Headphones and street shooting

[f/stopblues]

I picked up an mp3 player the other week and a couple times have put in my earphones while I was shooting. I tend to get absorbed in my subject which isn't always people, so it helps me focus on more stationary subjects. Today I got off work and walked around downtown for a while with the Bessa and 35mm to people watch.

The first part I didn't have any music playing and I know I shyed away from some shots cause I was noticable or it felt invasive bringing the camera to my eye. The last half hour I put the earphones in and played some live David Gray 😀 I started to get into the music and noticed I was shooting a lot more frames all of the sudden. At one point there were three business men walking behind me and I stopped, turned around to face them and shot a frame. I don't think I ever would have done that without the earphones. I just didn't do that hesitation thing as much.

Have you had any similar experiences? Anything you do to free yourself or fluff up your bravery? I can't decide if I'm disconnecting myself from the scene and making myself more a spectator, or am I using the headphones as a "social lubricant" (to borrow a term from the bar)?

Whatever it is, it seems to work for me!

 

[sf]

I know. It works. Unless I'm shooting in a dense crowd or somewhere dangerous, I've always got my Ipod in the pocket and my earbuds in. I like to listen to mostly instrumental stuff by a massive variety of artists.

In France and England, I had Thomas Newman (American Beauty Soundtrack), Nitin Sawhney (Anthem Without a Nation), Sigur Ros (several albums), Substructure (firewire), David Gray (please forgive me), Ranga (Radiant Awakening), Jon Hopkins (Contact Note), Imogen Heap (Speak For Yourself), Helios (Unomia), Bent (Beautiful Otherness), Aphex Twin (Ambient Works), Coldplay, Dave Matthews.

I find that quiet, soft music, rather than loud, harsh music is the best to listen to when shooting anything. I particularly like Thomas Newman and Jon Hopkins.

I think I had "Anthem Without a Nation" playing much of the time I spent wandering Paris. And Substructure's "Firewire."

For me, music is a sort of bubble - I am able to separate myself from the world around me, which is very useful when you're trying to perceive it.

 

[Goodyear]

Makes sense, I guess.

I find that when I'm out with phones in I always feel more detached from what's going on around me.

Must try it sometime.

 

[clarence]

Since I came to London, I never use my MP3 player on the streets anymore. I think it's more of a distraction for yourself and an invitation for crime.

But they're terribly useful in the studio and darkroom.

Clarence

 

[sf]

For some types of photography, earbuds are great :

landscapes
cityscapes
telephoto street photography

For others, it is a hindrance :

Portraiture
intimate street photography
reportage
family events

basically, I find that music is not only inspiring but also that it helps me focus on the visual around me - and often the music in my ears helps me find rhythm in composition as well. It helps me connect.

But when you're shooting in an environment in which having all your senses means getting the shot, well, it is obviously not good - but it may force you to open your eyes even wider.

Try spending a day with earplugs in - go shooting. See what happens.

 

[Dougg]

Mark, Clarence, very much agree with your points. In a commercial studio shoot I understand music is important to set the mood, maybe as much for the photog as the model, don't know. You relate an interesting effect, Chris, and I'm almost tempted to try it, except... I've had a lot of self-defense training, including on-site street & vehicle tactics. It promotes victimhood to be unaware or distracted from your environment... absorbed in conversation, music, cell-phone yakking, reading the paper... not paying attention draws the attention of predators. I want to hear the scrunch of a footfall behind me, heed the approach of traffic as I step off the curb, be aware of eyes following my movements, notice any patterns in the movements of others... It seems to me an intensity of observation of one's surroundings also leads to good photo ops.

 

[clarence]

Doug,

I couldn't agree more. A few weeks ago I let my guard down once, just once, on Oxford Street (the main shopping district) and almost got mugged, because I didn't notice someone walking towards me. I was very fortunate that day. Not to mention the several times when I stepped off the kerb and almost got run over.

For those of you fortunate enough to live in safe areas (though who can say for sure), it's a real comfort to be able to walk around without a sense of unease. I rather miss being able to do that since I moved here.

One thing I've realised is that rangefinders are a little safer to use on the street, because a long lens won't give you tunnel vision. The quick shooting that rangefinder street photography demands also means that you have to keep moving, and to remain aware of what's going on in your environment.

Clarence

 

[Avotius]

hm...around here I wouldnt dare have headphones on while walking around the streets here, people drive like madmen in china and I wouldnt want to be glues to some drivers bumper while taking photos

ps. I listen to a lot of music (Craig Armstrong) while im editing and whatnot

 

[ch1]

Aaak! As if there are enough distracted "plug ins" wandering around town - now its the photogs too!

In NYC we once prided ourselves as a city of "hustle and bustle" with people walking briskly etc.

Now I walk around town and I think I'm in La-la land! People ambling aimlessly, listening to their iPods, while jabbering away on their cell phone and punching buttons on their Blackberrys. All totally oblivious to everyone and everything around them!

Sometimes I feel as if I am walking around in the City of the Living Dead with all these animated corpses wandering about - blank looks on their faces and a hazard to themselves and those around them. I don't know if there are any statistics yet - but I have to think that pedestrian accidents in NYC must be up given how many distracted folks are walking around time!

Okay, end of rant. Maybe I should just buy a damned iPod and join the zombies! 😎

P.S. - we really don't have a crime problem with these things here (not in Manhattan anyway) - heck, everyone seems to have one on!

 

[bmattock]

I've had a lot of self-defense training, including on-site street & vehicle tactics. It promotes victimhood to be unaware or distracted from your environment... absorbed in conversation, music, cell-phone yakking, reading the paper... not paying attention draws the attention of predators. I want to hear the scrunch of a footfall behind me, heed the approach of traffic as I step off the curb, be aware of eyes following my movements, notice any patterns in the movements of others... It seems to me an intensity of observation of one's surroundings also leads to good photo ops.

I agree. Except that I am the predator.

If I want to do street photography, I want to hear the streets - they speak their own language, have their own flow, and music is what you make of it.

Besides, I have all the music I want. The MP3 player in my head keeps me well-supplied, and doesn't destroy my hearing in the process.

And finally - I can't use a Walkman-like device. The voices in my head don't like competition.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks & Friends

 

[Mohan]

I certainly find listening to music can help in many situations, sometimes its nice to have the degree of separation that being plugged in provides, it can add to the whole experience, maybe I’m naive but I’ve never felt like a target with an ipod and a Leica, I’m very careful to make sure nothings grabable and that I don’t walk down empty back alleys etc.