Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2010/08/30

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Subject: [Leica] NOW photographing people and focal length - was Re: Legs
From: topoxforddoc at btinternet.com (Charlie Chan)
Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:57:36 +0100
References: <C8A15024.28D2%mark@rabinergroup.com> <24DFFA43-77BA-4E7D-817F-3EFD117ABF2D@mac.com> <6.2.5.6.2.20100830134923.055d3188@med.cornell.edu> <01FFF02B-38C6-4729-AA78-55AC017E758F@mac.com> <AANLkTikMaRa8NThistwuDF-joVi26=tDU6VSen0mztqQ@mail.gmail.com> <4486178A80024CF68037C91E1976EE69@syneticfeba505>

More wise words from Dr Ted.

Charlie Chan
Cheltenham, UK

topoxforddoc at btinternet.com
www.cancer-surgeon.co.uk
www.charlie-chan.co.uk



On 30 Aug 2010, at 20:18, <tedgrant at shaw.ca> <tedgrant at shaw.ca> wrote:

> If one wishes to become a "GOOD STREET PHOTOGRAPHER" here is the simplest 
> training you can  engage in and train to become  a perfectionist! Until 
> you are lightening fast and completely unobtrusive.
> 
> Sit on one end of a public park bench or wherever, do not pay any 
> attention to the person or persons who may come along and sit at the other 
> end. You are looking every other angle than directly at them, but you are 
> watching them with your peripheral vision.
> 
> You put the camera up a few times always in different direction than 
> directly at the subject. Do it in a sort of fiddling manner.  A few times 
> they may look at you while camera is to eye then they look to see what 
> you're shooting.
> 
> You still never look directly at nor do you acknowledge they are there. 
> When you look in their direction there isn't any indication you see them 
> but actually you are looking beyond them. On occasion you put the camera 
> to eye in there direction... "click" and when the camera comes down all 
> your attention is beyond them even if you move your body slightly 
> indicating you are looking beyond them.
> 
> I have on  occasion in my hand motion indicated to have them lean 
> backwards or forwards, when they do immediately shoot. BUT ALWAYS GIVE 
> THEM A SMILE AND THUMBS UP FOR COOPERATING. That's it don't get into 
> conversation, carry on working this subject without them knowing you are 
> shooting them!
> 
> Eventually they no longer pay attention and you're free to shoot them 
> quite candidly. Then move to another bench always looking for "great 
> light" and sit down. Start the routine all over again. Eventually you can 
> do this without thought and without any indication to the person or 
> persons at the other end of the bench realizing you are shooting them, 
> even when the camera looks like it's pointed right at them.
> 
> But never never ever acknowledge they are there because you look through 
> them at all times.
> 
> Get this routine down pat and you can pull it off any number of locations 
> even when standing.
> 
> Dr. ted
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tina Manley" <images at comporium.net>
> To: "Leica Users Group" <lug at leica-users.org>
> Sent: Monday, August 30, 2010 11:36 AM
> Subject: Re: [Leica]NOW photographing people and focal length - was Re: 
> Legs
> 
> 
>> Street photography might work with a medium to long lens, but I don't 
>> think
>> it would work at all for documentary photography .  I like to get close to
>> people and I think that's necessary.  A long lens seems sneaky, somehow -
>> more like paparazzi.
>> 
>> Tina
>> 
>> On Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 2:17 PM, George Lottermoser <imagist3 at 
>> mac.com>wrote:
>> 
>>> If a street photographer worked with a long lens,
>>> and with the same respect and depth of knowledge for his subject
>>> as Doug Herr shows for his critters,
>>> I imagine we'd see equally strong work.
>>> All the rules:
>>> wide for street and architecture
>>> medium long for portrait
>>> long for wild life, stage and sports
>>> etc.
>>> have been and will continue to be broken
>>> by the serious photographer
>>> who's seriously searching for their own voice.
>>> 
>>> IMO YMMV
>>> 
>>> Regards,
>>> George Lottermoser
>>> george at imagist.com
>>> http://www.imagist.com
>>> http://www.imagist.com/blog
>>> http://www.linkedin.com/in/imagist
>>> 
>>> On Aug 30, 2010, at 1:01 PM, Chris Saganich wrote:
>>> 
>>> > If human beings showed-up for me the same way that wildlife shows-up > 
>>> > for
>>> me then a long lens it is.  I like safety.  Often we treat people we 
>>> don't
>>> know more like wildlife or the streets we are on as untamed and 
>>> dangerous.
>>> I never felt that HCB images portrayed people or places that way.  The
>>> people and the places seemed very natural and it is obvious that is how 
>>> they
>>> showed-up for him.  Other street images seem like the photographer was
>>> shooting wildlife in a dangerous place.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Leica Users Group.
>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>>> 
>>> 
>> 
>> 
>> -- 
>> Tina Manley, ASMP
>> www.tinamanley.com
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> Leica Users Group.
>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information



In reply to: Message from mark at rabinergroup.com (Mark Rabiner) ([Leica] Legs)
Message from imagist3 at mac.com (George Lottermoser) ([Leica] Legs)
Message from chs2018 at med.cornell.edu (Chris Saganich) ([Leica] Legs)
Message from imagist3 at mac.com (George Lottermoser) ([Leica] NOW photographing people and focal length — was Re: Legs)
Message from images at comporium.net (Tina Manley) ([Leica] NOW photographing people and focal length — was Re: Legs)
Message from tedgrant at shaw.ca (tedgrant at shaw.ca) ([Leica] NOW photographing people and focal length - was Re: Legs)