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09/12/2008 03:52:53 AM · #1 |
I'm about to get the Canon 50mm f/1.4, and I'd really like to expand my horizons to include more portraiture. I've never done any portraits of strangers before, only friends and family.
Do you have any tips for how to ask strangers if I can take their pictures? How to approach them? Where people would be more receptive to requests?
Thanks! |
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09/12/2008 04:15:50 AM · #2 |
A Forum search will keep you busy for a while:
Street Photography tips?
Need tips for street photography
street photography tips
Need help with Street Photography Technique....
Most of the several hundred shots in my Candids Collection are street candids. Many shot from the hip.
Message edited by author 2008-09-12 14:45:24. |
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09/12/2008 05:53:16 AM · #3 |
Stones, m'dear, big 'uns!
You have to be able to walk up to a complete stranger, give them a sunny smile, an open, honest expression, tell them that you like their look, face, hair, the way the sun plays on their face......
And then be able to be gracious, and thank them anyway if they tell you to go fly a kite.
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09/12/2008 06:35:57 AM · #4 |
Originally posted by mindbottling:
I'm about to get the Canon 50mm f/1.4, and I'd really like to expand my horizons to include more portraiture. I've never done any portraits of strangers before, only friends and family.
Do you have any tips for how to ask strangers if I can take their pictures? How to approach them? Where people would be more receptive to requests?
Thanks! |
Talk to the people first. Talk about anything. Carry a camera with you all the time. Eventually, they will ask YOU to take their photograph. |
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09/12/2008 07:44:06 AM · #5 |
| To be honest, I would use a longer lens than 50mm for street photography. |
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09/12/2008 08:17:58 AM · #6 |
Originally posted by glennc:
To be honest, I would use a longer lens than 50mm for street photography. |
Falso! A 50 1.4 is a great lens for street photography. It's small and unobtrusive which can be a boon if you don't wanna be carrying around a larger longer telephoto and getting noticed. Especially using a crop body it's basically a 75 1.4.
As for tips:
-When I do street photography I go about it in one of two ways.
a. I shoot from the hip, this takes some practice to be able to frame things well. It's a lot of fun though and you can get some interesting results. With a battery grip I sometimes cradle my camera when I'm walking around and use the verticle shutter release to trigger the shutter, this is more sneaky and people don't then know if you've taken their photo!
b. The other way I go about street photography is to just muster up my courage and ask someone if I may take their photo. Usually before doing this I'll go and talk with them a bit before even asking them to let me photograph them. This way they are more comfortable and receptive.
-Be prepared to have people say no, just thank them and tell them to have a nice day and try again with someone or somewhere else!
-Also, keep in mind if your going to be selling those prints for profit, it is my understanding, that you must get a model release if there is an identifiable person in your photograph (though you may want to get that comfirmed by one of the more expereienced photogs on the site).
-Last but not least, if you are in a public area and you take a photo... it's yours. Someone may come up and ask you to delete it (i.e. either your subject or a security guard) and in all but the most specialize circumstances you don't have to. To keep things civil, if it's not the best photo you've taken you may way to delete it anyways but you don't have to! :) Link to rights.
Hope this helps, sorry for the long post! :)
Evan
PS if you have any other questions also feel free to PM me
ets: A longer lens isn't bad, but I think it's contrary to the essence of street photography and being a larger lens by nature may make people notice you, which if your doing candids is bad. (Unless your using a 400MM from across a park which is a discussion in and of itself...)
Message edited by author 2008-09-12 08:22:58. |
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09/12/2008 08:32:00 AM · #7 |
My favorite tip for street shooting.... keep shooting even after your subject has passed by you, that way they aren't sure what the heck you were shooting at (maybe something over their shoulder or whatever) and so they don't stop and ask why you shot them. lol
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09/12/2008 09:17:37 AM · #8 |
pm  Gordon, he published a book on it ... and he's awesome at it |
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