Re: [Leica] street photography

["Takeshi Hashimoto" <hashimoto.takeshi@mailcity.com>]

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On Sat, 20 May 2000 08:52:34   rnkramer wrote:
>-----Original Message-----
>
>>From: Bmceowen@aol.com
>>Subject: Re: [Leica] street photography
>But one comment of yours I would like to address is your belief that street
>photographers sneak around, or are afraid to go up to people.  I might agree
>with you if someone was using a 200mm to 400mm lens while hiding in the
>bushes.  And I agree that many SP beginners like the hip-shot technique of
>shooting at waist level for fear of a potential confrontation.  Neither of
>these techniques results in quality images for the most part.  99% of the
>hip shots I have seen suck.  Johnny has done a few that seem to work, I've
>got two that I took 20 years ago that really work, I hear Robert Frank did a
>good one, but generally they are weak images lacking impact.  And hiding in
>bushes is just plain chicken sh*t.
>
>What I do is wear my camera around my neck in plain veiw with both hands on
>the camera ready to shoot, but with the camera lens (no longer than 50mm)
>pointed toward the ground, like you would carry a shotgun.  This way no one
>gets the wrong idea that I am sneaking shots.  


If you demonstrate confidence and a relaxed attitude around your subjects - that what your doing is perfectly normal and in no way threatening - they will not "sense" that you are intruding, but just "there". Move quietly, quickly, smile if they hear the shutter after the first shot and they become aware and look at you. The moment is crucial; if you're show that even though you took their picture candidly you're not a menace or exploiting them, you usually can continue. But don't follow them down the street for two blocks; move along to the next situation leaving them with a positive impression. Don't look guilty and they won't feel that you are.


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