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I remember teaching you that same lesson
yes indeed u have which proves i do listen to others advice
Overcoming fear - 100 stranger's project
- Thread starter jonneymendoza
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yes indeed u have which proves i do listen to others advice
Gotta agree with Exception & Jonney on this one. I find most random street photography boring and uninspiring.
However knowing that the tog has had the nads and decency to ask for a shot makes it a whole different story and adds something to a photo that just can't exist in random snaps taken with a tele.
However knowing that the tog has had the nads and decency to ask for a shot makes it a whole different story and adds something to a photo that just can't exist in random snaps taken with a tele.
I am not talking aobut random candids at 200-300mm though, I am talking about using a 50 or a 35 and getting in the mix. Doing candid shooting at long focal lengths makes me shiver as thats the ground for peeping toms
e.g
I shot that with a nifty. I spoted this TFL worker outside Westminster tube as I walked out so I just swung around focused and shot, he obviously didn't like it much but I got a shot that was totally 100% natural reaction
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That shot is ok and easy to do. try and approach that person asking if you can take his pic. that is more difficult to do for most people.
to walk up to a random stranger with a camera asking them if you can take a pic.
i have taken loads of shots like the above. no problem. anyways its different strokes for each folks, there is no define rules of photography. some like those random snapsots of candids, others dont.
see, i can do a smilar pic:
Street shots 3 266 by jonneymendoza, on Flickr
to walk up to a random stranger with a camera asking them if you can take a pic.
i have taken loads of shots like the above. no problem. anyways its different strokes for each folks, there is no define rules of photography. some like those random snapsots of candids, others dont.
see, i can do a smilar pic:
Street shots 3 266 by jonneymendoza, on Flickr
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Soldato
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Nice sandwich!
Thanks for this
Soldato
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I am not talking aobut random candids at 200-300mm though, I am talking about using a 50 or a 35 and getting in the mix. Doing candid shooting at long focal lengths makes me shiver as thats the ground for peeping toms
e.g
I shot that with a nifty. I spoted this TFL worker outside Westminster tube as I walked out so I just swung around focused and shot, he obviously didn't like it much but I got a shot that was totally 100% natural reaction
Yeh, like.. "Why is that guy pointing a camera at me"... Sorry but still pretty boring imo as there just isn't any thing of interest, any connection or substance...
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I guess its horse for courses on personal preference on shooting choices ? Personally for me the substance is when I see natural reactions or people doing natural things in the city environment without being conscious of themselves doing it, and I guess other togs prefer interaction with their subjects ?
The thing is, there is no connection or substance with a "strangers" project either. I don't get the fascination with them personally. I can see them as a means to get yourself out there as a photographer, but just as a project... but then that's what great about photography, there's something for everybody
Street photography is about capturing a moment, focal length of 50 or 200 makes little difference other than perspective.
I like the work of Eliott Erwitt:
"It's about reacting to what you see, hopefully without preconception. You can find pictures anywhere. It's simply a matter of noticing things and organizing them. You just have to care about what's around you and have a concern with humanity and the human comedy." - Eliott Erwitt
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What is it you find difficult? Being caught taking someone's picture without asking is going to illicit more of a response that being upfront and just asking, and you do that all the time now? It's just not a big issue which you'll find out as you ask. Have your story ready for when they ask "why?", they can only say no (or a couple or words to that effect!
), no harm no foul What does it add exactly? You get a nice smiling picture of a stranger (or not if you ask them to do something else). There's very little context to the shot, you're not capturing life as street photography can.
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Yes and that is what i said previously. some people like it, some dont. You see for me, i dont like candid shots but they HAVE to tell some story for me.
For me it adds connection, context and purpose which is missing from the standard street photography of people.
I just don't find photo's of randoms going about their daily lives interesting at all. Not that I'm right or wrong its just my personal preference and that's the whole point isn't it?
Soldato
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You capture a genuine reaction and emotion of someone being photographed by a stranger. You see the mood and character of the photographer reflected off their expressions, these expressions are real, and you are therefore recording real life.
If they like you and are not in a hurry to be anywhere, they will also stand and chat with you for a while, so you also have an opportunity to learn more about them as a person, something you don't get with candids.
The candid examples you posted are clever and quirky, the subjects have aligned perfectly in a moment of time that made the shot what it is, however other than these seldom exceptions, I rarely see people posting pictures of something that is actually interesting, even if it is 'real life'.
As for why people make a fuss about stranger projects like this, I presume it's because most people don't have the nads to do it, let alone do it well...
So you like the interaction? I can see why this is useful for putting your brand out there, beyond that I don't find it that interesting. It's a fabricated moment, of course you can label it real life but that's taking it out of the context of capturing life as it goes about it's business. You're intruding into that and it becomes something else. Which is fine, as I said before photography is great as it caters for everyone and has some many areas of potential interest. This one just doesn't float my boat so to speak.
I don't disagree, there's lots of street photography that doesn't spark an interest for me. I think it is excellent when it does grab my attention though as the insight of the photographer to recognise and capture such moments is something I can only dream of. Most other forms of photography, if I put enough time into it I'd like to think I'd be able to produce something that I am happy with (I'm not saying that it would be great, just that I'd be happy!). Street photography I don't think I'd ever be able to do well.
Isn't this more of a personal confidence thing though? I wouldn't think twice about it but I'm used to dealing with people. Now I think about it though, if you are worried about this sort of contact then to achieve it would be personally very satisfying as you've conquered a "fear"?
I agree, I just don't see any interest in taking a photo of a stranger after asking their permission. They are still a stranger. In the end it is just a photo of a stranger who is not acting natural and forcing some kind of pose or feeling uncomfortable, unless they are a random extrovert and are showing off which is just as boring.
Yes, plenty of candid photos are boring, but that just shows that most people are bad photographers and only the famous candid street photographers have that special eye. Tell me something I don't know.
When you ask a stranger their permission and they pose for the camera then you have just totally thrown the whole story and subject out the window, which to me is a cardinal sin of photography. The photograph a should have some kind of meaning, a story, a context. Some random photographer photographer snapping away at a random stranger does nothing for me. Capturing some essence of humanity as life revolves around a busy city scene has a much more powerful interpretation
What is the connection between a random photographer and a random stranger?
What is the interest of the context when a random photographer asks a random stranger permission to take a photo?
What is the purpose of a random photographer taking a photo of a random stranger after asking their permission other than to get a photo that has some value to the photographer?
I agree, I don't find photos of randoms going about their daily life interesting, but I also don't posed photos of random strangers interesting either. The interest in candid photography is to find the captivating scenes that makes one think and ponder, to grab the viewers attention and mae the pause as they glance at the photos, to scan the photo for details and hints about what is going on, to understand the subject and meaning, and try to make the connection with the photographer's mind and with the person in the photo.
The problem is people go out on the streets and snap away at hundred og photos without thinking and without having a photographer's eye and simply select photos based on technical quality of sharpness and exposure rather than fulfilling compositions and powerful stories.
I don't like cities much and when I am i one I usually try to photograph the architecture, but I sometimes tr my hand at street photography. In the last 10 years I have not managed to get one photo I particually care for. It is difficult, there are not that many options. You can't force yourself or say you will come home with a memory card full of keepers. You ahve to see what is out there and capture that special moment, that might not come around for weeks at a time.
Context and purpose are much clearer with candid photography. The whole photo should be filled with the context, from the subject to the background. The photo is the context that is telling the story and making the photograph have interest and making the viewer think. The purpose of such a photograph is to convey that story.
Soldato
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You don't need to ask anyone to pose, just create an emotional response to get a true genuine reaction...
Check out the crows feet, you can't fake that expression...
Ultimately you create your own story by your actions in the interaction.
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You wont get any meaning shooting random people just walking in front of you.
That is the point some people are saying. if you are focused on taking people shots, its best IMO to ask them permission, take there shot and have a chat with them if permitted.
It has much more involved then just firing away taking shots on people walking down the street. anyone can do it. thats not poper street photo imo.
proper street photo is taking a picture in the street that tries to tell a story and has good composition, the people, lamp posts, cars, etc etc are all proops that you can use together to create that shot.
Who said anything about firing away at random strangers.
Quite the opposite in fact. I think you completely misunderstand what candid street photography is. TBH, for any interesting street photography I just cannot imagine possibly asking permission beforehand because it will absolutely kill the story. By all means ask afterwards for permission to keep the photo, that is only polite. If there are a couple of lovers enjoying a sunset and their company and you ask their permission you will completely destroy the story, or a child playing with their parents feeding the pigeons, a homeless person and their dog showing affection while 2 people are arguing behind them etc.
Many of the most interesting candid street scenes are very dynamic and only exist for a fleeting moment as certain elements in the scene combine and are well composed. You can't ask multiple people and animals and cars/buses to stop exactly as they are in their completely natural poses and stopping physics and pausing the universe while you ask all parties their permission, you have to see the scene unveil itself and in that instance compose the photograph in your mind and instinctively capture that special moment in time.
Some examples where you just have to be at the scene at the right time from a 30s second google search, buy no emans the best examples:
http://blogs.kansas.com/photo/files/2009/10/ReadyToFlyValparisoChile2008-2.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1113/1337089013_fd119de1be_o.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I3fy-J3k9ZU/S__UL_aJszI/AAAAAAAAAwk/WC-kWz-fUG0/s1600/paris-1989.jpg
http://fansinaflashbulb.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/erwitt_elliott_2007_4_1_crop.jpg
http://www.lfph.org/_image_uploads/home_page_images/nils_jornensen_2.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3347/3299674549_3cef13ed9b.jpg
http://mattweberphotos.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/pigeon-boys-1988-copy.jpg?w=1220&h=705
http://photo.net/general-comments/attachment/13518270/blind leading.jpg
Anyone can ask someone for their permission to take a a photo and then take a photo of reasonable quality and they can show off their technical skills with a flash etc. Getting a good candid photograph takes a lot more work and, patience, time, and skill in finding the scene and compositions and capturing that one moment.
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You don't need to ask anyone to pose, just create an emotional response to get a true genuine reaction...
Check out the crows feet, you can't fake that expression...
Ultimately you create your own story by your actions in the interaction.
TBH (I will give my personal and unsweetened opinion here because I know you can handle my criticism),
This photo does absolutely nothing to me in the slightest and I find it utterly boring. It is a random stranger that is smiling to a random photographer after being asked to have their photo taken. Who cares. I have zero connection to that scene, I don't feel any story, I am not emotionally involved with the photo, I am not left wondering what was happening, who that person is, what they were doing, what are they doing now, what were the dynamics at the time the photo was taken. It is empty.
Technically, it is great and I see she is really enjoying her photo being taken, and you have produced a photo of value to yourself in gaining experience and perhaps advertising your business.
Most of my landscape photography falls the same way, I am just as critical of my own work as suffering from a lack of power, story, meaning, emotion, thought provocation.... But they make some nice photos for myself to enjoy and capture my holiday memories, I even make some beer money on the side.
If your photo was printed on A3 canvas and hanging in a gallery i would walk right past. If it was for sale I wouldn't think for 1 second about buying it. Now Rojin's examples strike a lot of interest and I am off goggling the photographer.