Street Photography Ninjas

[martyr]

Howdy all. I've been reading up on RFs and what a great choice they are for street shooting..something I've never really done here in LA (the land of some of the freakiest freaks). I want to know if you street shooters on this forum would be willing to share some insight.

Basically, how do you walk around snapping pics of strangers on the street and not get your block knocked off? Seems people now-a-days are becoming more protective of their privacy and I figure this attitude could lead to some tense moments after the shutter goes click. As quiet as RFs are, there's still the fact that some random guy/girl with a camera pointed at you just took your picture. And...with some of the lenses these shooters are using, you've gotta get pretty close to the subject to get a nicely framed shot.

"HEY! Who the hell are you? What's that for? Are you going to pay me for that picture?"

Anyone got some words of wisdom and/or good stories to tell?

Marty

 

[bmattock]

I am scarier that most of the people I am likely to meet. That, and I act like I belong there, like it is my job to take the photo I'm taking. People will let other people do their jobs, even make way for them.

Seriously, I find that a smile and a willingness to not take the photo if the subject makes it clear that it's unacceptable will usually do it.

But...I don't live in LA.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[Patrick]

I do a lot of street photography in the UK its interesting when i started doing it i thought people would try and stop me and ask me what i was doing but they didn't , but some people do give you funny looks . It has a lot to do with your attitude towards your subjects.
once i just loaded my camera and these kid shouted ''hey its a pervert'' i turned around and they posed for me check it out.
http://www.ephotozine.com/user.cfm?user=14899

 

[TPPhotog]

Firstly as I've just registered I'd like to say Hi to everyone here and look forward to learning about RFs as I've recently got my hands on a beautiful Canonet QL17 (which I'm sure will be the first of many).

I've been street shooting in the UK for a few years and found that the most important thing is don't lurk. I've watched others doing it and lurking gets people suspicious very quickly. A relaxed stroll around not trying to hide the camera seems to allow people to ignore you. Those that don't like being photographed (which is a surprising few) have the chance to turn away or avoid you if they wish.

I'd be interested in hearing if people pre-focus, shoot from the hip or compose, etc.

Best wishes Tony

 

[denishr]

Welcome, Tony!

I hope you will stick around - many of us here would more than appreciate your guidance and advice regarding darkroom work 🙂

(For those who don't know it, Tony a.k.a. "TPPhotog" is regular contributor on apug.org - a great site for anyone into "traditional", i.e. film-based photography).

Tony, I hope you like the RFF - and don't be surprised if those pesky "small" RFF cameras start multiplying - it's the GAS 🙂
Since you already got your first Canonet, I think you'll soon be showing the first symptoms 🙂

Regards,

Denis

 

[vladhed]

http://www.ephotozine.com/user.cfm?user=14899

Some nice shots in that batch, Patrick. I'm especially fond of the Winogrand-esque tilted closeups that exaggerate the WA perspective. What lens were you using?

 

[TPPhotog]

Hello Denis,

Thank you for that wonderful warm welcome and introduction. I'm not sure if I deserve it but will happily contribute what little I know of darkroom alchemy. One of the things I love about photography is that the learning never stops and I still have much to learn.

Yes those pesky beasties have me and I'm already eying up QL19s and QL17 G111s on the great market in the sky 😀

But enough already and back to the main topic or Marty will think I'm hijacking with my first post :angel:

Patrick some beauties there and even though they chose to pose you didn't set it up so very nice capture!

Happy shooting Tony

 

[vladhed]

Anyone got some words of wisdom and/or good stories to tell?

This is a good read about Gary Winogrand and his technique:
http://www.photogs.com/bwworld/xtol1.html

I use two approaches for two different kinds of photographs:

Both Winogrand and Diane Arbus talk about "engagement" as one of the keys to their work. It's as if you want to flatter your subject by photographing them. I figure I don't want to photography people that don't want their photograph taken, there are plenty of people out in public that are confident enough in themselves, or think highly of themselves that they like being photographed. Look, make eye contact, smile and nod and quickly frame and fire off a shot if they react positively.

The other approach is as Bill says, just appear like you belong there, be part of the environment. Allen Gilman's superbe street photographs rarely involved any such engagement, but you can tell from the angle he's shooting from that he's right there and obvious. His subjects have probably noticed him and his camera and have decided he's "mostly harmless" and then forgotten him.

Street shooting is not about "sneaking" photographs of strangers without their knowledge - the results are rarely interesting IMHO.

Lately I've been walking around with a Zorki 4 and Jupiter 12, with the strap wrapped around my wrist - focus and exposure pre-set. I'll be sitting with this on the bus and sure enough I'll catch someone's eye, they look at the camera and smile and "pop" there's a shot. I once had a great chat with a cute young thing about photography and my "old camera" - why did that never happen when I was single?

Which brings up another thing: I find age works against me. When I was a young 20-something student living in a city with two Universities and a big college, all with photography programmes, it was easy to blend in. How I'm a bit more "weathered" I find I get more dirty stares (not many though) - usually from moms with kids. I guess I'm starting to fit the dirty old man classification... :-(

 

[Peter]

I just walk around and let people know that I am taking their pictures. You could read the body language of those who do not want their pictures to be taken and I will respect their rights. I never take pictures of those who verbalise that they do not want pictures to be taken of them (I do not want to test the hardness of my Bessa R2 on their heads!) I make sure that I maintain eye contact with the people of the street and always smile and a small bow after every shot! 🙂

 

[Todd.Hanz]

In L.A. a good approach would be to dress the part, most people don't pay attention to tourists so dress like a tourist (Hawiian shirt-Bermuda shorts-Black shoes and socks-pocket map to the stars homes in front shirt pocket), you think I'm kidding? Give it a try and see.

Another good idea is to shoot with wide angle lenses, you can still capture a person in the frame without pointing the lens directly at them.

Good Luck and welcome!

Todd

 

[peter_n]

Welcome to the forum Tony! 🙂 The tourist ploy does seem to work, I got away with a lot in Madrid recently because I clearly looked like (and was) a tourist. I also found a little waist-level finder very helpful with framing from the hip in very crowded streets and the perspective of the lower camera was quite fresh (at least to me).

 

[furcafe]

http://www.pinkheadedbug.com/techniques/shynessone.html

 

[nwcanonman]

Attitude is the key. Like Bill said a smile goes a long way. Being 5' 10" and 220lbs helps too - LOL.
If you're in public and so are they, you're not doing anything wrong and have no reason to feel guilty. I just smile and "nod" , then turn and keep shooting others photos.

 

[Fedzilla_Bob]

I am all for the "behave like a tourist" model. I think that rangefinder cameras, especially older variants, tend to appear less threatening to people on the street.

No one ever asks me about my rangefinders. People always notice my Canon G2, it is conspicuos, and slow in use (by comparison).

My favorite stealth cam, my Canonet 28. Even more so than my Minox EL, with it's curious looking "drawbridge."

I am going to try out my Argus C-44 at the "Cruisin' Grand" in Escondido, CA. I think it would fit right in with the vintage hot rod scene there. Might even serve as a conversation piece with some of car owners.

 

[Natron]

I think one big part of it is NOT acting like you're being sneaky. Don't try to take a quick picture of someone and then turn away and act like you didn't when they notice. Don't try to hide the camera. Don't sit in a corner and take pictures of people from farther away. The only time I had someone get slightly upset with me was when I had my 24mm lens on my Nikon FE2 SLR and snapped a photo of a guy "from the hip" as I walked past him. Even though I wasn't looking at him, he noticed and mentioned something about it.

If you act like you're having a good time and are part of what's going on and belong there and don't care if people notice you, you'll do better. Then again, that's talking about an area where there are multiple people.. I'd be nervous taking a photo of... say, a single person walking down an alley because then you're singling them out and they could get nervous, angry or violent.

 

[aizan]

hmm...don't dress like a tourist...dress normally. the whole point is for them to want or not care to be photographed by you. if you look like you're from the area, i think they'd be more amiable.

 

[sockeyed]

It's fun to watch Pecker's style in the John Waters movie "Pecker". He makes no effort to hide the fact that he's taking pictures with this trusty Canonet, and he often smiles and winks at his subjects. Some respond very well, others give him the finger, but it's all good.

I certainly find my Bessa R is less intimidating to most than my SLRs, but I do find some people approach me with questions about it, particularly those with an interest in photography.

 

[dphotoguy]

dressing the part will only work in certain areas. if you're in hollywood, that might work. but if you dress like a tourist in the jewelry district in downtown LA or by Grand Central Market or by MacArthur Park, you might be asking to get mugged. those are the best places for street photography in LA but dressing like a tourist, you will be asking for trouble. you will stick out like a sore thumb for muggers and pick pocket crooks.

 

[Patrick]

Some nice shots in that batch, Patrick. I'm especially fond of the Winogrand-esque tilted closeups that exaggerate the WA perspective. What lens were you using?

vladhed most of my shots where with a 28mm lens but ive used 50mm lenses too .. its sometimes easyer with 28mm lenses subjects dont seem to mind you getting close.

 

[taffer]

Hmmm, thinking about this, I think that in fact no matter which technique you use (hip shot + scale focus or direct shots or whatever), the really important thing IMHO is not to look as if you were guilty. Staying calmed and relaxed and being in the area for a while before and after the shooting (becoming a 'familiar' object), not hiding your camera and what you're doing, etc.

You can always find rude people, then it's a matter of common sense and knowing your limits.

Hip shot and scale focus works great though, but not specifically to turn you inconspicuous, but also to help you save some valuable seconds composing in the finder and focusing...

And finally, being in good shape is interesting as well, you never know when you'll have to run 😉