Can you use a SLR for street photography?

[Markok765]

Because the big brains in Tokyo decided it needed to be that way.

Someone on RFF gave me a similar answer: "They probably figured it was easier than convincing people to use as lens hood."

 

[rossawilson1]

Balls of steel indeed.

People complain so much about this, like their lives would be ruined because someone took their picture. In years to come you won't be able to speak to a stranger without signing a wavier. I hate the way we're all so worried about our privacy. To me being in public means you can't be private. People really don't have anything else to worry about these days.. we need a really big new enemy just to give the dullards something to worry about. Tangent over.

 

[Steve Smith]

To me being in public means you can't be private.

That's also the way the law sees it.


Steve.

 

[jd callow]

He says in the video why he uses flash. Something like, "It helps me visualize the way I feel about the street".

I'm sure he has his reasons, but the visualization thing smells of spin. Using flash on street would certainly pull the subject out away from the surroundings and fill-in under the eyes and elsewhere, but it would also flatten the light and pulling the subject out kind of goes against the smell the street idea -- or maybe not. It doesn't matter. I don't even care if he has film in his camera. I just love his gonzo style.

 

[Allan Swindles]

The camera that you are comfortable and confident with is the one to use. Beware however, if you take a shot of a child with an ice cream, 'cause then you're a pervert, even if it's your own son/daughter!

 

[Colin Corneau]

Shangheye's got it, I think.

Another advantage I noticed is I've used an F90x with a 50mm lens for street photography -- the AF lets you work quicker and in lower light.

 

[Alexander Ghaffari]

I love walking around with my RB67, shooting with my WLF...no one but fellow photogs knows what the heck is going on!

 

[Excalibur2]

I love walking around with my RB67, shooting with my WLF...no one but fellow photogs knows what the heck is going on!

I'm not suprised........waving it side to side, as the image is reversed.

 

[cmo]

Shangheye's got it, I think.

Another advantage I noticed is I've used an F90x with a 50mm lens for street photography -- the AF lets you work quicker and in lower light.

You are even faster when you stop down a 35mm lens or shorter to f8 or so and do not focus at all. I work like that very often and let things happen instead of thinking about focussing.

 

[rossawilson1]

I'm sure he has his reasons, but the visualization thing smells of spin.

I wouldn't call it spin, he's not selling anything. Expressing how you feel about something is always going to be personal, to him it probably makes perfect sense, to us it might not, but like you say the results are amazing all the same. The technical attributes the flash brings I think aren't as important as the emotional ones.

For me the way he uses the flash harks back to the Weegee era with those bright press bulbs and stunned looking people in news papers. It's like he's a press photographer from the past looking to get a picture of the latest characters caught up in some city scandal, the odder looking the better, as they always seemed to be. You can see this effect taken to sometimes almost parody like levels in some film noirs. It's reassuring in a funny way he finds so many individuals with these unique qualities in our time. Like they've been laying low all these years after a big insurance fraud scandal in the 40's and out they pop in the 2000's and there's Gilden FLASH getting their picture for the latest scoop.

 

[markbarendt]

That man has some serious balls. I like that he uses flash, but even more so by holding it with one hand and 'guiding' the light. Very cool.

This really is a cool technique.

Using the flash this way solves a variety problems.

He can stop down an extra stop or two for more DOF, he can freeze the subject easily, he can control the ambient exposure areas better, he can create a vignette by simply making the subject brighter.

Fun stuff.

 

[ooze]

One of the big advantages of slrs for street photography is that you can use lenses much longer than 135mm. You can put as much distance between the subject and yourself as you wish. You can also get a lot of compression of visual interest that way too as well as more foreground/background focus differentiation, if you want it.

With a longer lens, then your/their shyness and the shutter noise do not matter. For newcomers to walkaround photography I'd recommend starting with a really long lens and then (if they get braver than me!) work their way to a normal.

Now, Marko, an F5 just shouts "I am taking pictures." That is an issue, perhaps.

Keith, I have to disagree. IMO, long lenses tend to make uninteresting street photographs, usually because the visual distance creates an emotional distance as well. Tele shots could be sparingly used to visually round up a portfolio, but I would never use them as an exclusive means. Photos made with a normal or wide lens on the other hand create a feeling of being "in there", and if done well are much more compelling.

By the way, shyness isn't necessarily a bad thing. I think true respect for the subject can also manifest itself as shyness. In fact, many excellent street/reportage photographers say they are shy. On the other hand, I know photographers whom I wouldn't call shy; who indeed are so aggressive just to get the picture that they suspend respect for the subject.

Bruce Gilden is truly amazing, the work is great and his style may be OK for NY. But you don't have to be that aggressive with a wide lens to take good street/reportage photographs. Take James Nachtwey for example. If you've watched "War Photographer" you will have noticed how he behaves in situations where emotions run high: he moves very slowly, always respectful, doesn't look like a lion trying to catch something but raises the camera slowly and deliberately, connects with the people, says "hello", says "I'm sorry"... and uses a loud Canon EOS-1n with a 20-35mm zoom and a 50mm prime.

Remember: "If your pictures aren't good enough, you aren't close enough" - R. Capa

 

[keithwms]

Fair enough ooze, to each his own. I'll just point out that because most people do street up close and personal may be a good reason to consider other options.

In any case, you don't have to use long lenses with slrs, it's just a pretty useful option. Indeed I do find slrs rather imposing- people sometimes recoil in terror when they encounter a piece of kit that looks journalistic. A smaller camera does usually allow more connection between subject and photographer.

As for Capa, well, it got him killed!

 

[donbga]

I think you can. Sure, people may notice you, but sometimes that adds to the photo. What's your opinion?

Of course you can. My Olympus OM-2N is petite, light and unobtrusive!

 

[jd callow]

Many SLR's are as small as an RF, I have an FE2 which is as small and light as many 35 Rf's. The big pluses with an RF are low light focusing, bigger brighter finders, being more able to look w/both eyes, being able to see the scene before during and after the exposure, and of course the ability to hand hold longer exposures. In the end, as many have said, its about the photographer not the camera.

 

[Larry Bullis]

Many SLR's are as small as an RF, I have an FE2 which is as small and light as many 35 Rf's. The big pluses with an RF are low light focusing, bigger brighter finders, being more able to look w/both eyes, being able to see the scene before during and after the exposure, and of course the ability to hand hold longer exposures. In the end, as many have said, its about the photographer not the camera.

The one thing that is a real disadvantage is that you can't see the picture at the moment of exposure. IF I'm using the viewfinder at all, that is important for me. However, I'd use Leicas or Pentaxes - whichever seemed right.

 

[mudman]

I've shot Leicas, SLRS and even a baby graflex. The graflex gets looks but no one pays attention to me generally, they don't know what to make of the thing.

 

[jongcelebes]

In some case, taking picture with SLR will considered as "pro" rather than "tourist". Still I prefer walking with my Nikon EM and 35mm lens rather than F70 plus tele-zoom one.

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

On occasion when I actually do any sort of street photography, it is with 'Brutus', my EOS 1N and 17-40 zoom, camera set to High drive (5 fps) with AF at AI-Servo. I do get some looks and double takes when the plain curious (or just silly) discover it's "oh...a film camera...one of those...". Shopping centres are a 'no-no': I feel really uncomfortable in such places when suspicion is written on every person's face. No problem being streetwise, so long as you don't pester or annoy people. Candids are fine e.g. the yob planting a kiss on a policewoman's cheek on NYE is a timeless 'on-the-moment' image. It's easier for me to go 'incognito' in the Big Smoke (Melbourne) than my native Geelong, as so many people recognise me. You can still pose as a 'tourist' and get yourself quite lost (enjoyably with a café here, a chocolate store there...) in Melbourne. Just have to watch personal security, especially at night.

 

[Colin Corneau]

http://www.boingboing.net/2008/12/08/sneak-fake-lens-lets.html

 

[Phillip P. Dimor]

I can't remember his name, or even the name of the series on tv (IFC?).. there was a post a few days ago, that really good documentary on photography and photographers.. One man, nice older gentleman.. he would talk to people, get to know them and then ask to take their picture.
From what I saw, no one refused him and i'm sure they didn't feel 'wronged' by it. Nice guy.

Jeesh I can't remember much these days.

 

[Sirius Glass]

http://www.boingboing.net/2008/12/08/sneak-fake-lens-lets.html

I built a version of that in 1966 and used it once in Italy. I got one shot off and the woman who was repairing a bicycle tire tube started shouting. The whole world joined in chasing me.

I did not use it again. It was faster to estimate the distance, preset the focus, swing around, shoot and keep turning.

Steve

 

[Chaplain Jeff]

Is the Pope Catholic?

Does 1 + 1 = 2

Does a bear... (you get the point)


I have been shooting and working with film since the early 80's when I got a job as a student in the local photography studio - no such thing as digital OR 1 hour processing back then - everything was done by hand. Shot throughout college and grad school to cover beer and then rent money.

Approximately 1/3 of all my negatives and slides - personal or professtional - are street photography.

I purchased my first rangefinder - a Minolta 7sII - 7 years ago.

Since then I have acquired and use (much more often than my SLRs) multiple Leica and Minolta M / LTM bodies and lenses.

While I might suggest for many situations RF's are MORE appropriate, an SLR is VERY appropriate for street photography.

One of the best street photographers on this forum - the Kiron Kid - shoots primarily with Nikon SLRs - F100 and FE2, I think. His street photos rival any I've seen.

I would recommend you go with a smaller one - NOT a Nikon F4e or F5 with grip flashes, etc.

Less obtrusive is better no matter which system you use.

When doing street photography with an SLR these days I find myself gravitating towards a small Minolta body (usually the XG-se). I attach the small and rather quiet Minolta Auto Winder G to it and slap a Rokkor 28mm on the body. The whole thing weighs the same or less than a Nikon F series body alone (lots of plastic on the XG's, but the meter is very accurate). It's a small setup and is not intimidating or obtrusive.

 

[Rol_Lei Nut]

I once went on a photo walkabout with an acquaintance.
She had a Canon 5D with f/2.8 zooms.
I had my Leicaflex SL2 (by no means a small camera).

It was immediately very obvious that people often noticed her camera and sometimes literally cringed when she brought it up to eye-level, pointing in their general direction.
No-one even seemed to notice mine, even with the 180mm mounted (which in terms of reach or "invasiveness" nearly equalled her 200mm max zoom range).

So yes, the camera certainly makes a difference as far as being noticed and how people react to you go.

For the same reason I have pieces of gaffers tape artistically stuck on my M6: Most people don't even recognize it as a camera (or at least not as a serious or working one).

 

[Tjibs]

I've done almost all my street work with an SLR. I do favor the small ones though, it's either OM1n or the Pentax MX that I take with me. I once tried using the Fuji GA645 for street work, but people actually ran away, and one tried to assault. While I ran away he tripped and fell down, so all was fine. But for the coming months I'll probably stick to something else. I believe it's not just about the camera, it's about your level of certainty and comfort. If you don't feel comfortable with the camera you're using, I think people notice in the way you respond.