Guide for taking street photos?

[blizzy]

Any tips from experts on how to take photos on the streets? I usually feel awkward about snapping a picture of a scene, as if i'll be intruding their privacy. Later kena scold, chase, whack, camera smashed. Keen on taking a walk around chinatown, little india etc, but not sure how to go about taking photos of pple.

So, could the experts give advice? what to look out for, etc... starting to find taking such photos more interesting...

 

[Larry]

for me...

- learn how to shoot blind (i.e. without looking thru the viewfinder). gauge your distance, set a comfortable aperture to get a reasonable distance in focus and just whack.
- use higher ISO if possible, so that you can get away with smaller aperture (and wider DOF)
- NEVER use flash.

 

[clive]

visualise first for what pic u ultimately want.

then walk around and see the actual ground

then from there plan how to actually achieve the shot u have visualised ie eg stand where? how much zoom? what perspective(by use focal length)? time of day? shadow? flare? shutter speed for motion effects? mood? etc

be prepared to run.

use black lens---unless u want to be outstandingly distracting with minolta/canon white telephotos yeah. i slam canon white L lens as lousy for this kind of job. and i mean it :bsmilie:

 

[rueyloon]

learn to talk to people.........

 

[Andy Ho]

Originally posted by clive
visualise first for what pic u ultimately want.

then walk around and see the actual ground

then from there plan how to actually achieve the shot u have visualised ie eg stand where? how much zoom? what perspective(by use focal length)? time of day? shadow? flare? shutter speed for motion effects? mood? etc

be prepared to run.

use black lens---unless u want to be outstandingly distracting with minolta/canon white telephotos yeah. i slam canon white L lens as lousy for this kind of job. and i mean it :bsmilie:

What you said made sense in every bit. Everything seems right until the Canon white lens issue. I am not a Canon user but I truly believe that a Canon white lens is definitely not a big problem for jobs like this. Why don't we all wear black instead of white as a hugh piece of meat walking around wearing white t-shirt is definitely going to be very :what: EYE catching.

If a person were to feel this way, he/she definitely has a confidence problem. I imagine many Pro journalist in Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, and many war torn countries being shot down because they are using the so called white lens? Not true!

No offence, I am just a specialist street and journalistic shooter stating logic.

Andy Ho
http://andyho.clubsnap.org/gallery/

 

[blizzy]

well, i'm using a digicam with a swivel lcd, so i normally leave it at chest level and erm, pretend to fiddle with my camera.....

i wonder how pple erm, mix in with the environtment and can openly take pics. like in that movie, the war photographer, he is accepted by the pple and is free to take pics. any advice?

 

[Andy Ho]

A lot of time is spent getting to know the people. U know? Practice the "get to know the people session"? What I do sometimes is just get the hell in there, point my lens at them and shoot. Keep shooting until they get used to your presence.

Don't be afraid, as being afraid will get you nowhere. Mind you, I am timid too but I brace myself for every shoot. Sometimes I get the thrill and heart throbe when I do that because you are thinking in your heart if your subject will be as receptive but a BIG smile will usually soften everyone and send a message as "I am not here for trouble and I am friendly."

Sometimes, people will ask you what you are doing. Be sincere and tell them. If possible, exaggerate your interest in photography. Most of them will not bother you if they know you are not out to harm their reputation.

The rest is up to you. Always remember, BE FRIENDLY.

Andy Ho
http://andyho.clubsnap.org/gallery/

 

[FOOXX]

me would juzt shoot openly .....

act normally ..... me will not try to hide my camera .....

once me waz at the merlion bridge there ..... there waz a man fizhing at the side of the bridge. Me juzt stood 4-5 stepz away frm him n aim my camera at him. Even when he look at me, me still aim at him ..... hahahaha ..... in the end took a couple of shotz of him .....

me agree that it may be scary ..... but u will get uzed to it .....

if pple act az if they they dont want u to take a pic of them, juzt rezpond with a smile n walk away .....

 

[PLAYmobil]

me would juzt shoot openly .....

act normally ..... me will not try to hide my camera .....

once me waz at the merlion bridge there ..... there waz a man fizhing at the side of the bridge. Me juzt stood 4-5 stepz away frm him n aim my camera at him. Even when he look at me, me still aim at him ..... hahahaha ..... in the end took a couple of shotz of him .....

me agree that it may be scary ..... but u will get uzed to it .....

if pple act az if they they dont want u to take a pic of them, juzt rezpond with a smile n walk away .....

do 4x 2.5km reps three times a week
6x chin ups each meal
finger press for that extra grip strength hahahahaa

i used to own a digital(normal 2.0 mp) camera laze around in cafe and waiting for that KODAK moment
ppl fighting couple... ermmm fighting, children really cute children and also great weather. (no i dont do candid hahahaa to much on e net liaoz)

so the art is snap and be responsible for e after-effect.

1. ppl will definitely look for e flash
2. They spotted you
3. gently pull e chair away and grip tight on your camera
4. react to their reaction
5. they smile, you smile wider and raise your glass, greet
6. they walk your way, :sweat: plan a immediate escape route, take a last sip of your juice and prepare to run.

hahahaha well it happens to me before! hahaha. generally only couples will be more defensive. dun be afraid if you wanna candid shot dun hide behind e bushes, plan and snap as fast as the subject can find out ahhahaa

no GUTs no GLORY!

 

[Jer76]

observe the person.. frame the pic in ur mind.. camera up, focus, snap and camera down in 3 secs.. in other words make it fast.. dun stand there take ur time to compose the pic in LCD/viewfinder with the lens pointing at them.. it irritates people.

 

[excentrique]

Just Shoot !

 

[Azure]

Point camera in the target's direction, shoot. Just remember NOT to use flash. I use a swivel Coolpix and shoot blind sometimes. If you want, join us next time for shoots lor, esp if we go street shooting again (like today...).

Though I believe Larry would be the master in "blind shooting".

 

[blizzy]

wah who dig up this thread.

 

[Siddhi]

Today went to the botanical gardens. Was some concert going on in the evening, lots of kids playing around. Was there for 3.5 hours. Tried to photograph kids playing, coudn't. Everytime I point and get ready to shoot, I think that I kena whacked on my head by the parents and by then the kids have run away @#$&*(#

 

[Caspere]

Today went to the botanical gardens. Was some concert going on in the evening, lots of kids playing around. Was there for 3.5 hours. Tried to photograph kids playing, coudn't. Everytime I point and get ready to shoot, I think that I kena whacked on my head by the parents and by then the kids have run away @#$&*(#

Siddhi touched on an important issue. Parents (& boyfriends??) by nature are more protective. Besides, due to the current sentiment of abuse/misuse and child-related sexual crimes getting a huge play on media intentionally, it might be better to avoid snapping OTHER PEOPLE's children. I would take the same position as a parent; it is irrelevant whether the photographer is an old/young man/women/girl, handsome/pretty, celebrity (unless of course I am the one requesting for the picture) or not. There is usually an exception though; tourists!! they shot everything and anything and gets away! :bsmilie:

 

[reno77]

Heh, then next time we got to dress up as backpackers when doing street photography.

 

[Ansel]

Heh, then next time we got to dress up as backpackers when doing street photography.

You also have to dye your hair to become ang moh.

 

[Kira]

Siddhi touched on an important issue. Parents (& boyfriends??) by nature are more protective. Besides, due to the current sentiment of abuse/misuse and child-related sexual crimes getting a huge play on media intentionally, it might be better to avoid snapping OTHER PEOPLE's children. I would take the same position as a parent; it is irrelevant whether the photographer is an old/young man/women/girl, handsome/pretty, celebrity (unless of course I am the one requesting for the picture) or not. There is usually an exception though; tourists!! they shot everything and anything and gets away! :bsmilie:

No leh.... I find that children are the best.... But they're fast so you must be quick too.... Shoot quite a few time at bugis water fountain and don't have problem of parents coming up to me leh....

The only time a parent came up to me is only to pass me her address and ask me to send a copy of the shoots to her.... I even got a thank you card from her... Hehehehehe....

 

[Kira]

The key here is to be friendly and respect your subject's decision. If they don't like you to photo them, they'll mostly walk away or shield theyselves with their hands/bags/etc.etc.

If they confront you, then explain to them that it's your hobby, smile and walk away. Of cos, it doesn't help if the couple just break up, there was an argument, etc, etc. In cases where tensions are high, it's best to be discreat and careful....

It doesn't help if you sneak around. Ppl might think that you have other plans or ill intension for the photos..

 

[Larry]

Though I believe Larry would be the master in "blind shooting".

ssshhhh... .... dun let the secret out!!!

:nono: