Tips for Dublin street photography

sheepman

I'm planning on spending a day walking the streets of Dublin's city centre taking photos of anything or anyone I find interesting. I've read a few articles on the dos and don'ts of street photography and I have some common sense, but has anyone got advice on street photography specifically in Dublin?

Poncke

Yeah be careful taking photos of children

sheepman

Poncke wrote: »

Yeah be careful taking photos of children

The best photo I took today was of two children happily dancing to a busker's music.

Tiriel

Some really good advice in this thread - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057265165

sheepman

Perfect! Thank you!

sheepman

I survived in the end. Although I must admit, it was a bit more intimidating than I thought. I missed out on some potentially great photos due to my inability to get even remotely close to people with my camera.

sheepman

I have a Nikon D5300 that I used with a 35mm f1.8 lens. I tried it out today for some street photography in Dublin and found it a difficult lens to use for my first time doing street photography – it was forcing me to get up, close and personal, which I'm not used to yet and therefore didn't do much of.

Should I keep practising with the 35mm? Or is another lens recommended?

CabanSail

It is quite difficult to do. A lot of it is being able to read people and situations so you can anticipate the shot. Some are naturals us lesser mortals have to work at it.

sheepman

Definitely. I did find myself getting more comfortable throughout the day, about three hours in total. I received a few strange looks but nothing happened. In the end, I got a few decent shots that I'm now post-processing.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

sheepman wrote: »

I have a Nikon D5300 that I used with a 35mm f1.8 lens. I tried it out today for some street photography in Dublin and found it a difficult lens to use for my first time doing street photography – it was forcing me to get up, close and personal, which I'm not used to yet and therefore didn't do much of.

Should I keep practising with the 35mm? Or is another lens recommended?

If you don't like getting up close and personal, you will require a telephoto. Depending on your price range, there are plenty to chose from. Maybe a 70-200mm?

TheQuietFella

I enjoy Dublin & shooting images in Dublin but pay no attention to what
people here tell you on what you can or cannot shoot because they haven't done it or just don't have the balls to.
In saying that mind yourself on Moore Street, do not photograph outside the Ilac Centre or anywhere close to it.

Photograph who & what you like after that. Dubliners are usually an accommodating bunch and are well used to a camera/photographer.

TheQuietFella

Poncke wrote: »

Yeah be careful taking photos of children

Why?

sheepman

Appreciate those words Do you have any favourite areas of Dublin?

TheQuietFella wrote: »

In saying that mind yourself on Moore Street, do not photograph outside the Ilac Centre or anywhere close to it.

Curiously, why this area specifically? I could name quite a few areas I would be hesitant to shoot in. Have you run into trouble here in the past?

sheepman

I've looked into some telephotos and they are indeed pricey.

TheQuietFella

Curiously enough I like O'Connell Bridge!
I tend to hang about there at the pedestrian crossing (either end)
or somewhere within that zone sitting on the footpath.

Talbot Street is another area I'll have to cover at some stage.
I'm trying to go more towards the hard luck cases which isn't easy
but I'll get there in the end.

And yes to your final question & not so much trouble but being
an observer with a 'camera bag' about your neck drew suspicions.
I didn't have the camera out but still in the bag. Know your place
so to speak & be aware of all your 'surroundings'

Harry Palmr

Look out for loons who think you are following and "observing" them for legal reasons (as happened to me and this was in the early 90s - when paranoia was at a generaly lower level!)

CabanSail

You can either have the long lens and keep your distance. This works in some situations, but generally getting in close and interaction gets better results. Often the best camera for street work is not a DSLR but rather a high end compact. Using my G12 I tend to draw less attention than a bigger camera.

thebaz

sheepman wrote: »

I've looked into some telephotos and they are indeed pricey.

no need for telephoto lens , they will just encourage bad practices and laziness - maybe move to a 50 mm

Tiriel

Mod note: I've merged your threads as they both relate to the same topic - street photography.

I think you get better results with your feet - get in there and move to the subject rather than lurking in the distance and using a zoom.

I'd recommend a 50mm or 35mm (if using a crop sensor - I'm not familiar with Nikon models).
That's just my opinion though!

the_syco

Audrey Colossal Lumberyard wrote: »

If you don't like getting up close and personal, you will require a telephoto. Depending on your price range, there are plenty to chose from. Maybe a 70-200mm?

Argos do a "Tamron AF18-200mm DI II Zoom Lens - Nikon Fit" for €214

Pretty sure I have the Canon equivalent, and haven't taken it off since I've had it on. It's great not having to change from my 18-55 lens to the 100-300 lens for something that needs a bit of zoom.

Found it to be helpful when shooting the buskers, as I could do it for further away. Less ballsy, but more people get in your way.

TheQuietFella

thebaz wrote: »

no need for telephoto lens , they will just encourage bad practices and laziness - maybe move to a 50 mm

Situations call for different lens & some shots are better attained with either
a zoom or a prime. Some people do not want their images taken and you
have to respect that and some don't mind from a distance.
You have to be ready for whatever situation presents itself to you!

sheepman

TheQuietFella wrote: »

Situations call for different lens & some shots are better attained with either
a zoom or a prime. Some people do not want their images taken and you
have to respect that and some don't mind from a distance.
You have to be ready for whatever situation presents itself to you!

Agree. I think I'm going to stick with the prime lens. It's true that some people don't want their photo taken, but I won't know that until I actually take the photo – I won't be asking people in advance

magicbastarder

don't forget a zoom will be a handicap in many ways; apart from the usual issues of zooms - they won't offer the same sort of wider apertures, so you've less control over depth of field, which can be important in a cluttered urban environment, and you may need a reasonably fast shutter speed in lower light. but you'll stand out more so people may be more aware of your presence, and you'll potentially lose that spontanaeity (sp?); and you can work faster and with quicker reaction time with a wider lens, because the placing of the subject in the frame won't be as critical.

thebaz

TheQuietFella wrote: »

Situations call for different lens & some shots are better attained with either
a zoom or a prime. Some people do not want their images taken and you
have to respect that and some don't mind from a distance.

I agree people have rights not to have there photo taken , my philosophy is not to use a zoom for that reason (amongst others) - if people feel strongly about not having there photo taken , they can approach you , the personal connection is important for street photography, thats why its not for everyone - when your in the action you will get the action , from my experience.

TheQuietFella

thebaz wrote: »

I agree people have rights not to have there photo taken , my philosophy is not to use a zoom for that reason (amongst others) - if people feel strongly about not having there photo taken , they can approach you , the personal connection is important for street photography, thats why its not for everyone - when your in the action you will get the action , from my experience.

I never said that or maybe I didn't make my self clear here. Only in some very rare situations I have ever asked permission to shoot a persons image. Asking someone to pose removes the spontaneity of the moment. I personally don't care what people feel they have a right to in a photographic sense!

thebaz

TheQuietFella wrote: »

I never said that or maybe I didn't make my self clear here. Only in some very rare situations I have ever asked permission to shoot a persons image. Asking someone to pose removes the spontaneity of the moment. I personally don't care what people feel they have a right to in a photographic sense!

well we probably differ - i rarely ask people to pose - But, I do care what people feel they have a right to - if they don't like it or ask me to delete the image - I will comply , whats the value of having images of people , who are not happy with the picture - each to there own I suppose.

TheQuietFella

thebaz wrote: »

well we probably differ - i rarely ask people to pose - But, I do care what people feel they have a right to - if they don't like it or ask me to delete the image - I will comply , whats the value of having images of people , who are not happy with the picture - each to there own I suppose.

I wouldn't say we differ too much Baz but it's not entirely about whether
the subject is happy with the image or not but if you are!
We are talking about 'street photography' and not portraiture if you
understand where I'm coming from.

Persiancowboy

Apologies for veering somewhat off-topic here. I too have done a fair bit of street photography around Dublin City centre with varying degrees of success.

My issue here relates to taking photos in shopping centres. I have shot many times in St Stephen's Green Centre....mainly the Centre itself as against people in it.....without any hassle. However, a couple of months ago I got into serious aggro with a security guard in the Jervis Centre who tried to confiscate my camera after he spotted me taking some shots upstairs. He was making such a scene I eventually agreed to delete all the shots taken (again they were mainly of the interior of the centre rather than specific shoppers).

Was he being over-zealous or are there particular protocols around taking these types of interior shots? Given the hassle-free experience in the Green i thought this would not be a problem to do elsewhere

Poncke

Persiancowboy wrote: »

Apologies for veering somewhat off-topic here. I too have done a fair bit of street photography around Dublin City centre with varying degrees of success.

My issue here relates to taking photos in shopping centres. I have shot many times in St Stephen's Green Centre....mainly the Centre itself as against people in it.....without any hassle. However, a couple of months ago I got into serious aggro with a security guard in the Jervis Centre who tried to confiscate my camera after he spotted me taking some shots upstairs. He was making such a scene I eventually agreed to delete all the shots taken (again they were mainly of the interior of the centre rather than specific shoppers).

Was he being over-zealous or are there particular protocols around taking these types of interior shots? Given the hassle-free experience in the Green i thought this would not be a problem to do elsewhere

Yep. Same experience kind of, St. St. Green no issues, Jervis I was asked not to take photos. I think it is because of the incredibly photogenic character of the Green that they probably get tons of photographers there so theyre probably used to it.

DaireQuinlan

It's private property so they're within their rights to ask you to stop taking photographs. If you refuse they're entitled to escort you from the premises, using whatever minimum force necessary. They absolutely are not entitled to confiscate your equipment or force you to delete pictures.

This pops up everynow and again. Stephens green is run by DCC, and they , IIRC, explicitly allow non-commercial photography, with the requirement that you get a permit if you're engaging in commercial photography.

Interesting side note, almost the entirety of the IFSC is private property, and you used to get security guards on Segways rocking up and asking you to stop taking pictures if they saw you at it. Again, they were entirely within their rights to do this from a legal standpoint.

-- Ah, Stepehens Green CENTRE, not the actual green. Yeah it may just be that the security gaurds are a little more chilled than in Jervis, or that Persiancowboy ran into some guy on a power trip or whatever. --

Poncke

I understand that they are within their rights, I am not disputing that