anbeck Posted March 23, 2006 Share Posted March 23, 2006 Hello, right now I am in France, where demonstrations are held against the CPE. Anyway, I am happy to have found a situation that is different from what I have done before. But I have realised that photographing large groups of people effectively is very hard. The problem is I only haved two primes (50mm and 135mm), so I would have to move around to compensate for the missing zoom. This is easy in normal environments like shooting portaits. But it was hard for me to find a point of view outside of the "mob", so most pictures ended up as rather boring, having been shot from within the students (look at <http://www.photo.net/photo/4252266> or <http://www.photo.net/photo/4252267> to see what I mean). The pictures I like more are those of individuals taking part in the protests (such as <http://www.photo.net/photo/4252264>), but by doing this I miss the scope of the protests. Do you have any experience and advice for me? What I would like very much would be photos to look at and to learn from, are there any photos of 1968 for example? Are there any how-to books I should look at? (please don't comment on the technical side of the photos, I don't like the contrast and the overall quality of the scans either.) Thanks a lot in advance!! Andr?<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anbeck Posted March 23, 2006 Author Share Posted March 23, 2006 There's a problem with the links, here we go again: http://www.photo.net/photo/4252266 http://www.photo.net/photo/4252267 http://www.photo.net/photo/4252264 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben conover Posted March 23, 2006 Share Posted March 23, 2006 Hello, very interesting post and great that you are there to get the shots. I think your photos look fine, maybe next time take a zoom for more flexibilty. You might try to find a vantage point from which to shoot, to encompass the people and the scene. perhaps the 135mm lens would do well for that. Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al_kaplan1 Posted March 23, 2006 Share Posted March 23, 2006 What you're missing aren't zooms, they're wideangles. Zooms are over rated. You have feet. you can move around. Lots of great photographs were made before zooms came along. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben conover Posted March 23, 2006 Share Posted March 23, 2006 I agree with Al since he makes very good use of wides. With the wide angle lens you could get into the crowd and get more in the frame. Perhaps you could buy a decent wide prime where you are based. Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_unsworth1 Posted March 23, 2006 Share Posted March 23, 2006 Andre, as Al says you need to get in close for the most dramatic shots. And as a (bad) example... <p> <img src = "http://www.steveunsworth.co.uk/PAW/Images/week18.jpg"> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelging Posted March 23, 2006 Share Posted March 23, 2006 Using a wide angle is a good idea , but a better one, since you do not have one, is getting a little higher. Find a overlook, second story balcony or window, Park Bench, table,trash can ,or stairway were you can get at least 6ft or higher above the crowd. Using your 135mm you should get some good shots ,with clean backgrounds. Think about where the light is coming from when you pick a location to shoot from,sidelighting and frontlighting is better than backlighting. If the protest gets ugly, this a good location to be to get the best photos and to be safe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
v_s8 Posted March 23, 2006 Share Posted March 23, 2006 As the others said before, wide angle is what you need but still you should get close and in front of the action. With 50mm and gloomy wheather, you'll have to shoot for even more shallow dof (or with flash) -- use it to your advantage and 'frame' the main subject with out of focus parts.<p> <center><img src="http://www.mariaszulc.net/jazz/easter.jpg"></center><p> also, i screwed up a lot of good shots by raising my lense up so try to keep your camera tilted down a bit. the taller you are, the better for you. otherwise, the unoccuppied lamp post or the telephone booth roof is something you should jump on for an overview.<p> <p> <center><img src="http://www.mariaszulc.net/jazz/rnc1.jpg"></center> <p>both photos shot with 35mm. good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad_ Posted March 23, 2006 Share Posted March 23, 2006 A couple days ago a regular here (and great photographer) said 99% of the protest photos you see suck. And he's right. Something that's been on my mind for a few years. I think it has to do with the huge number of protest pix you see in the media coupled with image saturation in general. They all kind of look the same and feel homogenized. I've yet to see a body of protest work here that I really moved me and were remembered more than a minute after viewing. The only exception to that is work done by Brian David Stevens, who used to post here in the past. His photos compositionally strong and powerful, iconic in feeling, and telling a story, rather than merely capturing people on the streets with signs. So, if it were me, I'd worry not so much about equipment, but put a lot of thought into what you want to capture and the possibilities for strong compositions before even hitting the street, while thinking about how you can come back with something that's different than the rest. Else you'll just go in just shooting crowds and events and coming back with an unremarkable set of photos of angry people . www.citysnaps.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m_. Posted March 23, 2006 Share Posted March 23, 2006 maria, uh...v.s., both are incredibly nice captures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anbeck Posted March 23, 2006 Author Share Posted March 23, 2006 Thanks for the advice so far. I had figured out some of it myself (today I have made shots from a higher point and in front of the crowd, I hope I can show them tomorrow). There is just one problem with the wide angle lens: Probably that's too close for me and my guts. When it got "ugly" today, there were cops beating some youths down to the ground and kept on beating them up with their sticks. Unfortunately I had already shot all my films, as it was already dark and I thought nothing would happen. But during this scene, there we're suddenly two or three professional photojournalists *within* all the mess, taking pictures with flashes from within three or four feet. I'm sure these are probably great pictures, as you may see the pain in the eyes of these guys (or they are ruined by the flash), but I'm not sure I want to get as close as that. Anyway I will try to find out what a wide angle lens costs here in France... Thanks again, Andre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben conover Posted March 23, 2006 Share Posted March 23, 2006 Good to hear you got the shots. About the protest and the news in France that people under the age of 25 will be liable to no legal redress when sacked for no reason from work is appaling. If that govermant bill gets passed it will be a sad day. Even more appaling that the right wing Frech police beat them with sticks, barbaric behaviour which needs documenting and banning. Post us your photos here when you can, we could learn from seeing them. Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben conover Posted March 23, 2006 Share Posted March 23, 2006 I see your photos now, compelling and powerful. 'Pounding of the drums 2' is awesome. http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=584299 Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uhooru Posted March 23, 2006 Share Posted March 23, 2006 Yeah, Google Brian David Stevens, and he has work on-line. You will see what Brad's talking about. His photos are very good as his photos seem to keep in mind the intersting content and story aspect as well as the thinking about and producing interesting, artful shots. He is not alone in the ability to do that though, and there are many great examples. Try looking through the annals of the Magnum site you'll see some great work in that regards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anbeck Posted March 24, 2006 Author Share Posted March 24, 2006 As promised I have now uploaded some of the pictures I had taken yesterday. You can have a look at them in my folder, I'll attach my favourite to this post.<br><br> Thanks,<br> Andre<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben conover Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 Interesting photo Andre, but distrubing, thanks for posting. Looks to me like a wirey and well armoured soldier going into battle against a beautiful bokeh of unarmed cultured adolescents. Love the verticals out of focus. Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrl Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 Go with the 50mm and get in close wit worked for Dorothea Lange. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
35mmdelux Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 VS, Those fotos are excellent IMO. Andre, You're going to have to think out of the box. You might not get the sweeping shots and you'll have to go in for more of the detail as VS did. Just remember that many of the greats used 6x6 Rollies w/ 75mm or 80mm (standard)lenses. They did pretty good. Later on, you'll need to get some type wide angle lens, even if its a cheaper non-Leica lens. Good reason for the 28-50-105 trilogy. Better yet get yourself a 35mm Summaron if need be! Au revoir. bon jour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anbeck Posted March 29, 2006 Author Share Posted March 29, 2006 I'm getting in closer to the action with each demonstration, what do you think? Look at the folder for more pics:<br><br> http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=584299<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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