How to photograph strangers,

I'd still rather stay out of sight and show what's happening, not how they react to me...

Thing is they often don`t react even if you stand in front of them although sometimes they do.
Doesn`t really matter.

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I like the get up close and personal most of the time.

I also look geometry, repeating shapes, leading lines and other basic visual elements.

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I waited a fraction of a second for the guy in the background to mimic the poster
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If I see an interesting face or subject sometimes I ask.
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Most of the time I don't.
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In this I saw the pattern and the US flag reference and waited for a moment. The child reached up and I pushed the shutter. They took a couple of steps and the background became so busy because the street moved into the frame.
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My advice is reference and look at those that have done it well. Not to copy but see where the bar has been set and then get out and do the work. Try to see consistent things in your work and build on that. But you need to do it often to keep the eye and the reflexes sharp. Winograd was said to have shot 5 rolls a day and I think boogie says he shoots even more than that.
 
I am continually amazed at people believing you are not photographing them when you obviously look at something in the background between shots. I shot 5 or 6 frames at this hot dog stand by simply gazing up at the signs on the wall between each. Everyone just ignored me.

True. WInogrand did this often. If you watch film of GW working you also notice he is very, very quick. If you really know your camera, then you can work fast.
 
I am continually amazed at people believing you are not photographing them when you obviously look at something in the background between shots. I shot 5 or 6 frames at this hot dog stand by simply gazing up at the signs on the wall between each. Everyone just ignored me.

True. WInogrand did this often. If you watch film of GW working you also notice he is very, very quick. If you really know your camera, then you can work fast.

Pre or hyper focus and be ready. I usually have both my focus and exposure set so I can just respond. Know you equipment so everything is second nature. Like walking, breathing or driving a car. It is just natural.

And sometimes as mentioned earlier they do react. Were #1
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and
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My advice is reference and look at those that have done it well.

But exactly what is "done it well"? For instance, I like your shot of the young man caught, stopped in his tracks, staring at the poster but not most of the other shots. Does that mean that they haven't been done well? In my opinion, neither I nor anyone else has the right to say that.

There's always someone who wishes to impose their narrow opinion of good and bad on others. Perhaps we should just chill out and enjoy the day...

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We have a lot of history that includes a lot of great work that has been done well. It's never been easier. It's all just a few clicks away now.

Yeah I know. Everything to you is great. There are no measures of good or bad. LoL

Well I look around the internet and I see that just isn't so.

Over two thousand years or two dimensional art, there has to be something mankind should have learned in all that time. But hey we wouldn't want to narrow our view. So everything is great according to sejanis. There are no standards or any way to judge what is or isn't good LoL . We wouldn't want to narrow our opinions with knowledge.
 
Pre or hyper focus and be ready. I usually have both my focus and exposure set so I can just respond. Know you equipment so everything is second nature. Like walking, breathing or driving a car. It is just natural. ......

Absolutely. I am amazed at those carrying cameras that do not know without looking what the aperture, shutter speed, and focus is set at much less have it set for making a photo in an instant right where they are. And don't get me started on those people do who not know the FOV or framing of the lens currently on their camera.

That split second between when you start raising you camera and when it gets to your eye is your last chance to tweak aperture, shutter and focus. You need to be pressing the shutter button when the camera meets your face.
 
Absolutely. I am amazed at those carrying cameras that do not know without looking what the aperture, shutter speed, and focus is set at much less have it set for making a photo in an instant right where they are. And don't get me started on those people do who not know the FOV or framing of the lens currently on their camera.

That split second between when you start raising you camera and when it gets to your eye is your last chance to tweak aperture, shutter and focus. You need to be pressing the shutter button when the camera meets your face.

Absolutely and that fraction of a second can be the all the difference in getting it and not getting it.

Bresson talks a lot about a developed instinct and that also is not just about seeing and being able to capture the visual elements when the come together but also from a developed ability to see and evaluate light in an instant. That comes from doing it a lot.
 
Theres a good documentary that talks to and follows some of the street photographer in New York. Everybody Street and is definitely worth the $13.00 price.

Heres a trailer for that and notice Bruce Gilden at work LoL. Not a huge fan of his style but it can be confrontational at times. It is the nature of the beast.
About 58 seconds in but watch the entire trailer.
http://petapixel.com/2013/07/23/tra...ocumentary-chronicles-nyc-street-photography/
 
... but they don't normally react like that though, do they?


No true .... I think the thing , for me , is a degree of flexibility in the type of shot .

I don`t always look for that unguarded traditional street photography moment.

Truth is I can get a bit bored with that approach.

If it presents itself I`ll take it but I`m equally happy with asking too.
I enjoy the social interaction just as much.
 
Theres a good documentary that talks to and follows some of the street photographer in New York. Everybody Street and is definitely worth the $13.00 price.

Heres a trailer for that and notice Bruce Gilden at work LoL. Not a huge fan of his style but it can be confrontational at times. It is the nature of the beast.
About 58 seconds in but watch the entire trailer.
http://petapixel.com/2013/07/23/tra...ocumentary-chronicles-nyc-street-photography/

Bit hipsterish, I thought.

Gotta agree that the likes of Bruce Gilden getting up in people's faces with a flash is one of the things that gives street photography a bad name, and makes it a bit harder for the rest of us who are (I hope) more benign.
 
Yeah I know. Everything to you is great. There are no measures of good or bad. LoL

Well I look around the internet and I see that just isn't so.

Over two thousand years or two dimensional art, there has to be something mankind should have learned in all that time. But hey we wouldn't want to narrow our view. So everything is great according to sejanis. There are no standards or any way to judge what is or isn't good LoL . We wouldn't want to narrow our opinions with knowledge.

That's an interesting view. Of course, I disagree with it completely but peaceful coexistence is the thing...

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Your cat appears to have ear mites, but that's just my opinion....

He did indeed. The problem was that he objected so strenuously to the treatments we and the vet tried that we could never rid him of them. The other one seemed happy with any treatment, so we dosed her and left him to his own devices. I never once saw him scratch either ear, so perhaps he gave them names and regarded them as friends. 🙂
 
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