Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2010/08/30
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]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