How to overcome apprehension

[Wilderland]

I am the definition of a long time lurker, having registered 9 years ago and this is my first post. How do others overcome the apprehension of street photography? I have tried several times, but it just feels so awkward taking pictures of people on the street. Someone like Yokosuka_Mike is so darn prolific with pictures seemingly right in their faces. How do you overcome both your and the subjects' anxiety, or maybe better put, their objections? I try to take pictures in stealth mode, praying no one sees me taking their picture and making a scene.

 

[Retro-Grouch]

I wish I could say that there's a simple and painless way to photograph strangers, but I don't think there is. I do know that it gets easier as one continues to try; not getting your nose punched will eventually instill some self-confidence. I've been shot at (yes, with a gun) and still keep going, if that's any help.
I do suggest that your initial excursions take place where people are gathered to have fun and expect that there will be people present shooting with cameras, phones, etc. Think parades, street fairs, and so forth. It's extremely unlikely that you'll get a hostile reaction in those situations, and often, with people out to see and be seen, folks are eager to have their photos taken.
Look nondescript; try to blend with the crowd. Think about the reaction your camera might engender. A little Nikon FM or Leica is far less threatening than an RB67. Smile a lot, even if your knees are shaking with anxiety. Always say "Thank you!"

 

[vitaly66]

I am the definition of a long time lurker, having registered 9 years ago and this is my first post. How do others overcome the apprehension of street photography? I have tried several times, but it just feels so awkward taking pictures of people on the street. Someone like Yokosuka_Mike is so darn prolific with pictures seemingly right in their faces. How do you overcome both your and the subjects' anxiety, or maybe better put, their objections? I try to take pictures in stealth mode, praying no one sees me taking their picture and making a scene.

Why do you want to?

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I am the definition of a long time lurker, having registered 9 years ago and this is my first post. How do others overcome the apprehension of street photography? I have tried several times, but it just feels so awkward taking pictures of people on the street. Someone like Yokosuka_Mike is so darn prolific with pictures seemingly right in their faces. How do you overcome both your and the subjects' anxiety, or maybe better put, their objections? I try to take pictures in stealth mode, praying no one sees me taking their picture and making a scene.

Just practice. It means go out and take pictures. And find what is interesting for you. And be realistic with surroundings.
One is tall white man pointing cameras directly at polite Japanese. Another is Bruce Gilden taking pictures in rough areas.
Both are fine because they know where they are and how far they are capable of pushing limits.

"Stealth mode" is self illusion. It is visible always if person is taking pictures. The difference is how it is taken and with which gear.

If I wear big camera I don't hide. In the opposite, I make sure it is noticeable. After sometime you will start to see people reaction on it in advance. Some will react alerted, some not and some will cooperate.

Start with Ricoh GRD series. Small CCD sensor, no need to focus. It is so small, it makes you invisible. People don't care, because it is smaller than phone. Nobody takes you seriously. You could take to strangers and take pictures, they won't care or even realize.

Find John Free YT channel. He explained it like nobody else did. But it is simple, be yourself. If you are interested in face snaps, do not hide it.
Personally, I have never been into it. I'm more into wider collision and something unique. Winogrand called it drame, to me the best is idiocity. No need to be right into the faces, but close to the action. No zoom, must walk into it, nearby.

Start with event. But not something obvious as taking parade pictures on the street side. Go to where they are getting ready before start. Get to any event and just practice by getting close. At some point it doesn't matter is it planned even or some event you have bumped into on the street.
And later you might grow into realizing - this is an event. Will come with long practice.

Oh, crowd is your friend.

 

[Richard G]

As you get better and have more knowledge and more confidence it is easier. And if you’re a bit older and have a benign exterior, and it is obvious in all ways that your intention is benign and serious, this conviction is conveyed to the subject, whose own noble participation in the world demands of him acquiescence in a venture so clearly for something good, and the photograph is made.

 

[wlewisiii]

I never really have and as a result I dislike even attempting street with people in it. I'll do urban landscape but 95+% of the time if there are people in it they are going to be far away and very unaware that I, much less my camera, exist.

I stick to conventional portrait or landscape instead and leave street to those for whom it is constitutionally suited.

 

[Rayt]

It is natural to be apprehensive. For me the location is key. Some cultures do not mind tourists taking photos of them but will react differently if a local did the same thing. In general if I was photographing in a major tourist area like Fisherman’s Wharf here in San Francisco or Times Square in NYC no one will say anything. I learned how to zone focus a small camera for street when stealth is essential. The Ricoh GR1 in 2 meter snap mode was very useful. Mostly I used a waist level medium format camera like a a Rolleiflex because most people didn’t know what I was doing. It’s much more difficult getting a good photo shooting if your own neighborhood than it is in some exotic location.

 

[JohnGellings]

I am the definition of a long time lurker, having registered 9 years ago and this is my first post. How do others overcome the apprehension of street photography? I have tried several times, but it just feels so awkward taking pictures of people on the street. Someone like Yokosuka_Mike is so darn prolific with pictures seemingly right in their faces. How do you overcome both your and the subjects' anxiety, or maybe better put, their objections? I try to take pictures in stealth mode, praying no one sees me taking their picture and making a scene.

Honestly, it takes time. First, you have to figure out how close YOU are comfortable with. There is no rule saying you must use a 28mm and be on top of the person. Try a 50mm. Try a short tele. It is ok. I mean, Saul Leiter used 135mm and 150mm lenses sometimes. Martin Parr too.

Go to the same place often so you understand it and get more comfortable just being there. The larger the city, the easier it is to get away with it. The most important thing is to act like you belong there. No sneaky stuff ... just take photos and act like you are allowed to be there because you are. The biggest thing is, over the long run, is that you will figure out if a photo is worth it or not. Eventually you figure out who will be trouble and who won't be.

 

[Retro-Grouch]

I stick to conventional portrait or landscape instead and leave street to those for whom it is constitutionally suited.

Very good point. I don't even attempt "street" photography (by which I mean, broadly, photos of strangers who have not given explicit consent). It feels aggressive and intrusive for me, but I don't believe that it necessarily is for others who are doing it. I prefer to engage strangers, explain my intentions, and receive their consent and cooperation. The personal rewards, beyond any good photographs I might happen to make, are often substantial.
I try to extrapolate from my own reactions. If a stranger stuck a camera in my face without my permission, I'd be angry and defensive. A stranger who approached with a polite request for a photo would certainly have my cooperation. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you"; old advice, but worth following.

 

[JohnGellings]

If a stranger stuck a camera in my face without my permission, I'd be angry and defensive. A stranger who approached with a polite request for a photo would certainly have my cooperation. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you"; old advice, but worth following.

It is funny, I have to remember when someone photographs me without my permission, that I do the same all the time. I usually joke with them about it... especially when they go from the hip. I tell them, come on now, be braver, don't shoot from the hip. You'd be surprised how many simply run off. Well, of the handful of times I´ve been photographed on the street anyway.

Another thing I want to add for the OP, is that if someone does get upset, it is their right whether you think it is ridiculous or not. Simply say I am sorry. Show them the photo, delete it if they want you to. This does not happen a lot, but it will. I find it better to just deescalate the situation than telling them your rights in public etc. Remember, there are violent people walking the streets, mentally ill, etc. Also, sometimes there are great reasons why someone might not want to be photographed. One photo is not worth it. There are many more out there.

 

[agentlossing]

I'll tell you what the reality is from my perspective: you have to learn where you can and can't photograph people like this. I've been places where the vibe tells me not to conspicuously photograph people, and where I can feel the looks from simply carrying a camera around and looking like I might photograph someone else. Shoot in those areas, and you're going to get negative interactions. And those negative interactions will reinforce the trepidation you feel, consequently making your body language less confident and you seem more like you're doing something you shouldn't be doing. That's a vicious cycle which will lead to nothing but failure and burnout.

On the other hand, when you find an area where people just don't pay attention to you photographing, you will gain confidence, and slowly but surely become more able to photograph someone openly, and not furtively. You need to seek out places like this so you can undergo the experience and mental reshaping to get over the internal conflict, because until you start to get over that, you'll always telegraph to people that you're engaged in something dubious.

Often, touristy areas are the places where you can shoot without worry. I live and shoot around Seattle now, and it's much, much easier to openly photograph people in the public spaces in Seattle than it was in smalltown Oregon. Despite my natural introversion, I'm getting better and better at confidently shooting the images I want to. I've noticed a few differences. One, I don't shoot covertly very often anymore. I'll still do that with the Ricoh GRIIIx, mostly because that camera is LCD only and I can't necessarily take a long time to frame, holding the camera out in front of me, when people are moving and I'm shooting zone focus. I need to quickly grab shots with that camera and that's what I do. But, more often, I like to shoot with a film SLR or my Pentax K-1 DSLR now (which has crappy live view incidentally). This means putting a fairly large camera right up to my eye and pointing it at someone. And, guess what? It's fine! Nothing bad happens. Now, there are still people that I don't take shots of. if they're down and out, or appear to be having a bad day, why risk it. I don't want to contribute to them having a bad day anyway. I don't capitalize on people's misfortune. So I see and don't take a lot of shots that conventional street photography might try to take covertly, and I'm happier doing things my way.

In fact, the other day an older woman stopped me as I was walking and told me she liked the way I held my camera. I did things the "proper" way and she doesn't like it when people hold a camera down and "snap snap snap" as they go. I agreed with her that I don't really like doing that either. She said thank you for being respectful. That moment just helps reinforce the "I'm doing the right thing" mentality that will help me shed the remaining vestiges of my reluctance and trepidation.

 

[agentlossing]

It is funny, I have to remember when someone photographs me without my permission, that I do the same all the time. I usually joke with them about it... especially when they go from the hip. I tell them, come on now, be braver, don't shoot from the hip. You'd be surprised how many simply run off. Well, of the handful of times I´ve been photographed on the street anyway.

Or pretend not to hear you or see you. Like, c'mon man, I'm speaking directly at you and I see your camera and know you're aware.

 

[p.giannakis]

I always smile and say thank you. This solves 99.9% of the problems and worries.

I avoid taking pictures in areas where others might feel threatened.

If they say "No", it's "no" and I walk away.

If I see them being worried, I approach them and show them my blog on the phone. I try to explain what I am doing.

In the past I have exchanged emails and sent them the pictures. With two of them we are now following each other's account on IG.

I avoid taking photos secretly/sneakily. This makes people paranoid and makes you look like you're doing something you shouldn't.

I avoid taking pictures of vulnerable people or at moments that their dignity is affected. I stay away from photographing misery.

I keep a social distance (2-3m) between myself and the person I photograph. Bruce Gilden approach to photography leaves me cold. Invade someone's personal space and get punched as a result.

Push come to shove, you have every legal right (in most countries) to photograph in public space. I never had any situations where I had to explain this to someone though.

I never had any issues in general although it is always a mixture of worry and excitement.

I hope this helps.

 

[Dan]

Respectfully, I'm thinking that if your first post to an online forum took you all of 9 years, you're probably not cut out to do street photography.

 

[brian steinberger]

I feel this way about knocking on peoples doors and asking to photograph something on their property.

 

[JohnGellings]

I feel this way about knocking on peoples doors and asking to photograph something on their property.

I do street photography, but I could never do that.

 

[Retro-Grouch]

Respectfully, I'm thinking that if your first post to an online forum took you all of 9 years, you're probably not cut out to do street photography.

Well, the OP wants to push himself, step outside his comfort zone. That's a very good thing! All of us should attempt to do the same. Now, Wilderland, after your first post, we've heard nothing from you. Do any of our responses resonate with you? Where do you want to take your street photography? Whose work do you admire, and why? How do you think you'll begin this process? This is the place for dialogue; I hope you feel safe conducting one here.

 

[boojum]

Living in Mexico it was always "Con permiso?" with permission? The culture and laws are different. I have always had folks happy to be photographed. And in one case I brought prints to a fellow who had been promised prints by gringos for years. He was plenty happy. Bakery - Santa Rosalia, BCS These are not great photos but they are a record of that day and I am grateful for that. Another was at a tiny place on the DelMarVa peninsula. Somehow they figured I was reviewing the place for a newspaper, The boss did not. The Little Acorn - Delmarva

Crowds are the same. I went to what was the last drag show here in town and took some pics and the folks were just delighted to have their photos taken I like this one. And I used to record the local chorale and got this one of a kids chorus joining the regular chorale.

I have taken a whole lot more photos than are here. They just were not that good. But it is like panning for gold. You go through a lot of sand and mud to find a nugget. And I will tell you something that is 100% true, those pictures will not get into the camera on their own so go out and give it a shot. Start with landscapes and start including people. You can do it, just try. We all started in that same place where you are now.

 

[maddoc]

One is tall white man pointing cameras directly at polite Japanese.

I correct that sentence for you "Tall white tourist visiting Tokyo for a couple of days and harassing young female Japanese ladies with his camera after watching an Eric Kim/Japan Camera Hunter video on Youtube about [street photography workshop in Tokyo]"

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I correct that sentence for you "Tall white tourist visiting Tokyo for a couple of days and harassing young female Japanese ladies with his camera after watching an Eric Kim/Japan Camera Hunter video on Youtube about [street photography workshop in Tokyo]"

I am not too sure about harassing. Kim acted like an idiot and it is signaling to people on the streets. Everyone is well aware. It is not as odd as peeing on the streets and else discharging. I have seen it in Flanders and Nietherlands. White dudes thing. And I haven't seen Octoberfirst gatherings, yet.