Street photography - how close do YOU get?

fret_wimp2 wrote: »

Ive been getting into street photography a little in the past few weeks. The biggest barrier to me is actually grtting up close and taking pictures of complete strangers. I need to overcome this, as im a big fan of the up close wide angle style street photography. I have a few questions for all the street photographers out there:

How do you get in close to strangers?
Do you have tactics?
What do you do if your confronted?
Have you ever had a violent confrontation from someone due to you taking their photograph?

(N.b. using a zoom and snapping from a distance is not a valid option, this is up close street photography were talking about here!)

Using a zoom is the only way for me, I'm afraid, but then I never publish my photos so there's no fear of someoen discovering themsleves in a shot in public.

So in answer to your questions:
1 - No.
2 - Yes, see above. Although sometimes you have to be direct and ask, "may I tkae a photo?" Worst they can do is say no.
3 - No, but if I am, I happily show them the photos I;ve taken,.
4 - Again, no. I'm discreet and unobtrusive. But if they get violent, I would call the police. They're the ones breaking the law, not me.

I do this. best camera for this is Olympus mirrorless cameras. I use the EM5. Lens I use vary from the basic telephoto zoom 40-150mm to the 45mm 1.8 prime. I also use sometimes the 9mm wide fisheye bodycap lens too as well as the 12-50mm.

Rule #1 is not to dress like a weirdo. #2 don't follow your subject around with a creepy sort of posture and camera hidden between the zip of your jeans. #3 Don't be a coward, street photography has no room for cowards, but if you're just starting out, ease yourself in with a telephoto zoom first then start getting close to people with prime lenses and wide angles. #4 a lot of people do it differently but throwing your aperture to f/8 and bumping up the ISO will ensure you never miss a shot. Alternative methods is using Program mode and shutter mode.

Never use manual because by the time you've it all figured in camera, you'll raise your head and the shot is gone. remember a blurry shot of something you want is better than a sharp well planned and framed photo of something you don't want. Keep it in continious shoot mode as well.

If someone says something to you, kindly explain who you are and what it is you are doing, if that fails and he turns out to be a junkie with an interest in your camera, then as you talk to him, drift into a very busy shop like vodafone until he backs off and leaves or if you see a policeman explain what is going on. I have had dirty looks from people in my provincial town ( very close minded people and anyone taking a pic of them is a pedophile ) but I've never had anyone give out to me except for one romanian woman. I got close to her and she started going mental waving her shawl at me. But thats ok, those photos can be funny too if ya get their reaction. But don't be afraid to get in close.

Shoot from the hip and that takes practice but if you're using an EM5 its made easy as you can see the screen and the frame because the screen on the EM5 is moveable.

I prefer looking through the viewfinder, and standing there for like two minutes at a time waiting for something interesting to come into the frame. this kind of throws off people who think you're taking a photo of a government building or something.

Try not making eye contact with your subject which implies you're taking their photo. Look ahead after you have taken the camera from your eye as if your looking past them, which implies you have taken a photo of something else.

It is an art not understood by the general public and this is something you understand as well which is why you get the fear you do because you know it isn't widely ''understood'' and ''accepted''. Anyway in the midst of all this you have to actually look for a shot that looks good.

don't let your photos look like tourist snaps. capture something wonderful like maybe a big huge tall fat guy sitting on a small bench or walking a small dog. those look cool and demonstrate the big verses the small. Don't have shots where people are looking at the camera. the art of this photography is to catch people off guard and candidly. Don't be asking for their permission to take their photo because then your not doing street photography. I don't care what anyone says, street portraits of people who have given you their permission prior is not street photography, its nice to look at I enjoy peoples street portraits but its not street photography in the truest sense.

Enjoy your time on the streets.

i never use zoom for street photography - somewhere between 35 and 50 - and get as close as possible - it forces interaction with subject which is a good thing - sometimes not so good, and you have to deal with aggressive confrontation , more so today - 5 years ago people didn't give a **** - now with the facebookisation of the world people are not so keen on been photographed - each year I swear will be my last , and each year I enjoy it less - - but on the positive had some amazing connections with people after that confrontation - its just that 5% that make you wonder why you do it.

If you are reduced to shooting with a zoom or hiding across the street , try some other form of photography , what use is a load of usually unfeeling photographs that you can never use - for street photography you must get close, for it to be any good.

pullandbang wrote: »

A smile helps a lot and a thumbs up if they catch you taking their photo. Then walk away....quickly....

I think this is just a good life lesson when caught doing anything that is borderline inappropriate.

Especially the thumbs up...

Great advice here.