DPC Mentorship - Candid - DPChallenge Forums

07/28/2005 11:22:33 AM · #101

Nice photos guys.
I'm beginning to get an idea of what I like to see and what could be within the frame for an interesting candid. The ones that, imo, fit best with my ideal are skief's "dairy worker" and "dairy workers" and bvoi's "lax" and bob's "umbrella boy". Each of these show more than a face. The enviornment is needed to tell the viewer all the w words. who,what,where,when.
Thinking about this, I have come to another conclusion. The only true candid "subject unaware" picture is the little boy. I would classify the others as photojournalism. They have engaged the subjects and have become to some extent, environmental portraits. Not that I'm hung up on trying to fit everything into it's own little closed box, but I am trying to understand what makes a candid a candid.
Does anyone else have any thoughts on this?

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

07/30/2005 02:59:42 PM · #102

Bump for the assignment due today...and to let you know there will be a MAJOR and FUN project coming up tonight or tomorrow. ;)

Apple iPhone

07/30/2005 03:53:55 PM · #103

sorry i didnt gett the assignment in...i have taken pics... not a ton tho... will post what i do have when i get back :)

i cant wait for the new assignment :)

skief

Pentax *ist DS

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

07/30/2005 04:14:12 PM · #104

Bonus Assignment:

//www.magnumphotos.com/LowRes2/TR3/F/P/O/D/NYC13800.jpg

This image is interesting because of the interaction between the person and the environment. Throughout many of Elliot's pictures, he always tries to tie in the environment to the person in the scene. Here the similarity between the plant and the man's hair/beard make the photo interesting.

Here's the equipment info:
Pentax *ist-DS
18-55mm Pentax kit lens
80-300mm Sigma Auto lens
28mm 2.8 Pentax Manual lens
50mm 1.4 Pentax Manual focus lens
500mm 8 Soligor Mirror Lens

Message edited by author 2005-07-30 16:17:14.

BAMartin

Apple iPhone 5

07/30/2005 04:43:52 PM · #105

I am sorry that I have been a very bad student as well. My apologies to the entire class, I promise to do better.

Barbara

07/30/2005 05:15:11 PM · #106

I've failed also. I did dig up a few. I don't feel like I followed the spirit of the assignment, but will try harder in the future.

I just processed this form 2 weeks ago.

Sorry. This one was taken with the tc.

07/31/2005 10:11:12 PM · #107

OK...Lesson 3!!!!

I told you that it would be a fun project...so here it is! The lesson this week is called "Breaking the Ice" so it's going to be designed to get you out of your comfort zone and into the scene.

You might recall a few months ago, John Setzler posted a Human Scavenger Hunt in the forums. We're going to borrow that idea and some of the topics so you can get out there with a purpose and a mission!!!

I am posting the rules, borrowed directly from John's post, because his are wonderful and I didn't feel it necessary to reinvent the wheel. ;)

"The object of this â��gameâ�� is to help you become more comfortable photographing people. Photographers, in general, seem to be afraid to ask permission to photograph people. This little exercise should help us overcome that fear."

Objective:

Locate and photograph the people on this list. When you find the person, you should ask them for permission to take a photo. The photo should be a simple snapshot and the subject should be looking at you when you shoot. You should also get the subjectâ��s name to go along with the photo. The subjects of these photos should be people that you donâ��t already know. The subjects should also be over 18 years old.

Here is your list, modified slightly from John's and narrowed down to 10:

1. A uniformed police officer or member of the military
2. A fast food restaurant employee (in working environment)
3. A fan at a sporting event
4. A waiter/waitress in a restaurant
5. A person eating ice cream
6. A photographer pointing his/her camera at you
7. A person sitting on a public bench
8. A person with their pet
9. A person selling tickets at a movie or event ticket window
10. Someone cooking food

Out of the 10 above, choose 8 to photograph and post.

Now...go forth and photograph. Have fun. Be calm. Enjoy life. It's going to be so much fun to hear your stories and see your shots this week!!! :)

07/31/2005 11:55:01 PM · #108

bump... just in case! :)

nico_blue

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

08/02/2005 10:10:10 PM · #109

Sorry i've been a bit busy with summer research stuff and didnt have anything for the last assingment. I will do as much as i can for this new assingment.

Here is a shot i took as practice for the group that i ended up submitting for a challenge. I made some progress on fighting the fear of taking random people shots, but this assingment will really help me alot in learning how to approach people rather than shoot in 'stealth mode'

08/03/2005 12:36:06 AM · #110

Here is my first installment for the new assignment. When I read the list, "Someone pointing a camera at you" inspired me the least out of all the candid shots. However, I saw this legoland employee with the terrible rainbow shirt :) sorry... along with this 2 megapix camera with flash extension and I knew this was the one. I fisrt asked if she would take a picture of my family, then asked if I could take a picture of her taking a picture of us. She looked at me with this confused..."I don't think so look" then I said it was for a photo scavenger hunt and she just needed to pretend to take a pic. I think she finally agreed out of confusion more than willingness. Anyway, on to the other seven.

BAMartin

Apple iPhone 5

08/04/2005 10:56:08 AM · #111

Here are my first 3 from this assignment, it was definately an experience. I will work on additional photos this weekend.

Message edited by author 2005-08-04 10:57:06.

08/04/2005 11:23:53 AM · #112

Great job Martin. The man on the bench looks terrifying. Love the fast food workers.

08/04/2005 11:28:02 AM · #113

You guys are doing an awesome job!!! I am so proud of you for doing this. Stepping out of your comfort zone is tough...but worth it in the end.

bvoi - I love the legoland photographer....what a hoot!!! Don't worry about what she thinks...you are in control of the situation, and the worst she could have said was no, or maybe hell no. Great job!!! :)

bam - Fabulous captures, all of them. I love the bench one! Excellent job of all three shots. :)

08/04/2005 11:41:40 AM · #114

good job guys! Can't wait to see more!

08/05/2005 05:29:56 PM · #115

Well. I am trying to get the ones asked for. I have these so far:

..waitress

..public bench

..selling tickets
I know they have fragile links to the requested pictures. I am still trying to get better ones with stronger associations. I've been turned down by a cop so far, but think I can get some military people tonight. I almost had a food prep picture but I was to busy thinking about asking the waitress and missed the opportunity. It's a real handicap to ask them to look at the camera. I guess I don't like the "smile for the camera snapshot" feeling it gives me.

08/05/2005 10:38:02 PM · #116

Great job pcody. I really like the action in the waitress shot. Sometimes you can ask the subject a question or say something during shooting to get them to look at you.

08/06/2005 01:33:06 AM · #117

Thanks. Do you feel that we are the only ones interested in this mentorship?
Well. It was my lucky Friday. The county fair provided many opportunities to get this exercise over with.
Here are three more:

Walk a pet. The one I got facing me was sorta intersected with the fence.

cook food

military

08/06/2005 02:03:24 AM · #118

Here are two shots for the "people with pets". The one with the Beagle I did this evening. Nothing special, "can I take a picture of your dog?" The other shot I did right when we were starting the candid group. I messed up the depth of field, but the subject is good.

nico_blue

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

08/06/2005 05:21:15 PM · #119

9. "A person selling tickets at a movie or event ticket window"

10. "Someone cooking food"

4. "A waiter/waitress in a restuarant"

It was a challenging but fun experience. I choose to use my 50mm lens before hand bcos it is small and wouldnt scare people away but I found it being too long to get the shots I wanted most times and found myself having to take a few steps back in tight spaces. Next time I will def. use the tamron 28-75 instead.
I know now that i have to work on my metering under challenging lighting situations, I found most times that my camera was over-exposing the shots (need to get that firmware upgrade...) and camera shake was a big problem for me. Usually with still lifes you can take your time and take a few shots before you get the one you want but with candid it is almost a must that the shot you take is technically correct bcos you wont have a second chance most times.

I will try to get some more shots soon, this is a very rewarding excercise imo.

Message edited by author 2005-08-06 17:23:13.

08/06/2005 06:33:01 PM · #120

Nick. I like the colors in the first two. Glad to see that other people were nervous. The waitress one is good. Her expression looks like she's about to throw her arms out and say "here I am!". She will, no doubt, like a print of that one.
Bvoi. That's an interesting name, btw. I like the one with the cocker spaniels best, but as far as the assignment goes, you nailed the request with the second one also.

ADGibson

Canon EOS-20D

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

08/07/2005 12:09:17 AM · #121

Sorry I have been super busy. I have an event tomorrow and Monday I have to do as well. I have one for the assignment.

Not a great shot. I plan to have many of the pics I need in the next couple days.

Apple iPhone

08/07/2005 03:30:46 PM · #122

ASSIGNMENT whatever: ok i'm finally gettign my stuff together.... while i was in DC i tried to take as many pics without a telephoto as I could. This resulted in the Venezula/Panama Hotties Set of photos. The other pics I took in Dupont Circle resulted from pointing my camera at them, and snapping, no one complained, and I got smiles :)

ASSIGNMENT SCAVENGER HUNT:

I have four of the shots so far,

A man on a Bench
I didnt get his name, but after I took this photo he quit scowling and smiled at me. He nodded when i pointed to my camera then to him.

A Police Officer, Curt
I had to chase him down in Union Station, he was zipping all over on his Segway.

I have two more I need to process from today..I'll get them up later

08/07/2005 03:37:21 PM · #123

I feel like a mother bird, watching her baby birds fly for the first time. ;)

Y'all are doing great...keep it up!! Let's just keep on this assignment another week or so until you all get a chance to complete it!!! :)

08/09/2005 12:48:22 AM · #124

Here is my "cooking food". I blew out the white on his shirt. I need to switch to RAW!
I'm going to Hollywood Park to do some shooting at the race track with a proffesional photographer friend.
//www.davelauridsen.com

Message edited by author 2005-08-09 00:50:15.

ADGibson

Canon EOS-20D