Photo suggestions - big city

[tomas_runner]

<p>Hello,<br>

<br />I have such a weird problem - I don't know, what to shoot in a big city. I read about photography all the time, want to shoot remarkable pictures, but when I am walking through the city, the insipiration is gone. People are always in hurry, not happy to see me with camera in my hands... Do you have any tips what to shoot then? I usually end up taking pictures of local architecture and buildings, but am not satisfied with those shots. I am thinking about some long exposure night shots.<br>

Thanks in advance for response. :)</p>

[William Michael]

<blockquote>

<p>"I am thinking about some long exposure night shots."</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Then just go out at night and make some photos – don’t think too hard about it.</p>

<p><a href="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/9814931-lg.jpg">You can look for different colours of the various light sources, to flavour the scene.</a><br>

<a href="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/11991136-lg.jpg">You can just look for different colours that appear pretty to your eye.</a><br>

<a href="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/9199193-lg.jpg">You can play with the starburst effect of the lens shooting into point source lights.</a><br>

<a href="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/9197034-lg.jpg">You can always “look up” and make the night sky your black palette.</a><br>

<a href="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/9199113-lg.jpg">The night-time has a great expanse of opportunities especially the colour of the lights at night and if you are near water, the reflections from the water.</a><br>

<a href="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/16675275-lg.jpg">It is fun to photograph people at night-time, too.</a></p>

<p>***</p>

<p>The comment <em>"People are . . . not happy to see me with camera in my hands."</em> is most likely more in your mind that it is a reality. The way to get over this is to carry your camera everywhere that you possible can carry it - and USE IT.<br>

I <a href="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/10442964-lg.jpg">really</a> <a href="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/11961430-lg.jpg">do enjoy </a> <a href="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/11961350-lg.jpg">photographing</a> <a href="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/11961575-lg.jpg">people</a> at <a href="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/10442934-lg.jpg">night-time</a></p>

<p>WW</p>

<p> </p>

[Norma Desmond]

<p><em>"I read about photography all the time, want to shoot remarkable pictures, but when I am walking through the city, the insipiration is gone."</em></p>

<p>One thing I did a long time ago was to stop thinking too much about making remarkable pictures and make pictures I care about. I just try to express myself and show something meaningful.</p>

<p><em>"People are always in hurry, not happy to see me with camera in my hands..."</em></p>

<p>That is very much a reality of the city and it sounds like it's something that you've noticed and gets to you emotionally. Can you channel some of that energy into your shots, use it even if you're a little afraid of it, to challenge yourself photographically and people-wise. There always seem some approachable people to me. Street performers, for example, like attention. Street vendors, the ones selling hot dogs, etc., often have nothing else to do are willing to chat since they're standing there all day with nothing much else to do. Strike up a conversation. Ask if you can shoot them while they're doing their thing. They might ask for a buck or two which you may or may not feel comfortable giving them. They won't all ask. They won't all say yes, either, but some most likely will. When you're shooting them, stuff will be going on around them, but you'll seem engaged enough with what you're doing that most people won't even notice you and won't think much about you.</p>

<p>One thing to consider and a place to get some practice is tourist areas. There, cameras tend to abound and folks are less likely to notice your camera because most people will have one of their own. Tourist areas have their own drawbacks in terms of what you'll get photographically, but they're not a bad place to practice, and you might just come up with some methods and ideas that suit you.</p>

[LineMartel]

<p>I'm a little people shy and one approach that works for me is to select an interesting location and keep the camera up looking in the viewfinder (I sometimes just sit on a bench with the camera on a tripod) shooting people as they get in my frame... most people think that you were trying to photograph something else and that they just walked or sat in your field of view... Tourist areas and city events are always an easy playground...</p>

[dan_south]

<p>First suggestion - look at lots of photos in order to gain a clearer idea of what you like and what inspires you.</p>

<p>Second suggestion - review your photos objectively to determine what they are lacking, and create a plan for improvement.</p>

[Wouter Willemse]

<p>Lots of good advice already.... but let's say I recognise a large part of what you're asking (and very frequently still battle with it). I think a large part depends on how well you know where you are.<br>

Are you refering to cities you visit, or to the city where you live? Personally, I find that any city I visit I tend to make pretty unoriginal boring photos. It took some disappointment to admit that I should just simply admit to being a tourist, and make touristy shots when I am a tourist... The point is: you need to study a place to get the best out of it. You need to know where the light is right at what time of day, where the right kind of action might take place for what you want to capture, and you need to know the place well enough to loose this feel of being an intruder with a camera. In my view, it takes time, study and immersion into the place. Lots and lots of walks around, with and without camera to get the hang of the place.</p>

[AlanKlein]

<p>I think Wouter gave some really good ideas. However, as a New Yorker all my life, I still get self-conscious when I shoot people. I do shoot them now and then, but I often feel I'm intruding even though I feel I belong most anywhere in NYC. But there are lots of other things to shoot in a big city. Just keep you eyes open. Don't limit yourself to just the tourist spots either.These pictures were shot in the other NYC boroughs as well as Manhattan. </p>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alanklein2000/tags/nyc/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/alanklein2000/tags/nyc/</a></p>

[joe_willmore]

<p>Photographers are different. What works for Wouter may not work for me or Alan. So take my advice with a grain of salt and also an attempt to recognize that people are individuals.<br>

1. Look at the gallery here at this site. Look for examples you like and inspiration. Print some out or put together a "shot list" not b/c you're going to copy it but to use it for inspiration.<br>

2. Do a little research before you get to that City. You shoot in NYC or Chicago, you've got some tall buildings with interesting skyline options. You should in SLC or Denver, you've got nearby mountains. SF--an amazing bridge or two. LA--access to water, beaches and palm trees. Use some of those elements (or famous landmarks like if you're shooting in Philly or DC) to give you ideas.<br>

3. When I'm in a city, there are a couple of genres that just scream out to be in practically every city I've been in....architecture (especially B&W with a wide angle--emphasize form and lines)...and street photography. You're shy around people? Then get a fast 200mm zoom and shoot from a distance. Go out around lunch time when some people will be grazing or escaping from work, a range of different dress. Many cities have great parks (St. Louis is known for their parks) and/or sculpture gardens...very cool places to shoot. Or farmer's markets and open-air markets (like Portland) that are a fascinating mix of people and weird stuff. Shoot food or dining experiences (from the outside of the restaurant. All of that metal and glass in most cities....you can get some interesting reflection/refraction shots and when it's sunrise or sundown, some very golden or red colors. Or treat your shoot like a journalist shooting a story...have a beginning, use pictures to send messages, have an end to the story. Is it a young adult coming to the big city in wonder full of promise only to have dreams crushed and head home? Or a family experiencing everything in one day? Or the slow start and then hectic pace of a day that eventually crashes to a crawl and people head home or hit bars? Let your pictures of the city capture a narrative. National Geographic is often a great example of this. Some wedding photographers use a journalist approach to their shoots.<br>

4. Time lapse? Yep, that's an option. Get up high (a roof-top cafe) with a tripod. Or near a stop-light and catch passing tail-lights. Get someone to do some light painting around a statue at night. Catch the street lights reflecting off of a wet street or an urban river. Catch blurred motion as commuters hurry by on the street or bikers race by so you capture speed and activity.<br>

And if you don't like what you've shot so far, critique your work. How could you make your architecture shots more interesting or powerful? Why did you take the shot in the first place--what was it that you "saw" (other than, "gee, that's a tall building").</p>

[tomas_runner]

<p>Wow, thank you all for your comments. Everyone posted very useful tips for me. I hope I can extract every piece of advice. Here are some articles I found about night photography - http://erickimphotography.com/blog/2011/02/28/7-bright-ways-how-to-shoot-street-photography-at-night/ and http://improvephotography.com/832/black-and-white-photography-tips/ . It may come handy for some of us.</p>

<p>Right now, I shoot on film, because I like being more involed in making a photo, not to mention the classic feel and vintage camera in my hands. I have loaded some B&W film, so I think I'll just walk around a city with camera on my neck and watch the world around . I'll focus on lines, shades and patterns. Next step for me is to develop the film in a darkroom. </p>

<p>William, your images are so pretty. Fred, street performers and vendors seem like a good way to start. :) I may be a shy person, but after a while. I hope I can make a first step and start a conversation. Wouter, I take pictures in a city, where I live, but you are right, even after 3 years here I don't know even 20% of the city.Alan, what an outstanding shots from NYC. Joe, I don't usually travel a lot, because I am poor student of university, but I will explore local events and actions and hopefully get some snapshots, that are worth it. :)</p>

[dan_south]

<p>Tomas, you said that you "want to shoot remarkable pictures," but only you can decide what "remarkable" means to you. Is it lovers holding hand in a park, a homeless person sleeping in a bus stop, an upscale lady walking past graffiti? </p>

<p>Once you define clearly what you want to shoot, you devise a plan to capture it. Do a bit of pondering - and a lot of wandering - until your objectives become more clear.</p>