[Leica] Re: Street / candid photography & Ilford XP2

["Ron K. Miller" <rkmiller001@earthlink.net>]

Tina:

Thanks for advice! The business card idea is great! I did take a B&W pic
of a "big-band" singer once during a free performance. The lady was
dancing on the side area with another member of the audience. I didnt
know who she was at the time but when I snapped some shots (caught up
with the reverie of the music) I suddenly thought that what if these
people didnt want their pics taken.  I asked her if she would like a
picture sent to her! I felt good about that eventhough it was a good ten
minutes of snapping other things in the area.  Ahhhh.. too bad I didnt
hear from her about whether the pics were any good! 

And thanks for the B&W film info... I have to give Tmax a try. using
TriX 400 currently per teacher's preference. Not sure if I like Ilford's
XP2 iso400 film since the lab botched the two rolls I submitted for
developing: along the edges of the negs, crack-like marks radiate from
the sprocket holes. Sometimes the radiating lines come into the image
area.  Is this normal as I have heard problems with lab processing
Ilford XP2 film??  

Does anyone else know about this?? DAN?

Cheers!



<From: Tina Manley <images@InfoAve.Net>
Date: Sat, 08 Aug 1998 10:02:36 -0400
Subject: Re: [Leica] Street / candid photography

(snip)

<<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>