How close?

I was wondering how close you folks get to your street subjects. I think that

maybe proximity is proportional to photographer confidence (or bravery?) being

that the closer one gets means perpaps the greater confidence.

The impetus for me asking this question is thus: I usually have a 24-105 on

my 20D as my walk around setup. Every once and awhile I'll slap on the 10-

22. However, I'm becoming enamoured with primes and would like to use some

widish angle models. I currently have a 50/1.8 and am probably going to get

the 28/1.8. The 28 would require me to get fairly close to people and the

though of which is challenging my comfort zone.

Also the idea of getting close brings up a couple of ideas related to

proximity: do you engage your subject, talk to them before or after taking the

shot, do you carry cards and offer to email a photo, etc...

Just curious what your thoughts are.

Jeremy

not to brown nose tooooo much, but after a quick visit to your portfolio, looks like you've pretty much already got it down pat!

I just picked up the 24-105 and got up the cojones to try my first "street" outing and found that I was all over the place. There were times when I asked/struck up a short conversation. There were times where I stole it sniper style from 20 or 30 feet away, and there were times where I shot from the waist line and made a (sometimes good) guess on focus and angle.

Primes freak me out for not having that flexibility, but from what VERY little I've seen, each situation is so different, it's probably hard to give an exact answer as to proximity (if someone asked, I definitely wouldn't hesitate to email them or send a print. Seems like the least "we" could offer if pressed)

Usually there aren't rules...it depends on the situation, I just shoot on a daily basis, if someone is enough interested in sometime we have a discussion over it, some other times it just happens fast and everyone is into their routine and don't care about a camera..sometime i shoot from the hip, but is happening less lately.

No cards, sometime I mailed photos.

I guess it's just about you and your true approach, be honest to yourself and do it, things will happen. Sometime you get to know interesting individuals.

<blockquote><i>How close?</i></blockquote>

Down to minimum focus distance of my rangefinders for portrait shots. For more environment I usually prefocus 2 meter. Most of the time I don't shoot subjects farther than 3 meter (~10 feet). This is with focal lengths 35mm to 50mm in 135 format.

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<blockquote><i>do you engage your subject, talk to them before or after taking the shot?

</i></blockquote>

Sometimes. I don't take pictures of people who don't want to be photographed (making this clear by turning away...), but those who do I often talk to. The pictures are always better when you can somewhat "work" with your subjects, instead of random candid shots. So in situations where people are outgoing and can expect to be photographed (fairs, events, etc.) close-range picture-taking is easier than on your normal workday and results in more keepers.

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<blockquote><i>do you carry cards and offer to email a photo?</i></blockquote>

Of course! But you can't imagine how few actually write me.

I like filling the frame with my subjects. My 3rd St. series are all candids shot with my standard length lense (110mm for 6x7). I find this lens perfect for getting most people in head to toe at the distance from where I sit across from them. My subway shots are basically the same approach but I use my 65mm since I find it easier to use at the slower shutter speeds that is called for in this dim enviroment. This is even though the 65mm is a stop slower.

Sometimes I'll go up to people and sometimes I'll offer a to email or snail mail a print. Sometimes I even make friends with some of my chance encounter subjects like Karla below.

Don't forget you can also always crop if needed.

How close? Depends on the lens/camera: usually 2.5m if I'm using 50mm lens on a RF camera or 80mm lens on a 6x6; 1.5m if it's a 35mm on the RF or 50mm on the 6x6. When using a 16mm fisheye, then can get down to 50cm:<p>

eg.

<a href="http://4020.net/unposed/#stadaustopen">Stadium Australia open day</a><p>

Getting in close is pretty easy. Doing so without posing your subject or drawing attention to yourself... that isn't so easy :?)

Your group of girls springing with a rope pic could have done with a 14mm.

When I'm shooting half officially I like that focal length on one digi crop body or 20mm on film. - I'm probably too shy to use it for useless personal stret work as long as there's no brag album to flash.

One serious advantage of WAs is people most time have no clue what those really cover. - At least the CV 15mm. (I'm frequently asked if the Sigma 14mm was a fisheye.) You can really get so close that people feel save again.

In the long run I should print some cards carry a pic request book, but I'm lazy and a beginner.

I shoot zone focused in busy places and usually set the focus at around 8ft with my 50mm.

Proximity is proportional people's acceptable personal space. In a crowd it is small, in a large empty space it is much bigger. I would not walk up and shoot 8ft from someone in a deserted car park or something.

If you need to get closer, find more crowded places. There is often a lot more going on and people will not notice you so easily.

Remember that your 20D has crop factor or 1.6x. Your 28mm will be a 45mm equivalent which is not far off 'normal'.

Very, very close...

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