maybe stealthy isn't where it's it?

[back alley]

today i was shooting at the farmer's market as is part of my saturday routine and instead of holding the camera (w/wrist strap) at my side - i held it against my chest for all the world to see.
it was much more noticeable than normal.
and i got a warmer reception from those i snapped than i normally do.
now, most of the time i get no response or notice but sometimes i get a surprised reaction from some - this time, no surprise and it seemed people were ok with my shooting.
i was using the matt black r4a with 21 and in pretty close.

so shooting with a cobalt colour leather covered zeiss ikon may just work out fine, after all 😉

joe

 

[wontonny]

I think it's more about body language than what color your camera is.

If you are comfortable in a situation, your body will be more relaxed and more non-assuming than other people that are uncomfortable. You will also walk slower, and less people will notice you. As a result your actions will be more deliberate and smooth (particularly raising a camera to your eye), as opposed to hesitative and jumpy. So basically keep the mindset, "There is nothing wrong I am doing. I can take pictures of pretty much anything I want and there is nothing anyone can do to stop me".

 

[btgc]

what wontonny said! fully agree. I have discovered same things. Stealth may work work some occasions, I don't reject it as whole thing, but for casual street shooting "it's just me w/ camera" works well.

 

[gb hill]

I think being stealthy in this day & time causes people to look at you as weird. When I go out I tend to always wear my camera like you did today. People seem to feel more comfortable with you being there & even strangers will start some sort of conversation or say something like, photographer huh? or Do you work for the newspaper? I did get this comment last evening when I walked up to the check out counter from a young girl while wearing my Canonet over my shoulder, "I thought you were walking around with a portable oxygen tank!😱 Not yet I told her.🙂

 

[btgc]

Do you work for the newspaper? ....from a young girl while wearing my Canonet over my shoulder

combo "newspaper/canonet" in context of this age makes me smile 🙂 "yes, I'm going to take some hot pics for evening's release"

btw, on wearing camera on neck..I've tried but don't like - it swings left-right, right-left, I feel uncomfortable. Neck gets tired. Carrying same camera in hand with strap wrapped around hand works for me better. It doesn't hang down me like pendulum. I still have one hand free. If both hands are needed, I hang camera on shoulder for a moment.

How do you people prefer to carry/wear cameras larger than say, XA which are natural to lie in palm ?

Ooops...didn't intend to hijack thread...let's look on this only in context of style of shooting - stelth/open 🙂

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

You've got it right for you back alley.

Keep it under the radar,

 

[MattBlalock]

I always work with the gear in the open. If I go around trying to hide the camera I feel like I am trying to fool people and it doesn't work so I have just made them distrust me.

Out in the open and raised high. Be the photographer.

 

[urban_alchemist]

I think it's all about the 'creepy quotient'. If you're trying to hide the camera, blending into the shadows and looking like a stalker, people are gonna respond (very) negatively to you.

If, however, you act in a way that says 'yup, I'm here' and meet people with a smile, I find that I hardly ever have a problem. In sensitive situations (photographing a child etc), I would always make some form of connection with the parent/supervisor to make sure that it was ok BEFORE taking the shot. This doesn't need to be a "hi, do you mind if I take a photo" (although it often is), it may just be a smile to read the person's openness to the situation.
Generally, the best bet is simply to be ok with being 'the c*ck with the camera' 😀

 

[gavinlg]

yeah. A lot of people equate male + camera + taking pictures on the sly or trying not to be noticed = a deviant. Especially older guys - sorry.

You are a photographer. There is no need to hide!

 

[btgc]

btw, most people seeing weird gear (read - no silver digiPS or obvious [d]SLR w/ zoom lens and petal hood) stare back, smile and some ask "is it a film camera?" - in a word, I find this makes people more open.