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01/12/2006 09:01:18 AM · #26 |
Originally posted by KarenNfld:
I'm glad I'm not the only one who is very uncomfortable taking pics of people I don't know. |
i used to be, but i got over that REALLY quickly. if your camera is big enough, people think you know what you're doing. :) |
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01/12/2006 09:10:10 AM · #27 |
Originally posted by muckpond:
Originally posted by KarenNfld:
I'm glad I'm not the only one who is very uncomfortable taking pics of people I don't know. |
i used to be, but i got over that REALLY quickly. if your camera is big enough, people think you know what you're doing. :) |
Absolutely true. :) And people love the idea of being in a newspaper so you can always tell them you are shooting a story.
Muckpond actually helped me get over my fear. He just did it - shooting people I mean - and I saw than he didn't turn into a pillar of salt so I did it too. :)
Going out in a group helps if you are fearful... |
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01/12/2006 10:41:01 AM · #28 |
some random tips on shooting candids...
if someone ask what you're doing, tell the truth. don't make up a story about shooting for a paper or shooting for a school project or anything else. a year and a half ago, i got my rebel and took it to an arts festival and spent the day shooting people, just to learn how to use the camera. some people asked if i was shooting for the paper. i smiled and answered, "if i get lucky!" another woman asked me what i was shooting for. i answered, "practice!" she said she would like to see them. i asked her who she was. she answered, "i'm in charge!." the next day, i gave her a cd of the photos, she put them on her website, and she gave me a booth the art show. i had my booth, sold a bunch of prints, made new contacts, and ended up getting a wedding shoot from it! all because of how i handled the simple question of "what are you doing?"
if you want to do it, just do it! like anything, it may be hard at first, but the more you practice, the easier it gets. the main thing is how you carry yourself. if you act like you are afraid of what you are doing, people are going to be afraid of you. if you carry yourself professionally, people will give you unbelievable lattitude. if you are out there, not hiding, after awhile, most people will simply forget that you are there as they carry on about their business...
one of the main reasons people don't want their picture taken is that they don't want to look bad, to be embarrassed, or to get in trouble. if they believe you are looking out for them, they will look out for you. while there are some people who absolutely don't want their picture taken, i've found that most people really enjoy having a good picture of themselves. and, if there's one thing you can learn to do with your camera, it would be to be able to take better pictures of people, pictures that are interesting and fun, pictures that are better than anything else in the family scrapbook.
if you are having trouble getting started, you might want to visit the human scavenger hunt thread. once you get comfortable taking photos of people and engaging them, there is no telling how far it will lead you.
have fun, and good luck!
Message edited by author 2006-05-02 05:43:53. |
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01/12/2006 10:46:43 AM · #29 |
I agree with Skip and the others :) Just be honest and get over the fear ;) I too was afraid but soon got over it after a few shots. Of course I shoot when there is a large crwod or an event :P
Just a few of my fave shots of mine of candid street photography.
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01/12/2006 10:50:12 AM · #30 |
Another idea is to go places where cameras are expected to be. I wouldn't suggest pageants, as some parents may not like that idea, but like ball games, the circus if its in town (of course mine isn't coming till the 22nd - pffft), and events where others are expected to take a camera. Shoot into the crowd. They don't know if you are photographing your Uncle Buck, or them. So little is asked.
What I did yesterday was get the local paper and looked under "Community Events" to see what was happening. It worked for me, so far. But this event is a bit odd, so I will have to see what happens. It will be a close call though. The event is Saturday, so if I can't get it, I may be out of luck too! LOL....
Rose |
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01/12/2006 10:51:40 AM · #31 |
Originally posted by skiprow:
some random tips on shooting candids...
if someone ask what you're doing, tell the truth. don't make up a story about shooting for a paper or shooting for a school project or anything else. a year and a half ago, i got my rebel and took it to an arts festival and spent the day shooting people, just to learn how to use the camera. some people asked if i was shooting for the paper. i smiled and answered, "if i get lucky!" another woman asked me what i was shooting for. i answered, "practice!" she said she would like to see them. i asked her who she was. she answered, "i'm in charge!." the next day, i gave her a cd of the photos, she put them on her website, and she gave me a booth the art show. i had my booth, sold a bunch of prints, made new contacts, and ended up getting a wedding shoot from it! all because of how i handled the simple question of "what are you doing?"
if you want to do it, just do it! like anything, it may be hard at first, but the more you practice, the easier it gets. the main thing is how you carry yourself. if you act like you are afraid of what you are doing, people are going to be afraid of you. if you carry yourself professionally, people will give you unbelievable lattitude. if you are out there, not hiding, after awhile, most people will simply forget that you are there as they carry on about their business...
one of the main reasons people don't want their picture taken is that they don't want to look bad, to be embarrassed, or to get in trouble. if they believe you are looking out for them, they will look out for you. while there are some people who absolutely don't want their picture taken, i've found that most people really enjoy having a good picture of themselves. and, if there's one thing you can learn to do with your camera, it would be to be able to take better pictures of people, pictures that are interesting and fun, pictures that are better than anything else in the family scrapbook.
if you are having trouble getting started, you might want to visit the human scavenger hunt thread. once you get comfortable taking photos of people and engaging them, there is no telling how far it will lead you.
have fun, and good luck! |
GREAT STORY skiprow!!
Rose |
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01/12/2006 11:17:03 AM · #32 |
Originally posted by DrAchoo:
How do you guys do it? Granted, I probably was putting myself at a disadvantage. I shot at dusk in downtown Portland so I had to use my 50/1.8 on ISO 1600 just to scrape by with 1/50th second. Portland has a lot of interesting characters who would be good in candids by someone who knew what they were doing, but these people also tend to be the type not wanting to be photographed. |
Hey, I work in downtown Portland! We could get together and fake up some cool 'candid' shots. Morning would be a good time, so meet me at Pioneer Square at 9:00 AM. Wear a black business suit, but bring along a pink tutu and bikini top. ;)
Seriously, Pioneer Square is a good place to get candids. I've shot there a few times. It's hard to be inconspicuous with a huge white lens, but it allows you shoot people at some distance that haven't spotted the lens yet.
Of course, the biggest problem right now is the rain. We had about an hour of sunshine yesterday, but by the time I could get outside it was raining again. It's too bad that Ikelite doesn't make a lens port that would fit my 70-200 lens. :)
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01/12/2006 11:27:02 AM · #33 |
Perhaps I should take my Powershot Pro 1 to do this - that wonderful little flip-out screen lets me go "around corners" and fool everybody.
But then again it doesn't do so well indoors, and I have a snowball's chance in hell to get a shot outdoors - being in Seattle, I have started growing webbing between my toes lately. |
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01/12/2006 11:27:54 AM · #34 |
Originally posted by micknewton:
Wear a black business suit, but bring along a pink tutu and bikini top. ;) |
Wow, you must be psychic that almost exactly what I'm wearing right now...
Pink thong, red clogs and white football helmut. I like to keep things low key on Thursdays.
(Uh Oh!...just killed another thread...hehehe)
Message edited by author 2006-01-12 11:31:52. |
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01/12/2006 11:34:52 AM · #35 |
Originally posted by pawdrix:
Pink thong, red clogs and white football helmut. I like to keep things low key on Thursdays. |
Ooooh please stop! I'm getting so excited that I'm hyperventilating. :)
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01/12/2006 11:36:35 AM · #36 |
Originally posted by micknewton:
Ooooh please stop! I'm getting so excited that I'm hyperventilating. :) |
Ummm.... boys..... go get a room!
Edited to add: Oooops, before I get in trouble, I better add that I was being funny. I was not complaining about that remark, in fact I had a good laugh at it.
Message edited by author 2006-01-12 11:41:41. |
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01/12/2006 12:08:47 PM · #37 |
Originally posted by micknewton:
Hey, I work in downtown Portland! We could get together and fake up some cool 'candid' shots. Morning would be a good time, so meet me at Pioneer Square at 9:00 AM. Wear a black business suit, but bring along a pink tutu and bikini top. ;)
Seriously, Pioneer Square is a good place to get candids. I've shot there a few times. It's hard to be inconspicuous with a huge white lens, but it allows you shoot people at some distance that haven't spotted the lens yet.
Of course, the biggest problem right now is the rain. We had about an hour of sunshine yesterday, but by the time I could get outside it was raining again. It's too bad that Ikelite doesn't make a lens port that would fit my 70-200 lens. :) |
Ya, that's right where I was Mick. I got off work a little early, but it gets dark so fast that it was still twilight/dusk by the time I managed to make it there. I thought there would be some good bus scenes, but it was tough. Ya, the rain...the rain...what can you do?
I may try Vancouver's Farmer's Market on Saturday, we'll see what the weather does. Maybe some hip shooting. |
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01/12/2006 04:15:26 PM · #38 |
Originally posted by skiprow:
if someone ask what you're doing, tell the truth. |
Ditto. Before going on a shoot, I print off the DPC Challenges page and put it in the camera bag (along with my photog besiness cards). If any one asks, I can show them the printout which also has my entries in the other challenges.
Brett
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01/12/2006 04:24:45 PM · #39 |
"Achoo has been bested"?... or is that "busted"?
According to the police arrest report DrAchoo claimed the bags of white powder found in his possession were substances used in allergy research... yeah, right!
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