What do you do when you photograph the streets?

[newfilm]

Hm... I notice the following when I am taking picture of the streets in general:

1. death stare from your subject
2. children big no no, the parent usually give a really suspicious look
3. animal, usually OK! some time the owner even ask for another shoot
4. street performer, these guys are ok, they are friendly about being photograph at.

Currently I mostly on 35mm and 50mm, really makes me wonder if I should go with longer lens to mitigate the invation-of-private-space that people usually felt when being photography by strangers.

what do you guys do to harness a thick face to brace the general unhappy of your subject realised they are being photograph?

 

[giganova]

You have to take chances. Some people will be upset, others not. I always look at them with a big disarming smile on my face after I made a picture to diffuse the situation. If that doesn't work, I turn around and try to get away as quick as I can 😉

You are right that it is impossible to make pictures of kids anymore because of the paranoia of parents. I've been threatened too many times so I don't make pictures of kids anymore.

 

[ellisson]

Try engaging the subject(s) with conversation and a friendly demeanor. The rewards are willing subjects and even better, you learn something about them and they learn something about you (and your photography). If you want to be stealth, then you are rewarded with the same. Or you can just shoot candids and hope for the best.

 

[Rob-F]

I have used a wide-angle lens to place the subject at the edge of the frame. It looks to them like they are out of the frame and I must be photographing something else.

I might also pretend I'm photographing a store front, and waiting for people to get out of the way before shooting. Like lowering the camera after framing, as if this is not the right moment, but pressing the shutter after lowering the camera.

 

[jamesbf]

Of course this is always a case by case thing, and something that works for me might not work for you and vice versa. I also find location is a big factor in street shooting style (ie. Manhattan vs small town America)

If my eye is drawn to a particular person and I think I can make something decent out of it, I won't make eye contact. When I think the timing is about to happen then I'll put the viewfinder to my eye relatively slowly, and I will usually point it in a direction slightly off from the person(s) and I guess that might make it appear that they walked into my shot.

OR sometimes if I'm walking on a super crowded street Im just like F*ck it and go on a shooting spree and then see what I come back with later.

Other times I'll have the camera to my face and tilt it up slightly as if i'm taking a photo of a building or something - which gives the subject a brief moment to think to themselves that I'm photographing something else. When they're in the right possible spot I'll bring the camera down and frame up the shot and snap a frame.

Sometimes I won't walk around and I'll just stand on a street corner and photograph people as they walk by. Sometimes people will give strange looks but other times people won't even bother looking at me.

There are a ton of videos of working street photographers you can watch on youtube. Just do a playlist search or something.

Hope this somewhat helped you. I guess the most important thing you can do is to KNOW that you are not doing anything wrong and that you are not trying to hurt anyone. If you spend your time thinking "I bet they think I'm weird" or "they think I'm a perv" or something like that then you are doomed.

Good Luck!

 

[giganova]

Try a wide angle lens instead of a longer lens (28, 24, or 21mm)! 😀 Wide angle is amazing for street photography because you have to be right in the face of people and the pictures will take the viewers with you real up close.

To me, anything longer than 35mm is cheating because you are trying to make intimate pictures of people but don't have the guts to be where your subject is and stay at a distance.

 

[ellisson]

I met this fellow on Walnut St. in Philadelphia. We talked for about 15 minutes about his life in the south, growing up in Alabama while George Wallace was governor. It was an enlightening conversation. I then asked him for a photo and he said "Sure!"

 

[JohnBeeching]

Don't be stealthy, be relaxed, be quick and smile!

[/url]Borough Market - 5 by John Beeching, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]Hands by John Beeching, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]Pointing by John Beeching, on Flickr[/IMG]

 

[Scapevision]

I just smile after and thank them. But not always. I shoot film only so I don't get any negative reaction. Except the one time I shot digital... But then I'm not your common "street" shooter.

 

[narsuitus]

Shoot first, beg forgiveness second.


Photographer by Narsuitus, on Flickr

 

[giganova]

To me, Bruce Gilden is the king of street photography. I love this video!

 

[giganova]

21mm

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Longer lens is for losers. Taking street performers pictures is also in this category.
I'm taking pictures of children, parents with children with respect if they do something interesting or something is interesting around them. On the Street. Not in the public pool, not on the playground, but on the Street.



Where is the street of Peace? by Kostya Fedot, on Flickr

Read how Garry Winogrand took pictures. Look on the internet for how street photography was done by him and others on youtube.
Watch John Free lessons on street photography. He helps to get through "chicken little" syndrome.

You have to realize what for you are doing this. It you just practicing, respecting people, here is no reason to be hiding. Get close, do not hide. If they ask, be honest. If they refuse, do not take it. If picture is already taken and they told you it is not allowed, tell no pictures will be used.

Instead of tele lens (50 is already tele for the Street) get small camera with 28-35-40 lens. Really small one, like Olympus XA, Rollei 35, Minox 35... It will give you confidence. Or take classic, plastic PS camera and dress to match, nobody will take you seriously. I have done it with both 🙂

In my experience, if something really interesting happening, you'll be able to get close and nobody will care. Usually it is not street performance and some indoor portraits as above.

 

[newfilm]

To me, Bruce Gilden is the king of street photography. I love this video!

OMG... flash right in the face... that give me some idea... if you look crazy enough people would walk away instead of a punch you in the face 😀

"i have no ethics" <--- I think I found my courage in that line 😎

 

[Pherdinand]

just take the shot and then another shot. If they groan it's an even better shot.
edit:look at my small portfolio linked down here, eye contact eye

 

[MIkhail]

I dont see a point of photographing strangers just to enjoy the process of photographing... but it's me.
However if a human figure falls in the right place in a visual puzzle that I try to create I will include him or her as well without hesitations.
There are many suggestions can be found online how to do this. One thing for sure- no long telephoto lens, unless your shot requires it for the effect (which is compressed perspective). I use 35mm and 50mm anyway, 50 to keep the distortions to minimum.
The main thing that everybody will probably agree on: your body language HAS TO convey: "I am doing what I have right to do", no snicking around. People will detect your hesitations right away and that's a sign that you doing something wrong.
Just my 2 cents.

 

[ellisson]

To go back to the OP's concerns, it would be helpful to put yourself and your family in the place of those you are snapping. You are on the street alone or with your spouse and children, and someone points a camera at you and yours. No introduction, no permission, no nothing. So, tell us, how would you respond? How would you feel?
This would be an interesting poll.

 

[Scapevision]

Might I also add...Stop shooting what everyone else is shooting.

 

[MIkhail]

To go back to the OP's concerns, it would be helpful to put yourself and your family in the place of those you are snapping. You are on the street alone or with your spouse and children, and someone points a camera at you and yours. No introduction, no permission, no nothing. So, tell us, how would you respond? How would you feel?
This would be an interesting poll.

I would not mind.

What would one really do with these pictures of me on a street?
Use it for pornography?🙄

 

[Ko.Fe.]

...You are on the street alone or with your spouse and children, and someone points a camera at you and yours. No introduction, no permission, no nothing....How would you feel?
This would be an interesting poll.

Nobody is interesting in my family with wife, me and younger kids. But if someone needs our picture, we have nothing to hide.
If one of our older daughters walks on the street and nothing provocative in dress, yet, car would stop or even follow sometimes.
Some people life is different from yours. If person is not ordinary, attention is paid. With photo cameras or not.