How to shoot strangers

[serissolutions]

I am new to photography and yesterday was the first time I took many shots of strangers on the street.
These two were looking out into the ocean and I tried to zoom in from far away.
After i took it, one turned around and pointed at me. The other looked and I waved.

http://www.serissolutions.com/boston2/docks.jpg

I felt a little uncomfortable.

How do you handle candid photography?

[karusel]

It's difficult... for now I've preffered the 400mm focal length, shorter if circumstances allow for it. I try my best not to be spotted, better said, I try my best to get the shot before I get spotted. And a 10D with a grip and 100-400L with the hood attached to it isn't exactly low profile, sometimes even from the distance. I still have to learn to shake off the awkwardness. I think it's because taking a photo like that is a mixture of stalking, papparazzying, backstabbing and obnoxiousness - not in the full meaning of the words. That is how I think it makes me feel... And I have yet to find out what's best to say to someone you candidly shoot and he then casually walks by you - or you walk by him. I usually just sort of smile, or sometimes I pretend I am or was shooting someone else... If it's a young girl, then of course it's easy, but a man in his 60's... gee, I dunno.

After I'll have purchased the 35mm I'll practice hip shooting, which is practically hail-Mary shooting, except you lower the cam instead of rise it. I know a guy who does this with great accuracy and brilliant results.

It would be great if Leica made a small digital SLR body, I think I'd buy it just for 35-50mm street shooting.

[symes]

Long lenses or...

choose your subjets carefully...I took some candids at the market the other day and I don't have anything longer than the kit lens...I had my 50mm on so to get any good shots I had to be close. There was a lot of comotion but there is little doubt they knew I was taking their picture after about three or four minutes standing around. Knowing this, I went back the next time the market came by and brought with me a small 4X6 picture of the three gentlemen (total cost $0.75). They were delighted with the result and very thankful...even offering me more than one drink of Soju. If they notice you there is no damage in offering them a print or offering to delete the image...it is of them afterall...

I am only a rookie but now that I can't hide my camera, like I could with my old point and shoot, it seems a smile and an offer works best for me.

Cheers,

[Bruce Hamilton]

After i took it, one turned around and pointed at me.

Since you don't show their faces, there isn't much they can do. ;)

[Steve Parr]

I was in the park yesterday, and couldn't avoid getting strangers in some of my shots. It was mobbed.

In some instances, though, I simply asked the people if they minded if I took their picture. Only one said no...

Steve

[timmyquest]

http://194.100.88.243/petteri/pont/Pontification/n_Telephoto_Is_For_Wimps/a_Telephoto_Is_For_Cowards.html

This has kind of been my whole way of thinking since i got my first true WA lens a few months ago. Thats not to say i dont see something interesting and click away with my 200mm but i much prefer the look of a WA candid, furthermore...i think when the subject knows the camera is there it can add more emotion to a photograph.

[symes]

http://194.100.88.243/petteri/pont/Pontification/n_Telephoto_Is_For_Wimps/a_Telephoto_Is_For_Cowards.html

This has kind of been my whole way of thinking since i got my first true WA lens a few months ago. Thats not to say i dont see something interesting and click away with my 200mm but i much prefer the look of a WA candid, furthermore...i think when the subject knows the camera is there it can add more emotion to a photograph.

I certainly know for me the 50mm worked well, once they ignored the camera...

However, I don't agree with the harshness of the article, where he has grouped everyone who uses a telephoto for candids as black trenchcoat freaks...

sure the 50mm is a good weapon of choice but so is a telephoto - I know that I certainly feel many people just never relax when the camera is around regardless of the personality behind the it. There is nothing better than a capture where the person doesn't realize it is being shot...they are more natural and most times appreciate the photo afterwards...

Cheers,

[timmyquest]

I certainly know for me the 50mm worked well, once they ignored the camera...

However, I don't agree with the harshness of the article, where he has grouped everyone who uses a telephoto for candids as black trenchcoat freaks...

sure the 50mm is a good weapon of choice but so is a telephoto - I know that I certainly feel many people just never relax when the camera is around regardless of the personality behind the it. There is nothing better than a capture where the person doesn't realize it is being shot...they are more natural and most times appreciate the photo afterwards...

Cheers,

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=62845&page=1&pp=30

The topic has been discussed...no need to create another debate in tihs thread.

[down_shift13]

i found your topic to be a bit funny! if someone not used to this forum would see that and would not relate that to a camera.. what would he be thinking! "shooting with a canon" :D

[karusel]

As I refreshed my subscribed threads, I just realized, I gave the wrong answer. The correct one would be: to shoot strangers it is best if you have a long barrel sniper gun, IMO, but as timmyquest thinks a short double barrel wide angle dispersion shotgun would be far better because you get to be in the middle of the action.

I hope this was not too harsh. :D

[WaxonWaxov]

You could always get one of these....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=30066&item=7504025771&rd=1

[Pugdaddy]

That is a trip, Wax. It's almost tempting to get one.

[Pyromaniac]

I would disagree with what he says about telephoto lenes. I like to sit in front of the local coffee shop my camera and take pictures of whats going on on the square. I like to plant my butt in a chair and basicly shoot the world as it looks to me from where I'm sitting. I also don't make any attempt to hide what I'm doing. Most of the time I use a 50mm, but sometimes I use the 75-300mm because stuff is going on at the other end of the square and thats whats need to get the shot.

[Candid Bandit]

Just shoot the dame picture...Your not pointing a missle at them. As crazy and intrusive people here thinks I am at getting shots.. Not one single subject ever came up to me and said a peep even after they saw and heard that I unloaded a 10 second burst shot on them. Telephoto lens will only frustrate you with blocker people in between. And its hard to do handheld cause it gets blurry. Count to three and stick your eye to the view finder and shoot. And then walk away and never turn back. You can do cam in hand or hip shooting and get real close to the action.. But that take alot of practice so just do it the view finder way. Never ever hide the cam. People will only think you are up to no good.

[karusel]

walk away and never turn back

I do this, but I feel it's kind of wron, photographing some stranger and ignoring him afterwards as if he was just an object in which you've lost all your interest the second you had that picture... Sometimes I nod and smile, rarely, I wink, I'll try now to give people who have realized I took their picture some minimum amount of friendly interaction.

[jukas]

http://194.100.88.243/petteri/pont/Pontification/n_Telephoto_Is_For_Wimps/a_Telephoto_Is_For_Cowards.html

This has kind of been my whole way of thinking since i got my first true WA lens a few months ago. Thats not to say i dont see something interesting and click away with my 200mm but i much prefer the look of a WA candid, furthermore...i think when the subject knows the camera is there it can add more emotion to a photograph.

I agreed with many points in this article, but I've always had a hard time swallowing any doctorine that says "my way is the only right way" :shrug:

Personally I'd say pick whichever lens works best for your style but remember that you are shooting people and they should be treated with respect. If someone asks you not to take their picture, or asks you to delete the picture you've taken, respect their wishes, or at least have a friendly dialog with them and see if they change their mind. It's not worth it to stick to the "It's my right" guns.

The only time I won't take a image without talking to them first is when it comes to young children. Unless they are mine, or I've known them for a long time, I won't ever make a image of a child without talking to the parent first and that's mostly because of how society is these days. I know I would feel strange if I saw some guy taking pictures of my step-daughters and I have no desire to make other parents feel uncomfortable.

The funny thing is, out of 15 or 20 different parents I've talked to first about photographing their children, after having a friendly dialog with them, only 1 has requested I not photograph their child.

[karusel]

Ha! Small children... I've been downtown this sunday and there were two kids, 5 year old maybe, sitting by the sidewalk eating some sort of chockolate on a stick and I happened to have passed by with, coincidentally 100-400 attached. It was so self-understood to take their picture that I don't think ANYBODY would be annoyed/concerned. It was close distance too, a couple of meters perhaps... and I heard a couple behind me complaining about some older woman (a passerby) who happened to have been standing in front of the kids blocking the view. She moved, I shot, everybody wins. Here's the shot (@135mm, f/6.7):

[lucasdigital]

I've been involved with photography for most of my adult life, but hardly ever took photographs of people. Most of my friends and family will jump out of windows rather than have their photos taken. I see now that this was a real tragedy, because inspite of my love for landscape and architectural photography, people are a fantastic subject that should be "exploited" at every opportunity (you know what I mean!) :-)

The truth is, if you want to get great photographs you have to be a little bit ruthless (in the nicest way possible). A couple of weeks ago I saw a fantastic scene, a bag lady feeding a swarm of pigeons, the lighting was dramatic, the composition almost too good to be true. Did I take this perfect picture waiting to happen? No...I lost my nerve and walked on. I quickly realised that for a moment of embarressment would have been a small price to pay.

One thing I have noticed - If you take photographs of crowds, particularly spectators, you can get away with anything and nobody feels like your invading their privacy because they assume you must be photographing someone else.

A couple of my meagre efforts

http://www.lucas-digital.com/design/photography/people/streetdance3.html

http://www.lucas-digital.com/design/photography/places/nl2004_pigeon_master.html

[karusel]

The second one is great!

Also, I was thinking of buying the ultimate macro photography kit, but I've changed my mind, I thought, I might shoot that when I'm really really old and while I'm still sort of young, rather photograph people. Might meet someone interesting too.

[Candid Bandit]

I do this, but I feel it's kind of wron, photographing some stranger and ignoring him afterwards as if he was just an object in which you've lost all your interest the second you had that picture... Sometimes I nod and smile, rarely, I wink, I'll try now to give people who have realized I took their picture some minimum amount of friendly interaction.

Wrong?!?!? Its not wrong. You will probably never see that person again and they will probably never see you again too. Your a photog doesn't automatically mean you have to be polite. You see.. They will forget about you after a minute. If you go and talk to them and offer them this and offer them that.. They will remember you and thats not something I want.

I just do it as a hobbie so I'm not a pro and don't need any reconition or credits. Thats just me.. I have no objection as to how others do it, but I just can not bring myself to talk to anyone I've just met and ask them if I can take some picture. The awkwardness of that to me and to THEM would be wayyyyyyyyyyyyy more then if you just casually shoot, and then pretend your shooting something else. They just walk right pass you and forget you.

I was about to say something also but i forgot what it was so.. heh heh :P

[Jon, The Elder]

I shoot horse shows. When I appear on -site, I make sure the people running the show are aware of my presence. I talk to people and let them know I'm there to shoot. You would be surprised at how many candid shots I sell to Moms/Dads that they would never see otherwise.

Just finished a winter series - Warm & Fuzzy you can see what I mean at www.pbase.com/jpferguson