Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2010/08/30
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Fine advice Ted. I tend to use the perplexed look beyond, and the phrase "my aunt used to live in that building" if they're bigger than me. If they're smaller, I find the query "Tired of yur teeth, sunshine???" while swinging the camera aggressively works <grin> Life's unfair.... Douglas ----- Original Message ----- From: <tedgrant at shaw.ca> To: "Leica Users Group" <lug at leica-users.org> Sent: Monday, August 30, 2010 8:18 PM Subject: Re: [Leica]NOW photographing people and focal length - was Re: Legs > 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 >