Forget the cameras - what are your working methods?

[tpersin]

Notice that in the footnote link, he reveals that he found that practice inferior and abandoned it in favor of more traditional work with M6.

and then he sold the M6 in 2003! sadly, imo he moved to digital.....

i still think that the first piece was an interesting account of one mans process shooting on subway's.

 

[varjag]

i still think that the first piece was an interesting account of one mans process shooting on subway's.

Well, I shoot in subway as well, with a totally different approach. Probably there's just no single right way to do it.

 

[XAos]

Re the canonized press corps specifically. I said - if you have a blog - congratulations, you're The Press. You seemed to think I was stating that these people are not truly "the press". They are. Even if you only send your monthly flyer to the other homes on your culdesac - you're excersing your right to "freedom of the press".

I think we actually incorrectly refer to "the press" anyway. Perhaps we could call it freedom of the printer to remove the silent "corps" from our thinking - but that doesn't do justice to radio/internet/and the like. While it's obvious "the press" in the 1st ammendment uses the machine to refer to something else, today we use that term to mean "people in the employ of the various Well Known (TM) news organizations". I think it actually - using similar language from the same authors, could be rephrased "the right of the people to keep and use mass communication engines shall not be infringed." (And then we would be having arguments about what's an engine, and how presses driven by electric MOTORS instead of steam or fuel driven ENGINES aren't protected, when the word "engine" just meant "machine" back then.)

In fact the two are rather linked - given the fact that they had just overthrown a government - the language reflects the fact that arms and mass communication are both critical to doing so.

 

[bmattock]

XAos, I understand now. Sorry, I seriously thought you were being sarcastic when you said "Congratulations, you're the press." My bad, mea culpa!

And I agree with the rest of your statement, too.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[Roger Hicks]

Bill

Loved the artist story. Weird or what?

But doesn't it seem to you that people have become more paranoid over the years?

Cheers,

Roger

 

[bmattock]

Bill

Loved the artist story. Weird or what?

But doesn't it seem to you that people have become more paranoid over the years?

Cheers,

Roger

Roger,

With regard to the story about the painter who didn't want a photo taken...

I was at an outdoor art fair sponsored by the city of Raleigh, NC. I suspect that the woman was thinking I was trying to photograph her paintings - but I was actually trying to photograph her - she was sitting down next to a mirror that was reflecting back her profile to me - it was a great shot. I whipped my camera up and began composing - she shot out of her chair as I was taking the shot and confronted me, as I described previously. She was quite upset.

With regard to paranoia - yes, I think people are becoming more paranoid. I know I am! I also think that people are being more sensibly cautious - and that's most likely a good thing. Like anything, it can be taken too far, and then it becomes a bad thing.

Should you call the police when you see someone breaking into a neighbor's house? Sure! Should you form a committee of concerned citizens to spy on the people who live down the block, because their skin is a different color and they look dangerous/frightening/suspicious to you? I'm gonna say generally, no. But where in between these two extremes is the line of 'sensibility' drawn? That's the tough question.

My biggest concern is not fear of terrorists or what they might do. My biggest concern is the severe curtailment of freedom that goes hand-in-hand with intentionally increasing police powers in order that they might 'protect us better'.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[Allen Gilman]

I think you're on the right track about taking risks. For what it's worth, it helps to just "lose yourself" in the shot and forget about everything else. Fact is, it looks pretty strange walking around taking pics of people (especially when you're close in), but all that is secondary to what could happen when you get those four lines aligned in an interesting way. Anyway, after a while, and when you're in the zone, you'll soon forget that jittery feeling. It's just a matter of time.

 

[Rob Ludd]

In my first year of photography school I was hired to photograph a master class given by Leon Fleischer, the famous pianist. Also being a musician, this was a jaw-dropping opportunity. Being so green, I lacked the boldness needed to get the shots, so hunkered-down in my front-row seat with a telephoto I shot just under two rolls of 35mm. My employers were not happy, and I still kick myself for the blown opportunity.

I finally overcame my shyness after my first season shooting weddings. I no longer do them, but because of that it doesn't bother my to candidly shoot people, even if they see me doing it.

I do a moderate amount of street photography, and for me it's two things: a) Practice doing it in a comfortable way for a few weeks or months, until one day you're in a rotten mood and don't care, or are otherwise feeling extraordinarily confident, and that will set a future tone; and b) As RML and others have said, if you're just doing what you're doing, most won't notice and those that do, won't care.

Rob

 

[David Doler]

Odd cameras open doors.

 

[XAos]

Odd cameras open doors.

I should be back with a 6x7 of GHWB next week then ;-) My RB67 came today. I want a TLR next!

Re paranoia - I think really more than anything, it's people grasping at the last remaining straws of privacy they have. It may not be ones that matter, but it's more of a reaction borne of frustration. I think too there are regional differences - in downtown NYC, there are just so many people, people react differently to people than in smallville. I may have to take some holstein "Street Photos".

 

[TPPhotog]

If your in the UK and ever have any problems taking a shot or three of the Police at work, just point out that Police Review which is the Magazine for Police Officers over here is always looking for new pictures for editorial. The fact that you are telling the truth can't be beaten and it will put the officer at ease as it's a magazine that promotes a positive image of them.

Other than that in the UK if it's in public shoot it, if it can be seen from a public place then still shoot it. As already said don't wonder around like a pick-pocket looking to make a dip, but make yourself inconspicuous by being conspicuous and look happy.

People will seldom challenge someone who looks confident as it under-minds their own confidence.

I also find that my real confidence and the risks I take are proportionate to how much I want the picture. If it's really worth having then it's worth a few extra grey hairs 😉