Shooting urban

[jon.t.]

I was just at a Italian festival, and I had my camera with me. Even though the weather conditions weren't ideal (it was raining), I still wanted to shoot some candids of poeple/things, because I never have before and decided to give it a shot. But is it just me, or do you feel like a weird creep taking pictures of other people. Like, if I was about to shoot, and someone looked at me, itd just be an awkard situation... I was shooting with a 50mm so I couldn't really get too far away, but will it be less awkward after I get my sigma 70-300?

[TheHoff]

Nope, if you use a longer lens then you will really feel like a voyeur. Which is creepier -- taking someone's photo from 5 feet away or taking someone's photo so they can't see you from 50 feet away? I'd say the longer lens is creepier.

Smile! People are slower to anger if you're smiling... and so what? You're allowed to take their photo in public. Be confident that you're practicing one of the oldest styles of photography. The old masters typically used 35mm lenses so you can work on getting even closer. Also, don't just look for "people" doing nothing in particular, try and find an interesting background or juxtaposition so you're capturing a moment of life that shows environment and action and not just a candid of someone standing around or walking nowhere in particular.

I also have small business cards made up from moo.com for like $20; it has my website on it so people can see where the photo might end up.

[BottomBracket]

The Hoff speaks the truth! I agree that it is better to go wider than longer. The longer the lenses are, the more it flattens the perspective which somehow doesn't fit quite well to the concept of classical street photography. Having said that, there are some situations where a telephoto lens produces a pleasing street photo.

The 50mm that you use is actually a tele of sorts when used with a crop camera. Try going wider, if you have it, down to 35mm or even 24, or 17. It will take some getting used to, but once you do that is when you will understand street photography.

[Miyagi-san]

It gets easier...

I personally actually prefer the 135-150mm range for some reason. Although I have no problem going wide now... :D

Here's a bunch from when I first started out....most are long shots, but I favor the subject seeing me first and then snapping away just as much as not, gives the shot at that focal length much more character! :)

http://ajarvis.zenfolio.com/p847713987

You find your own style if you just practice. May I recommend bringing the ipod along, it's helps a LOT for me :D

This is one of my favorites from when I first got into street....shot at 150mm on a crop body IIRC :)
http://ajarvis.zenfolio.com/img/v0/p626705795-4.jpg

[mij]

Nope, if you use a longer lens then you will really feel like a voyeur. Which is creepier -- taking someone's photo from 5 feet away or taking someone's photo so they can't see you from 50 feet away? I'd say the longer lens is creepier.

That comparison is unfair though as using a telephoto lens does not necessarily mean hiding. Far from it, the downside can be that you become too conspicuous. Like this man who was looking right at me:

http://southwest16.com/ce/2008/09/10/img_2761mb.jpg

I feel the same way jon.t. does about just shooting people, which, combined with other reasons, still makes it difficult for me. But I find it a lot easier with my 70-200mm. I think because of the personal space it gives both the subject and myself. In fact, I feel more like a voyeur when I shoot wider shoots to capture people within a larger context.

Normally with my telephoto lens I would pick a spot and then just shoot people coming towards me. So far from them not being able to see me, they have to walk right past me. But even when I am just walking around looking for subjects I am still not hidden.

The choice of lens also depends on the style you are trying to capture. Personally I tend to prefer shallow depth of field and compressed backgrounds which also lends itself to using longer lenses.

I also have small business cards made up from moo.com for like $20; it has my website on it so people can see where the photo might end up.

Good suggestion, for people in the UK I definitely recommend vistaprint.co.uk as you can design your own full colour card for about £3.60 (cheapest delivery).

Just register on the site, allow them to send you spam, then wait. They will send annoying mail every day with offers, but one of these will include 250 free premium business cards. Just download a template from the site which has all the dimension and design your own card. Amazing results for such a cheap price.

Michael.

[jon.t.]

Thanks for the tips everyone, I'll most likely be receiving my 70-300 on Wednesday, and maybe this weekend if I don't have work I can make a trip out to NYC...

[BottomBracket]

It seems that there are 2 schools of thought when it comes to lenses in street photography. The wide end presents the human subjects in a more intimate relationship with the environment, while the long lenses tend to isolate them more. Both can produce excellent photos (and crappy ones too). Using teles in my opinion is easier to master as you can stand back from your subject with less chance of detection (and repercussion!) while wide angles require you to engage in close quarters. It would be wise to try both ways and see what you like best. I consider myself to be on the classical wide camp but I have been known to use my 85mm, 135mm and 70-200 zooms on occasion, just for kicks.

Jon, did you go to the Feast of San Genarro?

[jon.t.]

It seems that there are 2 schools of thought when it comes to lenses in street photography. The wide end presents the human subjects in a more intimate relationship with the environment, while the long lenses tend to isolate them more. Both can produce excellent photos (and crappy ones too). Using teles in my opinion is easier to master as you can stand back from your subject with less chance of detection (and repercussion!) while wide angles require you to engage in close quarters. It would be wise to try both ways and see what you like best. I consider myself to be on the classical wide camp but I have been known to use my 85mm, 135mm and 70-200 zooms on occasion, just for kicks.

Jon, did you go to the Feast of San Genarro?
I understand the shot your looking for with wide lenses, but going undetected isn't that big of a deal some of the time, right? As to the question about the Fest of San Genarro... I'm assuming that's an Italian festival? But no, I went to one that they had at my county park.

[Tee Why]

I tried the telephotos but for street shooting, I prefer to get close and use a standard wide angle range.

I either just act like a fly on a wall and relaxed or maybe engage the person, putting them at ease once in a while. I rarely bring the camera to my eyes, preferring to shoot from the hip.

My street shots are here. I like cityscapes more now but it was fun to shoot street/urban/environmental stuff too.
http://tomyi.smugmug.com/Street%20Scenes

[RobNYC]

I haven't chosen which of the wide vs tele camp I belong to and have shot with both. So far, I do feel that my 70-200 gives me better candids since the person often doesn't see me shooting. Once the person knows you are shooting them they tend to change their expression, etc.

[garryknight]

My main reason for using a 70-300 telephoto is that it gives me great separation of the subject from the background. Nothing creepy about that, IMO. I use it for candids from 50 feet away or from 10 feet away, depending on several factors, including how far away the person is before I see them, where they are when I can get the shot I want, and how close I have to be to get the composition I want. The Canon 70-300 is a great lens for this kind of shot.

And when my 70-300 was in for repair, I did the same kind of shots with my 17-85. The three main differences were a) I couldn't get the same kind of separation, b) the shots on the 17-85 were quite a lot sharper, and c) the 70-300 was a lot more conspicuous, as mij attests. However, there is also the (arguably) positive side that some people see the long lens and assume I'm a pro which means that they'll assume that I'm shooting something else or that it's OK for me to shoot them. And it's amazing how a crowd can part like the waves when they see the "pro" lens on its way toward its obvious next subject, though I'd never take unfair advantage of that, of course. :) Hint: put a large hood on the end of it. ;)

Anyway, I think you'll like the Sigma 70-300 if it's anything like the Canon one. Once you've got into the swing of getting candids with that, using the 50mm won't seem as "creepy". Remember, you're not using a sneaky cameraphone so no one can see what you're doing, unlike some people. You're standing up and recording what life is like in the 21st century.

[jon.t.]

My main reason for using a 70-300 telephoto is that it gives me great separation of the subject from the background. Nothing creepy about that, IMO. I use it for candids from 50 feet away or from 10 feet away, depending on several factors, including how far away the person is before I see them, where they are when I can get the shot I want, and how close I have to be to get the composition I want. The Canon 70-300 is a great lens for this kind of shot.

And when my 70-300 was in for repair, I did the same kind of shots with my 17-85. The three main differences were a) I couldn't get the same kind of separation, b) the shots on the 17-85 were quite a lot sharper, and c) the 70-300 was a lot more conspicuous, as mij attests. However, there is also the (arguably) positive side that some people see the long lens and assume I'm a pro which means that they'll assume that I'm shooting something else or that it's OK for me to shoot them. And it's amazing how a crowd can part like the waves when they see the "pro" lens on its way toward its obvious next subject, though I'd never take unfair advantage of that, of course. :) Hint: put a large hood on the end of it. ;)

Anyway, I think you'll like the Sigma 70-300 if it's anything like the Canon one. Once you've got into the swing of getting candids with that, using the 50mm won't seem as "creepy". Remember, you're not using a sneaky cameraphone so no one can see what you're doing, unlike some people. You're standing up and recording what life is like in the 21st century.
I want my 70-300 NOW. I've had some complications with the order but It finally came into the shop, I'm picking it up (hopefully) today.