Need advice on feeling comfortable taking shots of strangers

Hi everyone, I need some advice. Up until now, I've restricted my

photography to buildings and plants and other things that don't move

or talk. I would really like to broaden my horizons, and move on to

people, real living, breathing, unknown people. There's only one

problem - I always feel really self-conscious taking pictures of

people on the street, almost like I was spying on them. I know this

sounds silly, but I'd really like to get over this. Does anyone else

feel this way or ever felt this way at one time? What did you do to

get past this?

 

Nancy

well...i wish i had an answer, but i have the same issue.

 

HOWEVER, i have come to the conclusion that you just need to DO IT. If you get away with it without incident, you will be that much more confident. i think. i'm about to take the plunge. not gonna spend 5 min metering and farting around. just watch the situation, pick a composition, shoot and move on.

 

remember, if you look like you know what you're doing and belong where you are, people will tend not to ask questions.

 

i wonder if it makes a difference where you live... here in dallas, even at the busiest times, there just arent that many people on the streets. NYC, chicago, you can get lost in the crowd.

 

hope that helps. we'll see if i can pull the trigger.

Try using a telephoto lens, then you can stand from farther away.

Yeah right, telephoto lens. that will make an excellent spy out of Nancy.

see, that telephoto thing. i don't want to be sniping people from a distance. seems sneaky or something. i want to be involved. not taking pics from 100 yds away.

Why would it make her a spy? If it helps cpature a decisive moment why not?

You have little to worry about. Some people actually like to be photographed, to be noticed. Some will ask to take their picture and pose for you, too! Others are indifferent, but sometimes will tell you to stop (and these people shouldn't even be in public!) or ask you why you take their picture. It's all in your head, really.

Hi, I am a beginner but I know that if I practice at something it may get better. So if it were me feeling nervous, I would try to practice a little every day, until I had the feeling that I felt comfortable with my camera and the people involved. Maybe shooting total strangers is difficult for everyone, since there is always an unknown factor. Perhaps you could try limiting the unknowns if you get very nervy. Maybe try to go out with other photographers, hiking or just around town, until you feel happy and relaxed. I tend to jump in the deep end and I don't get nervous, I take my time and I know that I am a beginner, I enjoy that feeling, because I can learn.

 

Anyhow, buildings and plants and other things that don't move or talk are great things to shoot. The only problem is, they are not human. Real live humans are emotional as well as being rational, so I guess you could try to work out who to shoot and who not to shoot. Some folks will love to be in a shot, whereas some others would like to make you feel nervous. Practice helps us find out who is who, until we can move freely without fear. It is a great thing to overcome fear of people, so jump in, the water is fine.

 

Good luck and all the best.

As already suggested you just have to do it. I would go to an area where there are a lot of people. Preferably outdoors in a large city where there might be tourists with cameras. When I walk around I hide my camera by side toward my back so it is not as noticeable. I have a Leica and I pre-focus for about 10 feet (with my 35mm lens)and pre-set the exposure if I don't have enough time to set up. I wait till the last second bring the camera up to my eye and shoot.If I have enough time I'll focus if necessary. Just keep walking. Half the time the people didn't notice I'd taken a shot.

As J S said, working in a busy place is easier. I still often struggle pointing the camera on strangers at calm streets. I find it hard to do when a person seeks eye contact with me, but have no problem when the eye contact is initiated by me or the person not paying attention. Shooting where cameras are expected (fairs, protests, parades) is far more comfortable. It is strange that taking a shot of a nun gathering dontations can take more guts than photographing policemen charging in your direction, and am still not certain why.

nancy:

 

my personal experience says that you just have to do it once, pretending you are the biggest goof ball. once you are strange/stupid/(fill in whatever words you hate the most) and a fool to others, you have nothing to fear any more from there on.

 

seriously...

You should ask yourself why you want to take pictures of strangers. If you are uncomfortable, it's usually because you don't feel entirely right about what you are doing. If you have no personal reason to do it, move on to another type of photography. Street isn't the only way to take pictures of people, and it isn't for everyone. Give yourself a documentary assignment on a topic that you find meaningful. It might suit you better.

<p><i>If you are uncomfortable, it's usually because you don't feel entirely right about what you are doing.</i>

 

<p>Or it can be simply because you're shy and not thick-skinned enough.

 

<p>So Nancy, if you are attracted to street just give it a try. It isn't like people would assault you when they don't want to be shot. Not usually at least :)

Well, lets face it, it is often a voyeuristic act. Even Arbus talked about how she always felt she was being "naughty" when taking her photographs. Its something you have to deal with. I think Gerald has some good advice. Remember the discomfort is in your head, that you have a right to be doing it, its valid expression and try not to project you discomfort on the enviornment, if you act furtive and strange, people can pick up on it.

Nancy,

Many things are uncomfortable at first, then you do it more and more and it becomes easier.

Photographing strangers deals with others personal space. You might start by asking permission now and then before you shoot. Then; if they object, just find another subject. You may run into those who heartily object or ask you what you're up to. This is all part of the game. If you're committed to doing this you'll overcome the obstacles.

I typically will try to get an unobtrusive shot before asking, then ask. If they object I can delete the image. Once you speak to them it can destroy the candidness, but not always.

Hi,

 

I used to shoot street stuff many many years ago. And I think I have a few hints.

 

1. Choose a location where people are hanging around rather than passing through.

People hang around bus stops, sidewalk cafes and coffee shops, certain areas of shopping

malls. You can hang around too, and after a while you become a member of a little ad hoc

community. Allow people will get a good look at you. Fiddle with your camera. Look

through it. Take a few pictures of a squirrel or a crack in the sidewalk.

 

Soon, various body language cues will be given off, and you'll have a sense of who will be

OK with it. And then ease slowly into it. It will be much easier if people know you just a

little bit, and have had a good look at you. Once you've started, you'll find that some

people almost get in the shot on purpose, without acknowleging to you or to themselves

that they are doing so. If you can get that situation going, it's golden.

 

2. Don't take people by surprise. The worst way to do it, and the most unfair, is to walk

down a busy sidewalk with a prefocused lens, and then quickly, with your highly honed

photographic eye and instincts, snap a photo of someone. I wouldn't like that, and I don't

know why anyone else would.

 

I know some strong photographs have been taken that way, but--aside from the

unfairness of it--I doubt if it's a very productive way to make pictures. It simply allows for

no deliberation in thinking, framing and timing. Photographers do, I know, develop very

fast eyes at composition and timing, but I think it's stretching it a bit to think that many of

us can do it that instinctively.

 

To sum up, find ways that allow people to see you, and then ease into it. Plan on spending

fiteen minutes or even a half an hour before taking your first shot of a person. After you've

finally started, it will develop its own momentum.

 

Best

Tom

Hi Nancy,

 

I have this same problem two years ago when I started to concentrate on street photos. I would like to share what I am doing to overcome this. It is working for me.

 

At first, I use 75mm lense and pre-set focus at about 5-10M, and require myself to keep shooting IN FRONT OF PEOPLE within that distince. It took about 6 months before I really begin to feel comfortable. Try to be very fast at first.

 

Then I moved to practice 3-5M, using either 35mm, 50mm or 75mm, taking photos IN FRONT OF PEOPLE. Still very fast, i.e., not much time to wait for the right moment. It took another 8 months (I don't remember precisely).

 

Then I brought a 24mm and a 25mm (no need to focus, just pre-focus). These lenses require 1-3M for my taste, so I tried it. Moving to 2M IN FRONT OF PEOPLE (but very fast) is relatively easy, after the training mentioned above. But I still feel unconfortable for 1M-2M. However, only limited cases really need 1-2M, so it may not be too important.

 

My present training is to repeat all of the above, but hold the camera pointing IN FRONT OF THE PEOPLE for as long as I can stand the unconfortable feeling, in order to wait for the moment I think is right, even at the risk of not taking any photo at all. I just started about 2 months for this. And I feel that this is the most important part.

 

Unless it is just for fun, I always look at the viewfinder when the photo is taken - this is what the training is all about for me.

 

FInally, I find that this problem is only a problem of the photographer. 80% of the people in the street really don't care. And for those who care, they just turn their face away, just that. I never encountered any problem (which surprised me).

 

The above is just to share my own method designed by myself for myself. It appears to work for me. My gallery in photo.net largely recorded the photos taking by me using these methods in these 2 years. Before that, my street photos almost do not include living things.

 

Regards,

 

Eddie

Try this with a telephoto lens ;-)

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<a href="http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=479104"><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/3189672-lg.jpg" border="0"></a>

<p>

Robert Capa: "Like people and let them know it."

if you really feel like you are spying on them, you might want to try and feel differently

about that first.

 

you could be more disassociated with your subjects by thinking about them as moments

with shapes. or you could try asking people, set-up some shots and so on. there is

always a way... you only need find out how bad you want it and the rest will fall into place.

Nancy: Good question. I have been shooting people on the street for over 20 years. Beleive me when I started I felt as uncomfortable as a fish out of water, yet at the same time it was very exciting. The truth of the matter is that the majority of the time people could care less. I shoot wide[35mm lens] and tight[close to subject] most of the time. Frequently the subject of my photo will look behind him-herself to see what I was shooting, not realizing they were the subject. I always have the exposure set BEFORE I raise my camera. I am usually prefocused at 8 feet and shoot the subject 3 to 6 feet away. Good street, at close distances, is very "athletic" in that you have to have good, quick, hand- eye coordination. You only get good by doing it and keep doing it. Practise focusing on near distances in your living room at home. Might sound stupid, but its not if you want to get faster than auto focus. DON'T start with a telephoto. Get in there with a 35 or 50 lens. Finally, if confronted, and you will be , rarely, simply leave quickly. Don't get sucked into the : " HEY! you don't have my permission to take my photo" conversaation. Just walk and keep shooting. In the 20 years I have been doing this I have only really been hassled about 5 times and 2 of thse times were for shooting cops which I do almost every time I hit the street. Its all in your head, just do it. You'll love it.

Nancy, first there really is no mystery. Just don't start in the deep end! There's

no reason you need to make "street photography" an IN YOUR FACE sort of

agressive act. Ease into it. Start with photos of "strangers" you have asked

to photograph -- really feel like you are brightening up their day by doing it!

 

Then move on to photographing (up close -- and in "inside" the scene --

events that are made to be photographed. Really join in and become one

with the crowd. That's what wide angles are for.

 

After a while this will just seem second nature and then you can start

approaching people you might otherwise not have approached.

 

I've always told myself that if you're not close enough to talk to your subject

your WAY too far back!

 

 

 

And whatever you do STAY away from telephotos! If you want to use a

telephoto go on safari.<div></div>

.,.,.,<div></div>

Telephoto lenses compress space. The fact that you were

distant physically translates to the photograph. Conversely, if

you're close at the scene with a wider lens it will be evident in the

photo, giving depth and putting the viewer in the scene, which is

usually just where you want them.

Get close. Get personal. Like Capa says: Show people you like them -- that

you're honestly interested in their lives.<div></div>