Large numbers of tourists is defiantly the place to start building confidence.. I count myself very luck to have all the choices on my door step, although there are many areas I shoot where still feel uneasy about shoving my lens in faces, especially the poorer areas where I live, people have got enough to deal with without me insulting there personal space.
If I am confronted in any way, apart from just respecting someone’s wishes, I find the main avenues of success are dependant on my attitude and demeanour. If I'm both confident, bold and yet also easy and playful, it’s as if my supposed professional goal is infectious. I shoot with art in mind I say and I'll come out with some arty pharty bull and indicate that if I find the shot works artistically I may keep it and exhibit it at some stage, which is just about true…. people often respond to being part of something rather than the feeling of being taken advantage off I find.
I often speak quite loudly to let others no of my intent, in a local market last winter I even had to share a little bottle of JD in everyone’s coffee just to prevent mass revolt, lol, well nearly! but it didn't half work well, ended up feeling obliged to take all the stall holders shots over the next half our ...all the time knowing I was going throw the lot away after I got home.
I think that's a bit unfair. It's not just me and it's not by choice. It's the way things are.
I don't think hes really having a go Tim, more philosophical.
Its only the way things are because the people before us made it that way, ...now its our turn to make a new better way.:thumbs
i wish i could do street stuff, Blackpool is full of errrrm "interesting" people in summer. Is it cheating to use my 100-400?
Plenty would say you need to get closer, but I say, use what you have and call it your version of 'street'. ... the main give away with longer a lens is the telephoto effect, which clearly shouts 'shot at some distance'. So if you really wanna work the supposed street type keep that in mind, although don't miss that lovely telephoto shot either.