street photography

inyourface

inyourface

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just wondering was it hard for you to take pics of strangers when you first started.
i went into an old town a week ago and thought it would be great to try out some street photography but just didnt feel comfortable pointing a camera at people.

i guess i will get more used to it as time goes by, have any of you ever had any trouble from people when taking pics?
 
I always pretend to be taking a photo of something else - the trick is to avoid eye contact and then look intently at something behind the person you just took a photo of. I once got asked to delete a shot (fairly politely) but as I was shooting film at the time I politely explained there is no "delete" button :D
 
Never had any problems, just look confident and if they notice you ... smile :)
 
always wondered this too. As I would like to attempt some street photography but worried how you start, without looking like some kind of odd ball taking photos of randoms.

I did think of getting some business cards printed up and hand them out with the link to the album on them for the people you take the photo's off.
 
I felt REALLY nervous when I first had a go but as said above, it kinda works when you look at the rest of the scene as opposed to the people in it if that makes sense.

When I first got "caught" I was expecting a problem but the person concerned just carried on chatting. I have been seen a few times since but being spotted has felt easier slowly but surely :)
 
Thanks, I think I shall give it a whirl as this type of photography does interest me.
 
Shoot with standard or wide zooms, pointing a long zoom at someone from a distance will make you look like you're up to no good.
Have you camera out at all times this may seem obvious but I've seen photographers try to whip their camera out of their bag quickly when they notice a potential subject.
Sometimes the people I'm photographing apologise thinking they are getting in the way of my shot.
 
redsnappa said:
Shoot with standard or wide zooms, pointing a long zoom at someone from a distance will make you look like you're up to no good.
Have you camera out at all times this may seem obvious but I've seen photographers try to whip their camera out of their bag quickly when they notice a potential subject.
Sometimes the people I'm photographing apologise thinking they are getting in the way of my shot.
Click to expand...
Definitely agree with having everything set up "ready to shoot" - for daytime normally have camera set with f/8 in AV mode and focus at about 2.5m. I often see people with the lens cap on - it would be really annoying to see a great shot, raise the camera to your eye only to realise you have forgotten to take off the lens cap!
 
i always feel.err..."wrong" and slightly stalkerish whenever i've tried street. Maybe its just me...
 
lol I have the opposite problem - when street people get in the way of my shots! I recently spotted a Philippe Starck sofa outside a waffle shop in Ypres. An old couple were sitting on it eating their ice cream but never mind I took the shot anyway - the old guy raised his ice in salute so I went over to explain to the couple what I was doing and ended up taking several shots of them with their own camera :)

If I want to take shots of strangers though, I will take the shot then talk to the 'model' and give them my website link, or ask beforehand - depends whether I want to catch them looking bland or animated :) I will always try n speak to them though, tis only polite :)
 
never really gone in for this whole speaking to subjects thing as i prefer not to draw attention to myself, although i will be polite if someone asks me what im doing. i guess some people enjoy speaking to random people on the street though.
 
I love street photography, but it is challenging. I took this shot in Cheltenham town centre, she looked up as I pressed the button. I don't think she was too happy about being snapped, I just smiled and walked briskly on!
 
Sometimes the subject is too busy to notice:



Other times it's that surprised look when they look up and see you that makes the perfect expression:



Both taken with a Bronica SQ-A and Ilford film (FP4+ top, HP5+ bottom).
 
i have tried to do street photography a few times, but same as some others, dont like the really wierd awkward looks (and threatening behaviour) i get, not help by the massively loud clunk the 400d makes trying to get sneaky shots
 
You do get used to it after a while,smile a lot but every now and then your going to get the odd awkward look as for threatening behavior just walk away :)
 
It took me a year to get used to it, found that going to practice in London where people didn't seem to take as much notice built up my confidence
 
For me street photography needs to be as candid as possible that is why I use a 70-200 most of the time. I can get closer to them without disturbing them. There is no right or wrong so save the sniper comments lol. Having the separation betweenView attachment 17321 View attachment 17322 myself and the subject gives me time to compose most of the time. At the end of the day it is what gets you the shot. If you are uncomfortable with shooting in their face I would suggest putting some space between yourself and the subject.
 
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