'Street Has Its Moments'

Is this a point of danger or a bit of fun for the street photographer? It is

not so clear from the photo, I think Your opinions are invited and most

welcome, as well as your ratings and critiques. If you rate harshly, very

critically, or wish to make a remark, please submit a helpful and

constructive comment; thank you in advance for sharing your

photographic knowledge to help improve my photography. Enjoy! John

Poke poke. I think he has a point. Nice shot.

Nice, fun comment.

I try to take the photo others don't, or are afraid to.

And have a delightful time doing it.

Thanks for sharing my fun.

john

John (Crosley)

Hi John, yes you are very daring. I find it difficult to get this close to a stranger but the interraction in the photo is a defining moment that pays off and makes the ordinary extroardinary (something I try to keep in mind when I am out)   The closest I have got is a quick snap of the guy standing outside North Face store. I was impressed that he really didn't respond to my camera and gave me no emotion whatever.. I think its the closest I've come to a portrait on the street.  Any secrets?  I might try this summer...too chilly in Montreal these days. Thanks.

I learned something from motivational speaker Zig Zigler.

He teaches people to 'reach their potential' by pushing them to try.

I didn't pay him any money, so no fear, only borrowed and copied a tape a long time ago.

He told the story of a man who sold pots and pans.  The man sold door to door pots and pans more than anybody else had ever heard.  His boss wanted to know why and how.

'Most people have boundaries' he told the boss.  "If you want to exceed the boundaries' you'll get kicked out on your ass."  But if you ASK to exceed those boundaries, you'll sometimes be allowed, if you do so nicely.

He asked his customers if he could OVERSELL them out of his enthusiasm for the vitamin saving features of his pots and pans, which cooked cleaner, washed better, cooked more evenly, etc., and asked for PERMISSION to exceed the bounds of what normally would be proprietous behavior on behalf of a salesman and he asked (on their behalf ostensibly) IN ADVANCE.

Once his customers gave him that permission, and some did, they were in for something.   Being honest individuals, they could not turn back his entreaties and almost always ended up buying his pots and pans after receiving the HARD SELL.

I don't hard sell, but I do often ask permission to 'get in close' and even offer a viewfinder view about how far things will look as seen through the viewfinder of a very wide angle lens. 

I ask for and get permission to exceed personal boundaries; something that Zig Zigler's salesman's story taught me was not so hard to do, if done right and tailored for each individual's needs. 

 'Won't it be great fun to make a great photo?' I say in my best Tom Sawyer voice.  'But I'll have to get in close, real close, probably more close than you're comfortable with, so you'll have to trust me.  Now look at me, would I be likely to harm you by putting thousands of dollars of equipment so close to your face (or other anatomical part)?' 

And they agree mostly.

It works.

Try it, you'll like it.

Ask Mikey.

My answer, discursive as always, really is a good one, right?

john

John (Crosley)

(P.S., you can do it in winter, also.  I did it in minus 15 degrees C. yesterday on the street.  No need to wait until summer, just like no need to wait until the 'photo trip' to take photos.  If I waited for such trips, I'd never take a photo.  This man saw me with a camera and really INVITED ME to take his photo -- almost demanded it.  I had two cameras at the time, which invites such a response, different than carrying one camera.

(Also, the bigger the camera/lens/lens hood combination, the more cameras, the more you'll be mistaken for a 'great' and allowed such latitude.

(Finally, now, with some success, I say sometimes either I'm just a hobbyist to some, or I'm a photo artist to others depending on what I think will sell, or I'll switch, and elaborate as I go and see the reaction.  I may even sometimes tell of my aspirations (galleries/museums), to those who are interested and seem they might help if the cause is 'worthy'; e.g;., museums, galleries. whereas others would rather help a hobbyist.

(You gotta know how to 'play' the street.  You're sometimes selling (when shooting so 'up close', the ability to 'get permission' to get close and cooperation, like so much of life rewards the successful salesperson.  It's not wrong to 'sell the ability to get your great photo; just don't tell lies.

Thanks again for your comment.  I hope this helps -- not only you but those who write and say 'how do you get those photos that I never could dare to get?'

john

John (Crosley)

In Russian (In Ukraine, 60% speak Russian primarily and most of the rest understand it, especially in the East and Center), I ask just one word' 'Portrait?' which is a cognate (sounds the same as written in Cyrillic as Latin alphabets).

Sometimes people just let me approach.  Other times from half a block away, they'll scream, 'no photo', at which I look at them with a mock glare and say 'ni nada' (don't want), putting them down, as though they have such a big head -- why would I want THEIR photo, anyway, which I would say if I had better command of the language.

Again, the street's the game, and the prize is the great photo, and the fun can be the interaction when you meet nice, amiable people among the sourpusses.

john

John (Crosley)

Hi John.. nice strong street work. I like it!

Contrary to appearances, this guy almost begged to have his photo taken.

He stood some distance away and say in a loud voice 'AHEM' as though to say 'WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO NOTICE ME AND SINGLE ME OUT FOR A GREAT PHOTO?'  Yes, 'Ahem' can mean that.  Seriously, you just have to have all your senses working.

I recognize such moments, and if there's ANY chance at all with such individuals, and I'm not in a great rush, I pay them lots of attention.  I get a lot of my photos from such people.

He was bored, it was warm, he was game and so was I.

We made a perfect combination, there on Century Blvd., as traffic whizzed by, two pedestrians.

Then we parted, all the friendlier for the encounter.

I'll bet he's finally found his photo and his friends will see it too.

Maybe I should write what a horror he was, and how 'tough', so his friends won't get the 'wrong idea' -- after all his shirt reflects the glory of 'colors' which are a gang thing.  I find 'gangs' do not interfere with me very much; though I often get warned.  But gangs are like animals, they chase the scared, and I'm cautious, but don't show my fear when near them . . . . and can 'put up a front; just as I learned how to do so as a youth with angry dogs that chased my bicycle.  I just ordered the dogs to 'go home, NOW! and many were so confused, they forgot I was the stranger and the one to be chased!

It's a good life lesson that many women, especially successful women of color, have mastered . . . . out of necessity.  It's very helpful out there on the street; more so in America's urban jungle than in first and second world foreign lands, where life is a little more civilized and less violent.

I would write differently for Brazil's favellas and various countries where 'personal safety' is an issue for everyone.  Those places I don' go with a camera, or I would get a very banged up Leica, drape it with ugly black tape and 'pray for the best'.  I used to drape my early cameras with black textile electrical tape to make them less obtrusive, as they were somewhat chrome in parts.  At the end, the adhesive came off with 'spirits' of some sort (not alcohol, though).

Thanks for the comment; I shoot for members like you who are discriminating.

john

John (Crosley)

stunning street shot! Nice use of wide angle, the hand  it's menacing me and the fellow glance as well!

Give a photographer too much time and a camera, send him down a major boulevard in a 'hard' neighborhood with a bored, attention-seeking passerby, and sometimes the combination can work wonders, especially if the 'bored passerby' can be recruited as a 'model'. (of course I NEVER pay).

I think this came very naturally to him, but to me he was entirely good natured.

Thanks for the comment; I find it heartening.

john

John (Crosley)

BB

A single word comment 'NO' is not helpful.

I don't know what you are saying or which point you might be commenting on.

I need direction before I can consider whatever it is you're trying to tell me.  As it stands now, you've communicated nothing to me except negativity about something, and I'm darned if I know about what.

john

John (Crosley)

Yes

I took a number of photos of this guy.

Each had its own pluses and minuses.

This is the one I chose, and I'm glad it worked.

Others might have worked equally as well, perhaps better.

Thank you for commenting.  I always love it when you do.

john

John (Crosley)

Hi John. I figured I would cancel out the one word "no" comment with a one word "yes comment.

In your comments, you make many true statements about street photography in general. You get a wide range of reactions - from one end of the spectrum to the other. As you indicated, some people beg for their photo to be takin, they pose, smile, etc. Others get very angry.

It was tough for me to get started in street photography, it takes time, you build an immunity to it in a way. And each time I go out, it takes a while to get started.

As you can see from my photos, I go through some "hard" neighborhoods too, so I probably see some of the same things that you do. I also walk downtown Chicago - even in cold weather - just need to dress warm enough.

This is definately a unique street photo, especially his expression.

Sid.

I figured with the 'no' post that it was one of three thing:

1.  Incoherence, either innate or chemically induced.

2. Mistake in posting, with part of post inadvertently left off, or

3. troll.

I have no idea which is the correct answer, of if there's one I didn't think of.

Maybe there's some world famous connect the word game I'm supposed to know of but didn't get the message (I seldom follow trends -- real life in all its glorious diversity is enough to keep me occupied.)

I'm glad you read AND agree with what I have written here about 'street'.

Depending on your experience (it sounds as though you're just passing neophyte into dangerously hooked), you might pick up a ton of tips and tricks by (1) reading all the comments under my portfolio (there's 100 pages of them, and (2) reading through all the comments under my photos -- there's 13330+ posts, and half of them are by me, with many explaining 'tips and tricks' and encounters which may be useful.

I wouldn't take my computer to the latrine for a quick read through all that though, even if you plan on being there some long time,.

In fact, it could take you months or years.

If I can find sponsorship, I'll turn it into a book, and have written so much for six + years with that ultimately in mind.  Photo.net is my giant idea pad for my thought on shooting 'street' and other subjects as well as things about other subjects.  That's a lot of chaff to sort through for some pretty good wheat but there's some real quality wheat there I think.

Might be worth some trouble having a snoop to see if it's any help,and if so, let me know, would you?

I could use the feedback; I get lots, but often it's one-time with lots of thanks then it stops, so I don't know how much was followed through, and much is from rank amateurs who are afraid of 'street' and need to overcome their fear and know it's 'normal', especially at first until one fills one's personal bag full of special street manners and mannerisms which one can turn on and off according to the situation.

Then life becomes a heck of a lot simpler,and moreover, people sense you're 'in control' and you don't have good reason almost ever to show fear or doubt the quality of what you do and they can sense that, like animals sense alpha males and wounded prey.

People on the street, photo subjects, often can 'feel' a photographer's insecurities and some will prey on them, others don't care and will perform, just for the joy of performing -- it's in their blood to have an audience of the moment and 'guess what?":  You're it and be thankful!

I just reviewed files and found an OUTSTANDING photo I didn't recall ever seeing before, because I searched that file only for a specific photo or two, but this one is flawed but stupendous -- I mean photo book impact, and it's just two guys on a street, stopped for one minute.

You just gotta keep trying, shooting, releasing that shutter, keeping the invitation open to all comers, trying new angles, new situations, and BINGO, one minute you're sitting on a world class (or nearly so) photo, a photo that may end up defining your skills for generations to come, and it can happen in less than a minute or even a few seconds, if you know what to do.

It's addicting.

It's my drug of choice, crippled though I may be much of the time.  I can hurt like hell even walking, or walking as slow and limping slow as a hunch backed woman or slower, but when I see a situation develop, it's instant narcotic, and I'm all over it 'like white on rice' whenever reasonably (and sometimes even unreasonably) possible.

john

John (Crosley)

I agree. Street photography is addicting. I can't wait until the weekends to get out and shoot. I have always, since childhood, been one to get out and bike or walk, and until four years ago, it never entered my mind to take along a camera.

I feel lucky that I have now found something I enjoy - really enjoy, and equipment aside, it doesn't cost very much. Walking around with a camera, I am in the moment, rather than thinking about the past or future, problems, etc. That's the best part.

You wrote clearly one phrase I never clearly articulated:  'in the moment'.

I think a lot . . . probably way too much.

With a camera, though, and with a subject, if I'm photographing, all my brain power, including I think my subconscious, is directed to being 'in the moment' with my subjects.

I don't worry about being or looking silly or 'oddball'.  That can go with the territory.  One moment I may be blended into a crowd, someone may notice the camera, indicate through some small gesture that they're 'open' to being photographed or just interested, and I'm there in a flash, often, or may play 'reluctant' if they're less interesting.

Sometimes when I'm asked to photograph, I refuse, and when a young woman asks me to 'take my picture', I'll stand there at the ready and utter the Russian word 'Snet' which means 'take it off' and she and her friends often are collapsed into giggles.  Those are photos in which I see no potential, but sometimes when the giggles start, there can be potential.

It's a giant sometimes interactive 'game'.

With a telephoto, it's often surreptitious, or even with a 'normal' lens.

Sometimes even with a wide angle and people who are disinterested.

But often with a wide angle, you must approach, often surprisingly closely, and that requires obtaining some sort of subject permission, and the skill in getting that permission is something I have never seen written about which is why I  tackle it here.

Thanks Sid for helping me clarify my thoughts about being ''in the moment' - it's a good help.

john

John (Crosley)

'When are you going to post my photo?'  he asked me.

I told him it was posted some time ago and told him how to find it.

I also told him I thought it was a very good photo which got good comments; he seemed please.

(nice guy)

john

John  (Crosley)

looks like you are going to get your windshield washed whether you fuckin like it or not. You must be coming out of the Holland Tunnel NYC.

Looks like my clock is going to get cleaned. 

Windshield washers in NYC are a much seedier lot than this guy whom now I have met twice.  (See comment next above.)

But, turns out, he's quite friendly, and we were just messin' around - having some fun with camera and time on our hands, with his full cooperation as a 'model'. 

I know from talking with him a few days ago (second meeting) we both had fun, and the result is a collaboration of sorts.

I don't misrepresent my photos; the vast majority are quite candid but when I get in close like this, it almost always requires permission, and that requires cooperation unless I'm in a crowd or other circumstance in which anonymous photography might be expected; e.g., a parade, circus, carnival, and so forth.

john

John (Crosley)