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06/19/2006 07:46:17 AM · #26 |
to me, the key to great photography is intent. it doesn't matter what you are photographing, as long as you can answer to yourself honestly, "why are you taking the photograph?"--and that would be the same answer you would give to anyone else who ask you "why?" if you have to make up a story to attempt to justify what you are doing, then you probably shouldn't be doing it.
if you are about to shoot something that would embarrass your subject, you should really ask yourself what you are going to do with the image after you capture it. if you can't come up with a good answer, you probably shouldn't shoot it. (and, if you find you have shot something that could really embarrass someone, you need to ask yourself if it's worth keeping. it's one thing to find that you have a photo of a politician stepping out his/her spouse; it's another thing altogether different to find you have an image of a high school senior surreptiously flipping off someone in the crowd.)
on the other hand, if you can say, "i enjoy photographing people and trying to capture the essence of human experience" then you really shouldn't feel the need to hide. contrary to some, i prefer to hide in plain sight; that is, i am so conspicuous that i quickly become part of the background, hardly noticed.
along these lines, if you really care about people, you aren't going to hide-and-shoot and/or shoot-and-run. even though you are connecting with people through your lens, you also need to be able connect with them eye-to-eye. sure, this might be difficult if you are "shy"--but, it's something to work on. if you really love photography, then learn to share it with strangers. it's a lot more fun for me to get the story behind a shot than to have only an image.
all of this is true for shooting homeless people, or anyone else in situations that are seemingly uncomfortable situations. if you treat people with dignity and respect, you can break down the barriers between their situation and yours. sometimes, it's worth it to engage them, and let them know that you'll be around, shooting, and that you would like to include them in some of your images. sometimes, it's best just to pass on the shot/subject.
the bottom line: treat people the way you want to be treated, and things will generally work out the way you want them to.
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and damien, i don't know what type of law you want to practice, but you are going to need to put this 'shyness' thing behind you fairly quickly ;-) |
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06/19/2006 09:41:54 AM · #27 |
skip, great advice. much appreciated. as for being shy, i'm not shy in any regard when it comes to speaking to people in any other forum. i sell cameras and computers at a retail store right now while im in school and my job is to engage complete strangers all day long. in internships my job was to prep witnesses and i would have to ask them extremly personal questions about terrible things that have happened to them and that was not difficult for me either. but when it comes to shooting someoene i freeze up in that brief moment you have. i feel that the reasons are right. i've seen people who look like their faces tell an interesting story. they're seen a lot in their lives and you an tell it in their eyes. I mostly see older people that I want to take pictures of because of this reason. However they are the most resiliant to having their pictures taken. i will attempt to get over this though, because i'm not trying to exploit people or be condesending rather i enjoy the way a photo can tell a story about someone. I guess if i just suck it up and start approaching people then i'll get thicker skin and it won't bother me in the long run.
sorry for any spelling and/or grammer ( i know capital i im lazy)
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06/19/2006 09:57:20 AM · #28 |
One pro(forget his name - he has a dvd out) that approaches people and gets them to sign a release even - kind of sleazy how he does it (folded over, and he 'asks for their address to send them a print'. No one unfolds the paper, but he has the release...
Many successful photographers i've seen have extremely outgoing personalities - they can to talk to anyone about anyything and makes the subject feel very at ease, makes them laugh. If you have this type of personality or can fake it/create it then these shots of strangers is no problem.
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06/19/2006 10:01:24 AM · #29 |
Originally posted by skiprow:
on the other hand, if you can say, "i enjoy photographing people and trying to capture the essence of human experience" then you really shouldn't feel the need to hide. contrary to some, i prefer to hide in plain sight; that is, i am so conspicuous that i quickly become part of the background, hardly noticed. |
My buddy emmanuel is like that ... he stands out and then has this personality that is very outgoing, and he has an accent just to make it all that more interesting to those he runs into. We were out and he has this belt system...no hiding, and he ususlly shot with 2 bodies. people approached HIM to be photographed (figuing he was media)
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06/19/2006 10:08:52 AM · #30 |
Originally posted by glad2badad:
Originally posted by deapee:
I just take their picture and if they have a problem with it I give them one of these:
No, but seriously, just take the picture. If they have a problem with it, tell them you're allowed, and if they don't want their picture taken to go inside...if they put up a fight, either call the police or defend yourself appropriately. |
Wonderful attitude. Exceptional role model for photography and humanity in general. Geesh. Guess the only people allowed outside are photographers? |
Did you respond to bring some sort of valuable information to the discussion, or to just tell the world how 'out of line' you think I am?
Besides, I never said I was a role model for anybody. If you put me in that position, then more power to you. The OP asked a question, and I responded with the way I go about things...half-joking of course.
--
Anyway, someone mentioned about asking if you could take their pictures...that's a nice gesture, but 99% of the time the people you find out there just aren't interesting...it's what they're doing or capturing them in their environment that is the interesting part. If you ask them, tell them you'll send them a print, then they start posing, you're no longer capturing someone in their daily routine, in their environment...you're just taking someone's posed picture -- and that loses a lot of the effect and most of the reason you wanted to take their picture in the first place.
Message edited by author 2006-06-19 10:09:43.
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06/19/2006 10:15:38 AM · #31 |
I encountered an angry gentlemen just last thursday, because I was in his burned abondoned house. This man was a hillbilly type, mean and burly looking.
I looked at him dead in his eyes, and told him I was trying to capture a photo that would relate to unfortunate loss, and memories. You could tell he couldn't careless about photos. His reply "alright, get your photo, and get the @*$% out, its dangerous." I could tell I touched him just by letting him know, that I wasn't pulling stunts.
I say take the photo first, explain later, but in doing so give them a genuine response of why you took it. If its just a beautiful subject, tell them what makes them beautiful. If its the homeless, tell them your not trying to exploit them, but moreso compose what a #$%@ed up world we live in. Take it one at a time, and be sincere. You'll probably make more friends than enemies.
Now try to explain to a woman or a man to take off their clothes for an image, now that's fun stuff. LOL. |
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06/19/2006 10:18:22 AM · #32 |
Originally posted by deapee:
...Besides, I never said I was a role model for anybody. If you put me in that position, then more power to you. ... |
Being a photographer in public you represent photographers in general; not just you deapee, but all photographers, pro or hobbyist.
This is true in many activities that are in public view. For example, I go fishing at the local river - if I leave trash behind when I leave others could summarize that all fishermen litter, etc... The actions of one can tarnish the image for many. |
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06/19/2006 10:25:55 AM · #33 |
| I had a similar experience taking pictures for the 30 second challenge. i was on one side of the road at night taking pictures of art on the other side of the street and this guy walked over and stood right in front of it. so i actually just sat there looking the other way waiting for him to move and so he wouldnt think i was taking his pic i made sure i wasnt looking that direction or touching my camera at all. then he crossed the street yelling "WERE YOU TAKING MY PICTURE?" and i said "no I was taking a picture of that art i didnt get your picture Sir" and then he got mad that i DIDNT. he was all like. im on the raido. you know that right? im famous around here. been on the radio for 15 years! i'm famous." I said "no i didnt know that I'm new to the area." then he extended his hand i shook it at which point i think he intended to crush mine cause that was the firmest handshake ive ever had. he out loud laughed at me and walked away. i was thinking "what the #%$^?" i was so confused by that encounter. he looked alot like the angry man from pawdrix's pic earlier in this thread, but clothed. he was odd. |
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06/19/2006 10:29:24 AM · #34 |
Originally posted by glad2badad:
Originally posted by deapee:
...Besides, I never said I was a role model for anybody. If you put me in that position, then more power to you. ... |
Being a photographer in public you represent photographers in general; not just you deapee, but all photographers, pro or hobbyist.
This is true in many activities that are in public view. For example, I go fishing at the local river - if I leave trash behind when I leave others could summarize that all fishermen litter, etc... The actions of one can tarnish the image for many. |
I'm certainly not responsible for people stereotyping photographers (or other groups) together because of the acts of a select few. And obviously, by the fact that I've been here for almost two years and never been absent from the forums for any time, I've never been to jail...so obviously, I'm not walking around out there punching people in the faces if they ask me a question.
That being said...my original post was partially serious anyway...the part where I said "if they have a problem with it, I give them one of these:
"
Was obviously a joke. I mean seriously, who walks around punching people in their faces if they 'have a problem'?
--
Now, that being said, I'll take someone's picture...if they come toward me, I'll stand my ground and try to talk to them about the situation. And if they start getting physical, I have no problem defending myself if I have to (or at least trying to). It's our right to defend ourselves (or others) when attacked.
So that being said, maybe some day I'll get attacked and break someone's face...then people can stereotype all photographers together and think they're all a bunch of face-breakers and won't mess with them anymore...so you should be thanking me. (and for the 'serious' crowd, that parts partially a joke too).
Thanks.
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06/19/2006 10:33:05 AM · #35 |
Anyway, here's some shots that wouldn't have been possible had I stopped the people and asked them if I could take their picture...or if I had, they'd just be some posed shots of people reflecting no 'trueness' at all...
   
There's more, I just can't find them, but you get the point...it's just not right to run around asking everyone if you can take their picture...because then you're not capturing a 'true' moment.
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