Getting closer

[Lauffray]

Just interested in sharing tips on how to get closer to your subject without creeping/tipping them off. I do mostly street photography with a 50 or a 35 (never wider, and never from the hip) and when I'm locked on to my subject I look like a bull about to charge...NOT discrete:bang:😀

 

[antiquark]

Some famous photogs just stand there and shoot, some start talking to the subject while shooting, some try to get to know the subject before shooting, some shoot secretly... there is no right answer!

 

[KenR]

I've also used all of the above techniques, but whenever possible, a friendly "can I take your picture?" works best.

 

[randomtheng]

I'm also interested in this topic. I'm shy and tend to avoid any confrontation.

Particularly, i feel that Asians have a higher tendency to NOT want their photos taken(i'm Singaporean btw), so i have a hard time deciding how to take my photos.

Several ways i "try" to take my shots of people are,

1) Sneak-attacks, where i take shots while trying to pretend that i'm not, but when caught, it makes me seem like a perv. LOL.

2) Blatant-in-your-face. I will walk up straight and take the shots. Mostly useful for old folks, they tend to either say no photos or say nothing. when they say nothing, snap away!

3) The distraction. Pretending to take something else but, in reality, taking the subject. Useful with wide-angle lens.

4) Timer-shots. Again, this is useful for wide-angles as the DoF is large, and anything shot at f/8 is most probably in focus. So sling your camera on your neck, horizontally, timer-snap the unsuspecting subjects.

I would like to know if you guys have any other interesting ways of breaking the ice when taking street shots!

-yt

 

[chrismoret]

The biggest mistake you can make when doing street-photography is being 'stealthy'. The times I got in trouble was when I was being 'one with the background'.😉 A lot of people get very nervous when someone with a camera is sneaking around. Let everyone see what you are doing! And if someone gets mad/grumpy, just smile, and explain what youre doing.
And a RF-camera is the perfect camera to do this kind of work. It's the reason I'm switching from a rather bulky D300 to a Leica M4.

 

[payasam]

I'll agree with Chris that stealth is bad. These are suspicious times, and doing things openly is the only sensible way.

Perhaps we should not generalise about Asians, yt. I'm in India, and commonly people -- not only children -- ask me on the street to photograph them. Of course I also come across people who do not want to be photographed.

 

[Black]

I'm relatively new to street photography, but I have started to learn that judging the composition and distance before taking the shot always works wonders, and then simply waiting for the right set of circumstances to fall into the frame, is often good.
However, I have to agree, trying to be sneaky will just get you into bother. Snap away, and always be ready to explain what you are doing (especially in the UK). Most people are generally happy or at the very least, indifferent, to have a picture taken, especially if you ask and throw in a few compliments.

 

[SimonSawSunlight]

hmm how do you take pictures like these if you force a "can I take your picture?" conversation first?
(all at 1-2m)

...

this is what "can I take your picture?"-photos look like, not better or worse, but different.

(sorry about the dogs.)

 

[Black]

Well, I'd suppose that would matter if you were aiming to not take a "can I take your picture" picture - which the OP did not state, one way or the other. Its subjective, isn't it? I think a combination of the suggestions thus far, would cover most circumstances, resulting the styles of images you have exampled. Which are very nice, btw.

 

[SimonSawSunlight]

Well, I'd suppose that would matter if you were aiming to not take a "can I take your picture" picture - which the OP did not state, one way or the other. Its subjective, isn't it? I think a combination of the suggestions thus far, would cover most circumstances, resulting the styles of images you have exampled. Which are very nice, btw.

I agree. the question was how to get closer, the answers - as ever - go from a to z without being wrong on one or the other end. I think I just wanted to illustrate that. whatever way you choose, the important thing is probably to stay friendly and discreet.
and thank you!

 

[le vrai rdu]

Just interested in sharing tips on how to get closer to your subject without creeping/tipping them off. I do mostly street photography with a 50 or a 35 (never wider, and never from the hip) and when I'm locked on to my subject I look like a bull about to charge...NOT discrete:bang:😀

just be there

you can't be absolutely stealth when you are close

 

[SimonSawSunlight]

just be there

you can't be absolutely stealth when you are close

agreed, that is something to worry about after you took the shot. run if you have to 😀

 

[mikeong]

run if you have to 😀

Absolutely! Anyway, you got the shot! 🙄

 

[Fedia]

Simon, I like your street photo style very much... I am dedicated street photographer as well, with my own philosophy... best wishes my dear colleague 🙂...

As for OP question... be delicate, RESPECT your subjects, show confidence and positive attitude, use common sense... if you want decent images don't shoot a frame just after you have talked and asked if the person don't mind his pictures to be taken... wait and shoot later, then wait and shoot more, then talk, and shoot more... and more... and you may have one decent frame... may not... but then think more and shoot again.. never ever act as a hunter looking for a prey - shoot and run away wthout even asking the name... never...
There are different street situations, and there are no strict rules... thats why it's important to have a sense of rhythm of the social atmosphere on the street... Seems a lot of street shooters are against tele lenses - bull**** !!!... in fact, short tele lenses are very good for street photography, as well as wide angles and normals... with short tele lens, after you talked with person and become friends, you can stand back a bit which allows person to be relaxed and not to feel camera presents quicker, and then wait for the frame or... people just don't pay attention if you stand with a small camera far away enough from them... composition, light, forms and the moment - all that matters for good photos including street photos as well 🙂... if one has no sense what will make a good picture, any other technique isn't going to help at all... Any lens or camera could be the best tools here... You just have to master your own unique approach and style... we cannot do it for you... just advices about some possible ways how to shoot this very difficult genre of photography... That's all I can share for free 🙂))... Good frames to all...

 

[Spyro]

Ι'll tell you something funny that I've only realised recently after years of taking street photos. I realised this during a discussion with a friend who is a portrait photographer and works mainly with amateur female models who want to build their portfolio. He told me that it is easier for him to find models who would gladly pose nude for him in the privacy of a hotel room, than it is to find models who would accept to pose for him in a crowded public place with clothes on! Then it hit me: people generally dont mind having their photo taken, they dont care. What they dont want is to be seen having their photo taken. They dont want people making assumptions that they look weird and someone is photographing them because of that, or they are vain or famous of wannabes or all of the above. They dont want to be singled out in the crowd by a guy with a camera. How this conclusion translates to anything useful I have no idea 😛

Anyway my 3 rules are:
a) get over it, relax. You're not doing a crime. Furthermore, have faith in yourself, your photos are good and worth your time and people's momentary inconvenience.
b) get over with it. Make it easy for people to ignore you. Answering the same "why did you just take my photo" question 20 times a day is annoying and distracting to say the least. Dont just stand there twisting rings and pressing buttons trying to figure out your settings in the last minute while pointing your camera at somebody. As much as possible try to pre-everything: Pre-focus, pre-set exposure, learn your lens and pre-frame if you can before you even look through the VF. Then lift the camera, press the button, put it down again, DONT STARE and move on to the next photo.
c) Dont try to hide what you're doing, not only its gonna get you in trouble but it will interfere with your shooting and your photos will be crap. Think of rule #1.

Anyway Michael David Murphy has explained it better than me, definitely worth a read:
http://2point8.whileseated.org/wow-footer/

 

[Expatinprogress]

One of the best options to "calm down" people after shooting is showing the picture at the camera. This really works for me at least, in the countryside in Africa.

But, what to do when you are a roll shooter?

 

[Sparrow]

I suspect wearing a fluorescent high-visibility jacket with PHOTOGRAPHER across the back would work well

 

[xxloverxx]

I do whatever I have to to get the photo…

 

[SimonSawSunlight]

I do whatever I have to to get the photo…

does that have something to do with your forum name here (and the name of this thread)? 😀

 

[peterm1]

I usually like to use something a bit longer - about a 90mm is right for me. That gives me a bit of extra distance so I am not invading their space. When I shoot I usually act nonchalant and never sly or stealthy - well not overtly. I like to shoot when they are engaged in something and so not focused on what I am doing (which is what I want in my photos anyway - why would you want photos of people who are all looking at the photographer) and I try just to never catch their eye. In fact when I shoot, if they do look at me I usually look past them as if I have been shooting something else. Works 99% of the time for me. Other times I just supplement this with a pleasant smile and try to charm my way out of any potential conflict. BUt having smiled I still quickly change my attention to something else to try to distract them from feeling they have to engage with me.

If people are really engaged they seldom take much notice anyway. A couple of examples in differing styles but all applying the same basic technique: