techniques in street photography

zig · 15th October 2004

hi guys i have been viewing a lot of photos on this forum and others, and i am very baffled by how some of the people in the pictures can look so relaxed and natural, and when i try my hand at street photography , the moment i lift my camera close to my eye, no matter how camoed i am(sometimes it makes things worse) people start staring at me and get intimidated. so i was thinking, could people be strapping the camera high up on the chest, and start snapping with a remote control. or use a zoom?
care to share your thougths?

Rev · 15th October 2004

Dont lift the camera to your eye. Just leave it stuck at your eye. All the time. or most of the time =P

The simple act of raising the camera to eye signifies intent to take a picture of THEM so they take notice and stare, compared to giving the impression of taking alot of pictures of them and other stuff.

I find that helps because people will think that "you're just another 827252th tourist with a camera". Also, more 'normal' looking clothes might help eg. no photographer vests, huge flashguns etc.

A small camera helps too. I think that's all the henri cartier had... a small rangefinder and a bag... a hand bag?

dotti · 15th October 2004

i have the same problem as you too...

but i heard from a CSer before..don't aim your camera at them..like mayb to the side of them...and mayb when they look away then you aim at them?

and of course having a small camera helps..

Bernard Ong · 15th October 2004

A wide angle (17-35mm) and a telezoom (70-300) helps.

For wide angle, as you closes in, u can choose to put them at the lower right (rule of thirds). To them, u are just taking photo in another direction as they do not know you are using wide angle len which enables you to put them within the frame.

For Telezoom, you can take pictures of them from a distance without them knowing. Use a small one, like the sigma 70-300mm APO. Dun use the f2.8 version (looks big). Use ASA 400 film to compensate the speed loss.

khairi · 15th October 2004

ha ha this is interesting...again and again this kind of question will be raised..but hey...it's a cool question with MANY answers.

for me...i use a 45mm/f1.7 yashica rangefinder for my street shoot...ASA 200 or 400 is ok...but most of the time, i use ASA400...only once i used ASA800 (just an experiment)

to take natural photos...well...it's not just shooting straight at ppl, but making what you see as a picture that you want to capture...for a start, you can try the "Shoot first, Think later" concept...then you can proceed to "Shoot only what you want" concept...

frankly...a good picture only happens within a few sec...then it's gone. Ppl always argue that using a zoom lens to street shoot means that the photog is a coward...but that is only preferences...use what you like, shoot what you like. Make pictures not "blank pictures"...it'll take sometime for you to get a good faith in street photography...

some sample shots

sequitur · 15th October 2004

it just happens that the perspective looks a lot nicer with wide angles..try it out you'll love it.

tomshen · 15th October 2004

Maybe you can start from event photography, easier to work out I think. After u know how to communicate effectively (mostly with body language, smiles, and some greetings), then do more street photography. btw, the size of camera is not a problem. Some people shoot secretely and silently, while others (me for example) always use a big setup. The most key is to judge the situation and do it like a real tourist or, on the contrary, a pro.

zaren · 15th October 2004

Originally Posted by zig

hi guys i have been viewing a lot of photos on this forum and others, and i am very baffled by how some of the people in the pictures can look so relaxed and natural, and when i try my hand at street photography , the moment i lift my camera close to my eye, no matter how camoed i am(sometimes it makes things worse) people start staring at me and get intimidated. so i was thinking, could people be strapping the camera high up on the chest, and start snapping with a remote control. or use a zoom?
care to share your thougths?

yo zig... why not try some or all of the following;

1. be thick-skinned
2. act like a tourist
3. be patient
4. be observant
5. shoot quickly

good luck and keep shooting!

canturn · 16th October 2004

Originally Posted by zaren

yo zig... why not try some or all of the following;

1. be thick-skinned
2. act like a tourist
3. be patient
4. be observant
5. shoot quickly

good luck and keep shooting!

Shoot with Rangefinders. A Contax G2 or Leica M (if u got $$$) is the way to go.

gweeb · 16th October 2004

i have this problem of deciding whether or not to ask my subjects for permission to shoot them. when i do, i ALWAYS get rejected. and when i dont, it feels rude and though ive never been reproached, they seem to take offense. that is why i havent been able to take the shots that i want to, especially close ups. what do you guys do?

lazylagoon · 16th October 2004

hey, this might be of help:-

in general:

http://www.pinkheadedbug.com/techniques/general.html

the part about shyness:

http://www.pinkheadedbug.com/techniques/shynessone.html

scanner · 16th October 2004

So many ideas... hahahaha.
Actually, there are alots of methods, but bear it in mind,
find the method which suit you the best.
But remember, when you get the shots, do you know who he/she is?
What is his/her age, what is she doing at that moment?

By understanding these, you are 1 step forward to achieve your goal.

2100 · 16th October 2004

Use 12-24mm and shoot from the hip or chest?

2m away also no problem. Immense DOF and MF.

gweeb · 16th October 2004

Originally Posted by lazylagoon

hey, this might be of help:-

in general:

http://www.pinkheadedbug.com/techniques/general.html

the part about shyness:

http://www.pinkheadedbug.com/techniques/shynessone.html

great, thanks!

ndroo · 16th October 2004

Originally Posted by zaren

yo zig... why not try some or all of the following;

1. be thick-skinned
2. act like a tourist
3. be patient
4. be observant
5. shoot quickly

good luck and keep shooting!

yo zar, u for the 1 more ...

6. be prepared to run (in case kena

)

acrylonithrill · 16th October 2004

Ah doi... Go and get a suitable compact digital camera with swivel screen, hang on your neck and act blur abit while composing and snap fast...

zaren · 17th October 2004

Originally Posted by renegade

yo zar, u for the 1 more ...

6. be prepared to run (in case kena )

don't worry, i can run very fast!

acrylonithrill · 17th October 2004

or get a medium format or TLR... with waist finder... No 1 will ever notice that you are shooting...

tan131 · 17th October 2004

my advice... if u wanna shoot someone.. jus shoot.. if u feel u are doing nothing wrong.. why be afraid.. shoot first.. explain later..

Jia Wang · 18th October 2004

I met an experienced old-hand a few months back on Orchard Road... we were both street-shooting then... he told me that the way to go for street shooting is to be very observant of what/who is around you... visualise your subject in your head and determine the composition in your mind as well... once the picture you want presents itself, lift up your camera, focus and snap... swiftness and decisivenes is the key...

15th October 2004	#1
zig Deregistered Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: woodlands baby! Posts: 281	techniques in street photography hi guys i have been viewing a lot of photos on this forum and others, and i am very baffled by how some of the people in the pictures can look so relaxed and natural, and when i try my hand at street photography , the moment i lift my camera close to my eye, no matter how camoed i am(sometimes it makes things worse) people start staring at me and get intimidated. so i was thinking, could people be strapping the camera high up on the chest, and start snapping with a remote control. or use a zoom? care to share your thougths?

15th October 2004	#5
khairi Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: yishun Posts: 2,469	ha ha this is interesting...again and again this kind of question will be raised..but hey...it's a cool question with MANY answers. for me...i use a 45mm/f1.7 yashica rangefinder for my street shoot...ASA 200 or 400 is ok...but most of the time, i use ASA400...only once i used ASA800 (just an experiment) to take natural photos...well...it's not just shooting straight at ppl, but making what you see as a picture that you want to capture...for a start, you can try the "Shoot first, Think later" concept...then you can proceed to "Shoot only what you want" concept... frankly...a good picture only happens within a few sec...then it's gone. Ppl always argue that using a zoom lens to street shoot means that the photog is a coward...but that is only preferences...use what you like, shoot what you like. Make pictures not "blank pictures"...it'll take sometime for you to get a good faith in street photography... some sample shots __________________ blog: inbloomphotos.wordpress.com

15th October 2004	#7
tomshen Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 3,719	Maybe you can start from event photography, easier to work out I think. After u know how to communicate effectively (mostly with body language, smiles, and some greetings), then do more street photography. btw, the size of camera is not a problem. Some people shoot secretely and silently, while others (me for example) always use a big setup. The most key is to judge the situation and do it like a real tourist or, on the contrary, a pro. __________________ Visit http://www.tomshenstudio.com

17th October 2004	#19
tan131 Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 1,556	my advice... if u wanna shoot someone.. jus shoot.. if u feel u are doing nothing wrong.. why be afraid.. shoot first.. explain later.. __________________ http://www.flickr.com/photos/28144868@N05/

18th October 2004	#20
Jia Wang Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Starry Night Posts: 1,243	I met an experienced old-hand a few months back on Orchard Road... we were both street-shooting then... he told me that the way to go for street shooting is to be very observant of what/who is around you... visualise your subject in your head and determine the composition in your mind as well... once the picture you want presents itself, lift up your camera, focus and snap... swiftness and decisivenes is the key... __________________ Jia Wang... "A photo is only as beautiful as the photographer's eyes can see." My Eyes ;)

15th October 2004	#2
Rev Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 913	Dont lift the camera to your eye. Just leave it stuck at your eye. All the time. or most of the time =P The simple act of raising the camera to eye signifies intent to take a picture of THEM so they take notice and stare, compared to giving the impression of taking alot of pictures of them and other stuff. I find that helps because people will think that "you're just another 827252th tourist with a camera". Also, more 'normal' looking clothes might help eg. no photographer vests, huge flashguns etc. A small camera helps too. I think that's all the henri cartier had... a small rangefinder and a bag... a hand bag?

15th October 2004	#3
dotti Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: strawberry field Posts: 295	i have the same problem as you too... but i heard from a CSer before..don't aim your camera at them..like mayb to the side of them...and mayb when they look away then you aim at them? and of course having a small camera helps..

15th October 2004	#4
Bernard Ong Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 407	A wide angle (17-35mm) and a telezoom (70-300) helps. For wide angle, as you closes in, u can choose to put them at the lower right (rule of thirds). To them, u are just taking photo in another direction as they do not know you are using wide angle len which enables you to put them within the frame. For Telezoom, you can take pictures of them from a distance without them knowing. Use a small one, like the sigma 70-300mm APO. Dun use the f2.8 version (looks big). Use ASA 400 film to compensate the speed loss.

15th October 2004	#6
sequitur Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 2,825	it just happens that the perspective looks a lot nicer with wide angles..try it out you'll love it.

16th October 2004	#10
gweeb New Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 3	i have this problem of deciding whether or not to ask my subjects for permission to shoot them. when i do, i ALWAYS get rejected. and when i dont, it feels rude and though ive never been reproached, they seem to take offense. that is why i havent been able to take the shots that i want to, especially close ups. what do you guys do?

16th October 2004	#11
lazylagoon Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 168	hey, this might be of help:- in general: http://www.pinkheadedbug.com/techniques/general.html the part about shyness: http://www.pinkheadedbug.com/techniques/shynessone.html

16th October 2004	#12
scanner Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,643	So many ideas... hahahaha. Actually, there are alots of methods, but bear it in mind, find the method which suit you the best. But remember, when you get the shots, do you know who he/she is? What is his/her age, what is she doing at that moment? By understanding these, you are 1 step forward to achieve your goal.

16th October 2004	#13
2100 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 3,116	Use 12-24mm and shoot from the hip or chest? 2m away also no problem. Immense DOF and MF.

16th October 2004	#16
acrylonithrill Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Eastern Coast of Singapore Posts: 164	Ah doi... Go and get a suitable compact digital camera with swivel screen, hang on your neck and act blur abit while composing and snap fast...