Went to Library for Candid Photos

[JeremyLangford]

I just got back from our big downtown library, trying to take some street shots with my SRT-101. I am really starting to love the rush you get from street photography. Its insane how fun it is to be looking through the viewfinder at someone, waiting for the perfect moment to click the shutter, and hoping that they don't see what you're doing.

I am thinking that I may need a RF now. I congrat people for using their slrs for candid shots, because its pretty hard. It was hard for me because it was so hard to conceal my big camera, but mainly because of the dang mirror/shutter noise. It was of course very quiet in the library, so my shutter was pretty loud. I would have to snap the picture, and then dart into another row of bookshelves so I would't get caught.

I will post the pictures here after I get them developed.

 

[clarence]

You used an SLR in a library?

I've taken my fair share of shots in libraries but I've always used relatively silent cameras. Had I been there I would have hunted you down by the sound of your mirror-slap.

But do show the pictures.

Clarence

 

[jlw]

Maybe you should make one of these cameras:

 

[clarence]

Is that a pinhole camera in a box disguised as a book? You could put it on the shelves and come back an hour later.

Clarence

 

[JeremyLangford]

Maybe you should make one of these cameras:

yea. looks like it would work good.

I was trying all kinds of stuff. The main thing that worked was coughing as the shutter went off. But I had a hard time getting as close as I wanted.

 

[MadMan2k]

The easiest thing to do (even though it doesn't seem that way) is to let them realize you're shooting, and then keep doing it. Act like you're not solely interested in them, and that you're just concentrating really hard on taking pictures, and if they ignore you you'll be able to get better candid shots.

Be prepared to answer a lot of "are you shooting for...?" questions - for me, the answer most of the time is "yes," and it makes it a lot easier. It might be hard to explain why you're taking pictures of random people in a library if you're not from a newspaper, so good luck...

 

[Keith]

My thoughts exactly ... "An SLR in a library?"

I suppose the advantage of a library is you're less likely to encounter someone who will tell you what to do with your camera than you are on the average street. I stlll think it was a brave move though!

I look forward to the pics.

 

[rtphotos]

I just got back from our big downtown library, trying to take some street shots with my SRT-101. I am really starting to love the rush you get from street photography. Its insane how fun it is to be looking through the viewfinder at someone, waiting for the perfect moment to click the shutter, and hoping that they don't see what you're doing.

I am thinking that I may need a RF now. I congrat people for using their slrs for candid shots, because its pretty hard. It was hard for me because it was so hard to conceal my big camera, but mainly because of the dang mirror/shutter noise. It was of course very quiet in the library, so my shutter was pretty loud. I would have to snap the picture, and then dart into another row of bookshelves so I would't get caught.

I will post the pictures here after I get them developed.

Hi Jeremy,

I think there is a bit of voyeur in many of us, but
if you ask me, what you did sounds kinda creepy.

You said:

"...hoping that they don't see what you're doing".
"It was hard for me because it was so hard to conceal my big camera...."
"I would have to snap the picture, and then dart into another row of bookshelves so I would't get caught".

I think this brings up an interesting dilemma for many photographers, not just "street photographers". Personally I don't like to sneak photos of people. I shoot in the open, out in public areas, and don't try to conceal what I'm doing. I find that if you act like you belong and aren't doing anything suspicious, people soon forget you're there and begin to act normally.

I also find that photos that shows interaction, or at least recognition between the subject and the photographer can be most interesting.

I don't mean to say that a surreptitious method is incorrect or without some sort of merit. I know there have been many famous photographers who have taken wonderful photos on-the-sly, but I will certainly be interested in seeing what sort of images you've captured, and what your photos may have to offer us, the viewers.

I also will be interested in hearing what you feel these photographs convey, and why you felt a need to photograph in a library.

Lastly (for now ), if you haven't had the chance to see John Brownlow's webpage on street photography technique, have a quick look:

http://www.johnbrownlow.com/phb/techniques/shynessone.html

Notice that he distinguishes "candid photography" from "street photography".

all the best,
rt

 

[rtphotos]

COOL looking pinhole camera! BUT....

I strongly suggest that any person seriously thinking of using a hidden camera inside a public library to record images of unknowing people, consider the possible ramifications of using such a device in that manner.

You will have a lot of explaining to do if you are caught. And your explaining may be to a police officer and not just some polite librarian.

rt

 

[JeremyLangford]

Hi Jeremy,

I think there is a bit of voyeur in many of us, but
if you ask me, what you did sounds kinda creepy.

You said:

"...hoping that they don't see what you're doing".
"It was hard for me because it was so hard to conceal my big camera...."
"I would have to snap the picture, and then dart into another row of bookshelves so I would't get caught".

I think this brings up an interesting dilemma for many photographers, not just "street photographers". Personally I don't like to sneak photos of people. I shoot in the open, out in public areas, and don't try to conceal what I'm doing. I find that if you act like you belong and aren't doing anything suspicious, people soon forget you're there and begin to act normally.

I also find that photos that shows interaction, or at least recognition between the subject and the photographer can be most interesting.

I don't mean to say that a surreptitious method is incorrect or without some sort of merit. I know there have been many famous photographers who have taken wonderful photos on-the-sly, but I will certainly be interested in seeing what sort of images you've captured, and what your photos may have to offer us, the viewers.

I also will be interested in hearing what you feel these photographs convey, and why you felt a need to photograph in a library.

Lastly (for now ), if you haven't had the chance to see John Brownlow's webpage on street photography technique, have a quick look:

http://www.johnbrownlow.com/phb/techniques/shynessone.html

Notice that he distinguishes "candid photography" from "street photography".

all the best,
rt

I don seek for eye-contact in my street pictures like that article says to.

I was not being creepy, I was simply trying to stay unnoticed. I want to photograph a person acting the way they normally act. A person in a library will act differently if they look to their left and see a camera pointed at their face. That seems more creepy than staying unnoticed.

I don't agree with that article at all unless I am photographing in a place that makes it impossible to get unnoticed, such as a park full of people.

 

[Kin Lau]

BTW, if you really want to try shooting in the library again, next time activate MLU after you've focused, and then take the shot. It'll be a lot quieter.

Of course, to do this you'll have to have some way of keeping the camera still, otherwise you'll lose your framing and focus.

 

[plummerl]

Hi Jeremy,

I'm sorry, but for me (and I'm sure innumerable other people!) "the library" should be the last place for "street photography".

I and everyone else I know, considers the library a place of refuge and quiet contemplation. The last thing that I personally would want to encounter, is someone attempting to perform street photography, especially with me as the prey. It may be a public space, but let's honor what it is all about. Please, let's keep street photography on the street.

 

[rogue_designer]

I don't mind if they see me taking their picture - but I do prefer if they don't notice until after I have the shot I want (doesn't always happen that way, but sometimes you can sort of become part of the environment).

Hiding, or pretending I didn't just take a picture always seems way suspicious to me.

I want to give them the opportunity to respond for good or ill - post image. If they see me and smile, then golden - if they frown, well - too bad, but it's good to know. If they run after me, I'd like to see them coming rather than being confronted when I come back out from the bookshelves.

 

[JeremyLangford]

Look. I didnt mean to start a whole "Thats not real street photography!!" rampage.

I was not trying to look suspicious. I tried my best to stay unnoticed, and I dont think anyone noticed or cared what I was doing. And thats why I didnt walk around the library with my eye on the viewfinder for the world to see that I was taking pictures. I just kept my camera with me, and was on the lookout for any thing that would make a neat photograph.

One thing you have to understand is how big this library is. It has at least 3 floors, maybe 4. It wasn't dead quiet in there. You can hear people talking all the time. I stayed in the area with all the bookshelves, and mainly just looked out for a picture of people picking out books. I promise I was not pissing any people off. I only took like 5 or 6 pictures, because I was trying to be cautious and respectful to everyone there.

Hopefully you will understand better when you see my pictures.

 

[cmogi10]

*KATHWAP*

Dammit!



(when I was in high school I shot at the library once, all I had was an SLR, Minolta SRT202 actually, I also had a sheepish grin on my face every time the shutter went off, I don't chalk it up as a success, just an experiance)

 

[JeremyLangford]

Hi Jeremy,

I'm sorry, but for me (and I'm sure innumerable other people!) "the library" should be the last place for "street photography".

I and everyone else I know, considers the library a place of refuge and quiet contemplation. The last thing that I personally would want to encounter, is someone attempting to perform street photography, especially with me as the prey. It may be a public space, but let's honor what it is all about. Please, let's keep street photography on the street.

Well I don't consider the people I am taking pictures of as "prey", because all I am trying to do is get a picture of them acting as if i wasn't there.

I did not just get in the car with my camera, and decide that a library would be a good place to take street pictures. I probably should have made that more clear. What happened was, I was downtown with a friend at a local photography store, and he decided he wanted to get a book from the library. I was already going there with him, and I already had my camera with me. And so I instinctively brought it with me, in case I saw a good picture opportunity.

That is how I take almost all of my pictures. I don't usually go somewhere to take pictures, but instead I am already going somewhere. I try to take my camera everywhere I go, and I try to always look out for good pictures.

 

[cmogi10]

I think everyone should lay off him, it's not like he was sneaking around in the restrooms.
(I've seen hip shots posted from inside restrooms, that's where I go to do my thinking, no pictures!)

 

[bcostin]

I've been in that same situation, Jeremy. I carry a camera of some sort with me all the time and I very seldom leave it in the car. I'm that guy at the grocery store with an Exakta slung over his shoulder.

I don't see anything particularly wrong with pictures inside a library. They're photogenic and interesting locations. Most SLRs don't make that much noise and so long as you're polite and don't get in anyone's way I'd think the same rules apply there as in any public building. I know some librarians, and I've heard tales of people doing much, much worse things in libraries than taking a few innocent pictures.

 

[Keith]

I don't necessarily understand the assumption of the right to privacy in a 'public' library. A public place is a public place and while an SLR is obviously not a good choice for such a quiet venue the rules in a library should be no different to a train station or shopping mall IMO. Some people may be offended at being photographed candidly in any location ... that's the risk that has to be taken.

 

[MikeL]

(I've seen hip shots posted from inside restrooms, that's where I go to do my thinking, no pictures!)

I thought the restroom and the "library" were the same thing.