How do you approach the taking of candids?

[Bosk]

Specifically, do you take your time and only press the shutter if you feel everything is 'just right', even if it means possibly missing the moment - or do you take multiple shots as fast as the rewind lever will allow, hoping to boost your odds of capturing a 'decisive moment' by doing so - or is it something in between?

I'm interested to hear which approach you favour, and your methodology behind it.

Cheers. 🙂

 

[Toby]

I try and just take one if its film, I often take a burst if its digital safe in the knowlege I can delete them later, but ultimately I adjust according to the situation, I don't have any rules I just go with my feeling at the time.

 

[Trish]

I love candids. Shooting them feels like a dance.

I keep an eye on what's going on. If it's two people having a conversation, I wait until they sparkle somehow. They laugh, they touch, the make that face that conveys connection with the other person. Or if it's not a conversation, if there is something in the room that has their attention, I watch and wait until they have a reaction. I usually shoot two shots in case I get closed eyes.

I also leave the camera down until the last minute. I find if I put the camera to my face too often or too soon or too quickly, folks see me and become disengaged.

Also if they're talking, I try to get them when they are in a vowel. It's usually less of a funny face than some other sounds.

cheers,
Trish

 

[Bosk]

What an excellent reply, that's very helpful Trish - thankyou! 🙂

 

[Ash]

Well it depends, if it's someone who hates the camera, or someone I don't know then I'll rarely be able to raise the camera to my eye and focus properly (thats why I got the Standard - scale focus only, maybe a few months using it will make me better with this approach). I'll then take a photo at every possible 'candid' moment.

If it's someone who's used to me having a camera then I'll trail them with it waiting for the moment.

 

[richiedcruz]

I have been using a Flexameter (wl accessory finder) that I got off ebay a lot lately. I hyperfocal focus, start walking around, keeping an eye on it, and when something interesting appears in it, I snap off a frame. I thought that it was really dark at first, but I found that that seems to keep me focused on composition and distracts me from any negative reactions. More importantly, I find that people really don't have time to react to you, if you just keep moving. But not too quickly😉

I have grown to like using a wl finder so much that I have started pairing it up with some of the TLR's I have laying around, just in case I am shooting indoors or in the evening where I might need to actually focus.

Richie

 

[w3rk5]

Most of the shots in my blog are candids. Like Trish, I keep my eyes open to what's going on around me. When I see something (like a group of people talking), I would just focus as best I can within 1 sec and take the shot. Sometimes people notice me so I turn my camera away from them, but I use my peripheral vision to keep an eye on them. When they look away, I'll swing the camera back and take the shot.

Other times things just happen and you must react fast. Just quickly focus/compose at the same time, and shoot. It's better to get a shot than to have missed it. Besides, it might turn out okay.

 

[popstar]

I come down on the side of 'it depends'. Sometimes you only have a fleeting moment to capture what you're seeing. Even if everything isn't perfect, it's either act now or miss the moment. While the shot might not be perfect, the good can outweigh the bad in some of those circumstances. There have been occasions that I am surprised by what I see when I develop the film. Maybe something is happening in the background that adds to the photo, but I missed it originally as I was focussed on something else.

However, there are other times when I have the luxury of working a scene to get the right angle, people, expressions, whatever. Sometimes even in those situations I'll squeeze off a quick frame to capture something, but then stay with it longer to find out if I can make something stronger.

That said, I still like some of my 'happy accidents' best. I guess it just depends on the circumstances for me...

 

[wyk_penguin]

I won't do a burst with my film camera simply because me and my Bessa R3A are not fast enough. 😛 So, I just do the "one shot one kill" thing.

I always focus with the RF and wait with the camera down, anticipating interesting/decisive moments. i raise the camera only when I think something is going to happen. I must admit that this has caused me to loose some potentially great shots, but the advantage is that I can play with my DOF. Instead of using f/8 and being their and I can be there and use f/2.8.

With my TLRs I just look down at the focusing screen. In this digital age, I am surpised if anyone knows what I am doing. Put on a uniform and someone might think I was doing laser speed checks for the cops.

 

[Avotius]

kind of something in between for me, I wait for that moment when my insticts tell me that everythign is right and the fire off one or two shots