jky
Well-known
I'm Asian.... I'm a tourist where ever I goRayPA said:maybe if we dressed like tourist, plaid shorts, striped shirts, Birkenstocks with white socks, zinc on the nose, sunglasses, a baseball hat. That's it! My attire for our next RFF San Francisco shoot! Who's with me?
No plaid needed here...
MikeL
Go Fish
I'm game, but I'm seeing more packs of black jackets and floods lately, or slightly pegged. Also dark or colored denim pants on men that's way too tight. Dude, what's with that?
For the next RFF shoot I don't care how cold it is, I'll wear mid-thigh shorts, brown socks, off-white walking shoes, and a white or sky blue nylon wind breaker.
For the next RFF shoot I don't care how cold it is, I'll wear mid-thigh shorts, brown socks, off-white walking shoes, and a white or sky blue nylon wind breaker.
Bingley
Veteran
MikeL said:For the next RFF shoot I don't care how cold it is, I'll wear mid-thigh shorts, brown socks, off-white walking shoes, and a white or sky blue nylon wind breaker.
Dude! That's my wardrobe!
(just trying to blend in in SF
)
MikeL
Go Fish
Bingley said:Dude! That's my wardrobe!
(just trying to blend in in SF
Sorry Steve, I thought you went for blue socks. Uh, I didn't mean to single you out in any way, uh...
Ray, I like the 'smiling clueless' approach, since people think you're stupid, and if nothing else harmless. It also just seems natural for me, as you know.
RayPA
Ignore It (It'll go away)
MikeL said:Sorry Steve, I thought you went for blue socks. Uh, I didn't mean to single you out in any way, uh...
Ray, I like the 'smiling clueless' approach, since people think you're stupid, and if nothing else harmless. It also just seems natural for me, as you know.
I'm seriously thinking it_just_might_work! After all, there is that twisted logic that says if you don't want to attract attention to yourself in public, make a scene. No one is more invisible than the guy walking against the flow talking and swearing to himself, or the guy on the median strip with the cardboard sign.
.
RayPA
Ignore It (It'll go away)
jky said:I'm Asian.... I'm a tourist where ever I go
No plaid needed here...
LOL! My best bud is Asian. I've got to run this one by him!
Bingley
Veteran
MikeL said:Sorry Steve, I thought you went for blue socks. Uh, I didn't mean to single you out in any way, uh...
Ray, I like the 'smiling clueless' approach, since people think you're stupid, and if nothing else harmless. It also just seems natural for me, as you know.
Mike --
You're correct. Blue on one leg. Gold on the other.
Go Bears!
rbsinto
Well-known
Very interesting topic.
Most of the time I shoot in plain sight. Not exactly "in your face", but with three motor driven cameras, vest and large bag hanging off one shoulder, I can't be called unobtrusive or stealthy.
Additionally, when I'm shooting street or homeles people, I usually ask for permission simply because I feel they are deserving of respect and the option of refusing permission should they so choose. By then taking the time to converse with them including introducing myself, shaking hands and never standing over them if they are sitting or lying on the sidewalk, I often put them enough at ease to get candid images.
Of course when the need arises, I've also learned to be stealthy, and by using wide lenses set to hyperfocus shot without lookin through the viewfinder, or by simply shooting quickly, (my cameras are all manual focus, but experience and practice have made me pretty good at sniping) I can usually get what I want.
The majority of the time I use SLR's, but for the last year I've also been using an S3 rangefinder.
For anyone who cares to take a peek and see some of my photos:
www.nikongear.com/alb/thumbnails.php?album=153
Most of the time I shoot in plain sight. Not exactly "in your face", but with three motor driven cameras, vest and large bag hanging off one shoulder, I can't be called unobtrusive or stealthy.
Additionally, when I'm shooting street or homeles people, I usually ask for permission simply because I feel they are deserving of respect and the option of refusing permission should they so choose. By then taking the time to converse with them including introducing myself, shaking hands and never standing over them if they are sitting or lying on the sidewalk, I often put them enough at ease to get candid images.
Of course when the need arises, I've also learned to be stealthy, and by using wide lenses set to hyperfocus shot without lookin through the viewfinder, or by simply shooting quickly, (my cameras are all manual focus, but experience and practice have made me pretty good at sniping) I can usually get what I want.
The majority of the time I use SLR's, but for the last year I've also been using an S3 rangefinder.
For anyone who cares to take a peek and see some of my photos:
www.nikongear.com/alb/thumbnails.php?album=153
btgc
Veteran
minoltist7 said:Moscow is scary city
This reminded me what I read in news some time ago - in Moscow some guy shot road worker when he damaged tire of his expensive car on some bits and bites laying on road for work needs.
Last year in Ukraina - Lviv, Chernivtsy - I went with light Mju/Epic and shot open, no probs.
wintoid
Back to film
I'm too chicken to shoot street, even though I'd like to. As a result of being chicken, I don't think I'd trip the shutter without permission. I'm considering doing an "ask" project like Stpiduko from FlickR ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/eamon/sets/72157594526998899/ ) or perhaps participating in the 100 strangers project ( http://www.flickr.com/groups/100strangers/discuss/ )
Blake Werts
Established
So I'm wondering if this isn't a better approach? Speaking from my own experience, when I see a photographer loaded down with their gear, I just accept that they are a professional on a "shoot" working a job assignment. I just give them enough of a glance to see if I can quickly identify their gear and just keep walking. The photographer is essentially wearing their intentions on their chest, really... "I'm a photographer and I'm snapping pictures..."
The "stealth" bobbing and weaving... I think that it may send a message to some that you are trying to "snatch" something without their knowledge. And for many, just knowing that gets a reaction that we'd rather not have to deal with.
Just a thought.
Nh3
Well-known
I absolutely agree with you on this point.
People feel uncomfortable when you're sneaky with them, they feel your intentions are devious.
Its always better to knock on some one's door rather than sneak from a window.
shimo-kitasnap
everything is temporary..
I like to shoot from the hip. Seems to work pretty well. I find it difficult to do with a 50mm though, lots of heads chopped off. 35 and 40mm are easier.
sweathog
Well-known
Generally go for stealth, but there are times when I go in-yer-face, or I get humanistic, depending on what the situation requires of me.
blackwave
silver halide lover
I typically shoot first and apologize with a smile afterwords. It does the trick most of the time!
There are two sides to being a very large man while street shooting, though. The disadvantage is that all hope for stealth is out the window.. people take notice of me plenty, let alone making them wonder why the big guy is taking their photo. The advantage, however, is that though I'll sometimes get a scowl, people just don't usually voice their objections. I don't think I'm scary, but some apparently do!
What I find most curious about my personal style is that I have to actively walk around with my camera for quite a while before I hit my groove and really start shooting (and seeing.) Even in a crowded place, I'll shoot maybe three to five frames in 30-45 minutes. After that all of the sudden I'll start popping of a roll in the next 30 mintues. Confidence maybe, or possibly it's just a matter of settling into the environment.
There are two sides to being a very large man while street shooting, though. The disadvantage is that all hope for stealth is out the window.. people take notice of me plenty, let alone making them wonder why the big guy is taking their photo. The advantage, however, is that though I'll sometimes get a scowl, people just don't usually voice their objections. I don't think I'm scary, but some apparently do!
What I find most curious about my personal style is that I have to actively walk around with my camera for quite a while before I hit my groove and really start shooting (and seeing.) Even in a crowded place, I'll shoot maybe three to five frames in 30-45 minutes. After that all of the sudden I'll start popping of a roll in the next 30 mintues. Confidence maybe, or possibly it's just a matter of settling into the environment.
R
ruben
Guest
Hi RayPa,
I am somewhat surprised you have reduced the styles and characters of the street photographer to four, and perhaps mutually exclusive choices.
Why ?
Cheers,
Ruben
I am somewhat surprised you have reduced the styles and characters of the street photographer to four, and perhaps mutually exclusive choices.
Why ?
Cheers,
Ruben
jky
Well-known
robbert
photography student
Different approaches for different results.
Yesterday I asked a lot of people if I could take their 'street-portrait' and most of them were fine with it. Look through the viewfinder and wait until the photo smile goes away and snap!
I used to worry that these photographs are not 'real', but the moment of me taking their photograph in time is just as 'real' as them not knowing being photographed, just different.
Can't wait to see the negs later today
As to the poll, it's mostly B & C for me
Yesterday I asked a lot of people if I could take their 'street-portrait' and most of them were fine with it. Look through the viewfinder and wait until the photo smile goes away and snap!
I used to worry that these photographs are not 'real', but the moment of me taking their photograph in time is just as 'real' as them not knowing being photographed, just different.
Can't wait to see the negs later today
As to the poll, it's mostly B & C for me
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ClaremontPhoto
Jon Claremont
I am amazed that the overwhelming majority here prefer the stealthy approach. And even call it 'candid' photography.
It is dishonest.
We are photographers, it's what we do.
I see skateboarders doing their thing, I see people eating fast food, I see people with iPods on buses. Many of us do something of our own interest and don't feel we have to hide it.
I just use a camera to make photos. I don't especially 'ask', but then again if somebody says 'no' with their eyes and body language I don't insist and rile them.
It is dishonest.
We are photographers, it's what we do.
I see skateboarders doing their thing, I see people eating fast food, I see people with iPods on buses. Many of us do something of our own interest and don't feel we have to hide it.
I just use a camera to make photos. I don't especially 'ask', but then again if somebody says 'no' with their eyes and body language I don't insist and rile them.
ClaremontPhoto
Jon Claremont
RayPA: This is so interesting. Thank you.
Tom Abrahamsson: I remember a gadget advertised way back which was a mirror mounted at a 45 degree angle you could attach to a lens. So as you could look as if you were photographing one way but actually photographing another way. Perhaps you could design and engineer a production run for the sneaky people?
Tom Abrahamsson: I remember a gadget advertised way back which was a mirror mounted at a 45 degree angle you could attach to a lens. So as you could look as if you were photographing one way but actually photographing another way. Perhaps you could design and engineer a production run for the sneaky people?