Do black cameras still have an edge in stealth?

Dear Roger:

Takes all kinds to make an interesting world. You, at least, have good taste in messages. Enjoy.

I more often see examples which tend to prove that
"Nobody ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public." (Mencken)

--- Mike
 
Dear Roger:

As I think about it further, another of Mencken's insights seems right up your alley:

"Mankind shall not be free, until the last lawyer is hanged by the entrails of the last priest."

--- Mike
 
As far as the camera itself, it has more to do with size and shape. Just the sight of a lens popping out of a rectangular box these days is unusual enough to grab anyone's attention if it's in their field of vision. If you're a middle aged or older fellow with a retro camera they won't think much of it, but if you're young there's a good chance people will think you're a hipster, especially if you're wearing a trustfundium outfit. I like to dress nice, and I like to take pictures, but I don't do both at the same time. When in Rome.

The other big thing is body language. Don't stoop. Walk at a slow, deliberate pace. Keep your head high. Don't be stiff and jerky. Don't whip out your camera (unless you have to). If you look like you belong, people are less likely to bother you. You should be comfortable anyway, regardless. Don't be tense.

It occurred to me that it's probably a very big advantage to be a woman (yes, seriously!) while shooting on the street. People are much less likely to assign sinister or otherwise bad motives to some girl or a lady with her camera.

The compacts like the Olympus XA and the Yashica T4 are good for quick, discrete shooting. They could pass for some kind of cell phone.

People have become so acclimated to the cell phone camera that getting anything out of a different form factor is always going to draw attention, whether it's black or pink. I have a harder time here in the midwest because nobody exactly comes here to visit aside from coming to watch our sports teams lose, except the Buckeyes. In which case, they come to watch their non-conference team get bulldozed to provide the pavement to a bowl game or championship. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AN0WqSeCKW8
 
Ko.Fe. said:
I don't have anything remarkable in my street photography which I practice as part of my walking exercise since 2009.
The only time I was noticed big time was in Montreal (2010). It was some road work, I walked in holding my small DSLR at chest level. I looked at construction guy and before I was going to say "hi" he was running away and screaming - "paparazzi-paparazzi!" :eek:

I switched to film in 2012. Took TLR on streets couple of times with me.
Same thing as you describe, people notice, but no conflicts.
But I don't think they were giving to me Pro status, most likely I was just a goof for them. :) Setting TLR camera on tripod and trying to frame it is weird act these days.



I have switched to folders after TLR. Less exercise and people are saying - "vintage camera, sure!'
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At least you are ready. ;-)

Nice shots, I sometimes like very much the lower perspective of TLR or MF SLR images. I even enjoyed my Pentacon 6 days when I would buy one and use it while in Prague or Paris, with the Russian Fisheye as well, until the camera would break and I could easily buy another. Thought it would be a good article for someone to write at the time, "Traveling and shooting with what ever camera they had for sale at Foto Skoda".

I also recall I saw a very good opportunity to shoot and almost walked away until I remembered I had my Fuji 645 folder in my coat pocket-- shot an entire roll, had a choice in what to print. Subject was reading a book under a tree next to the Seine.

A friend of Roger's asked for a print, I think the print is now left in England, and the friend moved to France?

With what ever color, shape, condition camera, if it works, the subject is there, and so are you, it can work. I was stealthy as I was on a walk above the subject's eye level, and he was focused on his book.

I think the camera is black.

John
 
Major Tom said:
It occurred to me that it's probably a very big advantage to be a woman (yes, seriously!) while shooting on the street. People are much less likely to assign sinister or otherwise bad motives to some girl or a lady with her camera.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AN0WqSeCKW8
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Or having a woman with you, or a local speaking the language.

Most of the sinister , bad motives, seem to be fanned recently by what passes for media in the US. I shoot little here, perhaps it is mostly in my head, but the good stuff does not seem to jump out at me here.

Regards, John
 
JohnTF said:
Or having a woman with you, or a local speaking the language.

Most of the sinister , bad motives, seem to be fanned recently by what passes for media in the US. I shoot little here, perhaps it is mostly in my head, but the good stuff does not seem to jump out at me here.

Regards, John
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If I had my choice I would definitely be on the West or East coast, not stuck in Ohio as well. The Midwest is just a dreary place. I have a friend who came from Atlanta and he often notes Midwesterners are... not as nice.
 
Black still is more stealthy by 10%.

The smaller the better, for one thing it hides in your hands, and it looks less professional.

If you really want stealth, rig a box with a hole cut for the lens which is recessed.

Or wrap a white plastic bag over it and leave the lens exposed

Or neck strap with long cable release going down your arm

You can always ask permission and getter a better pose plus multiple exposures.
 
Major Tom said:
If I had my choice I would definitely be on the West or East coast, not stuck in Ohio as well. The Midwest is just a dreary place. I have a friend who came from Atlanta and he often notes Midwesterners are... not as nice.
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Hey, we have the North Coast. ;-)

Last summer was nice, this year, not so nice. I accept the blame that I just do not work at shooting as much here.

Seems a couple of better photographers than I have less problems finding good subjects, but most of what I like that I have shot is from Europe and Mexico. You cannot beat the Southwest for landscapes.

Regards, John
 
Major Tom said:
. . . It occurred to me that it's probably a very big advantage to be a woman (yes, seriously!) while shooting on the street. People are much less likely to assign sinister or otherwise bad motives to some girl or a lady with her camera. . .
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My wife has certainly found this to be the case.

Cheers,

R.
 
I used to use a couple of small bits of tape to cover the name and LED on my Minox, which was my main street camera. The LED made it deeply unstealthy.

I also used to want black cameras for the stealth aspect. No longer. I have metal/black cameras, and it's a nice look. I think fewer people pay attention to photography these days, anyway, as, with smart phones, it's less of an oddity.

Taping a bike is quite common among the fixie-hipsters of London. It effectively highlights to thieves that there's an expensive bike underneath. Same goes for taped cameras.
 
What about all the cameras now that are white? Is their goal to make you more conspicuous? And what about all those Canon users with their big white lenses?

I never understood the whole taping of the camera thing, particularly Leicas -- I think 99% of the people out there wouldn't recognize or even care about the brand of camera you're using (plus, if you decide to sell that camera down the line, better make sure all that tape doesn't leave a nasty residue). Leica? What's that? And how do you say it? Lee-Kah?
 
Quite (though I think those huge white lenses are rather ugly, that's an aesthetic judgement).

Cameras are available in different colours so they can sell to gurls. Us men still prefer black buttons on black panels in none more black* cameras.

I find that a vintage-looking camera gets a better reaction on the street anyway, so acres of black plastic are self-defeating.


* to mix my cultural references
 
Pentax-Multi-Color-Camera.jpg
 
Are there really any mainstream silver SLR's? The only silver camera I ever owned was a Nikon S2, which I still have.
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I guess by SLR you mean DSLR... and there were a few Canon Rebels that were silver years ago. Also, Pentax makes a silver K5 (and probably a few others).
 
Pioneer said:
This is so true!! I have walked right out onto baseball fields packing my Pentax 645Nii with the 80-160, a monopod and a camera bag and people don't even pay any attention. Most people assume that if you look like you are supposed to be there then you must belong.

I did get chased off a concert stage in a Reno casino once but that was only when I stopped and changed film.If I would have had a couple loaded film mags with me I may have gotten away with it. I guess pros don't change film. :)
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On top of that a bull got to close to the fence at the rodeo and a security guard made everyone back away from the fence but looked at me and my gear, smiled and said just use common since and if a bull is coming this way back up. He thought I was working for the paper.....
 
Rodchenko said:
Quite (though I think those huge white lenses are rather ugly, that's an aesthetic judgement).




* to mix my cultural references
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I get the feeling at athletic events it was more marketing, if you see acres of white lenses, you know you are not looking at Nikons.

Regards, John
 
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