DPC Mentorship - Candid - DPChallenge Forums

07/11/2005 11:08:54 AM · #26

Hi. I'm here and my name is Pat. I've always been shy but can muster up just a little boldness if given enough time. Hopefully we'll get into discussions about finding good spots to set up at and determining what type of people will fit into that spot to create a pleasing picture.
One of the thoughts that keeps me from shooting most of the time is a concern about other people's privacy. Lots of people say that with street shots there is no such thing as privacy but I can't seem to lose the feeling that if I was in that person's shoes, I wouldn't want my picture taken. Lots of times I end up talking to my intended subject and having a great conversation but then I don't know how to introduce the camera into the scene and end up walking away.
Anyway, I'm sure this will be an interesting workshop. Glad to meet you all. And thanks Laurie for becoming our mentor.

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical DF for Canon

07/11/2005 02:53:05 PM · #27

OK... here is the final roster, and I think it's about as many as I can handle for the time being individually. Of course, anyone is welcome to read along with us!

laurielblack, lentil, BAMartin, pixieland, di53, nico_blue, bvoi, skief, leaf, bobdaveant, deapee, ADGibson, pcody, xuan768, and madison461.

I'm working on a rough outline for us to follow for about six weeks, and would like to know if there are other areas you'd like to include. So far, I have this:

Lesson 1...Candids - What and Why? (basically what's the point?)

Lesson 2...Equipment - Best lenses, shutter speeds, aperture settings for various situations, ISO, flash, shooting modes, etc.

Lesson 3...Breaking the Ice (which will include approaching strangers and your rights as well)

Lesson 4...Color vs. Black and White - What works best and why?

Lesson 5...Perspective - What angles, shooting perspectives, heighths, etc. add more impact and wow to your shots

Lesson 6...Putting it all together

If you have any other ideas, suggestions, or anything, please let me know!!! I'm going to work on the plans this week, and hopefully each Saturday, post up the new lesson for us to discuss and work through. :)

madison461

Canon EOS-30D

07/11/2005 03:29:54 PM · #28

Thanks for letting me in, Laurie! I am so excited to get some help in the candid shots venue. I feel this is one subject that I have to push myself out of my comfort zone to improve.

I will be on vacation (with my camera but without internet access) all next week but maybe will have some decent photos to post as I move into shooting candids.

Thanks again!

Cheryl

Mr Nub, the fruit and veggie stand guy

Message edited by author 2005-07-11 15:32:22.

BAMartin

Apple iPhone 5

07/11/2005 06:34:43 PM · #29

I was just thinking that the "zoo" challenge will give me a chance to also look for candids of other zoo goers. Seems like a good place to find some interaction shots. I might try that this weekend.

Barbara

xuan768

Casio Exilim EX-Z750

07/11/2005 06:42:48 PM · #30

I took this one in France a couple weeks ago:

//tinypic.com/71kcit.jpg

Orange juice stand

Message edited by muckpond - changed large image to link.

pixieland

Fujifilm FinePix S602Z

07/11/2005 11:29:53 PM · #31

Hi Laurie, sorry I'm late posting, I didn't know I was included in anyone's thread, I appreciate the invitation. Since I am interested in learning everything, I consider this a great place to start.I get most of my compliments on my photography for my candids I think, but I know I could do so much more with your help. I have the same shyness as alot of the people here about asking people to let me photograph them. I have actually became a little more afraid of taking candid photos of strangers since I read some threads on some negative experiences. It has made me more cautious about offending people. I have never had anyone act negative toward me taking photos yet but I have never asked strangers for permission to take photos yet either. I feel that asking them for permission is one slightly tough obstacle because I don't want to invade their space and I feel that asking for a model release would seem an even greater invasion because that would mean they would have to stop what their doing and actually think about whether they want me( a stranger) to have their photo. I also wonder how to handle it if they ask for compensation other than a copy of the photo. What if they think the photo of their child may become a great seller for me, I'm sure that alot of parents would want something out of it as if their child was a star. Does this scenario ever arise?

skief

Pentax *ist DS

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

07/12/2005 08:55:56 AM · #32

Here are 3 that I took on my walk yesterday (all within 10 minutes of my apartment).

Together

Need a title for this one...
Santa?

Crossword Puzzling

07/12/2005 10:40:51 AM · #33

I read the article on getting over the shyness. I'd like to challenge all my classmates to give it a try. I will be going downtown tomorrow(7.13) to shoot about 100 quick pictures at lunch time. To make it simple, my camera will be set in manual mode with the focus point preset at around 7 feet. I'll use the writers suggestions for the other camera settings. Now I have to reread how to set up a custom function on my camera.

BAMartin

Apple iPhone 5

07/12/2005 10:50:25 AM · #34

I am going to take you up on this challenge. I can not do it today, as I start back in school in a couple of hours, bur definately later in the week. We have nothing to lose except our fear. Good luck.

Barbara

Originally posted by pcody:

07/12/2005 12:25:40 PM · #35

I'm going to the orange county fair this evening, so I'll give it a try.

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical DF for Nikon

07/12/2005 12:37:32 PM · #36

I've set my camera so I can't see the lcd at all. This is going to be fun. Thanks for joining in. Can't wait to see some pictures from everyone who tries it.

Apple iPhone

07/12/2005 01:29:55 PM · #37

practice with your camera a few times... so you know where center is in the viewfinder... sometimes its not always where you think it is ..
I knew where the center was in my s30 becasue i took picture after picture of a thing i have onthe wall that is circular...

Originally posted by pcody:

I've set my camera so I can't see the lcd at all. This is going to be fun. Thanks for joining in. Can't wait to see some pictures from everyone who tries it.

07/12/2005 03:19:27 PM · #38

Just a brief bump of the rules that have been editid a bit to be more clear, especially for non-members of this particular group who are lurking and learning with us...

DPC Mentorship â�� Rules of the Road

Group: Candid
Mentor: laurielblack
Students: lentil, BAMartin, pixieland, di53, nico_blue, bvoi, skief, leaf, bobdaveant, deapee, ADGibson, pcody, xuan768, and madison461.

NON-MEMBERS PLEASE READ, TOO:

1. If you are not an active member of this mentorship group, please feel free to follow this thread. It is not intended to be exclusionary - we hope everyone can learn from it.

2. If you're not a member but have a burning question, comment, or suggestion, please feel free to send the mentor a PM. Your mentor will either reply directly or incorporate your note into the thread from which everyone will benefit.

3. Mentors are volunteers with jobs and/or families. They're human too, and may make mistakes on occasion. If you feel the burning need to criticize them, point out a mistake, or point out your own infinately greater knowledge in they subject they are teaching, please do so in a PM to the mentor, not in this thread.

4. Have fun learning!

07/12/2005 03:26:08 PM · #39

I see that several of you are taking the initiative to go out and shoot...and that is absolutely wonderful!!!!

I like Pat's idea of going out at lunchtime for 100 pics in manual mode, with the focus preset at 7 feet. 100 might be a bit overwhelming for some who are more shy than others, so you can adjust your numbers accordingly. Just try to take as many as you feel comfortable.

When you go, keep these points in mind that I found in an article by Robert Winkle:

A Candid Approach to Photographing People
Eight ways to take more natural portraits

By Robert Winkle

1. Trust your instincts
If a person intrigues you, don't equivocate about taking a shot. When you're pressed for time, it's tempting to tell yourself to come back later, but in candid photography you rarely get second chances.

Once you decide to shoot, be simple and direct. Take the obvious approach first, then try unusual angles. If your photography happens to be going extremely well, don't move on until you've exhausted the possibilities.

2. Blend into the background
The best candid photographers become part of the scenery. This could involve hanging around a place long enough, until others begin not to notice you. It's unlikely that, suddenly arriving on the scene, you can immediately take pictures in which people appear natural and relaxed.

In a public place, do what others are doing, whether it's reading a magazine in a park, watching a ball game, or feeding the squirrels. The object is to fit in. Achieve that, and your photography will be little cause for concern.

3. Try to capture a moment
Don't be cheap about film, but don't wildly photograph everything that happens. Be selective. Develop skill in reading other people's behavior. Even if you're in a foreign locale where you don't understand the language, you can often see when a significant action, gesture, or expression is imminent. Wait for it, and when it comes, act.

4. Look for people who are doing things
When people are occupied, especially with work or with activities they enjoy, a photographer can often move among them with effective invisibility. Parents with children, people playing sports, craftspeople at their trade, couples too tied up with each other to notice anything else, waiters and waitresses, shoppersâ��all are fair game.

Their unguarded, unposed expressions can say more than a formal portrait. If you want them to look toward the camera, make a friendly comment or ask a question. You can also hold the camera up to your eye and wait for the inevitable glance in your direction.

5. Get to know the subject, or just be an observer
If you're a person who makes friends easily, by all means take advantage of your gift. Once you get to know people, they show a side kept hidden from strangers.

Simply establishing rapport with someone can bring down the defenses that get in the way of a good candid shot. After talking to a shopkeeper about his wares, you may find him a more relaxed and willing subject.

There is just as strong an argument, however, for being a dispassionate observer. Some of the best candid photographers record only what they find; what is there before they arrive and after they leave.

They try not to let reactions to the photographer creep into their pictures, and they don't impose themselves on the subject. This more objective approach might better convey realism. Of course, nothing prevents you from being friendly in one situation, dispassionate in another.

6. Don't press your luck
Although you may have every right to photograph whomever you wish in a public place, if someone objects it's only prudent to stop. There's also little point in trying to make extroverts of people who claim to be camera shy. With all their protestations and avoidance maneuvers, they invariably come off looking bad.

You usually don't have to ask for permission to take a picture, but it may be advised if you think your subject perceives the camera as an intrusion. People can seem to be looking daggers at a photographer, but when disarmed by an unexpected request for permission, their stern demeanor can dissolve into friendliness.

Many people, perhaps the majority, like to be photographed, and some will even volunteer to pose for you. Don't pass up the opportunity. Willing subjects tend to be the most photogenic.

7. Experiment
Photograph from cars, buses, and boats. As you walk down a street, try shooting without breaking stride. To shoot over a crowd, hold the camera above your head the way press photographers do. Tilt your camera to add drama to a closeup. Turn away from the standard fare of pretty people in pretty situations.

8. Don't be overly concerned with technical perfection
In quick-shooting situations, different standards apply. A good picture may be lurking behind an apparent error. Cosmetic defectsâ��fuzziness, less-than-ideal exposure, awkward compositionâ��can actually be desirable. Such imperfections speak the human, gritty, momentary visual language that sets candid photography apart.

Happy shooting, and I will participate in this exercise too. I probably will have to take mine this weekend...so maybe everyone can post up a link to their galleries on Saturday or Sunday perhaps?

Have fun!

bobdaveant

07/12/2005 07:19:58 PM · #40

I took some shots downtown today, I plan to post more later, the man in this photo tugged at my emotions...comments please.

pixieland

Fujifilm FinePix S602Z

07/13/2005 12:19:36 AM · #41

Very Nice photo. I can see the appeal. Did you ask for his permission. Did you get a model release? If not, is there anyway you could sell/use the image later?

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

07/13/2005 01:55:54 AM · #42

Here are my shots from my first real "street candid" adventure. It was at the orange county fair (which has a very festive atmosphere), so I didn't feel too awkward pointing my 70-200 at total strangers. Please let me know what you think. Which is your favorite?

Message edited by author 2005-07-13 02:04:13.

skief

Pentax *ist DS

07/13/2005 02:09:43 AM · #43

Here are my two favorites. In looking at street candids, it is not enough just to take a picture of everything/everyone you see. The question to ask is "Why am I taking this picture?" or "What is compelling in this scene that makes me interested enough in it?"

This one would be a good photo because of the interaction between the word "MONEY" and the young man who appears to not have too much of it. However, remember that compositional rules should still apply. Your subject is dead center, which kills the impact that the photo would have had if it had been done on the ROT.

This one is better compositionally, and the subject's hat is interesting in and of itself. However, that is the only thing that is drawing you into the picture. There is no interaction, there is no story, there is no emotion that makes you want to dwell on the photo and keep coming back to it. In other words, once you've seen the hat, you've seen the picture.

07/13/2005 02:14:28 AM · #44

Thanks for the constructive input skief.
Congrats to our very own nico_blue for first place in the circle challenge!

07/13/2005 02:16:23 AM · #45

Very nice shots and great exercise for you, bvoi...I would have to say that this one is my favorite because of the expression, composition, and emotive nature of the shot:

I would have to agree with skief on the points he made in the post above. One thing to think about is what connects a viewer emotionally to an image. If you are taking pics of people, what about those people to the viewers feel connections with? For me, it's the eyes... and in most of your shots, you've shown us profiles or backs of heads, which don't easily allow for a connection to most people. Sometimes, that works really well, depending on the nature of the shot and what you're trying to convey, but other times it doesn't work quite as well. The eyes, the hands, the interaction between the person and their environment or the other people around them... those are things that create a mood and/or emotion and really draw in a viewer.

I am so glad you felt more comfortable taking pictures at the fair. Events like that are the perfect place to practice. Keep it up and you will become more and more comfortable taking pictures of strangers. Way to go!!! :)

07/13/2005 02:19:39 AM · #46

Thanks Laurie. I'll work on getting more eye contact.

07/13/2005 02:27:11 AM · #47

Here is an outake that I previously ruled out. It has eye contact, but I wasn't as happy with the composition.

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

07/13/2005 02:32:28 AM · #48

Originally posted by bvoi:

Here is an outake that I previously ruled out. It has eye contact, but I wasn't as happy with the composition.

I like this one very much...her eyes speak volumes!!! Eye contact doesn't necessarily have to mean direct eye contact, just being able to see the eyes is what I'm talking about. It depends on the picture, of course, but shots like this one, and the one bobdaveant posted earlier, where you can actually feel the unspoken communication, really mean more to me. Great work! :)

skief

Pentax *ist DS

07/13/2005 02:39:56 AM · #49

YES, definitely the best picture of the group..... There's a story here, what's the story... What's he looking around the corner for? Why the little grin on his face? Those are the things that make the picture change from a snapshot to a photo... Great capture on this one.

On this one, crop out what is not important to the photo. The people to the side do not add to the photo, if they were on a ride that you could see, then they would help. But they are just standing there becoming a distraction to the bored ticket attendant at the window.