Street Photography

[Pieter12]

Not only that but act like a tourist too; be a bit uplift, amazed by everything around, be careless, maybe enjoy few martinis and snap around, smile.

Dress like a tourist to go out street shooting: cargo shorts, out-of-sate university t-shirt or local attraction t-shirt and cap, sandals with socks. You can take pictures with impunity, no-one will give you a second glance. Just keep your wallet in a safe place.

 

[NB23]

4 months since the last post?

 

[Daniela]

You have to have Balls of Steel.

I must be an advanced form of life, then, since I've had no need for hanging metal spheres to go out and shoot

It takes an eye, a sensibility for frisson, and it takes the kind of presence and engagement that wants the nerve he speaks of.

Beautifully put!

Beyond that judgment (of which many people are unaware), culturally, there is an expectation of privacy, here, as opposed to places such as New York or Paris, and I I do think that's what could make people more agressive towards photographers taking picks of them without their consent. And, honestly, I find this attitude quite healthy.

Actually, here in France, my (poor) understanding of law and French is that people have the right to privacy even in public spaces, and you cannot publish their picture unless they give you written consent. Exceptions include: taking their picture in a public demonstration or as part of an artistic event. I haven't experienced any aggression, thankfully, but I'm also pretty careful, choosing to shoot from afar, silhouettes, etc.

 

[Steven Lee]

I’m telling you, my experience on the subject is clear: a cap written TOURIST on it will forgive a lot of situations. A lot.

Seconded. Add a funky looking camera and a big smile. Another trick is to pretend like you're taking A LOT of photos. Then you look just a regular trigger-happy moron with a toy. Perfect! (although my results are still shit)

But taking pictures by pretending to NOT take pictures is a losing strategy.

 

[juan]

Also, drive a pickup, when parked put an orange safety cone behind it, wear a safety vest, and make your notes on paper or a tablet held on a clipboard and you can do almost anything.

 

[snusmumriken]

You have to have Balls of Steel.

A little while ago you were advocating Soul. I'm finding it hard to square that with steel balls.

 

[NB23]

A little while ago you were advocating Soul. I'm finding it hard to square that with steel balls.

Yes. Please let me clarify:

Soul is a function of film and vintage glass. Mainstream Hipsters will tell you it actually resides In photoshop or in instagram filters, but I’m not going there.

Capturing the moment, the composition, the speed, the interesting people, often require Balls of Steel.

Likewise, driving a pickup with a safety vest, installing safety cones and holding a tablet just for the sake of having access to doing almost anything does require some Heroic Balls.

 

[snusmumriken]

Yes. Please let me clarify:

Soul is a function of film and vintage glass. Mainstream Hipsters will tell you it actually resides In photoshop or in instagram filters, but I’m not going there.

Capturing the moment, the composition, the speed, the interesting people, often require Balls of Steel.

Likewise, driving a pickup with a safety vest, installing safety cones and holding a tablet just for the sake of having access to doing almost anything does require some Heroic Balls.

Thank you. Do you also need ripped abs, or can someone with lots of guts do it?

 

[NB23]

Seconded. Add a funky looking camera and a big smile. Another trick is to pretend like you're taking A LOT of photos. Then you look just a regular trigger-happy moron with a toy. Perfect! (although my results are still shit)

But taking pictures by pretending to NOT take pictures is a losing strategy.

Imagine Rodney Dangerfield with a camera. That guy could shoot his way right into the Pope’s private office.

 

[NB23]

Thank you. Do you also need ripped abs, or can someone with lots of guts do it?

Mister Bean, surprisingly, could be the perfect prototype

 

[Donald Qualls]

driving a pickup with a safety vest, installing safety cones and holding a tablet just for the sake of having access to doing almost anything

From what I've seen on YouTube, it's apparently been proven that two or three guys in hard hats and safety vests and carrying a ladder (especially one above 10 feet length) can get into anywhere at almost any time. Extra points if you can figure out how to carry a camera, and bag with lenses and film at the same time -- maybe in a tool belt?

 

[NB23]

From what I've seen on YouTube, it's apparently been proven that two or three guys in hard hats and safety vests and carrying a ladder (especially one above 10 feet length) can get into anywhere at almost any time. Extra points if you can figure out how to carry a camera, and bag with lenses and film at the same time -- maybe in a tool belt?

That’s a great way of going a place you hate, with a friend, and destroy the poor person’s/business’ ceiling and then simply disappear. I’m crying

About the camera, a simple Leica II with a fine soul machine (aka elmar lens) fits in a backpocket.

 

[Donald Qualls]

a simple Leica II with a fine soul machine (aka elmar lens) fits in a backpocket.

For that matter, so does my Weltini, with f/2 Xenon and coupled RF.

 

[guangong]

Rather than “street photography “, I prefer the older “candid photography”. Whenever in town I shoot in in bars, coffee shops, streets, parks and the subjects can be people, architecture, anything that interests me. I have a couple themes going on, especially obesity, For the latter subjects, I try to be discreet so as not make subject feel uncomfortable. Never had a problem in over 60 yrs.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Rather than “street photography “, I prefer the older “candid photography”. Whenever in town I shoot in in bars, coffee shops, streets, parks and the subjects can be people, architecture, anything that interests me. I have a couple themes going on, especially obesity, For the latter subjects, I try to be discreet so as not make subject feel uncomfortable. Never had a problem in over 60 yrs.

I like that term much better since it covers many more situations.

 

[MattKing]

Rather than “street photography “, I prefer the older “candid photography”. Whenever in town I shoot in in bars, coffee shops, streets, parks and the subjects can be people, architecture, anything that interests me. I have a couple themes going on, especially obesity, For the latter subjects, I try to be discreet so as not make subject feel uncomfortable. Never had a problem in over 60 yrs.

Street photography is actually a subset of candid photography.
After all, you can be doing candid photography at your child's birthday party!

 

[NB23]

What about “Style formerly known as street photography”?

On a more serious note, I’d call it Wisot photography, which stands for “what I saw out there”.
And if you’re fancy, you call it Wiseau photography.

Wiseau.

 

[guangong]

Street photography is actually a subset of candid photography.
After all, you can be doing candid photography at your child's birthday party!

Even a child’s birthday party can generate profound and revealing photos. The familiar can be the hardest to photograph.

 

[Daniela]

What about “Style formerly known as street photography”?

On a more serious note, I’d call it Wisot photography, which stands for “what I saw out there”.
And if you’re fancy, you call it Wiseau photography.

Wiseau.

Add a # and this will spread like wildfire!

 

[NB23]

Add a # and this will spread like wildfire!

Haha

 

[NB23]

Color

 

[AnselMortensen]

What about “Style formerly known as street photography”?

On a more serious note, I’d call it Wisot photography, which stands for “what I saw out there”.
And if you’re fancy, you call it Wiseau photography.

Wiseau.

"You're tearing me apahhht, Lisa!"

 

[NB23]

"You're tearing me apahhht, Lisa!"

Oh hi Mahk!

Hehehe