• Welcome to Photrio!
    Registration is fast and free. Join today to unlock search, see fewer ads, and access all forum features.
    Click here to sign up

A question about Street Photography

Markok765 said:
Hmm, go shooting with a friend?
Click to expand...
Don't have any friend that has even a minimum interesting in photography.
There's though a classmate of mine that was curious about old cameras, though. But I won't see him in a while...
Seems like the situation is going better. There are days where I Don't care about anything and there are days that I've got that paranoia. :rolleyes:
Next monday, I'll return to the city.
 
jaimeb82 said:
where are you located in Catalonia?
Click to expand...
Tarragona region.
From time to time I go to Barcelona, though I rarely carry the camera, It's close enough if I need to do any work. I go early and I don't like to have it all day hanging around, usually being a bit tired, with the economical situation nowadays, I think that any robber might think the camera is valuable.
 
I suggest you get a small 35mm camera that is not heavy, that way you can take pictures as you go during the day. And regarding the robbers, don't you think they are more interested in the nice and expensive new digital cameras? If someone would try to rob my camera I would try to explain the robber that he will have a hard time selling a film camera today, unless he's got a blade in his hands of course!
 

But if he had a gun, you would argue?

Steve
 
I got an OM-1 which is already light. Robbers may not care about anything. Heck, a mate got assaulted and the guy said he had a knife just for his worthless 2 year old cellphone. I never go alone, but no one ever knows.

I forgot, I love fall/autumn and winter. Because I have wear jackets, and it's easy to wear the camera on the neck, zip it under the jacket; it keeps it warm (no condensation problems) and hidden. I just forgot it because having this hot weather now, thinking about jackets is the last thing to do.
The OM1 body is just as thin as a minolta P&S my mother used, it the lens would be smaller, it would be impossible to anyone to see I wear a camera under the jacket.
And by the way. Stuff looks better on that seasons. Summer becomes boring. Blue plain sky, thank god today and two days ago
 
Sirius Glass said:
But if he had a gun, you would argue?

Steve
Click to expand...

robbers in Spain can't get guns as easily as in the states, they all go for the gypsy kind of knife, it is cheaper and no need to buy bullets. If he's got a gun I will give him my underwear if he asks for it!
 
Just go shoot. Your personality will determine your shots. That is not a bad thing. When you see your shots and do not like them, it may, in fact change your personality. Whatever happens, it will be natural, and you will produce pictures that reflect who you are.
 
I have a tip for you Prest_400, you are in Tarragona area, I know there are Roman ruins in Tarragona where tourist go. Go there and you will look exactly like another tourist with a camera. Instead of taking pictures of the ruins take pictures of the people walking around the ruins. It is a slightly different version of street photography but can be a starting point.
 
Prest, your mind (your fears) is making the matter worst than what it is.

I am ready to bet with you 1 kg of "Hamon Serrano" that you will conquer your hung ups sooner than you think , and that fear will transform with enthusiasm and your images will get better and better.
It's all about starting, and not minding any thought that is trying to stop you.
 
I've spent the past 8 months or so shooting the downtown street I walk to and from work each day...use a small SLR (FM or F90x) with a 35mm f2.
Small simple and it works..surprisingly simple but you really have to want it and be aggrssive - in the sense that you don't let moments pass you by.
 
For me, shooting "street" is a matter of nerve, and I don't always have enough. My most successful efforts (successful being a relative term - read as, "I took pictures on the street!") were done with the following parameters:

1. Used a rangefinder -- it was helpful to be able to put the RF viewfinder quickly to my right eye while keeping my left eye open to observe the whole scene around me. The RF is much less intimidating, I believe, than most DSLRs would be. A "big rig" SLR used to mark you as a pro, but now every doofus in town is walking around with a massive DSLR with an el-cheapo 5mm-500mm zoom on the front!

2. Used Tri-X film, allowing F8. This f-stop allowed me to focus the camera at approx 8 feet, then not worry about focusing each time I shot - depth of field kept the scene in focus.

3. Kept walking toward my subjects. I took a long walk mostly shooting as I passed people on the sidewalk. People will seldom make an effort to stop and confront you if they are "on the move" - not worth the effort, I suppose.

4. Shot a lot of pictures in "tourist" areas -- particularly in D.C. near sites with lots of other people carrying cameras. As several have indicated above, this lets you "blend in" as you build up your nerve.

5. Always striving to get closer to the subjects. this is tough at first, because my natural tendency is to avoid getting too close to someone and snapping a picture. I really have to work on this!

6. Smile at people. This always tends to disarm anyone suspicious of a roving photographer. Garry Winogrand seemed to be a master at this - smiling and exchanging light banter with people he was trying to photograph (at least when he was being filmed doing his street photography).

7. Don't bother to ask permission.

Rinse and repeat, often!!

David
 
Alisha said:
I wanted to know how some of you feel when you go about doing street photography. Do you ever feel nervous, or miss out of placed?
Click to expand...
I remember for many years I used to miss the scenes that required me to photograph less than two seconds afer the scene called my attention. It was resolved when I started walking with may camera already set for exposure and with only three zone focus possibilities.
Some people are close to crazy: they can imagine we are photographing them while we're not, and there are a few problems with that, but it doesn't happen too often.
 
I do street photography in San Francisco and here's some of my thoughts on the subject...

Touristy areas may be a good place to start because it's expected that people will be taking pictures in that area and you won't stand out. It gets more difficult when you go somewhere off the beaten path where tourists typically don't go. In these areas it helps to have a friend along (strength in numbers) and to exude confidence, like you belong there. Be careful of really seedy areas like where drug dealers and their customers hang out--these people really don't want their picture taken. Sometimes appearance matters. If you're a petite woman you probably would want to avoid places that I, as a 6'5" 250 pound guy, wouldn't give a second thought to visiting.

I usually use a 50mm or 35mm lens, but if you're not comfortable getting close to your subjects, you might want to stick to a telephoto where you can stand off at a distance.

One last thing: there's no expectation of privacy in the U.S. when out in public, so people can protest all they want when you take their picture, but they don't have a legal recourse to stop you. Don't push the point, however, because your subjects may resort to physical violence. Be especially wary about photographing children as parents can be very protective--I avoid it completely except when kids are part of an overall crowd scene.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register