Sleeping it off

This is one of the first shots I dared take in the street. The fact

that the guy was asleep helped a lot. Leave your comments and, if

you're in the quantifying mood, rate the shot. Just don't be unkind.

I'll return the favor, of course.

 

Thanks!

Funny, I actually enjoy taking photo of the homeless sometimes too. They usually are uninhibited and their character shows through. A couple of things about this photo in particular that I think may improve it - It's hard to see any detail in the man's face - and I would crop it in a landscape format just above the top of the bench. Because your subject is horizontal, it seems more pleasing to me. The background is busy so it draws my eye a bit. Try it in B&W too just for the heck of it but then you'd lose those great shoes!!

 

Happy shooting,

 

David.

I am often inspired to take pics of people in the street. Now, other than a fear of getting my camera ripped off (I feel more daring when using my plastic Diana camera) I often feel embaressed to really go for broke.

 

In order for this image to work, or any future ones in the same vein, you will either have to be more bold and get closer or get yourself a good telephoto lens so that you can shoot from far away. But I've noticed that the best work I've seen is often the result of the photographer having the guts to get in closer.

 

This could have been a great shot, but I'm guessing you used a 50mm from like 15 feet away. If you had moved in to about 4-5 feet, you could have found something more interesting.

 

Just my thoughts from someone who is constantly reminding himself to be a little more daring.

 

 

Thank you, guys, for leaving comments and suggestions. Now, this was my idea of an "environmental portrait." What can be more illustrative of a homeless life? Yes, it's really too busy, but then, that's their environment...

As a photojournalist, I've found when shooting on the street that it's not the subject which creates a barrier or wall, rather it's me or my lack of understanding the message in the photograph I want to send. It's simply when I allow myself to become a part of the subjects life, to become a part of the scene, to become involved and a part of the moment, that I get really good, intimate photographs. When I feel comfortable shooting street scenes, that comfort comes out in the way I handle myself and then the subject feels that comfort and goes about their business. I am not usually afraid to shoot people on the street, but when there is a bit of timidity or lack of understanding of the message, it shows in the photograph. The photo becomes two dimensional: it either has no emotion nor does the image have a message to convey.

 

I forced myself to become a part of the scene by shooting portraits and action with a 24mm. This forced me to realize people are just people and love to have their photo taken.

 

I recommend this excercise to those who want to learn to shoot on the street:

Shoot with a wide angle lens. This will force you to get close to your subject in order to fill the frame. This will force you to realize that people are people. I shot in both downtown Denver and Nashville and have never had a problem. I walked into the Nashville Rescue Mission and had no problem.

 

I'm sure onece you begin shooting street portraits more often, you too will realize it's actually quite fun.