lukitas
second hand noob
In Brussels, we use the bilingual term 'en stoemelings' to denote something being done without being seen, hiding what you do. I shoot photos 'en stoemelings'
When I lift my camera to my eye, people know I am going to take a picture, and react accordingly. Sometimes, this is exactly what is needed. Other times, I'd rather be a fly on the wall.
The evident trick is to take the camera away from my face. People may wonder why I am pointing the camera at 90* to what I am looking at, but it doesn't quite look as if I were taking a picture.
It helps to be familiar enough with the angle of view of your lens to be able to imagine the virtual pyramid that has your eye as its point, the base resting on infinity. Then you can move the camera anywhere within arms length, and still get a reasonably accurate frame.
I put the camera on my knee, on top of the bag in my lap, anywhere but in front of my face. Or I walk past my subject and then turn around and snap.
Of course, most of you know all this since forever, but it would be uncharitable, not to share this information with the fresher members of our community.
And to make you pardon me for a load of b******t, here are a few samples :
When I lift my camera to my eye, people know I am going to take a picture, and react accordingly. Sometimes, this is exactly what is needed. Other times, I'd rather be a fly on the wall.
The evident trick is to take the camera away from my face. People may wonder why I am pointing the camera at 90* to what I am looking at, but it doesn't quite look as if I were taking a picture.
It helps to be familiar enough with the angle of view of your lens to be able to imagine the virtual pyramid that has your eye as its point, the base resting on infinity. Then you can move the camera anywhere within arms length, and still get a reasonably accurate frame.
I put the camera on my knee, on top of the bag in my lap, anywhere but in front of my face. Or I walk past my subject and then turn around and snap.
Of course, most of you know all this since forever, but it would be uncharitable, not to share this information with the fresher members of our community.
And to make you pardon me for a load of b******t, here are a few samples :
FrankS
Registered User
Nice. What camera were you using?
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
It is amateurish myth about " surreptitiously".
First. Guy in Russian T-Shirt. He doesn't care. Even if he does care, say "nice doggy" and he will wag his tail for you.
The guy in the background is looking at you, because you are taking it.
Second one. Four people are looking at you because you are taking it.
Third. Those usually see nothing around. Conversation takes it all.
Four. It is zombie snapshot. Millions of snapshots like this one. They are all zombies while on the phone.
Where is no point to take is from a.s level at all four.
Cheers, I was drinking Belgium beer this evening
Ko.
First. Guy in Russian T-Shirt. He doesn't care. Even if he does care, say "nice doggy" and he will wag his tail for you.
The guy in the background is looking at you, because you are taking it.
Second one. Four people are looking at you because you are taking it.
Third. Those usually see nothing around. Conversation takes it all.
Four. It is zombie snapshot. Millions of snapshots like this one. They are all zombies while on the phone.
Where is no point to take is from a.s level at all four.
Cheers, I was drinking Belgium beer this evening
Ko.
Andrea Taurisano
il cimento
I think even the most daring of us have had days where we didn't feel like being so right-up-in-your-face and instead went superwide, or from the hip, or even worse.. tele. A**s, when that's the only way of shooting (and I'm NOT saying that's the case for the OP), it tends to give rather monotonous and uninteresting series, IMO.
bayernfan
Well-known
the shots I want must be taken without permission. it's the way i shoot, it's perfectly legal, and i'm not invading anyone's personal space when i do it. i have a strong suspicion that the majority of people that are strongly against 'surreptitious shooting' are just too afraid to do it.
Andrea Taurisano
il cimento
I'm sure there is some truth in this. What we believe and who/how we are tend to be connected, in most respects.
f16sunshine
Moderator
As Fashion goes... Stripes are in In Brussels
lukitas
second hand noob
Fuji XE2, 18mm f2
It is amateurish myth about " surreptitiously".
First. Guy in Russian T-Shirt. He doesn't care. Even if he does care, say "nice doggy" and he will wag his tail for you.
The guy in the background is looking at you, because you are taking it.
Second one. Four people are looking at you because you are taking it.
Third. Those usually see nothing around. Conversation takes it all.
Four. It is zombie snapshot. Millions of snapshots like this one. They are all zombies while on the phone.
Where is no point to take is from a.s level at all four.
Cheers, I was drinking Belgium beer this evening
Ko.
Russian t-shirt : yeah, he looks zonked out. But he might have reacted if I'd brought my camera to my face.
Second one : I can see only one person who is looking at the camera for sure. The girl on the left, I don't know.
Third. Women have amazing multi-tasking skills.
Four is a zombie all right. But there are interesting people in the background.
I'll join you with that beer.
As Fashion goes... Stripes are in In Brussels
Stripes are "it"
Cheers
p.giannakis
Pan Giannakis
That is why i love my Nikon F4. I can remove the prism and use it at waist level.
froyd
Veteran
Yeah, the poor-man's TLR, but make sure you set your exposure before removing the prism, or use an external meter!
deldridg
Member
There is certainly some truth to being afraid (or reluctant) to 'surreptitiously' shoot people. I guess I'm not too keen in being shot this way myself (not being photogenic or particularly aesthetically interesting is a factor!) and unless travelling in countries where people are very different - ie. 3rd world - it's something I've not really tried, but have thought about.
However I love the idea of adding 'waist level shooting' to the repertoire with my RFs - a very useful skill that must do wonders for pre-focussing and visualisation etc. in the context of whatever camera you're holding.
Having just bought a Rolleiflex I'm keen to give it a go here in my hometown (Sydney, Aust) as a stepping stone to being a bit braver with other cameras.
Thanks for bringing up the subject and I'm always up for a Belgian beer or three!
Cheers,
David
However I love the idea of adding 'waist level shooting' to the repertoire with my RFs - a very useful skill that must do wonders for pre-focussing and visualisation etc. in the context of whatever camera you're holding.
Having just bought a Rolleiflex I'm keen to give it a go here in my hometown (Sydney, Aust) as a stepping stone to being a bit braver with other cameras.
Thanks for bringing up the subject and I'm always up for a Belgian beer or three!
Cheers,
David
JChrome
Street Worker
How often do you see tele being used in street? I've seen maybe a couple of tourists using it. But no one whose work I'd really be interested in viewing. Everything in street work you see is wide!
So, in my opinion, if you can get good shots in the street using 75mm+, I applaud you. Because it is hard.
bayernfan
Well-known
not something i would have ever considered. now you've got me wanting to try it. i wonder if the DW-20 VF is any good.
JChrome
Street Worker
I would say that it depends on the length of the lens. Are you using a screen with split-image rangefinder in the viewfinder or just matte?
I've been using my F3 with a Beattie matte screen without the prism on. It's great, bright and I can easily discern on framelines. But the focusing is not optimal here and the longer the lens and the closer the subject the harder it gets to focus... You'd need a split-image screen I think for that.
popavvakum
Member
Well, I ventured out a couple of times with an OM-2 in rather busy places (a market and slums) in a large provincial city in Nigeria and the problem is that there is ALWAYS someone eyeing you and VERY OFTEN once you point camera at them they either start asking for money or go aggressive.
In fact, it went to the point I was asked a few times for "a snap".... It does not seem to make a difference whether I train the camera at someone or something or try to shoot form hip - you are certain that once you touch the camera within twenty seconds some gets at you in those places.
lukitas
second hand noob
This is why I keep the camera in my hand, with the strap wound around my wrist. With the camera already in the hand, and looking studiously somewhere else than the camera is pointing, you can get away with more.
cheers!
JHutchins
Well-known
I think the easiest way to take candid pictures is to know, before you head out, what you'll say if you're asked what you're doing. Having an answer that is adequate to that question will give you all kinds of confidence and to just take the photos and once you do you'll be surprised how little of an issue it is. The biggest advantage of taking a photography class is just that it gives you access to what is really the most disarming answer to that question -- taking a class and my teacher wants us to take pictures of everyday life on the street for an assignment. If you know what you're doing, though, you should be able to describe it and if you don't, maybe think it through more so that you do.
kxl
Social Documentary
I try to be surreptitious, but I tend to be rather ungainly when I approach, so that rarely works for me.... except for this one time. I'm almost 100% certain I was 'en stoemelings' when took this one.
lukitas
second hand noob
It seems rather a sneeky way of shooting
Or shall I put it more blunt: A cowardly way of taking photos
Sneaky, yes; cowardly I find a bit strong
I'm not quite furtive. Big belly, big beard, top knot and a camera in my hand. 'Are you taking pictures?' 'Of course I am, I'm holding a camera'.
Of course it is preferable to frame through a viewfinder. But in fast moving situations, it is often much faster to move my camera to the spot from where I want to take the shot ; getting my eye in position would take too much time. Having the camera away from my face makes it slightly less obvious that I am taking pictures - at the same time it makes me work harder at reading a 3D environment in movement, at visualising the different angles from which a scene can be shot.
I love a static, composed and posed portrait. I promised myself to do a series of 'state' portraits, preferably with several people in the frame. But something happens to peoples faces when they find themselves in front of a camera. They pull a face that is meant for the gaze of an important other, the 'Big Other'. I want to capture the 'private' face, the face that is not conscious of being seen, the face that is intent on its own thoughts and rumination. It's a bit like wildlife photography : one hides in a camouflage tent not to scare the zebras, not because one is scared of the zebras. Trying to remain invisible does not necessarily equate with being a cowardly sneak, a pervert collecting freaks.
Yesterday being my birthday, I treated myself to a prolonged shooting spree in the car-free centre of town. Lots of people, no cars, paradise for a student of 'street' photography. I didn't hide the camera, but I tried not to attract attention to the fact that I was using it.
A young man saw me taking a picture from the corner of his eye - he wasn't even in the frame, and I was using a wide angle - and objected loudly that I had no right. I tried to defuse the situation, approaching him with a smile, using the argument that if I could see it, I could shoot it. I was about to try flattery, when he erupted in a drunken rage, hid behind a girl and then threw her at me, followed by several feints and unfinished attacks. I stood my ground, and then walked away, trembling with suppressed rage. Maybe I should have tried flattery first.
This is why I often try to be surreptitious when taking pictures : not so much that I am afraid of the wildlife, rather that I don't want to spook the wildlife.
Cheers
Highway 61
Revisited
The last photo delivers a message, at least.