"Stumble upon" effect in street photography.

[Highway 61]

How to deal with it?

By having a camera with a lens you know very well and preset to the good focusing distance so that you won't struggle with the rangefinder for too long.

This could be anything from a Rollei 35, a P&S, a 35mm RF, a Rolleiflex - what you're used to, and know very very well.

Then it's up to you. You have the choice - shoot, or not.

Depends.

Don't bother with what all this pesky "street photography" genre (if it only exists) has brought out nowadays.

If the photo tells a story, if there is something special in it as for its composition, lighting, perspective, background, poetry, it will be a good one.

If there is nothing more than something funny, it won't be enough and you will not include it in your best of eventually. No big deal !

Like Duke Ellington said for music, photographs are divided into two categories : the good, and the bad.

Ah, and re. this "intruding" thing : discard it right away. There are many ways to "intrude" without even thinking of taking a photo...

About Toronto : I am living 6,500km far away from this city but I went there three times, and found it a very interesting place for "street photography" (I don't like that term the least bit but don't find another one at the moment) because there are lots of differents situations to see and lots of different people to look at, in a rich background, with some streetcars, parks, XIXth century houses, the lake shore, etc etc. I shot extensively there and never had any problems whatsoever - plus, there are many people there liking film cameras and prone to stop to begin a nice conversation with you...

I think of these moments (I've had MANY) as my eye's education. I'm confident that at some point in the future, I'm going to come across something similar and the old memories will jog me to action more quickly. These experiences (the loss of an opportunity) make us better photographers in the future, in my opinion. 🙂

+1, and heavily confirmed by my own experience... 😉

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Thank you for very interesting reading in provided last comments!
It is pleasure to re-read entire thread and think again and again.
Appreciate RFF members support and honest opinion!

About Toronto downtown core and nearby.
Yes, personally, I only have to call to 911 during day light once in ten years I'm visiting this city. Knife was pulled out near bus stop at the major road (Jarvis, not so far from the court).
Unfortunately, local communities getting carelessly destroyed by condo builders. I guess it is good for something, but not for street photography where you have something nice in the background.

 

[rwintle]

I've found this thread very interesting... not just because I work in Toronto (but live in the suburbs to the north). I too struggle with worrying about missed moments... lots of good perspective here, so thanks everyone (and Ko.Fe for asking the question in the first place).

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Some pictures after I started this thread and tried to learn from comments.
No street "hardcore". I slowed down my walking speed and some of the pictures I took was done in "tourist" style, this is who I'm in Toronto anyway 🙂

My CV CS 35 PII copy sucks for sun into it. Needs hood. LTM version of same lens wasn't so bad.
I used M4-2 and Pan F+.

It was boy taken by four tall officers from his father. I walked to it, I could take it, but I didn't...

 

[jsrockit]

To me street is exactly like hunting, you can't shoot while walking.

Why can't you shoot while walking? I do this all of the time.

 

[rhl-oregon]

John, perhaps you could share your technique/camera settings for SWW (shooting while walking) with Edward and us?

 

[jsrockit]

John, perhaps you could share your technique/camera settings for SWW (shooting while walking) with Edward and us?

I'm not sure what to tell you guys... fast shutter speeds (to stop any motion blur from your movement) and familiarity with your focal lengths (so you can just raise your camera and already generally know what will be in your frame)... I use 28-55mm only really. I've also been known to make photos while riding by on a bike. Calzone and Stompyq can confirm that I do it all of the time ...

 

[Ko.Fe.]

🙂

I did it once, brought my bicycle in minivan and ride to Henry's main store and back to Bathurst/Lakeshore.

I used Holga 135 Pan.

 

[rhl-oregon]

Yes, I do it too (SWW)--mostly 28-35mm, f5.6-8, 1/125-250, auto-high ISO. And mostly digital, since I have no FilmToBurn checking account--in fact, mostly Ricoh GR.

 

[jsrockit]

in fact, mostly Ricoh GR.

It's by far the easiest camera to do it with... I actually prefer framing with an LCD on 28mm lenses... you can even go from the hip while looking at the LCD if you are into that. Yes, only digital for me too. I go for 400-500th of a second, any aperture, and auto high ISO up to 3200. At night, the SWW turns into walking, a quick stop just enough to trip the shutter, and then walking again. I think the key is knowing what will be in your frame before bringing your camera up.

 

[Daniel Teoli Jr.]

I left "big city" living style decade ago, but I'm enjoying photowalk every time I'm in big city, like Toronto, for example.
I keep on walking for couple of hours, non-stop and looking around me for something unusual.
And here is my problem.
For example, yesterday, I walk on busy Queen Street and here is one person at the corner, which seems to be upset or frustrated. Another person walking behind me, approaching the upset one, making eye and physical contact - great moment! I'm looking at it all, I'm very close to it and I just walking by. Two seconds later, it is gone and I have no picture.
This situation is often to me on the street, I see something interesting happening between people, it lasts only very few seconds, but I could easily take it, instead, I'm just walking and looking at what is happening and few seconds later - :bang: why I didn't take it?

How to deal with it?

We can't get them all. I suggest you shoot first and think later. This took Erwitt a whole roll of film shots. It was not just one shot. Point is...just blast away.

https://people.creighton.edu/~sjg30403/images/elliott erwitt/bulldog.jpg

 

[Saganich]

On the Street

On the Street

I sympathize. I enjoy watching those moments unfold and it is difficult to capture them in a frame. Since in the end for most of us a photograph is a personal object it is difficult to start with an impersonal subject and not feel like an invasion of privacy. Using a long lens makes it worse for me. Friends who seem adept at street photography tend to personally engage their subjects for permission to photograph. Of course all this bellyaching extends from the displeasure of invading the space of strangers. Many people had absolutely no problem in this area and are happy to take someones photograph without permission. Some people are downright aggressive. I tried this the other day with a 28mm f22 on an M2 a la Winnogrand. Walking, stopping in front of a street scene, lifting and clicking, and moving on like nothing just happened. Most of the time no one seemed noticed but it was a high anxiety effort requiring a shot and a beer.

 

[Hsg]

If the act of picture taking is one action then you can shoot in an instant whatever you come across. Preset focus and exposure and wait for the moment... But those kind of shots almost always fail at some level because the camera includes whatever it sees while the photographer sees only what catches his eye.

Street photography requires training, just like one needs training in order to play a musical instrument. So the more you shoot the more instinctual your photo taking becomes.

 

[finguanzo]

Why can't you shoot while walking? I do this all of the time.

and while biking... Ive heard.

 

[Sparrow]

... biking? walking? ... whats that all about? are young people incapable of just doing one thing at once? ... why would one look at a photo taken by a cyclist as opposed to a photographer?

 

[traveler_101]

Maybe this isn't your type of photographing? For example, an upset person with another coming to comfort/confront- the 'typical' human reaction is to give them distance and a bit of respect and privacy. Not shove a camera in their face and fire a few shots. So maybe you didn't take it because you are a decent guy?

Seriously. There is a hunter's mindset to some types of street photography. You need to be on edge, prepared, at all times. Being out to photograph is specific mind frame for me, and is different than, say, walking to get some bread.

Another issue might be that you are walking too fast. Saunter more. Let scenes develop in front of you. Find a good 'stage' and let characters come along to fill it? Stand in one spot for minutes at a time.

Have you looked at the work of Helen Levitt? Try to imagine what she was seeing, how a scene developed for her, and how she was ready for a particular moment. http://www.jacksonfineart.com/Helen-Levitt-881.html

I like these comments, in particular the sense of being ill-at-ease, the ethical issues raised by the obvious voyeurism of street photography and the difficulty of really getting the shots. But for me the solution is different. I endorse the sauntering or even just sitting or standing in a place for a while . . . however, I don't hunt, quite the opposite.

I go out to shoot the objects and structures of the urban world -- I also look for the traces of human activity and social trends in signs or juxtapositions of objects -- and then as I 'just happen' to see people, I will shoot. I don't worry (or tell myself no to worry) that I miss shots . . . because its going to happen, all the time; I shoot when I feel I can, not forcing myself.

Some peoples are easier to shoot than others. Italy is damned easy; Norway is ok. North America - you know I haven't really tried it. People are so paranoid there now is my impression. Haven't lived there for 10 years now.

 

[Particular]

... biking? walking? ... whats that all about? are young people incapable of just doing one thing at once? ... why would one look at a photo taken by a cyclist as opposed to a photographer?

I have been commuting in the past year by bike through a part of Queens I would otherwise probably not spend much time in. I come across lots of curious morning scenes that I totally miss when the camera is in my bag.

I now habitually ride with an m6 or IIIc on a short neck strap, a 50mm or 35mm lens with focus and exposure preset.
There are certain types of situations that I expect to encounter, and certain spots I keep passing and photograph repeatedly. I normally set focus to 5m/15ft, as this is perfect for either shooting someone on the sidewalk from the street, or a car coming the other way, or someone on the pedestrian crossing while I'm waiting for the light. I will switch the focus to 10m/30ft on bigger roads, or if I want to shoot across the street. I can do this blindly with one hand, without looking at the camera. I aim for 1/250s but also sometimes use slower speeds. The trick is to swoop by, roll slowly, and pan with your subject. Rolling eliminates that annoying bounce while walking, so it is not that hard to deal with motion blur. I have theorized that because of the direction of travel of the shutter, subjects passed on the right are compressed, while those on the left are elongated, making it easier to freeze people on the sidewalk in the US, than in the UK (although in NY they are now putting bike lanes on the left side of the street, which is all wrong).
It takes a little practice, but it is a lot of fun, and I also like the slightly elevated perspective one gets on a bike. You are also more in the middle of the street, instead of always skirting the periphery.

DISCLAIMER: Don't do this unless you are good on a bike. I ride a bike with an upright sitting position, which helps. I always check that there is no car behind me, or any potential car doors before raising the camera to my eye. If I feel I can't take a shot, I just try to return for it next time.

 

[jsrockit]

How to deal with it?

Be ready and practice...

 

[jsrockit]

and while biking... Ive heard.

Haha... yeah, I've taken some dumb chances in NYC traffic. 😀

 

[Sparrow]

... I just stand there with the camera clearly visible and just take photos ... people just ignore me pretty much

If one is holding the camera at chest hight already its difficult to forget what you're supposed to be doing