j_y1

<p>Plenty of threads here about methodology, but I'll bite...<br>

Equipment: Don't need a rangefinder. I've seen fabulous work with huge canons/nikons so take what you currently have and work with it. There are plenty of great work being done with MF for documentary/journalism and street. Regarding lenses, I personally prefer the wide persepective particularly the 35mm focal length (with the 24/28 a close second) - this is just the way I see the world and the way I prefer seeing images. YMMV of course, but it's something that you'll discover the more you're out shooting.<br>

Film: BW - can't go wrong with Tri-x & Hp5+. Plenty of latitude and very forgiving... pull to 200 or push to 1600 and you can still get fabulous images out these.<br>

Getting started: Go out and shoot. Perhaps look at some photos by people like Alex Webb, Elliot Erwitt to study the images per se. Ask yourself what you it is you like about the photo... is it the composition, the lighting, the different layers present in the image, the interactions (or a combination of these of course). <br>

But mainly... go out and shoot.<br>

Regards.</p>

<p>I generally use a wide and since you're asking about shooting at around 10ft or closer, a wide definitely helps. Prefocus/scale focus with an aperture around f5.6-8 and you're good to go... Much, much faster than waiting for a focus lock (if using AF) or manually focusing the lens.</p>

<p>1. No.<br>

2. Yes. I find it personally a little tacky.</p>

<p>Joe, personally I think that crap is great in that it teaches you how to anticipate, compose, use light, use inanimate objects, spacing, etc.... anyways, I must say I enjoy your stuff.<br>

***<br>

Here's another:<br>

<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2102/2524907611_38e53cf8f4.jpg" alt="" width="336" height="500" /><br>

...killed by a tree...<br>

I saw this and I thought it was just funny. That's about all the reflection I had with this one...</p>

<p>Joe: I wasn't implying that you were advocating shooting randomly into a crowd... just saying that <em>I </em> remember (for the most part) <em>my own </em> thought process when taking a shot (I'd venture to say about 85% of the time). You're absolutely right that you can't control all the aspects that end up in the frame - it sometimes only takes a bouncing ball, a passerby, etc. to make or break a shot. However, looking back at some photos, I have very few images which contained the unintended variables. <br>

Could this be due to the method we approach sp? Personally I like to linger and wait if there was something I wanted to use in the frame - when doing this I find the result to be more purposely done. OTOH, when meandering the streets with my wife and daughter, I find that my shots are a lot more random and less thought out due perhaps to the short attention span of an infant/toddler. <br>

You can guess which has more keepers?... <em>Trick Question...</em> Neither. They both produce roughly equal amounts of crap! :)<br>

The element of surprise... when you catch it... is wonderful though!</p>

 

<p>Joe, when I'm out shooting, there are some details (often minor) that don't register at all. However, I would say that most of the results that I've gotten were due to planning... then reacting. There may be a sign or perhaps the way the light is behaving... I try and visualize the scene then wait to click the shutter. With respect to composition, it may be an afterthought, but perhaps it's already ingrained and so it's automatic when raising the camera and recording the image....?</p>

<p>Good idea here, Ton... sort of like a self reflection/self critique on a photo...<br>

This was shot late one night in NYC as I wandered in Times Square. My wife & daughter were back in the hotel room asleep and so I thought I'd take my then newly purchased lx3 for a test drive. <br>

As I crossed the street, I remember seeing the big Toys r Us sign over head and then I heard a group of friends just completely enjoying each other's company. Noticed them turn left and that they would be heading towards me so I slowed my pace, raised the camera to chest level (the lx3 has a good viewing angle in my opinion) and pressed the shutter. I was actually too busy looking at the lcd that I ran into the guy in the white shirt. <br>

Although I wouldn't call it something I'm particularly proud of, it's one of those photos that, for me, bring back the atmosphere and mood of the moment. The one friend supporting the other, the other in the back laughing, the "I *heart* NY" t-shirts and the big "Us" sign above them seemed to just blend in nicely in my opinion. <br>

I've always approached photography as a personal time machine - the photo might just be "okay", but it served its purpose if I can feel like I'm back to the exact location, seeing/hearing/feeling/smelling the exact same thing...<br>

<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3164/2897065081_02d02c7886.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /></p>

<p>... I second the compliment, Brad. Nice photos! </p>

<p>Re: shooting strangers...<br>

...they might shoot back...</p>

 

<p>@Jeff: Talk about discrete - you can hide behind that cape!<br /> @Ray: I'd never call myself an expert on sp (or anything photography related) but rather just another enthusiast. Here's a photo... 2 people crossing the street on a rainy london morning...<br /> <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/85/257093300_d2b7526743.jpg" alt="" width="320" height="500" /> <br /> ..& here's my critique: Boring as he!!... nothing going on... nothing stands out... uninteresting & the tilt doesn't work. Gear? Pentax *ist DS w/ lens set at 17mm I believe. Regardless of the equipment though, this shot doesn't do anything for me - even if it was shot with a Leica... isn't that what good street photogs use? ;)</p>

<p>...yeah I think that's correct, Barry...<br>

Must be the Asian in me...<br>

Now I'm tersty.. where's that Pefsi? ;)</p>

<p>...lost on who?</p>

 

<p>"...that's about it..."<br>

-Exactly! <br>

Don't get me wrong - I have many of these myself as well as the cafe & park bench shots... and despite being different from one another with respect to subject matter, they're all the same in that they evoke absolutely nothing. Flat lighting, uninteresting characters, no interaction, etc.... many, many shots in my collection = boring, mundane shots. </p>

<p> </p>

<p>...capturing strangers is not as easy as it looks...<br /> Absolutely agree!<br /> But what's more difficult is making what's captured stand out. As my journey into sp continues, I've been more and more picky as to what photos make the cut (in my opinion of course).... and find that the "results" have dwindled dramatically. There are so many photos of people crossing the street, sitting at a cafe, sleeping on a bench, strolling on the sidewalk (these are not aimed @ any one).... but what makes these shots good sp? Is it the use of light, the angle, the dress, facial expression, the faux fur coat... is it the composition, the way the subject is interconnected with the surroundings, the spacial relationships in the frame....? When reviewing your images, ask yourself what makes it "work" - there's lots to learn from that.</p>

<p>...bookmarked! Incredible photos...</p>

<p>"because the photographer is simply afraid of being physically close to the subject area" - Ray<br>

...no choice but to move closer if there's only a 35mm lens on the box...</p>

<p>"Great big professional DLSRs with 24-70 2.8 AF-S VR etc... mounted are at a distinct disadvantage here - at least mount a small, normal to wide prime lens if a DLSR is what you're shooting with"<br>

A friend in Vancouer, B.C. whom I had a photo walk with over the summer uses a 30D w/ 17-40mm f4 lens (surely not the largest, but definitely bigger than a prime).... sometimes he uses a flash.<br>

...he's not at a disadvantage...<br>

He's still unobtrusive - people know he's out taking photos, not necessarily of them, but don't really react to it until after the shot was taken.<br>

To each his own I guess....</p>

<p>With respect to the kind of camera to use, I personally found that <em>I'm the one</em> that's more sensitive to the noise (mirror slap/film advance) than the people out in the street. Often times, people are so preoccupied with whatever they're doing to notice the split second a camera is lifted up & the shutter pressed. I've seen people wander with a DSLR the same way one would with an M6 and get fantastic photos. So overall, I think the photog's approach carries more weight than the type of camera used. <br>

*This doesn't mean to say that using a digital p&s with next to no sound doesn't have its benefits - of course it does - you can't beat its near silent operation when silence is a must (church services and the like)*<br>

SP is much more subjective in its methods/techniques & interpretation than some other types of photography such as landscape, fashion, etc... Wide or normal? Are tele lenses okay? To ask for permission or not? What about portraits in the street - is that <em>street</em> ? Just go out and shoot & you'll soon discover you own way...</p>

<p>Since you're just starting out, I'd suggest you pick one focal length and stick to it. Learn how to use it ie: distance from subject, angle of view, etc... this way you can frame the scene before you even look through your viewfinder. Although I've seen some spectacular sp with a telephoto, I personally much prefer the slightly wider view (more of the environment; its setting); it shows the subject in context of the surroundings.<br>

Go out and shoot. It's the only way you'll get a hang of anticipating how a scene will unfold (tough to do this in front of a computer). <br>

I personally enjoy looking at other people's photographs so you might want to give that a try. It teaches you some things like composition, how things interact in the scene, etc... for example, take a look at Trent Parke's use of light...<br>

As was mentioned, don't hide the fact that you're out taking photos. From my experience you'll be better received this way than sneaking shots...</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Given your zoom, you're probably used to a 20mm lens so I'd probably advise that - you're already familiar with it. However, the focal length becomes redundant and you might not be okay with that... if this is the case, the 24 is the answer. I've always preferred primes mainly because of: a) more compact b) often faster (f1.4, 2.0, etc...) c) no need to play with different focal lengths which then makes the process of getting the shot faster (for me anyways).</p>

Don't hide the fact that you're taking photos... you're not photographing highly classified government establishments :) From my experience, you'll be better received this way than sneaking around (as Brad had already mentioned). If people see that you're out taking photos, then they'll soon ignore you....

Go about your photography like you're not doing anything wrong (because in reality there isn't). Carry yourself with confidence, but respect the subject... they'll let you know if they don't want their photo taken.

Your approach to sp might be dependent on your geographical location. It may be a little more challenging to get in close to your subjects in a small town compared to the tourist mecca, nyc. So be mindful of where you are...(even perhaps in certain parts of your city).

... these threads I find interesting mainly because I'm usually stumped as to how I'd respond to the question...

 

I, like some here I'm sure, just like to wander around and take photos of things I find interesting. I do look for light, how things/people react to each other; I look for body language, dress, funny things, sad things... whatever really. If I'm interested in how something will look on film/ccd/cmos/print, I take a photo.

...no idea how to define that...

 

The "what is" of sp is as open as it's methodology (or the "how") in my opinion...

Google or Youtube the following videos:

 

Jeff Mermelstein

Joel Meyerowitz

Bruce Gilden

 

Watch how other people work - I think there's plenty to learn from this.

Nice photo Ray.

If caught in the act per se, a simple smile and wave of the camera usually suffice. If there's a certain feature as in the "love" glasses above, then I'll ask about that. Generally though, I don't bother...

<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3063/2817078346_f04d0cfd16.jpg">