Comments on: Photographing People in Public Places http://photodoto.com/photographing-people-in-public-places/ Photography is for everyone. Sat, 22 Nov 2008 06:08:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Ro http://photodoto.com/photographing-people-in-public-places/#comment-79529 Ro Fri, 09 Nov 2007 03:04:27 +0000 http://photodoto.com/index.php/2007/09/23/photographing-people-in-public-places/#comment-79529 Sounds good,but does one then whip out a model release form and discuss possible future payment to the 'model' if at some time in the future, a situation scould arise and THAT shot could win you a prize in a comp?.. what does one say to the person about this possibility? Sounds good,but does one then whip out a model release form and discuss possible future payment to the ‘model’ if at some time in the future, a situation scould arise and THAT shot could win you a prize in a comp?.. what does one say to the person about this possibility?

]]> By: How to take a candid photograph with a point and shoot? « draw the line http://photodoto.com/photographing-people-in-public-places/#comment-79497 How to take a candid photograph with a point and shoot? « draw the line Thu, 08 Nov 2007 17:56:14 +0000 http://photodoto.com/index.php/2007/09/23/photographing-people-in-public-places/#comment-79497 [...] there was an interesting post on Photodoto about Photographing people in public places by Elizabeth West. I had left a comment asking how I could go about getting candid photographs. [...] [...] there was an interesting post on Photodoto about Photographing people in public places by Elizabeth West. I had left a comment asking how I could go about getting candid photographs. [...]

]]> By: Elizabeth West http://photodoto.com/photographing-people-in-public-places/#comment-78977 Elizabeth West Mon, 05 Nov 2007 16:28:50 +0000 http://photodoto.com/index.php/2007/09/23/photographing-people-in-public-places/#comment-78977 I think Alexander comes closest to what I aspire to in general...taking unposed photos of people who have consented to be photographed. I think street shooting is a genre unto itself, and I agree that photojournalism is done spontaneously, without stopping to ask. (By asking, the photographer would change the event.) I am delighted to read all the comments and reflect on the various aspects of shooting people in public. I'm grateful to all of you who wrote. I think Alexander comes closest to what I aspire to in general…taking unposed photos of people who have consented to be photographed. I think street shooting is a genre unto itself, and I agree that photojournalism is done spontaneously, without stopping to ask. (By asking, the photographer would change the event.)

I am delighted to read all the comments and reflect on the various aspects of shooting people in public. I’m grateful to all of you who wrote.

]]> By: Ujwala http://photodoto.com/photographing-people-in-public-places/#comment-78614 Ujwala Sat, 03 Nov 2007 14:03:08 +0000 http://photodoto.com/index.php/2007/09/23/photographing-people-in-public-places/#comment-78614 Thank you Elizabeth and Alexander. I'm going to try both ways, be a bit inconspicuous and also try asking for permission and then wait for a while before taking the photograph I want. Thank you Elizabeth and Alexander. I’m going to try both ways, be a bit inconspicuous and also try asking for permission and then wait for a while before taking the photograph I want.

]]> By: CK-II http://photodoto.com/photographing-people-in-public-places/#comment-78542 CK-II Sat, 03 Nov 2007 00:37:53 +0000 http://photodoto.com/index.php/2007/09/23/photographing-people-in-public-places/#comment-78542 I think for street shooting, it has to be more photojournalistic rather than asking the street people to pose for your camera. However, the pictures with the street people posing for us make great ebvironmental portraiture. :) I think for street shooting, it has to be more photojournalistic rather than asking the street people to pose for your camera. However, the pictures with the street people posing for us make great ebvironmental portraiture. :)

]]> By: Alexander http://photodoto.com/photographing-people-in-public-places/#comment-77283 Alexander Fri, 26 Oct 2007 13:26:28 +0000 http://photodoto.com/index.php/2007/09/23/photographing-people-in-public-places/#comment-77283 Elizabeth, I find that having a relationship with somebody makes them pose for me rather than be natural. This is different for different people of course but generally it is so. It may be easier and more fun that way, but for me it doesn't make for good photographs. I usually try to show that I'm going to take photographs but still keep a distance. Then people who're ok with having their photograph taken will ignore me and those who might object with either show it or leave the scene. Those who stay may still react on me, but they are more natural. or at least that's how I think about it: http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=4621610 Another way is to talk to people about taking their picture, but then let people go on with what they've been doing for some time, so that they forget about you being there. Imaging going to a factory, asking permission from a manager and then telling people you'll be taking photographs of them working. Then you spend a day there, and by the end hardly anybody pays you any attention. This is best, but it takes a lot of time, so I think it's the way for professionals, not for us hobbyists. Elizabeth,

I find that having a relationship with somebody makes them pose for me rather than be natural. This is different for different people of course but generally it is so.

It may be easier and more fun that way, but for me it doesn’t make for good photographs.

I usually try to show that I’m going to take photographs but still keep a distance. Then people who’re ok with having their photograph taken will ignore me and those who might object with either show it or leave the scene. Those who stay may still react on me, but they are more natural. or at least that’s how I think about it:

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=4621610

Another way is to talk to people about taking their picture, but then let people go on with what they’ve been doing for some time, so that they forget about you being there. Imaging going to a factory, asking permission from a manager and then telling people you’ll be taking photographs of them working. Then you spend a day there, and by the end hardly anybody pays you any attention.

This is best, but it takes a lot of time, so I think it’s the way for professionals, not for us hobbyists.

]]> By: Donncha O Caoimh http://photodoto.com/photographing-people-in-public-places/#comment-72210 Donncha O Caoimh Sat, 29 Sep 2007 19:32:39 +0000 http://photodoto.com/index.php/2007/09/23/photographing-people-in-public-places/#comment-72210 Oh goody! A discussion on my favourite photography topic! I've done both in the past - shooting after making contact, and also candid and it's hard to know which I prefer. Candid street photography is much easier to get snapshots and the occasional lucky strikes, but when you interact you can get a pretty decent portrait, and it's easier to get a good composition. Larry - that hasn't happened to me yet thankfully. Get some moo.com business cards with your website on one side and a photo from your portfolio on the other. They're a great way of connecting and people love the small size factor! Whenever I do talk to people on the street I generally hand out a couple of them. Here are all my street shots so far, hopefully they might inspire someone to try their hand at this street thing we love! http://inphotos.org/tag/street/ Oh goody! A discussion on my favourite photography topic!

I’ve done both in the past - shooting after making contact, and also candid and it’s hard to know which I prefer. Candid street photography is much easier to get snapshots and the occasional lucky strikes, but when you interact you can get a pretty decent portrait, and it’s easier to get a good composition.

Larry - that hasn’t happened to me yet thankfully. Get some moo.com business cards with your website on one side and a photo from your portfolio on the other. They’re a great way of connecting and people love the small size factor! Whenever I do talk to people on the street I generally hand out a couple of them.
Here are all my street shots so far, hopefully they might inspire someone to try their hand at this street thing we love! http://inphotos.org/tag/street/

]]> By: Larry Grubbs http://photodoto.com/photographing-people-in-public-places/#comment-71538 Larry Grubbs Tue, 25 Sep 2007 16:16:37 +0000 http://photodoto.com/index.php/2007/09/23/photographing-people-in-public-places/#comment-71538 I've gotten pretty brave about asking people if I can photograph them and/or their children and have found that it's pretty easy. One day in a local park I saw a little boy with his father playing. I just had to get a picture of the child. I eased into a conversation with him and told him that I was a photographer and frequented this park with my grandson who also happened to be standing next to me at the time. I eventually asked his Dad if I could take a picture of his son and he immediately shot back, "You're not going to put it on a porn site on the internet or something are you?" I felt like I was just handed a guilty verdict for commiting a crime I didn't do and told him no, of course not. He said okay. I took one picture and immediately erased it. It took some time before I ever asked anyone again but since that time I can't help but feel a little creepy whenever I do ask. I’ve gotten pretty brave about asking people if I can photograph them and/or their children and have found that it’s pretty easy. One day in a local park I saw a little boy with his father playing. I just had to get a picture of the child. I eased into a conversation with him and told him that I was a photographer and frequented this park with my grandson who also happened to be standing next to me at the time. I eventually asked his Dad if I could take a picture of his son and he immediately shot back, “You’re not going to put it on a porn site on the internet or something are you?” I felt like I was just handed a guilty verdict for commiting a crime I didn’t do and told him no, of course not. He said okay. I took one picture and immediately erased it. It took some time before I ever asked anyone again but since that time I can’t help but feel a little creepy whenever I do ask.

]]> By: Elizabeth West http://photodoto.com/photographing-people-in-public-places/#comment-71431 Elizabeth West Mon, 24 Sep 2007 23:18:25 +0000 http://photodoto.com/index.php/2007/09/23/photographing-people-in-public-places/#comment-71431 Ujwala, I think to catch people unaware you have to just wander around quietly and watch for a while. Then be prepared to shoot quickly before someone notices you. Often, shooting a picture from the side is easier to do than one face to face. Ujwala, I think to catch people unaware you have to just wander around quietly and watch for a while. Then be prepared to shoot quickly before someone notices you. Often, shooting a picture from the side is easier to do than one face to face.

]]> By: Stew http://photodoto.com/photographing-people-in-public-places/#comment-71395 Stew Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:31:56 +0000 http://photodoto.com/index.php/2007/09/23/photographing-people-in-public-places/#comment-71395 This is a *very* timely article for me, as I was just discussing this very thing with a friend on Flickr. I experienced the exact situation that Ujwala commented on, with the same, positive result. I created the composite photo below to show the benefit of asking people for permission to take their photo, rather than just snapping a shot. I took these two shots one after the other, both show this woman's sweet face, who I'd never met. In the first, she knew I was there, waiting to take her photo. After I took that shot, I realized she was a little nervous about me being there. So I chatted with her, and asked if I could photograph her painting the boy's face. She said sure, then settled back into her work. I greatly prefer the second shot, because she seems more relaxed to me, intent on her painting instead of worrying if she looks okay in the photo. I need to do this more often. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/stewstryker/1433172771/" title="Photo Sharing" rel="nofollow"></a> Hopefully the image and link above will get posted? If not, here's a link to the image I'm talking about. Photodoto has my permission to attach it to the comment (with the link to Flickr) if it didn't make it. http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1015/1433172771_1c6147d65b_o.jpg This is a *very* timely article for me, as I was just discussing this very thing with a friend on Flickr.
I experienced the exact situation that Ujwala commented on, with the same, positive result.

I created the composite photo below to show the benefit of asking people for permission to take their photo, rather than just snapping a shot.

I took these two shots one after the other, both show this woman’s sweet face, who I’d never met. In the first, she knew I was there, waiting to take her photo. After I took that shot, I realized she was a little nervous about me being there. So I chatted with her, and asked if I could photograph her painting the boy’s face. She said sure, then settled back into her work.

I greatly prefer the second shot, because she seems more relaxed to me, intent on her painting instead of worrying if she looks okay in the photo.

I need to do this more often.

Hopefully the image and link above will get posted?

If not, here’s a link to the image I’m talking about. Photodoto has my permission to attach it to the comment (with the link to Flickr) if it didn’t make it.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1015/1433172771_1c6147d65b_o.jpg

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