jpg) #15 - the Squirrel - taken another day

the Group
http://photo.calzinger.net/_sitecontent/_cache/_photos/nyc_centralpark/250.166._MG_0803.jpg (http://photo.calzinger.net/_sitecontent/_cache/_photos/nyc_centralpark/864.576._MG_0803.jpg) #16 - Yo Yo Yo - my friend
http://photo.calzinger.net/_sitecontent/_cache/_photos/andrew/250.166._MG_0651.jpg (http://photo.calzinger.net/_sitecontent/_cache/_photos/andrew/864.576._MG_0651.jpg) #17 - Sup - my cousin, P(-)r0z3n Fyr3 (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/member.php?u=56643)

[MDJAK]

Well done, Chris. Sorry I didn't make it.

Sure, my luck. I've been in and around Times Square at least a thousand times and I've only seen the naked cowBOY.

BTW, Afroman is Chris, don't let him fool you.:lol: :lol:

mark

[NickAA]

Nice work :)

I'm not sure how happy the second girl looks... Might be an idea to try something more compact for that kind of work? :P

[Keiffer]

Awesome series, The afroman is cool, Great DOF on all your shots and sharp. Nice work.

[HrcRacing]

The selective coloring is perfect for the "Not me!" shot. Great series. :grin:

[Calzinger]

Hey Mark, if you take a look at that cowgirl again, you'll see that you didn't miss much. :| I'm Afroman on the inside yo. Actually, my cousin took some shots of me from that day which I posted here on POTN in another thread: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?p=1740686

Thanks for the comments everyone.

Nick, I see what you mean and having this big white lens doesn't help for candids at all. I usually get pretty lucky as far as people noticing me, but that was with the 70-200 f/4L. I'd think that I'd get the same amount of attention with either lens, but so far, the f/2.8L seems to get more. My window of opportunity has been minimized to a few seconds when taking these shots.

[Meaty0]

A great bunch of shots. I really enjoyed looking at 'em. If you don't like the 70-200 for candids, which lens would you ideally like?

Paul

[Calzinger]

A great bunch of shots. I really enjoyed looking at 'em. If you don't like the 70-200 for candids, which lens would you ideally like?

Paul
I'd assume a smaller lens would work better for candids. You know you're getting your picture from a mile away when that white lens is pointed at you.

A 1200 prime wouldn't be bad. I could sit at home and take pictures. They'd never see me.

[michael_]

cool photos chris, do people say anything to you when you point the lens at them? i am still a alittle wary of it.

[Calzinger]

Michael, I would assume that location has something to do with it. In America, it's generally allowed as long as you aren't selling them or posting them on the web. I know it's tough to overcome that fear and just take that picture, but that's one of the reasons why I love taking candids. It's more of an emotional battle than a visual one.

When I went shooting that day, these two kids that were "scootering" if you will in a park thought I was taking pictures of them. One of them came up to me and asked if I was only to reply that I was taking pictures of that kid with the bubble (which I was). He asked me if I was even allowed to do that to which I said that it's okay as long as I'm not selling. He said that he didn't want any pictures. Then I gave him a real jerkbag response and told him to call the cops. It was totally unnecessary, but I was already in my "your privacy can go to hell" mindset that I needed for the day.

[sando]

Finish the story then...

He didnt like your jerkbag response so whupped yo' ass and sent you home with 3 shoes...

:lol:

[2005GLI]

nice shots. do you ask for permission from the people you shoot? im always afraid i'de take a shot and it would be the one person to confront me.

[Calzinger]

Finish the story then...

He didnt like your jerkbag response so whupped yo' ass and sent you home with 3 shoes...He walked away like a sad child who was just spanked by his father. ;)

[Calzinger]

nice shots. do you ask for permission from the people you shoot? im always afraid i'de take a shot and it would be the one person to confront me.
Nope, I just kind of, well, shoot them. I never had someone ask me to delete the picture, but if it happened, I would gladly delete it.

You of course have to be smart. Don't shoot someone who's holding a gun. As long as you use some logic, you should be fine. Candids are more personal than any other type of photography in my opinion.

[michael_]

i guess in a crowded city you could always say you were taking something else and not them, easy for the subject to 'think' you are taking a shot of them when you are but they dont knwo that :)

[MDJAK]

Michael Reichman of www.luminous-landscape.com (http://www.luminous-landscape.com) has a great primer on street shooting.

One thing I learned, as I love this kind of shooting, is to smile at people when you take their picture. It really helps.

A friend of mine was just telling me he was taking pictures at the beach and a girl's boyfriend confronted him, asking him in a belligerent manner what he was taking pictures of. After my friend answered him nicely and told him he was taking pictures of his family and the scenery, the boyfriend persisted: What ELSE are you taking pictures of?

My friend then said: "None of your business what I'm doing," and the guy backed down immediately and said nothing more.

I abhor confrontation, but on busy Manhattan streets, it's pretty easy to take pictures without being noticed.

My favorite lens for this is the 135L. It has great reach and is lightning quick. It is also quite stealth, as it's black and not that large.

mark

[NIftyBobby]

nice snapshots. now on to the next challenge. shoot only with the nifty 50 :) how far away were you from your subjects? get closer! ny'ers don't bite. okay. some of them do. but it's worth the shot of a crazy person charging at you while you click away! i'm sure the newspapers would love it.

[michael_]

my problem is i am a big guy, shaved head with a beard i am a gentle giant but people do mistake me for something im not, if i was to take a picture and smile they may think i am a weirdo :P probably more my insecurities and the need for me to get out their taking more photos

[MDJAK]

Very interesting article on street photography:

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/street.shtml

mark

[Calzinger]

Bobby, I wasn't very far, but I wasn't up in any of their faces either. I was certainly within distance where I could've heard them if they spoke in normal tone, despite the noisy streets. By the way, I'll be in the Bronx this weekend to shoot at the zoo. Want to join us? :D

You know Michael, I never considered age. I'm a young one which may mean that people feel less intruded if they seem me pointing a camera at them. I don't know, it's certainly a possibility.

One thing I never shoot are couples, especially if the female partner is good looking. Chances are the male could get all defensive and run at you like, "Yo homie, why you shootin' my girlfriend yo!?". I usually stick to a single person or a large group of people.

Now I'm curious. Is there not a distinct difference between candids and street shots? I think all of mine are candids since none of them really feature their surroundings. I'm also using a pretty long lens, longer than the max 50mm recommendation said in that article.

[NIftyBobby]

Bronx zoo? we'll see. let me know of the time and date and i'll see if the boys at the Monkey House would let me out.

[Calzinger]

We're going this Saturday in the early morning. We'll probably get there at around 10AM or so so that we can go into Manhattan for food and shoot around after we're done.

[michael_]

i looked through all your photos from this series chris and damn some awesome snaps

[Calzinger]

Thanks Michael. Are you talking about the links to my website? Those are all of the shots I've taken since the beginning, not just that day. I posted most of the ones from that day in this thread, but still didn't want to put all of them for the sake of bandwith.

[michael_]

um just that day 160 odd photos, they all looked like the same day :)

[The Emperor]

wow chris! awesome shots!i see you got the new lense before me! you bastard !! hahha i will get my 17-40L probably next weeek

[Calzinger]

wow chris! awesome shots!i see you got the new lense before me! you bastard !! hahha i will get my 17-40L probably next weeek
I must know you! I do, right?

[NIftyBobby]

i don't think i'll be joining you this weekend at the zoo. but count me in for next weekend if the weather permits. (sporadic thunderstorming this weekend so bring your rain gear just in case)