Model needed to pose for Candid - DPChallenge Forums

Carl Zeiss 50mm ZE f/1.4 Planar T for Canon

04/06/2006 01:39:50 AM · #1

Honestly. How on Earth are we supposed to verify that a candid was not carefully staged? I live in a big city, I am taught not to trust people: some of them do not clean after their dogs and some even use spot editing in 'basic rules'. Wonder if anyone attempts to DQ a shot in this challenge on the grounds of it looking a wee too good.

yanko

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

04/06/2006 01:41:56 AM · #2

Well I guess it depends on the acting ability of the model. I think if it looks contrived it probably won't do as well.

Rikki

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

04/06/2006 01:45:06 AM · #3

nekkid model?

Xilebo

Nikon D200

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

04/06/2006 02:13:16 AM · #4

Originally posted by Rikki:

nekkid model?

Are you volunteering? It's Candid silly! Not Candy ;)

I remember the last Candid challenge, there were a few that looked staged and they got voted accordingly...DPCers are no fools :)

Lytro Illum Light Field Digital

04/06/2006 07:09:06 AM · #5

Oh really? You like Robert Doisneau? Can you easily tell what was candid and what not at his shots? Take a look below.

link

How many of those are 'candids'? I am not obsessed with scoring, but I like a challenge to be verifyable. This one doesn't seem to be.

(RD's famous "Kiss by..." was staged, as evident from a recent lawsuit. I can imagine that majority of pics like the ones above are not truly candid. Not even to mention famous Capa's shot from Spain)

Message edited by ClubJuggle - Link was too wide for page.

yakatme

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

04/06/2006 07:49:38 AM · #6

Originally posted by olbol:

Honestly. How on Earth are we supposed to verify that a candid was not carefully staged?

It doesn't matter. Take a look at the blue ribbon winner in "Singled Out", the last "candid style" challenge that took place.

Although the challenge details said to "drop your fear of candids", the subject in the winning image did not appear to be candid.

The image was exceptionally good, and that seemed to make everyone forget about the nitty gritty of the challenge details.

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM for Canon

04/06/2006 08:19:20 AM · #7

Fair enough. So, it's a 'candid style' challenge and acting is allowed, if done tastefully.

Keith Maniac

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

04/06/2006 08:50:09 AM · #8

Originally posted by yakatme:

It doesn't matter. Take a look at the blue ribbon winner in "Singled Out", the last "candid style" challenge that took place.

Although the challenge details said to "drop your fear of candids", the subject in the winning image did not appear to be candid.

The image was exceptionally good, and that seemed to make everyone forget about the nitty gritty of the challenge details.

This photo is a candid. The American Heritage dictionary defines candid as "an unposed, informal photograph". I don't see how JJ's shot doesn't fit that definition. Are you suggesting that the subject is actually a model that the photographer "planted" in the crowd? I don't understand why you think this isn't a candid. Is it because the subject is aware of the camera's presence?

From Wikipedia's article on candid photography: "Candid photography is snapshot photography that focuses on spontaneity rather than technique, on perfecting the immersion of a camera within events rather than focusing on setting up a staged situation, focusing on lengthy camera setup, or focusing on particularly strong lenses."

Message edited by author 2006-04-06 08:56:17.

Apple iPhone

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

04/06/2006 08:56:41 AM · #9

If you are worried about the challenge... choose the other one ..

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM for Canon

04/06/2006 09:19:15 AM · #10

Oh come on, Keith! The guy in the hat is a model, whether professional or not. He is acting on agreement with photographer, so he must be posing, right? Is posing, however subtle or discreet, allowed? That's exactly what is unclear about definition of the challenge, Wikipedia or not. For many people me inculded candid presumes unposed, fly on the wall shots and that's actually what makes them so awesomely valuable - their spontainety. Or was I duped all along?

Many thanks to Di for reminding me that we are not debating human rights. I'll bugger off now. Unless someone sets me off again :)))

Keith Maniac

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

04/06/2006 09:29:07 AM · #11

Originally posted by olbol:

If you read the photographer's comments for that photo, he specifically says that no models were involved. How do you know that the guy in the hat is a model acting on agreement with the photographer?

Message edited by author 2006-04-06 09:30:40.

Apple iPhone

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

04/06/2006 09:30:02 AM · #12

Thing is ... jjbeguin is one of the most honest people on here.. and he said in his notes on the photo that its not a model. Many times people will look at a photographer when they see them taking apicture... thats what makes that a wonderful photo... the catching of that look.. and to me frowning that he's caught in the photo.. as a person who loves candids.. thats what makes a candid special.. to make people wonder .. the reason you see that person is he found him looking at the camera... then in post processing brought him to our attention..

Originally posted by olbol:

Message edited by author 2006-04-06 09:35:28.

04/06/2006 10:42:21 AM · #13

Okay, I was wrong not to look at the footnotes. Does that change the essense of what I was saying? You can create a perfect candid to the recipie of Doisneau (or Capa) and it wouldn't matter at all in any situation.

Apart from a contest.

It looks like we have reached some sort of bottom line. I will sit back and watch the results and hopefully all tops will look candid just fine.

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

04/06/2006 10:47:08 AM · #14

Olbol-Almost all of my candids were posed. Can you tell which ones?

Apple iPhone

04/06/2006 10:48:27 AM · #15

you can get a candid photo anywhere... at a wedding that someone is shooting... allit takes is an eye for it ... the bride could be listening to something her groom is whispering in her ear or they're sharing a look that says they're inlove...its not staged.....only takes an aware photograpaher... and a second to take the photo..
so Candid photos can be anywhere in life.. all it takes is an aware photographer... and an eye for what looks good

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

04/06/2006 10:51:55 AM · #16

Originally posted by pawdrix:

Olbol-Almost all of my candids were posed. Can you tell which ones?

I tried going out today to shoot some people - fear got in the way. So do you pay these people to pose? How do you approach them?

Cheers

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

04/06/2006 11:01:40 AM · #17

This is a bit like the Wildlife challenge. There the most popular shots looked wild, if they were shot in a zoo or in the wild the important thing was that they looked wild. If you created a candid that looks staged, then you miss the spirit of this challenge. If you can create the look of spontaneity in a studio, then good on you.

04/06/2006 11:03:49 AM · #18

Originally posted by BrennanOB:

yes but to be honest most of what you see on this site isnt natural. Photoshoping or the film equivalent takes it away.

04/06/2006 11:11:11 AM · #19

Alex-I was only kidding. I think this thread is kinda silly and I was being sarcastic. My bad.

This guy, I threw $3-5. I asked him if he wouldn't mind me taking a few shots and told him I'd toss him a few dollars. I asked him some questions about the weather...,kinda started a leading discussion and then asked him if it felt like rain. I nodded at him and held my hand out trying to feel for rain and asked him again "if it felt like rain"...and he did exactly what I wanted him to do...he held out his hand and felt for rain. "snap"

So this is actually a candid...in essence. Not a pose but a reaction shot. You can take a candid if people are aware of the camera, contrary to what people have posted here in these various threads. Wedding photographers are omnipresent yet they still get very candid moments...right?

To answer your question, I ask people/strangers all the time if they mind me shooting and if they are down on luck I toss them some cash, buy them a drink

but getting them to look candid is nearly impossible with the one exception, The Can Collector who was a really nice dude. I kinda tricked or lead him into that position...which was quite a cool experience.

There are literally a billion trillion zillion candids out there but only a few that I find nearly interesting.

Message edited by author 2006-04-06 11:39:13.

04/06/2006 11:19:51 AM · #20

Lesley Goodman-

See...people wink at me too but somehow it never looks quite the same.

;)

Message edited by author 2006-04-06 11:21:12.

04/06/2006 11:19:59 AM · #21

steve

thanks very much for the reply. Yeah I guess I could do that. Some of the homeless round here are quite rough. Covent garden area has alot of heroin addicts. Always edgy. I guess I will look for the more chilled lot.

All have very characteristic faces. Almost distorted.

Cheers

04/06/2006 11:24:22 AM · #22

Be very careful...with Heroine addicts. That might be a good way to get your equipment smashed. They are usually quite embarassed about their habits and don't like to advertise.

I nearly got my ass kicked in Tompkins Square Park, East Village a few months back. I tried to catch some people hanging around a needle exchange booth...not too smart.

Message edited by author 2006-04-06 11:48:13.

04/06/2006 11:31:10 AM · #23

Originally posted by pawdrix:

Be very careful...with Heroine addicts. That might be a good way to get you equipment smashed. They are usually quite embarassed about their habit and don't like to advertise.

I nearly got my ass kicked in Tompkins Square Park, East Village a few months back. I tried to catch some people hanging around a needle exchange booth...not too smart.

yes they do always seem very very edgy. Either completely gone - or - seriously panicked looking for their gear/dealer.

One of them seems ok. Have bought him a beer b4. Looks like a Viking with the massive blonde beard and tall stature.

So if you see him in the challenge...

04/06/2006 11:55:28 AM · #24

This is just my opinion but but a good candid is more than just getting a picture of someone that is unaware that they are being photographed.

I keep seeing candids of people walking....sitting.....looking but not really emoting, showing, telling or doing anything. Blahhhhhh! A cool looking face or dress style is helpful but there's more to it.

Hmmm...pretty girl on a cell phone. ok. NEXT!!!

I hope I get something good or decent myself or else I won't even enter.

Message edited by author 2006-04-06 12:06:47.