Leica Geek
Well-known
I'm finding it really hard to take pictures of people on the street. I find it easier to do it when I'm in another city or town. I can't seem to get close enough to people with out them noticing me. I feel like a weirdo sometimes. Like I'm stalking them or something. I feel guitly for taking pictures of people with out their permission.
How do you all deal with this?
How do you all deal with this?
T
Todd.Hanz
Guest
just do it. sounds easy huh? 
I read somewhere to take one roll of film and tell yourself this is the only roll I have to shoot on the street,just 24 exposures, then go shoot it. If you still don't feel comfortable then don't shoot anymore street. The more you do it, the easier it gets.
BTW, not all street stuff is "in your face" contrary to popular opinion.
Have fun
Todd
I read somewhere to take one roll of film and tell yourself this is the only roll I have to shoot on the street,just 24 exposures, then go shoot it. If you still don't feel comfortable then don't shoot anymore street. The more you do it, the easier it gets.
BTW, not all street stuff is "in your face" contrary to popular opinion.
Have fun
Todd
AusDLK
Famous Photographer
Learn to photograph from the hip, from next to your leg, with the camera held to your chest. Use a wider lens then you might otherwise use -- don't be afraid to crop to images you capture.
I rarely ask for permission. And have yet to have any problems with my subjects.
See my galleries for examples for what is possible.
I rarely ask for permission. And have yet to have any problems with my subjects.
See my galleries for examples for what is possible.
Leica Geek
Well-known
Thanks for the advice. I'll try it.
The widest lens I have is a 15mm. Is that too wide? Or is the 35mm good?
The widest lens I have is a 15mm. Is that too wide? Or is the 35mm good?
FrankS
Registered User
I often feel your trepidation too, Geek. Something that has worked for me, is to go to events or destinations where tourists take pictures. If you are not the only one walking around with a camera, you won't feel so weird. Street festivals with performers, fairs, etc.
In a city, put on an air of purpose: you are a photographic artist, and this is what you do. If you feel weird, others will pick up on that, like a dog smells fear. If you feel, or at least act confident, others will respect that.
It's like the high school geek (sorry) that others pick on, because he acts like a victim. The boy who swaggers in sneering confidently, is seen as cool.
It's all about attitude and self-confidence.
In a city, put on an air of purpose: you are a photographic artist, and this is what you do. If you feel weird, others will pick up on that, like a dog smells fear. If you feel, or at least act confident, others will respect that.
It's like the high school geek (sorry) that others pick on, because he acts like a victim. The boy who swaggers in sneering confidently, is seen as cool.
It's all about attitude and self-confidence.
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vrgard
Well-known
Yeah, I agree with what FrankS said. That's how I started. Built my confidence/comfort zone that way. Street photography is still challenging at times, but it is easier after trying out the sorts of venues FrankS mentions. And it does seem like there's something to one's demeanor that affects how people react. The more purposeful and confident and friendly the better.
-Randy
-Randy
Leica Geek
Well-known
Thanks Frank. It's definitely a great challenge that I'm willing to take on.
Ed.
Ed.
Leica Geek
Well-known
I agree with both of you and I have shot at events and the such. I do feel more comfortable when I'm not the only photog around. I tried to take pics of people at 99 cents store once and didn't get a single image. I was so scared, but I didn't show it. I just couldn't bring myself to taking to shot. I felt I was exploiting them somehow. Am I just being silly? Man there were some really interesting character in there. It would have been great!
steelydam
Established
99 cent stores
99 cent stores
99 cent stores
Funny to read this Leica Geek; I sat in the car at a 99 cent store just yesterday while my wife/kids were inside buying some crappy little toys the girls wanted. An endless parade of characters trickled by in my sideview mirror. I think you could get some good shots doing the same, shooting off your mirror. Exploitative? Maybe, but lots of famous photographers have shot the freaks in our society.Leica Geek said:
Bill58
Native Texan
To overcome your fear, take a very quick shot--no MF/ ME. Use an external VF (like a VC) w/ a 21 or 25mm w/ an incredible DOF at widest aperature (see http://www.dofmaster.com/doftable.html). Be alert/ ready all the time and be as incognito as possible.
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arbib
Well-known
Bill58 said:
Not a Leica guy,
But I love the CV25 for that.
I too, am 'gun" shy at street photography, But with the CV25 at F/4, and set at the 1.5m Click, 4'-7' are in focus. just a bit more than a arms length to 7'.
Perfect for holding the camera at an angle from your chest or waist aimed in the direction of the person you want to photograph. You just aim as you get closer, and take the picture AS you continue to walk. I tried this at an outdoor mall in my area. I will have the result in a few days.
It is quite fun too.
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40oz
...
as Frank said.
Why should you hide what you are doing? Most people don't care, and are flattered. I had one guy give me crap, but he was just "busting my balls." No harm done, and good feelings all around. Just be upfront if someone asks what you are doing.
In a bar one time in my hometown, I was merely checking the exposure through the camera, and a girl asked me if I took her picture in a snarly attitude. While I hadn't snapped a shot, merely checking to see what setting was needed, I felt a bit taken aback. My response might not be recommended - I felt put upon for being made to feel like *I* was the weirdo, and told her as much. She was pretty, and I had thought about asking if I could take a shot or two, but her attitude was a bit over the top. Her friend was at first of like mind, but as soon as I stated my resentment at her trying to make me feel like I was overstepping *my* bounds and trying to make me feel guilty for a totally innocuous gesture, she quickly said she didn't care if someone took her picture when she was out and about in her best dress. It's no different than asking a girl to dance - some get snarly, some are flattered, but at the end of the day it isn't the snarly ones we remember.
There's nothing to be gained by being a doormat. But certainly don't treat your subjects like they are freaks for shopping at a dollar store lol. We are all freaks in our way, and some days are better than others. Treat people with respect and politeness, and take their picture if you wish. If you explain to a person that the shot would look empty and lifeless without them in it, you remove their fear of being singled out, yet flatter them by acknowledging their "belonging," if you will.
I find that it is easier if I pretend everyone I see is a friend of a friend, someone I might enjoy getting to know on some other occasion. As such, don't make a poor first impression.
If you constantly act like a *supreme* tourist by pretending to take a picture of everything, people very quickly ignore you. It's when you stop out of the blue and bring the camera up focused on one person that people get nervous. It's probably just an instinctual defensive reation more than a real aversion to photographs, but have compassion for the woman running to the store for diapers in a housecoat and flipflops - it isn't her finest moment, and how would you feel being immortalized in that situation? In public or not, people have dignity. Try to respect that, and you'll be fine.
Why should you hide what you are doing? Most people don't care, and are flattered. I had one guy give me crap, but he was just "busting my balls." No harm done, and good feelings all around. Just be upfront if someone asks what you are doing.
In a bar one time in my hometown, I was merely checking the exposure through the camera, and a girl asked me if I took her picture in a snarly attitude. While I hadn't snapped a shot, merely checking to see what setting was needed, I felt a bit taken aback. My response might not be recommended - I felt put upon for being made to feel like *I* was the weirdo, and told her as much. She was pretty, and I had thought about asking if I could take a shot or two, but her attitude was a bit over the top. Her friend was at first of like mind, but as soon as I stated my resentment at her trying to make me feel like I was overstepping *my* bounds and trying to make me feel guilty for a totally innocuous gesture, she quickly said she didn't care if someone took her picture when she was out and about in her best dress. It's no different than asking a girl to dance - some get snarly, some are flattered, but at the end of the day it isn't the snarly ones we remember.
There's nothing to be gained by being a doormat. But certainly don't treat your subjects like they are freaks for shopping at a dollar store lol. We are all freaks in our way, and some days are better than others. Treat people with respect and politeness, and take their picture if you wish. If you explain to a person that the shot would look empty and lifeless without them in it, you remove their fear of being singled out, yet flatter them by acknowledging their "belonging," if you will.
I find that it is easier if I pretend everyone I see is a friend of a friend, someone I might enjoy getting to know on some other occasion. As such, don't make a poor first impression.
If you constantly act like a *supreme* tourist by pretending to take a picture of everything, people very quickly ignore you. It's when you stop out of the blue and bring the camera up focused on one person that people get nervous. It's probably just an instinctual defensive reation more than a real aversion to photographs, but have compassion for the woman running to the store for diapers in a housecoat and flipflops - it isn't her finest moment, and how would you feel being immortalized in that situation? In public or not, people have dignity. Try to respect that, and you'll be fine.
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agi
Well-known
I actually have an easier time in my local area just for the fact that I am more familiar with it. I realized that the more I frequent a place the more comfortable I am and my confidence grows. I believe that people sense confidence & also fear and if they think you shouldn't be doing something, they'll react more often and question what you are doing. Now if you go around taking photographs with no care in the world what others think, they will most likely leave you alone. They may look at you and give you strange looks but who cares? Most times they're just trying to figure out what it is you're holding. If they do question you just tell them exactly what you're doing...just taking photographs as it is your hobby. If you want, give them your card and tell them you can send them a print.
For example I frequent Chinatown in San Francisco because it is close my office and is within walking distance for my daily lunch walks. Almost every day I try to take photos in the area and I've become so familiar to people that they ignore me even more. Some are starting to talk to me and ask what I'm doing there so often. The other day an older Chinese gentelmen named Elmer stopped me and even gave me a tour of the area - the ins and outs, the history of Chinatown. The guy even bought me a cup of coffee and we talked in a congee restaurant. It was a trip to say the least. Now I've also been cussed at several times but I just shrug it off and move on. You really get to meet some colorful characters out there.
For example I frequent Chinatown in San Francisco because it is close my office and is within walking distance for my daily lunch walks. Almost every day I try to take photos in the area and I've become so familiar to people that they ignore me even more. Some are starting to talk to me and ask what I'm doing there so often. The other day an older Chinese gentelmen named Elmer stopped me and even gave me a tour of the area - the ins and outs, the history of Chinatown. The guy even bought me a cup of coffee and we talked in a congee restaurant. It was a trip to say the least. Now I've also been cussed at several times but I just shrug it off and move on. You really get to meet some colorful characters out there.
dazedgonebye
Veteran
One small step at a time....
One good bit of advice I've been given is to start out somewhere where people with cameras are expected. An arts and crafts fair maybe...some public outdoor event.
One good bit of advice I've been given is to start out somewhere where people with cameras are expected. An arts and crafts fair maybe...some public outdoor event.
Stephanie Brim
Mental Experimental.
If I can't get out there and shoot it, I don't shoot street. That's my rule. If I don't feel comfortable I just don't shoot. I don't resort to shooting from the hip or anything. I tried that once...it actually attracted more attention to me.
I think it's unnecessary to be afraid of shooting. I can understand it, but in the age of cell phone cameras and digital everything, why bother with being afraid anymore?
I also want to add that a rangefinder tends to help with this a lot. Most people who come up to me are interested in the camera I'm using more than in why I'm taking the photos. The cop that stopped me on the street at 1 AM one night actually asked me what kind of camera I was using.
I think it's unnecessary to be afraid of shooting. I can understand it, but in the age of cell phone cameras and digital everything, why bother with being afraid anymore?
I also want to add that a rangefinder tends to help with this a lot. Most people who come up to me are interested in the camera I'm using more than in why I'm taking the photos. The cop that stopped me on the street at 1 AM one night actually asked me what kind of camera I was using.
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JonathanA
Member
I think street photography isn't for everybody so if you REALLY don't feel comfortable you might need to look at other photographic genres. For me I just don't think about it. I allow myself to become part of the environment and just blend in.
Just a few things to remember:
- Anything over 50mm really won't work becuase you won't be close enough to your subject.
- Learn to work fast. If your looking at someone composing a shot for 5 minutes they are deffinetly going to notice...on the other hand if you just pull the camera to your eye, snap, then go along, you have a much better chance of getting that candid shot.
- Unless it will keep you from getting a shot, don't ask permission.
- Shooting from the hip is useless and just means poorly composed photographs.
Just a few things to remember:
- Anything over 50mm really won't work becuase you won't be close enough to your subject.
- Learn to work fast. If your looking at someone composing a shot for 5 minutes they are deffinetly going to notice...on the other hand if you just pull the camera to your eye, snap, then go along, you have a much better chance of getting that candid shot.
- Unless it will keep you from getting a shot, don't ask permission.
- Shooting from the hip is useless and just means poorly composed photographs.
kaiyen
local man of mystery
My personal approach, before I respond to a couple of things Jonathan said, is to just challenge myself to finish a roll while I'm on the street. When I was in NYC for just 5 days, I shot 15 rolls of TXT. I just told myself I had to shoot and shoot and shoot - I challenged myself on how much I could shoot. And it worked. A lot of shots sucked, but I got some good stuff.
Excellent advice. The first time I used an RF, a Mamiya 7II borrowed from school, my teacher told me to move the focus until I thought I was there, and just fire. Don't fine tune. Don't question whether it's perfect or not. Just shoot.
I actually had a very informative chat with a lawyer about when you do or do not need a release. Or, rather, what happens if you don't. But, certainly you are covered under first amendment if you take a shot from public property, of someone on public property, for use in your portfolio or in an exhibition as fine art (not for sale).
I don't agree 100% with this one. It is possible to compose well, but you have to really, really control how the camera is positioned in relation to your body, and know what you are capturing based on that relationship. You have to calibrate, I guess.
allan
JonathanA said:
Excellent advice. The first time I used an RF, a Mamiya 7II borrowed from school, my teacher told me to move the focus until I thought I was there, and just fire. Don't fine tune. Don't question whether it's perfect or not. Just shoot.
I actually had a very informative chat with a lawyer about when you do or do not need a release. Or, rather, what happens if you don't. But, certainly you are covered under first amendment if you take a shot from public property, of someone on public property, for use in your portfolio or in an exhibition as fine art (not for sale).
I don't agree 100% with this one. It is possible to compose well, but you have to really, really control how the camera is positioned in relation to your body, and know what you are capturing based on that relationship. You have to calibrate, I guess.
allan
Dougg
Seasoned Member
I agree with 40oz and others make good points too. For those who wish to be a "fly on the wall" and wish for a cloak of invisibility, probably the best approach is to just be part of the scene yourself without being sneaky. Surreptitious behavior always seems to attract suspicious notice!
I don't try to be invisible, but I do try to be friendly, inoffensive, yet direct... and my subjects know I'm shooting even if they don't always show it, and i have tacit approval.
Like the gal in the alley taking a smoke break. Intrigued by the relevant grafitti I asked if I could snap her break, and she agreed.
It was completely different with the gal at the lunch counter. I sneaked that shot, not using the viewfinder, but she caught the sound and the lens pointed her way, and then put the menu up as a wall between us. I apologized, saying I'd not snap her pic if she didn't want me to. I'm not so pleased with my uncharacteristic sneakiness and feel it'd have better had I been more forthright about it at the start.
I don't try to be invisible, but I do try to be friendly, inoffensive, yet direct... and my subjects know I'm shooting even if they don't always show it, and i have tacit approval.
Like the gal in the alley taking a smoke break. Intrigued by the relevant grafitti I asked if I could snap her break, and she agreed.
It was completely different with the gal at the lunch counter. I sneaked that shot, not using the viewfinder, but she caught the sound and the lens pointed her way, and then put the menu up as a wall between us. I apologized, saying I'd not snap her pic if she didn't want me to. I'm not so pleased with my uncharacteristic sneakiness and feel it'd have better had I been more forthright about it at the start.
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mike goldberg
The Peaceful Pacific
Hi... There's some great and supportive suggestions here. I especially like vrgard's suggestion of "building your street photography comfort zone." Remember the famous Confucius quote, "A journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step?" In other words, to some degree, you've just got to do it. Then, with practice it get's easier.
When you are doing street shots, if someone objects, lower your camera and stop. Sometimes a few words about seeing something beautiful helps, but never force your intentions on a subject. In the Tel Aviv central bus station, there's a lot of bazaar type shops. I saw in one, an unusual pyramid of shoes and went to shoot it. The owner of the shop objected. Perhaps in his mind, he sees a possible income tax query on his inventory! I lowered my Olympus 35 RC, and he thanked me.
Re: the attached pix below, they were taken with a Kiev 4a on a Jerusalem bus recently. Now that's a rather obvious camera! This very pretty young lady neither objected, nor did she crack a smile. Is that a vitriolic stare? Is the guy behind her commenting to his wife about that guy with a camera? I saw beauty, and some inner something, demanded its capture. Was I anxious? Sure, and I reminded myself to breathe.
I hope this helps. Keep shooting.
Ciao, mike
When you are doing street shots, if someone objects, lower your camera and stop. Sometimes a few words about seeing something beautiful helps, but never force your intentions on a subject. In the Tel Aviv central bus station, there's a lot of bazaar type shops. I saw in one, an unusual pyramid of shoes and went to shoot it. The owner of the shop objected. Perhaps in his mind, he sees a possible income tax query on his inventory! I lowered my Olympus 35 RC, and he thanked me.
Re: the attached pix below, they were taken with a Kiev 4a on a Jerusalem bus recently. Now that's a rather obvious camera! This very pretty young lady neither objected, nor did she crack a smile. Is that a vitriolic stare? Is the guy behind her commenting to his wife about that guy with a camera? I saw beauty, and some inner something, demanded its capture. Was I anxious? Sure, and I reminded myself to breathe.
I hope this helps. Keep shooting.
Ciao, mike
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MadMan2k
Well-known
When you're alone, shooting in or around a business/store isn't usually a good idea. Technically, the owner/security staff can only tell you to leave or stop taking pictures and detain/interrogate you only if you disregard their request, but they don't know that and will sometimes hold you there and start s**t.
I like shooting long exposures in the city with a tripod at night sometimes, and I seem to attract idiots who want to find out what I'm doing and threaten to sue me for taking a picture of them in their car
The event thing is a great suggestion, people are a lot more likely to accept you shooting them if there's a reason you'd be shooting. Plus, you can pretend you're a badass photojournalist
I like shooting long exposures in the city with a tripod at night sometimes, and I seem to attract idiots who want to find out what I'm doing and threaten to sue me for taking a picture of them in their car
The event thing is a great suggestion, people are a lot more likely to accept you shooting them if there's a reason you'd be shooting. Plus, you can pretend you're a badass photojournalist