Chris,
No replies yet? Weird, anyway, when Im somewhere foreign, even in the States, and Im like you and want to shoot the people, not always the cliche lanscape look im on vacation! shots haha. Ive kind of come up with my own little actions to help out instead of jamming a camera in their faces:
1- The vibe: Is it a setting where everyones generally in a good mood? Like a marketplace or disco etc, which Im sure youll crawl thrugh there at some point, if its cool, and everyone seems to just be doing the day to day etc, just shoot, usually they wont care, maybe pick out the smilers, remember generally people like their picture taken, sometimes its a compliment! If its moody, and more solemn etc, Ive either 1- checked my setting, make sure Im generally ok, but know what to adjust for some shade or more light, and then literally shoot from the hip, or better, if you have a strap, hang your Oly around your neck to belly area and just "rest" your hand on it, like youre keepin it from swaying around, that way you can just kind of judge whats in frame at your belly better, and just fire away, tilting it up or down to get faces, or adjusting focus to what you think is right is less noticeable too! If nothing else, youll have some surpising shots and get better at shooting that way!
2- Asking: It happens, where someone might be alone etc, so when I find that situation, I dont ask in the literal sense mostly, but maybe hold the camera up and point it around! where they are and wait until they look at you, then smile, point to your camera then to them, keep a smile, look touristy, but theyll get your point of, hey is it cool to take your photo? Most of the time, they just smile and nod, take a shot and shoot em a smile or thumbs up whatever.....sometimes Ive found they get into it haha, and bring you over and start pointing at stuff and showing what to shoot haha.
Thatll pretty much cover the bases in a place like Mex, you shouldnt have a prob.
And def email me when you get back, Id love to see how it worked out! Remember the good part about RF's, they look like youre a tourist, theyre small, and quiet, so you can sneek shots a helluva lot of the time.
Another thing, youre in a nother country yes, its their turf for sure, but, go ahead and be bold, without being an ass of course, youre never gonna see em again, so you can take a few chances when you think its necessary.
Bryan
