travis1 Posted October 6, 2003 Share Posted October 6, 2003 I think everyone of us has our comfort zones in the streets. SOme photogs don't feel easy with certain subjects. They don't like going close. That doesn't mean they are not good photogs in the streets. It's just their nature of being. I think we should respect that. WHat some other great street photogs do is, well, their business. We don't have to emulate others. Do it the way you want to. Yes, there're no rules, even shooting tourists. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cd thacker Posted October 6, 2003 Share Posted October 6, 2003 <i>I think everyone of us has our comfort zones in the streets. SOme photogs don't feel easy with certain subjects. They don't like going close. That doesn't mean they are not good photogs in the streets.</i><p> Well, actually, Travis, and with due respect, the difficult thing about art in general - and street photography in particular - and I think this is the point Jeff and Grant were making - is the requirement to get out of one's "comfort zone" in every way, if one wants to progress and make better pictures. It really is true that "if your pictures aren't good enough, you're not getting close enough." There's a difference between blending in to obtain a fly-on-the-wall perspective, and blending in out of timidity. And only you, the photographer, know for sure which is which (though the truth will eventually reveal itself in your photos). <p> For me, an important thing is to sometimes force myself to get in people's faces with my camera. And I expect that's true for most street photographers at some point. Most good ones, anyway. You can't really let yourself off the hook if you want to go forward. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travis1 Posted October 6, 2003 Share Posted October 6, 2003 Doug, thanks for the insights. My only contention is that getting out of comfort zones and sticking a camera into faces don't necessarily make better pictures, although not across the board of course. Personally, If I don't get too close, it's seldom out of timidity, but more out of respect for my subjects. Im sure others work differently and behave differently in the streets though. Looking at how others work throught their pictures is quite a learning experience for me. cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cd thacker Posted October 6, 2003 Share Posted October 6, 2003 <i>If I don't get too close, it's seldom out of timidity, but more out of respect for my subjects.</i><p> Really none of my concern, Travis, but . . . can't you respect them close up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travis1 Posted October 6, 2003 Share Posted October 6, 2003 hmmm, I suppose I can, but what about them? WOuld you like a camera 0.7m from your face? It's not entirely about me and what I want, really. cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travis1 Posted October 6, 2003 Share Posted October 6, 2003 If sticking close gets the picture you want, do it. It's all about what you want to get from your subjects. ANy other techniques are just equally valid, IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travis1 Posted October 6, 2003 Share Posted October 6, 2003 well, with my summaron, 1 Metre is as close as I can go.;)<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cd thacker Posted October 6, 2003 Share Posted October 6, 2003 Close enough, I'd say. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cd thacker Posted October 6, 2003 Share Posted October 6, 2003 Really like that shot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manu_vermeiren Posted October 6, 2003 Share Posted October 6, 2003 <i></i><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travis1 Posted October 6, 2003 Share Posted October 6, 2003 Doug, thx. Those guys are wonderful. Anyway, I guess at the end of the day, for most of us, how close we want to get to the subjects is not a measure of bravery or timidity, but more to do with our shooting styles and what kind of pics we want to get in the end. Are street close ups always better than say a few feet away, it's subjective. My comfort zones are always changing anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
douglas k. Posted October 6, 2003 Share Posted October 6, 2003 Grant asked why I don't like pics of peoples' backs...I dislike them because they're usually boring (not always, but usually). And most (not all) people who shoot them are "chickenshits," to borrow Jeff's term -- they want to shoot on the street but end up with scads of pictures which were obviously all made with one common goal -- to allow nobody to notice the photographer. Such an approach employs a detachment and fear which rarely lead to good photography. Someone who has none of that fear is often able to produce interesting shots of peoples' backsides, but it's rare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allen Herbert Posted October 6, 2003 Share Posted October 6, 2003 Nice shot, Travis. Of course, you can get too close! Someone screaming in your lug holes,well, bad breath does not help either.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travis1 Posted October 6, 2003 Share Posted October 6, 2003 Thx Allen. I want to know, since this thread is still active, who here had been beaten up because he/she went out of his/her comfort zone, got real close to take a picture of a thug who obviously wasn't too please? How many stitches did you get? And was it worth it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travis1 Posted October 6, 2003 Share Posted October 6, 2003 Or at least share with us how you managed to take the picture of the thug without getting hurt. what techniques did you use? That is the crux of this whole discussion. How to get close without getting hurt? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allen Herbert Posted October 6, 2003 Share Posted October 6, 2003 It always amuses me when i am shooting in the street, any colleague or friend; quickly distance themselves. Thereafter, they develop a nervous twitch every time i look at my camera. Is that cool, or what! Love shooting in the street. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
douglas k. Posted October 6, 2003 Share Posted October 6, 2003 In response to Travis' question: I doubt anyone here has been beaten up for street shooting. Such dangers are vastly overstated. I've photographed everyone from bikers to topless women at Mardi Gras, and they all loved it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henricus Posted October 6, 2003 Share Posted October 6, 2003 Douglas, I have to agree, most folks are flattered by the attention. The ones that aren't, usually want privacy or feel intruded upon. However if they are in a public place, I say nuts to them.;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spearhead Posted October 6, 2003 Share Posted October 6, 2003 <i>I want to know, since this thread is still active, who here had been beaten up because he/she went out of his/her comfort zone, got real close to take a picture of a thug who obviously wasn't too please? </i><p> I've been threatened, at very close range, by people much bigger and much tougher than me, and probably carrying weapons. I've had them put their hands on the camera and tell me I wasn't going to take any photos. It probably was a result of shooting in a neighborhood controlled by gangs, but they didn't seem to care if I took photos without them in it. Music and Portraits Blog: Life in Portugal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travis1 Posted October 6, 2003 Share Posted October 6, 2003 Jeff, did they hit you? SHow us some photos during that confrontation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spearhead Posted October 6, 2003 Share Posted October 6, 2003 Only one guy swung at me and that was more as an indicator of what could happen than anything real. One guy did seem to want to take the camera with him, but I just stood my ground. You can't really do much else. If I had taken photos, I might not be here today, although I have plenty of fairly benign shots from that neighborhood. Music and Portraits Blog: Life in Portugal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travis1 Posted October 6, 2003 Share Posted October 6, 2003 This could really mean the "most difficut to get shots are the best shots". Jeff, I sure wish you had those guy's faces on record though. Is there a chance this will happen again? Or you would not attempt it ever again? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allen Herbert Posted October 6, 2003 Share Posted October 6, 2003 Jeff, did they hit you? Travis is taking the Michael. Still sort of upset with things. Cheer up Travis, no need to keep picking on old Jiffras. Blunt, he is...but he knows his stuff. Sort of like an old wine, smells a bit, but when you try it.well, it's got qualities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spearhead Posted October 6, 2003 Share Posted October 6, 2003 Well this was taken on the corner at a time that I wasn't being threatened, but I think he had more to drink than me :-)<p> <center> <img src="http://www.spirer.com/images/stop.jpg"><br> <i>Stop, Copyright 2001 Jeff Spirer</i> </center> Music and Portraits Blog: Life in Portugal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spearhead Posted October 6, 2003 Share Posted October 6, 2003 If you look carefully at his muscles, you'll get the idea. Mine look more like one of his fingers. Music and Portraits Blog: Life in Portugal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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