[how?] photographing a stranger

[thelovecollect]

thanks for the inputs so far...

i may still stick with polaroids as an easy way out but i still need to work on the communication part...i swear the hardest thing is to get motivated to ask the first person of the day. it's hard to gear your mind to do this..

i've used a TLR before on these types of shoots and i never got the sense that it was less obtrusive, it was just better handling...but people still noticed the camera nonetheless...

crasis mentioned that i should spend more time with these people...
i think in time i will want to do something long term projects with specific groups of people..i actually photographed the entire staff at a famous new york eatery recently. it was a 3 hour ordeal but i still relied on my polaroids...and i still didn't get the pictures i wanted..most of the shots were all contrived..

bruce davidson has done some excellent work that's similar to my interests...
back in the 60's he photographed an entire block in harlem for 2 years..
he's a white guy, with a large format camera, in the worst neighborhoods..
it's incredible. i mean, how do you do something like that these days?

also his series "Subway" shot on kodachrome..it's just incredible photographer to subject contact..

maybe i should start persuing longterm projects. maybe i'll never get the pictures i want doing what i do now. i want people to open up. i want them to reveal themselves..

 

[FrankS]

I can identify very much with Marc's feelings. It helps to be a "goofy tourist".

 

[thelovecollect]

I can identify very much with Marc's feelings. It helps to be a "goofy tourist".

i've pretended to be a tourist with a lomo. not even talking to anyone, just speedin by with a camera, focusing by distance..

the pictures are interesting but never strong...

 

[robert blu]

With all respect I'm asking myself what a world and times are we living in, if we need photo equipment which can be converted into weapons !
Unfortunately times dictate the approach with people: HCB times are over, we are living in an aggressive world and most of people react in a bad way when realized to be photographed. I also prefer the ask before approach. If possible I try to establish a minimum of personal relation, which helps in deciding also the style for shooting. But in my country I cannot do anything with people pictures (showing in internet, photoexibitions etc) without their (written) permission and this is the second big problem: even people who accept to be photographed refuse most of times to sign a permission. What to do ? I dont' know, the idea to show a mini portfolio is good and works, but beside camera, lenses, films you have one more thing to casrry with you !
May be better learn painting...
robert

 

[robert blu]

thelovecollect: I like yout lomo's pictures, specially the second one.
rob

 

[reagan]

Talk to people - be friendly - take quick shots.

Conversation works best for me, or shall I say, makes ME the most comfortable. Even a quick, "How you doin' today?" .. click ... "Good." If a comment is made about me taking pictures, I quickly explain "just a hobby - tinkering with old cameras - this one's older than I am..." and change the subject.

I try to preset everything before approaching the subject so it doesn't take but just a moment to raise the camera, get the shot, camera down, keep talking/listening. I don't circle around them or move up and down with the camera to my eye fidgeting with framing. Being friendly gives them no reason to be suspicious/put off/irritated ... unless they're jerks... in which instance, who needs a photo of a jerk? Just chatting with someone gives them the impression you approached them to talk... and, oh yeah, happened to take a snapshot with an old camera.

tlc, I'm sure your friendly attitude is exhibited with the use of the Polaroid. I'm also fairly sure you could exhibit the same attitude without the Polaroid and get the same responses from your subjects. You might even get shots you like better since you could focus more on the subjects than the gear.

OTOH, getting shots of people's expressions when they first see their faces on the Polaroids might be a good project.

 

[Marc-A.]

i've pretended to be a tourist with a lomo. not even talking to anyone, just speedin by with a camera, focusing by distance..
the pictures are interesting but never strong...

Are you kidding? They are very good, the third one is my favorite (I like the different reactions in front of the camera; you caught them quite well).
Marc

 

[rxmd]

A friend of mine is doing portrait photography in a similar style with a TLR and a MF SLR with a waist-level finder. The obvious advantage is that he can look at his subjects and interact with them normally without the camera being in the way, and his cameras look awkward and old-fashioned enough that people tend to be more open and friendly.

Recently he has been using a MF polaroid back and 665 negative/positive film, keeping the negative for himself and giving the positive away to his subject. This is expensive but makes people rather happy and cooperative 🙂 665 has been discontinued, though it is still available (you're in NYC, both Adorama and B&H still had large stocks a couple of weeks ago when I was there). He's been considering switching to large format for some time now; cameras look even quirkier, and Polaroid 55 negative film is still in production.

Philipp

 

[pstevenin]

When it comes to photography, I'm a very shy person and I have some difficulty to shoot strangers in the street. It's not a matter of size and weight, as some seem to say: I'm 1m86, 80kg and I know how to fight. For me, it's a mater of respect: I don't like to make people uneasy or to break their intimacy. Beniliam wrote that photography requires "audacity with respect"; well I know respect but my audacity is very low for the moment. So I have no advice so far.😱
Maybe one in fact: make your camera quite visible so that people don't think you're a voyeur, don't take stealthy pictures for the same obvious reason. I don't have a Rolleicord, but I know also that old cameras make people comfortable; I've never had problem when shooting with my Leica III and its odd VIOOH; people turn out to be very friendly.
I guess the way people react to photographers is also a question of culture. In Paris, for instance, on one side it is easy to make street photography, but on the other people can be very agressive when they realize they are photographed. French people are very suspicious when one shows a camera or even a video camera for a TV report. Maybe other French RFF members can confirm (or invalidate) this.
I found also that it is easier to take strangers when you are in a foreign country, which means that maybe it's all about attitude and apprehension: when you're in a foreign country, you don't know the social code so you're less anxious about your behaviour (OR it might just confirm that French people are not easy subjects 🙄 ).
Marc

One time I even been almost agressed by soccer fans just because I didn't to take a picture of them (with a view camera.... but try to explain this those bums...) Okay it was during the last WC finale and they were quite excited.

Usually I either ask permission or shoot with 28 or 21 from the chest. When I have the eye contact, to avoid formal poses, I mimic taking the picture, then I try to handle the camera steady and removing my head from the VF and restart speaking with the person. Usually they are way much more relaxed and only at this time I really shoot.

And I confirm what Marc said about froggies!

 

[Jamie123]

I go solo - I have my taser, my E. Leitz Tiltall Monopod with a sharpened point (soemtimes called my crackhead stick), a kife, and a few other easy to get at goodies (throwing stars and throwing knifes)

Throwing stars? Seriously?

 

[thelovecollect]

Are you kidding? They are very good, the third one is my favorite (I like the different reactions in front of the camera; you caught them quite well).
Marc

thelovecollect: I like yout lomo's pictures, specially the second one.
rob

thanks. i still can't believe how much this camera costs in good condition...

Recently he has been using a MF polaroid back and 665 negative/positive film, keeping the negative for himself and giving the positive away to his subject. This is expensive but makes people rather happy and cooperative 🙂 665 has been discontinued, though it is still available (you're in NYC, both Adorama and B&H still had large stocks a couple of weeks ago when I was there). He's been considering switching to large format for some time now; cameras look even quirkier, and Polaroid 55 negative film is still in production.

Philipp

i have considered shooting with a large format camera. it certainly turns heads but with type 55, i'd have to carry around a bucket of sodium sulfite solution to keep the negatives...

 

[lubitel]

I havent done this a lot but once in a while I will ask somebody if I can take a photo. So far the results have been quite good. But people react (to me) somewhat mistrusting. I dont like to take candids, I am too shy to do it in a way that would produce a good result, I end up being too far away. Unless there is some kind of festival or happening on the street, then it seems to be a normal thing to photograph, and no one pays attention.

I asked the sausage seller in a very friendly way if I could take a photo of him, I had my Isolette already ready, he said absolutely nothing back to me, just looked at me and then to a side, as if he was offended or indifferent.

The photo of the travelling woodworker was taken with a holga. And again he barely said anything, although I tried to start a little conversation. May be I need to work on my convesation skills in order to improve my photography?

 

[Todd.Hanz]

I ask, it's a good way to meet people 🙂

Todd

 

[Todd.Hanz]

then I'll shoot some candids and no one feels threatened:

Todd

 

[thelovecollect]

then I'll shoot some candids and no one feels threatened:

Todd

things are different in H-Town..😀

 

[BrianShaw]

i have considered shooting with a large format camera. it certainly turns heads but with type 55, i'd have to carry around a bucket of sodium sulfite solution to keep the negatives...

You can always shoot T-55 sheets and process later when it is more convenient. Sometimes removing the sheet from the holder without processing is a challenge -- you pretty much have to take the holder off of the camera to make sure the neg doesn't pull out and expose, but it can be done.

 

[Marc-A.]

And I confirm what Marc said about froggies!

Merci; c'est donc malheureusement un peu vrai 😉
Marc

 

[robert blu]

After having read these messages I tried yesterday to take pictures at an end of summer september festival in a small village, near where I leave. I decided to use my (of course) old Rolleiflex. Probably the result will be not very good (it s a long time I do not use that camera) but i notice that really people did not react in a negative or agressive way when I was taking pictures. Someone just laughed and say "oh, we'll be on the newspaper tomorrow, ah ah !" Probably using what today seems to most of people a "not conventional" camera gives you a special "status" ( it is not the correct word, but I do not find a better one, sorry) and makes them more confortable. Next week end I'll try with my Holga.
regards, robert

 

[Kragmeister]

And again he barely said anything, although I tried to start a little conversation. May be I need to work on my convesation skills in order to improve my photography?

You have something there. I don't really do any street shooting because I am uncomfortable with opening a dialog with strangers. I've never been good with "small talk" and psychologically find the idea of taking "in your face" photos a bit daunting.

One thing that I have done is make business cards with contact/website info. I also made them kinda like trading cards, I make them up by the sheet using break-apart business card stock. Each one has a different thumbnail photo with title on the one side. I've giving a few out while shooting but haven't had any one try to contact me because of it. I'm so shy. :angel:

Later,
Greg