Re: [Leica] Street / candid photography

[Tina Manley <images@InfoAve.Net>]

At 11:07 PM 8/7/98 -0700, you wrote:
>Tina:
>
>Based on Carl's $0.02s touting the various experts we have on the LUG, I
>thought you could answer a few things on street and perhaps candid
>photography.
>
>I've been recently chastised by relatives for taking an opportunistic
>snap of a minor media celebrity (mirror reflection in dark restaurant)
>with my M6 35mm. Apparently I needed his/her permission for taking a
>snap.  While I do this discretely (as quietly as an M6 can whisper) and
>quickly shooting one frame,  I suspect this may infringes on people's
>privacy eventhough the person did not know he/she was being
>photographed.  How else can one get a candid of anyone if you have to go
>up to the person (stranger) and when you dont have the time to strike up
>a conversation and have that person get comfortable with a camera in
>his/her face?
>
>How do you approach your subjects (strangers or familiar community)?
>Side question: what B&W film do you use?
>
>Thanks in advance!
> 

Ron -

That's a good question.  I don't ask permission!  If you do that the
picture is gone.  An unposed, natural shot is not possible if the subject
knows they are being photographed.  If I think I might need a model
release, I ask after I have made the photos that I want.  I carry business
cards and give one to the subject, telling them that if they will write to
me, I will send them a copy of the photo.  If I don't need a model release,
the person never knows that they have been photographed.  When I photograph
families in developing countries, I stay with the family for several days
until they can get used to the idea that I am taking photographs and can
ignore me and my cameras.  That's not possible, of course, for street
photography, but if you are sneaky enough (only possible with Leica M's)
they will never know and you will have your unposed, candid photographs.  I
use TMax films 100 (10%), 400 (80%), and 3200 (10%). I hope this helps!

Leically,

Tina Manley, ASMP

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