Shoot From The Hip

[sonwolf]

I looking for advice on how to master the "shoot from the hip" technique. I have no experience in this approach and have only read Bob Krist's article in Outdoor Photographer on this approach.

http://www.outdoorphotographer.com/columns/photo-traveler/shoot-from-the-hip.html

An advance thanks to anyone who can offer some advice.

 

[russianRF]

Winogrand would wander around with his camera always held up to his chest, so he could bring it to his eye in a split second. I know this isn't shooting from the hip, but I've tried the same approach and found it works well. If you've already got your camera up constantly, people are less likely to notice or care, it seems. Plus, they'll already have whatever reactions they'd have to seeing a camera, and will quickly go about what they were doing. Finally, once you do take the photo, with so little travel distance/time to your shoot, it's much much easier to "catch" someone being natural before they notice and react.

I've done some off the hip, but usually the focus is all wrong (just getting the framing takes practice). I guess the best solution is to stop down your lens as much as you can and zone focus with that largest depth of field...

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

I have a book that came out in the 80's called HIPSHOT. it is a collection of street shots done in New York by a photographer who used an autofocus point-n-shoot Nikon 35mm. He used the point-n-shoot because it took care of focusing and let him just get the shot. His results were magnificent. I wish I could remember the photographer's name....the book isn't here with me now, it is with a friend in Santa Fe right now.

 

[Al Kaplan]

I think the phrase "shooting from the hip" goes back to the days of cowboy movies and Wild West shows. Yes, there are people who can draw a gun from their holster and shoot a thrown soda can in mid-air without ever sighting down the gun barrel.

Framing a photograph while holding the camera in one hand and not raising it to your eye is about the same thing. You need to get to the point where you what your lens's coverage is, and develop a sense of judging the composition as it will appear when viewed from the camera's viewpoint, not yours.

This isn't something you'll want do with a zoom lens. You'll be lucky to get adept at it with a single focal length, so the zoom is just excess weight and bulk.

 

[jky]

Basically, as Al had mentioned, know your lens very well preferably a wide). In time, you'll know where your subjects will be in the frame. It won't be as precise as looking through the viewfinder, but it's amazing how close you can get when your familiar with your equipment.

 

[marke]

I've adopted a technique very much life Winogrand's. As russianRF has already stated, having the camera up in plain view, sometimes resting on your shoulder, offers several benefits, including the fact that people have probably already noticed your camera, and are less likely to become alarmed. I think it also makes you look a bit nonchalant, as if you're just playing around and not "serious" about taking a picture. This technique will give your pictures a more natural perspective than a covertly looking low "hip" perspective.

 

[sonwolf]

Basically, as Al had mentioned, know your lens very well preferably a wide). In time, you'll know where your subjects will be in the frame. It won't be as precise as looking through the viewfinder, but it's amazing how close you can get when your familiar with your equipment.

Sounds like I should use my 21mm on the R-D1, that would give me the equivalent of 32mm on a 35 camera. I am interested in seeing if I can get this technique to work.

I read an interesting story about Robert Frank walking down a street, having a conversation with a friend. After quite awhile, the friend realized Frank was taking photos at the same time.

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions, the Winogrand technique also seems interesting. I have watched videos of Winogrand taking photos. He was constantly adjusting and playing with the camera, bringing it repeatedly to and away from his eye. That approach is slightly too manic for my personality.

 

[petronius]

Chris, his name is Ken Heyman:
His book:
http://www.zvab.com/basicSearch.do;...t&author=&title=&lastXDays=-1&itemsPerPage=10
Some of his hipshots are on his site: http://www.kenheyman.com/results.tp...hot B & W&max=6&rank=off&catVar=Hipshot B & W

 

[trix]

Shooting from the hip is not that difficult. Preset time,f-stop and distance and just do it.

 

[trix]

 

[trix]

 

[craygc]

As usual, Al's words of wisdom are right on in this area. And it doesn't always have to be from your "hip". Sometimes I've had the camera on my shoulder against me neck, just as long as its not obvious I'm using the camera...

Actually, these days I probably shoot about 80% with an 'M' without looking through the viewfinder. Its all about practice, practice, practice. I find working with a 35mm lens is fine down to about f/4 and I can adequately judge distances between about 1 ~ 4/5 meters, which is my usual working distance. Every single photo in this collection Guessed Distances was shot with a Nikonos V and a 35mm lens. Every shot had to be distance guessed and really its not that difficult

 

[Belle]

Here's my formula.

Shooting from the Hips = I have a RF camera on a strap hanging over my left shoulder + I put a soft shutter release on my camera so that I can use the palm of my left hand or pinky-side base of my left hand to trigger the shutter + I use Zone/Hyperfocal distant focus.

I usually set my shutter speed at around 1/250 sec to avoid camera shake and adjust the f-stop. I use to carry a light meter in the beginning. The lower angle makes for interesting perspective. Trying tilting the camera sometimes as well.

Hope this helps.

 

[boy_lah]

I don't always shoot from the 'hip' as such but I leave my camera hanging off my shoulder/just below my chest so i can quickly bring it up to my eye. works well for street as many have discussed here. I also have the Hexar AF which even speeds things up and very effective in capturing those decisive moments.

I have also learn to visually judge 2-5meters and pre-set my focus to the desired distance and within the DOF of a f-stop. I prefer this style to shooting using infinity - since i like shooting quiet close up.

One from the 'hip'

Little cameras w/ AF - first Sigma DP1, second Hexar AF

Pre-set to 3m....

 

[samuelphoto]

Shooting from the hip is not that difficult. Preset time,f-stop and distance and just do it.

This is dead on. One reference you might want to check out is a book called "Shots from the Hip," authored by Alias Johnny Stiletto. Its mostly about technique, but not so much the technical as attitude, which is kinda dark sometimes. Let's just say he's not spending any time developing relationships with his subjects. I got a kick out if it just the same. It's out of print but Amazon sometimes has it which is where I got mine.

 

[photorat]

I don't always shoot from the 'hip' as such but I leave my camera hanging off my shoulder/just below my chest so i can quickly bring it up to my eye. works well for street as many have discussed here. I also have the Hexar AF which even speeds things up and very effective in capturing those decisive moments.

I have also learn to visually judge 2-5meters and pre-set my focus to the desired distance and within the DOF of a f-stop. I prefer this style to shooting using infinity - since i like shooting quiet close up.

One from the 'hip'

Little cameras w/ AF - first Sigma DP1, second Hexar AF

Pre-set to 3m....

Fantastic work, boy_lah! Love the way you frame the faces in the last one. Shame about the cropped feet in the others but you can't very well expect precise framing 'from the hip' and there's only so much perspective available onboard a train, I guess. Keep up the good work and post more of the same!

 

[newspaperguy]

The Bessa L with the 25 snapshot skopar works beautifully in this situation... the external diodes are easily readable while the camera is kept down. The waist level technique itself is probably second nature to anyone accustomed to street shooting with a TLR.

 

[boy_lah]

Photorat - thanks...here's a few more. Feel free to check out and comment on my flickr link.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

I love this method. I generally use the M2 or Bessa R4A with the ZM 28mm Biogon or 25mm Snapshot Skopar, Tri-X or 5222-XX, preset the aperture to 8 or 11 and the focus to around five or six feet. I keep the camera on a wrist strap and literally shoot from the hip. Here are some results:

Actually, that last one might be a DSLR with 15mm lens...but the technique is the same.

 

[marke]

It's not that I don't ever use that lower perspective, I just don't prefer it. Although sometimes it works.

Shot with 35/2 Summicron ASPH

As I stepped down towards him, this gentleman never realized what I was doing, yet we carried on a 10 minute conversation while I shot.