What’s Your Preference?

jgredline · #1 (**permalink**) 09-07-2009, 11:19 PM

Hi folks...Hopefully we can get some different opinions on street shooting..Here are some of mine.

These are my opinions and what works for ‘’me’’. These should not be considered Gospel... The biggest problem I see with street photography is that there does not seem to be a solid definition of what it is. ''My definition' of Street photography is not simply a ''snap shot'' but it is photograph. Ideally It is well framed, well composed and tells a story. It does not have to contain a stranger or a candid image of a person...Blank streets and many buildings can tell amazing stories all on their own. Of course there are plenty of acceptation as sometimes there is no time to compose and frame and a quick grab shot is all there is…I have these as well and I am glad I have them…Portraits are another type of street shooting that I enjoy…Is there a wrong way to do street shooting? Personally, I don’t think so…; Though I have seen some really bad ones…Many of those bad ones I have taken myself.. The important thing is to have fun!

I would say that the most important thing to have when shooting strangers, candids or scenes that define a moment is not equipment, but confidence…For some it comes easy and for others it is a struggle…As for me, I do not have a problem with confidence, but still I do get into ruts and when I do, I call it a day and try again another day…Go to the same places over and over again as being familiar with certain places will boost your confidence. The locals will get to know you and not even notice you after a while. The scenes are always different as people are always different…Blend in. Be a Chameleon..

Look like you belong…

When looking for shots, if I come back with ‘’one’’ good capture, I am happy as a clam. When I come back with a few and by a few I mean 4 or 5, I have had a very good day. There are many times when I go out and come back with nothing worth keeping. I am in the club that deletes 90% of my images and this is not to say that I have a 10% keeper rate. It is more like 4-5%. With the majority of my keepers being film. Go figure. I am also not a machine gun shooter. I don’t use burst mode. (Personal preference). I try and get the shot. I suppose if I used burst mode, I would have more keepers, but that is simply not my style.

Equipment. I get asked this allot and also read about this allot. It seems that people can get real dogmatic about this…Well, I to have my opinions and can only share what works for me…One of the biggest things that comes up is film VS digital. I would say to use what ever it is that makes you more comfortable. Comfort is king when street shooting as it goes hand in hand with confidence. I myself use a variety of tools.

My favorite tool for street shooting is my Pentax ME SUPER with a 17mm, 24mm, 28mm or 40mm prime lens....(Infact, they are cheap enough that I have three of them all set up slightly different...) I love this combo because it is a really small and light SLR that has a quiet shutter.. With its fast 1/2000 shutter speed, I can take advantage of ASA 400-800 speed films at F/8 to F16..This is important to me because I use hyper focal or zone focusing, making it a true point and shoot with exceptional sharpness from 5 feet to about 25 feet…I also use a 50F/1.4 or 55F/1.2 lens…More and more I have started to use a 28 or 35mm lens as well, …By using film, I am also forced to really pick my shot and try and nail it because every picture I take cost me money..I literally approach shooting film with the mind set ‘’is it a picture I would buy’’…Silly? ..Maybe, but it works for me. My keeper rate with film is far better than with digital.

When I use my DSLR’s, I have found that my favorite lenses are my Sigma 10-20mm or 17-35mm.. These seem to be working better for me as I can get really close, personal and I get better shots….When I do use a super zoom, it is my 18-250mm lens, though 95% of the time, I use it at the 18mm focal length and set it up for zone focus there and since it macros, I can get really close with tack sharp images that happen as fast as I can point and press the trigger….

I don’t use telephoto lenses anymore as they are simply to big, heavy and bulky and scream….’’look at me’’..This of course is a personal preference, but each person has to decide what he/she is more comfortable with..Telephoto lenses will also let out the creepy vibe that must be avoided at all times…

Surprisingly, many of my best captures have been caught with my G9, G10 or SD780IS Yep ..Point and shoots. They are the easiest things to use in many situations…I also use a couple of bridge cameras. I have a Fuji S9100 and Fuji S100FS...Both are great cams, but get little use because of their size...

Things that I do and don’t do…First, I avoid eye contact with my subject most of the time unless I am trying to get their attention.. Don’t think to much, just shoot. If you think, you will likely miss the moment and or chicken out. Don’t hide, but be obvious. If you hide, you will let out creepy vibes and peoples senses will be directed at you...be friendly and smile allot. Talk to people..The most common thing I hear when taking folks pictures is ..’’sorry, I got in your shot’’..I just smile and chuckle…I have found that when people ask me why did I take their picture, I am honest with my reason .. Lying does not work well for me as I am a lousy liar. I always get caught so I avoid it. Most people are happy to have their picture taken, especially the ladies. There are times when I will ask a stranger if I can take their picture..Though not often, because I prefer the true candid…When I shoot street performers, I try and catch them candidly, but I pay them after wards. They are out to make a living and I can appreciate that…When I shoot people that are down on their luck, I will not walk away and leave them empty handed..This of course is me…

All n all be friendly and your state of dress is also important I think. I avoid wearing hats when I can unless I am in a place where most people are wearing them. I never wear sun glasses. I always carry minimal gear…Though there are times when you will want to purposely carry much gear to look like a pro…I do this allot for events such as protest marches, or movie premiers etc…

I hope this helps…If you have more questions, please ask, I am no expert but have learned a few things the past three years of street shooting but I am still very much learning…I would also love to hear and learn some of your techniques as well.
Thanks javier

Also, take a look at my smug mug when u get a chance and you will get some ideas of things to try..It is really allot of fun.

natek313 · #2 (**permalink**) 09-08-2009, 03:56 PM

I am starting to venture into "street photography" and candid portraits myself. Confidence is a big issue with me. Recently, I missed out on what could have been, in my opinion, some excellent photographs because I thought too much and chickened out, just like you mentioned. Now I am kicking myself for it.

Thanks for sharing this.

jgredline · #3 (**permalink**) 09-08-2009, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by natek313

I am starting to venture into "street photography" and candid portraits myself. Confidence is a big issue with me. Recently, I missed out on what could have been, in my opinion, some excellent photographs because I thought too much and chickened out, just like you mentioned. Now I am kicking myself for it.

Thanks for sharing this.

Thanks for the comments. I know the feeling. This past Saturday, I had the perfect subject and composition planned out in my head and as I approached to take the shot, I started thinking to much and I choked. I could not do it...This has not happened to me in a while, but it still does happen. Still, there will be a next time.

nicotine · #4 (**permalink**) 09-11-2009, 03:49 AM

cweeks on deviantART
APhotoContributor
Chris Weeks Photography

Chriss Weeks is my favorite street photographer, he gets some amazing captures of the human condition and he's put together a great essay about the subject called "Street Photography for the Purist" and it can be found here:

Street Photography ... by `cweeks on deviantART

really good read and gives you a real insight into what street really is. Does have some colorful language though, so beware if that offends you.

jgredline · #5 (**permalink**) 09-11-2009, 04:11 AM

Thank you for sharing those links. What a true blessing they are and I could and will spend hours going through them. I also enjoyed your sites as well....

nicotine · #6 (**permalink**) 09-11-2009, 04:34 AM

No problem, Chris Weeks is one of my favorite photographers and I like to share his work with other people.

My brother shoots a lot of street with a Leica as well, it's really interesting to watch him work he is pretty fearless, and it's much easier to shoot street with smaller cameras like rangefinders because they are inconspicuous and quiet.

inkista · #7 (**permalink**) 09-11-2009, 06:15 AM

A few more Chris Weeks links (I just found 'em today, since he's one of the folks who's had an M9 to play with for a while.

.

His Flickr stream:
Flickr: Chris Weeks' Photostream

The video documentary of Street Shooting:
Street Photography: Documenting the Human Condition - Part One of Three on Vimeo

jgredline · #8 (**permalink**) 09-11-2009, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inkista

A few more Chris Weeks links (I just found 'em today, since he's one of the folks who's had an M9 to play with for a while.

.

His Flickr stream:
Flickr: Chris Weeks' Photostream

The video documentary of Street Shooting:
Street Photography: Documenting the Human Condition - Part One of Three on Vimeo

Thank you for that link as well. I was looking over many of the images he has made and in particular some of his Hollywood pics. I noticed he and I have made similar images, but mine are lacking compared to his. His PP skills and composition skills along with timing is pretty amazing to me. The little differences make for huge differences in the final outcome and so I have some new to me ideas and have have much to learn. Still, this is what it is about.