Why I may never be a good people photographer….

[RdEoSg]

I guess it depends on what I want with the shot. If I like the scene just as it is, I almost never ask permission. I just shoot and move on. On the other hand, if I like the person's look, but what they are doing or the background etc does nothing for me, then I will go up and engage them for a bit of chatting and then take a photo of them smiling or something. It's all about feel. No one right answer for every encounter. You do however have to take the first step of being willing to take their photo!!!!

Regarding the greek guys on the bench. I did that in Poland. Except the guy was rambling, my girlfriend said he said go ahead, and then all of a sudden he was yelling at me and waving a shovel around in the street ! 😛 Apparently he meant no!

 

[eric]

Did I ask him to pose with his gear? Of course not! And why not?

It only takes ONE time, just one time to get that experience and nerve up. Come on. Say you can do it! You can do it!

 

[Oh Two]

Shooting People

Shooting People

First, you have to genuinely like folks.
Second, you have to have the gift of gab which make others talk about themselves.
Most peole have a story to tell. Let them tell it.

The perfect people picture just retells their story.

Wide angle lenses are good; long lenses are bad.

What else is there to know?

If you are having a hard time breaking the ice wear something silly or something emotive. I have just as much luck with a T shirt that shows George Bush behind bars as one with the image of Our Lady of Guadelupe.

 

[Athena]

Hi Steve,

Then again, cacti do not hit you if they don't like you taking their picture (well, except for maybe Jumpin' Cholla! 😉 ).

One way to "practice" shooting people is to go to a venue where it's expected. For instance, in Tucson every Sunday, there is a big farmer's market at St. Phillip's Plaza (upscale shopping center most times). It is getting so well-known that now they bring in tourist buses.

We go there to shop and I also take pics - usually of the vendors - occassionally of the patrons. Since folks are accostomed to seeing camera-toting tourists they don't blink twice if I shoot them - even from an odd angle or whatever.

Maybe doing something similar up there in the Valley of the Sun will give you greater confidence about shooting people - and also build your people-shooting skills?

 

[back alley]

i can't remember the last time i got any grief from someone on the street that i photogrphed.
9 out of 10 times they don't even notice and if they do i break out a big smile, mouth a thank you and move on.

i shoot at the farmer's market most saturdays and many of the venders recognize me now, no one has ever given me a hard time and many stop me to talk about my cameras...what is that, a rangefinder? can it shoot colour?
not to sound too cold, but i often think of people on the street more as subjects and less as individual people.

joe

 

[FrankS]

Sounds like you're shy like me. I think you have to kick yourself each time you blow a photo opp because you were too shy to ask. Eventually you say to yourself f it, I'm going to try. Judge the situaltion for personal danger first, but you'll find most folks are flattered to have their picture taken by a friendly stranger that they've been talking to, as in your case.

 

[nico]

First, you have to genuinely like folks.
Second, you have to have the gift of gab which make others talk about themselves.
Most peole have a story to tell. Let them tell it.

The perfect people picture just retells their story.

Wide angle lenses are good; long lenses are bad.

What else is there to know?

If you are having a hard time breaking the ice wear something silly or something emotive. I have just as much luck with a T shirt that shows George Bush behind bars as one with the image of Our Lady of Guadelupe.

Hi Steve,
according to my very short street shooting experience i can only agree with Oh Two. Sometimes I shoot candids but I prefer portraits of people i can chat with, based on a "relationship" between me the subject. So, I can only add to be polite and - most of all - friendly, you'll discover that many people will enjoy telling you a story and if you'll enjoy listening it, the portraits will be very easy to take (easier than you could expect 🙂).
Just my 2c,
Ciao
Nico

 

[w3rk5]

I don't know if any of you have read this before but check out this link. It might help some of you out.

http://www.popphoto.com/howto/3031/how-to-talk-to-strangers.html

 

[f8&go]

w3rk5,

Great link, thanks.

 

[eric]

I don't know if any of you have read this before but check out this link. It might help some of you out.

http://www.popphoto.com/howto/3031/how-to-talk-to-strangers.html

I think I've used those lines before (end of article) at bars and I remember getting slapped 🙂

 

[mich8261]

well, I did it. Took my camera with me when I went to drop off my laundry tonight. I asked the guy that I see almost every week if I could take his picture. It's silly but I was kind of nervous. Of course I framed him right smack in the middle!

One step at a time...

 

[akptc]

Hi Steve, I've met you and I know that you can easily talk yourself into a fiendly situation or out of an unfriendly one. My first impression of you was "here is a friendly guy". Go get them!

 

[harmsr]

Steve,

I don't take photos of random strangers just to take photos. If they are doing something that is interesting to me, as in the story then I'll take the shot.

Be friendly, act confident, and smile.

A photograph is a story of a moment in time. I don't hide the fact that i'm taking a photo. If the person notices, I smile and continue. If they get upset, I will normally stop the photo and tell them why I thought the shot would have been so interesting. They normally calm right down and say go ahead.

Like others have suggested, try starting out where people will expect photos to be taken as in some event. Let's plan one of our next AZ RFF get togethers to do this.

Best,

Ray

 

[emraphoto]

my 2 cents....

my 2 cents....

i used to have a problem randomly shooting in the street, especially people. nervous... lot's of "back of heads" and generaly too far away, rather banal work. BUT i would have a camera around my neck ALWAYS. i'd walk t work in the am and home at night, i'd take it to the pub, family outings, shopping and so on. eventually the people in my neighbouhood and my aquaintences got used to seeing me about with my camera. i started to blend in and they REALLy let their guard down.
i also made myself engage the people i wanted to photograph. talk to them, smile, ask questions. that's when my photo's really started to shine... up close, personal. most of the people i have photographed on the street i have spoken too. i know a little bit about them, their names.
it's really nerve wracking at first but i assure you, if you engage your photo's will improve immensely.
cheers and good luck
john

 

[Nando]

I'm normally shy but when I'm taking photos of people I am. I do get quite nervous at times. I've only been enjoying photography for a short time but I've been lucky enough to never run into any problems with the people that I've photographed, except for my mother.

My biggest problem is that I tend to think too much as to whether I should take the shot or not and when I finally make the decision to shoot, the opportunity is lost. I missed an excellent opportunity two days ago because of this. I had my MP w/ my 75 Heliar on my shoulder and I saw three teenage boys holding hands in prayer in the middle of a downtown parking lot. By the time I decided photograph them they finished praying and started to get into their car. I think I'll be kicking myself for a long time over this one.

 

[richiedcruz]

Don't worry. I have always found that it is always more a matter of practicing until you don't have to think about taking a shot anymore, as opposed to some kind of street ninja/commando/invisibility thing.

Richie

 

[dazedgonebye]

Wow...I'm just overwhelmed at the encouragement in these responses.
What a great bunch!
I am trying, a bit at a time, to branch out and spend more time shooting in public places. A bit at a time is the only way I'll be able to manage it.
It was great meeting some RFF people in person and I look foward to other meets as one way of getting myself out there.
I know that I'm a good photographer in my comfort zones. One of the main reasons I'm pursuing this avenue is to spend time outside of those zones. I don't have any professional goals related to photography, so it's all about the experience. I'll never lose my love for landscape or architectural work, but that's a ride I've been on many times before. It's time for me to try the rides that have always scared me.

Again, thanks for the encouragement. I'll do my best to take some of this good advice and go shoot.

 

[Dougg]

Steve, I can sympathize since I tend to be a bit shy and unwilling to invade the privacy of another. Lots of very good comments here that hit a vibe with me too.

Some years ago I reviewed my old contact sheets and prints, transcribing data to the computer, and I noticed that my most interesting shots involved people. So at that point I resolved to concentrate on people-related shots. It's been tough, and I find it takes self-discipline not to wimp-out and just pass on by.

I do cultivate a friendly and harmless appearance and manner anyway to avoid conflicts (first rule of self-defense!), and this also makes it easier to approach people with photography in mind. I can usually think of some friendly greeting and comment/question about what they're doing, then may ask for a photo, sometimes explaining I'm doing a little non-commercial project of people doing .... (whatever they happen to be doing that interested me). Sometimes it's even easier, just a gesture of raising the camera, and raised eyebrows, getting a nod in return.

Clearly this is a common problem... here's another helpful web page:
http://www.pinkheadedbug.com/techniques/shynessone.html

 

[dazedgonebye]

I've long recognized the power of people in other photograher's works...and missed it in mine.
Landscapes, architecture, macros, abstracts...all can convey beauty and be inspiring. Nothing connects though, like people.

 

[ikiru]

I'm not sure I like that pop photo article. While the advice to talk and be friendly seems sensible I don't like how they talk about tricking people into signing model releases, so he can sell their images so stock agencies...It is this kind of stuff that has everyones hair up these days, no one wants to unknowingly end up in the next genital itch ad.