Anyone ever do street photography without a word?

[philipward]

<p>Jeff like Larry Clark eh!.I bet your friends and neighbours are a lot more interesting than mine!.My style is more like Bruce Gilden up close and personel. More hit man than sniper.{;~)</p>

[spanky]

<p>The only thing I can add is to use a wide to normal lens. Using a long lens from across the street especially while hiding behind something will arouse much more of the wrong kind of attention from others in the vicinity.</p>

[Spearhead]

<blockquote>

<p>your friends and neighbours</p>

</blockquote>

<p><a href="http://www.spirer.com/images/zombiegasmask.jpg">Friends</a> , heh... (linked since photo is not really relevant to thread)</p>

<p> </p>

[philipward]

<p>Nice one Jeff.</p>

[Akaky]

<p>I never talk to the people I photograph on the street. I wasnt aware this was even an issue.</p>

<p><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xIuOhy9wnNk/SyrGjJSGUFI/AAAAAAAABdg/V1U-NFmfLXY/s320/0117758-R1-E002.jpg" alt="" width="257" height="320" /><br /></p>

[katmaidog]

<p>Sometimes I get the shot without them seing me.<br>

<img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/10285075-md.jpg" alt="" width="679" height="504" /><br>

other times I get spotted.</p>

<p><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/8660950-md.jpg" alt="" width="680" height="503" /></p>

<p>Either way i don't say anything.</p>

<p>Unless I really really want the shot and they've already seen me and I can't get it without sasking them. So i do. usually they let me. but even then, since some of those shots came from countries where i don't spoeak the language, the "words" consisted of me holding up ,my camera with eyerows raised in silent "Ok?" And like as not they'll nod (also silently) and let me shoot the picture. This one was in Norway...</p>

<p><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/6319964-md.jpg" alt="" width="680" height="515" /></p>

[newbie1]

<p>Marc: why hide? You sound so sinister, creaping out of a trash can or something. Why not just walk and shoot what you see in your eyes as you picture it in a photo; stopping that one moment of perfection.<br>

Matt: I think the shot of the worker would be much better if he were not posed for the shot. And, I love black and white. Would not the photo tell more of the story if he were working? versus standing looking at the camera? How do you know what he is actually doing if you were not there? Perfect example of get the shot, then go see them and show them.<br>

By the way Matt: I love your first photo.</p>

 

[pnital]

<p>"It's about how you interact on the street with people". Jeff Spirer</p>

<p>It is my way .It depends on the situation. I'm not hiding. Sometimes they don't see me,but if they do and say no, I respect it. I sometime ask permission before shooting, and sometime after shooting, if they saw me and ask, I will talk with them ,show them what I took and so far did not have problems.</p>

<p>Michael S.thanks for the link, interesting reading as well as the different points of view.</p><div></div>

[spanky]

<p>Actually James I was referring to the number of times I've been with other photographers who are beginners at SP and rely on telephoto lenses and shooting around corners to avoid being spotted. Having seen this, I can readily see how folks would get more suspicious of a photographer then if he/she was part of the scene. I always use wide to standard lenses myself, and because I prefer to crop in the camera before shooting, I tend to get in close when I want to take a shot. Yep, that's me - up close and personal lol!</p>

<p>PS - Hiding in a trash can though does have a slight (smelly perhaps) appeal. Maybe you should design one for shy street photographers, get the patent, and have it sold wherever fine duck blinds are sold ;-)</p><div></div>

[tonmestrom]

<p>Marc, I couldn't agree more. Telework, given a few exceptions, is useless out there because simply put, you miss out on too much. What it all comes down to I guess is that if you don´t feel comfortable out there maybe it´s best to not be there in the first place.</p>

<p>Regardless if you talk to them it helps if you feel comfortable around people, language barriers notwithstanding.</p>

[_lvaro_rom_n]

<p>That's not my style. What I enjoy the most about photography is to know and learn. During years I was shooting mainly landscapes, but from last year I began to photograph people and their context. I try to be a serious amateur, but I focus more on talk and share than in return with lots of pics. Until now I've had very good moments by talking while with my camera is hanging from my shoulder, then I took a few photos and I continue to talk.</p>

[Allen Herbert]

<p >I just press the big button of my cam which says…</p>

<p > </p>

<p > </p>

<p >“press this big button to take a picture ”.</p>

<p > </p>

<p > That’s what it tells me to do in my Nikon Manual also to avoid direct lightening strikes or immersion in water……words of wisdom methinks from an inspired source.</p>

<p > </p>

<p > </p>

<p >I’ve never really concerned myself with the “word” or anything else for that matter. I believe in the Nikon manual which has always been an inspiration to me:)</p>

[tonmestrom]

<p>some people might call you a fundamentalist and suggest you go to hell for that ;-)))</p>

[katmaidog]

<p>James, the photo of the Norwegian worker is entirely unposed. He was having a cigarette break when I spotted him, standing just as he is in the photo. I couldn't get away with talking his picture without him seeing me, so i raised my camera and eyebrows, he nodded "ok", and i got the shot.</p>

<p>I tried it in B&W, but I missed the sublte warmth of the fresh conmcrete and so left it in color.</p>

<p>Thanks for the compliment regarding the 1st shot.</p>

[melissa_cramer]

<p>I rarely ask when I'm going for candids. I call them "bus shots" because it works fabulously well when you're riding in the city, the bus stops, and you snap a few of whatever's outside the glass using a p&s.<br>

<br /> <img src="http://andreanay.zenfolio.com/img/v2/p977656010-3.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p><img src="http://andreanay.zenfolio.com/img/v6/p831767773-3.jpg" alt="" /><br>

<br /> <em>Both without a sound.</em><br>

<em><br /> </em></p>