Capture a stranger street style : Part 2

Loving this thread - think I've got a day off tomorrow - may head in to town and try some stranger candids myself!
 
I just don't even make eye contact to be honest. Most people just think you weren't shooting them. Use a relatively wide lens (35mm or less) and get close, that way you can grab the shot and the lens isn't pointing directly at them. Most people haven't been photographed this way by strangers before and it takes them longer to process that fact than it does to call you out on it. Give it a go, it's great fun.
 
Well, I somehow managed to wangle pretty much a full day to myself today and travelled into Edinburgh to give this a shot...What happened when I got there and faced a seemingly never ending supply of subjects to practice on, was that I bottled it. I literally could not point the camera in the direction of anything other than inanimate objects. What a waste of a free pass. I'm going to have to swallow a whole lot of MTFU juice I reckon. On the plus side I did get a bit of bike riding done on a beautiful, if cold day!
 
Oatcake said:
I just don't even make eye contact to be honest. Most people just think you weren't shooting them. Use a relatively wide lens (35mm or less) and get close, that way you can grab the shot and the lens isn't pointing directly at them. Most people haven't been photographed this way by strangers before and it takes them longer to process that fact than it does to call you out on it. Give it a go, it's great fun.
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^ This. If you get your shot and move on without looking at them, they're usually not even sure if you were taking a photo at all. I've been on the receiving end of this a large number of times and I just end up grinning at the back of some photographer who's already moved on to his next shot. I think they just got a shot of me but I just can't be sure.
 
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Ok I did actually pluck up the courage to press the shutter this time - but not to walk in a bit closer. Didn't have time to wait and see the finished caricature, the subject wasn't the type for cheesy grins though!
 
I am also uncomfortable photographing people without their permission. Even if you do manage to get the shot without them complaining, you post the photo on the interwebz and your subject might, just might, get to see it and object. I wonder if there is some sort of privacy law that applies here?

Anyway, I took my first EVER street shots a little while ago. I stopped to snap the open stage door, then this chap came out to have a ciggie, so I got him too.

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MeiselMaus said:
I am also uncomfortable photographing people without their permission. Even if you do manage to get the shot without them complaining, you post the photo on the interwebz and your subject might, just might, get to see it and object. I wonder if there is some sort of privacy law that applies here?

Anyway, I took my first EVER street shots a little while ago. I stopped to snap the open stage door, then this chap came out to have a ciggie, so I got him too.

23771055875_1cfa7affac_c.jpg
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That's nice Max, and very good start at street togging.(y)

George.
 
Thanks, George. Not sure I am going to specialise in it, but I will give it another go certainly.
 
MeiselMaus said:
I am also uncomfortable photographing people without their permission. Even if you do manage to get the shot without them complaining, you post the photo on the interwebz and your subject might, just might, get to see it and object. I wonder if there is some sort of privacy law that applies here?

Anyway, I took my first EVER street shots a little while ago. I stopped to snap the open stage door, then this chap came out to have a ciggie, so I got him too.

23771055875_1cfa7affac_c.jpg
Click to expand...
Regarding the law. It is my understanding that you can take photos of whoever you want if they are in a public place. Google 'photographers rights'. Having said that, if someone seriously objected I would delete the image (or if I was shooting film I would say I would destroy the negative). I've never had this happen though.

Nice shot by the way.
 
That is useful to know, Matt. Does the same apply to children, do you know? Not that I intend to photograph children. Just wondering if they might be a special case. I have certainly objected to people sneaking pics of my kids when we have been out and about, but that might just be the induced paranoia of a parent who reads too many news stories!.

And thanks on the shot.
 
MeiselMaus said:
That is useful to know, Matt. Does the same apply to children, do you know? Not that I intend to photograph children. Just wondering if they might be a special case. I have certainly objected to people sneaking pics of my kids when we have been out and about, but that might just be the induced paranoia of a parent who reads too many news stories!.

And thanks on the shot.
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As far as I'm aware kids aren't excluded so you can photograph them too. Although I am always a bit wary of this too. But again, I've never ran into problems because of it. I think as long as you're open about things and not shooting with a long lens from across the street you'll be ok.
 
Oatcake said:
As far as I'm aware kids aren't excluded so you can photograph them too. Although I am always a bit wary of this too. But again, I've never ran into problems because of it. I think as long as you're open about things and not shooting with a long lens from across the street you'll be ok.
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Yup. Sounds sensible.
 
Brilliant shot #1 Iain. Given your experience of people posing was this a case of finding the right scene, then asking for a pose?
 
fazer said:
Brilliant shot #1 Iain. Given your experience of people posing was this a case of finding the right scene, then asking for a pose?
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Thanks John, no this was entirely a 'grab shot'. I saw the woman scraping the window a took a few frames. As I moved closer she spotted me, smiled and waved then carried on with what she was doing.
 
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