The moment, street photography
In the last week or so, I have been out a few times walking the streets in the search for ’moments’. The first couple of times I looked for events or public celebrations where lots of people gather together, making it easier for me to go unnoticed. It turned out that most of the time, when people noticed me, they thought I was there to do something for the newspapers and so, they no longer considerer me suspicious of being some kind of criminal.
I have been having problems with the manual focus, problems with using too little depth of field, and later problems with too much depth of field making more difficult the composition… All sort of, I guess, normal problems. However, what keeps worrying me is that I feel totally unsure of what makes a good moment/street photography.
The good news is that I’ve found the antidote against that weird, assassin, look that most people gives when they catch you taking their photo. It’s simple, I just looked at them straight in their eyes and, with a smile, I say “Hello, how are you?” and start chatting. From that moment, I stop being “the odd person who is stealing a photo for very suspicious reasons” to become “the lady who is nice enough to say ‘hello, how are you’ and take a photo of me”. It works 99% of the times. Careful with the other 1%!!
In any case, whenever someone gives me a photo I feel extremely grateful.
5 responses to The moment, street photography
I’ve been having similar problems with regards to depth of field and focus! Also similar strange looks from people, and smiling and saying hello is helping! x
Good to know I am not alone with this problems!
Approaching the people is one of the most difficult issues in photography, specially in street-photography, when there is no “apparent” reason for taking pictures to them.
I agree, Rosa, when you say the best way is being yourself and trying to be just a human being, like any other. Because over all, we are persons and then photographers.
Photographers have a big handicap when working: it is the camera. When it comes too obvious, the subject usually steps back. And this is when our skills have to work hard to make people more confident with us.
Taking a look at the photos above, I can tell you are doing great. Of course, problems will come… but they’ll leave with some practice… Nice text, Rosa. This wy of getting closer to subjects seems a really good idea
Thanks guys. I really enjoyed this assignment even though, at this point, I am no longer sure I, we, have the right to take anyone’s photo.