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06/21/2005 06:20:17 AM · #1
I don't know about you others, but I find it terribly hard to photograph strangers. I am always too concious about private space and such, so often shy away from great photo opportunities. I am trying to force myself to go up to total strangers and ask if I can photograph them.
Here are a couple of pictures I took on Saturday at a festival in Munich.
All photos with the EF-s 17-85 IS.

This first two were a child and her mother sitting near me. I talked to the child a bit, then to the mother before asking if I could take the photo of the daughter. Then after she agreed, I also took a couple of the mother. The Child photo was a little soft due to movement. SHould have upped the iso a bit.

This was a little girl playing with one of my kids. This one I didn't ask, but couldn't see her parents or I would have.

This guy was one of the toilet cleaners. He was very willing to pose. Has a wonderfull face, and the picture came out very sharp.

This last one is my favourite. We were sitting having a beer and this lady was sitting next to me. As the sun was going down, it fell on her lighting up her face, so I interupted the conversation she was having with someone else, and said the light was so wonderfull on her, so could I take her photograph. This shot is only very lightly sharpened, no levels or curves.


Untill now I have only hade positive experiences, and no refusals.
I would be interested in seeing other peoples stranger pictures & hearing their experiences

Peter

Edit: Posted the wrong link to the last picture.

Message edited by author 2005-06-21 06:21:55.
06/21/2005 06:30:35 AM · #2
This used to be very difficult for me, but I've gotten used to it now. Especially at parties, and local gatherings. Often times I will take a picture and then show it to the person, and they almost always ask me to send it to them in e-mail. I've actually made a few friends, via the "photographing the stranger".
06/21/2005 08:13:55 AM · #3
I still prefer the true definition of Candid, and see people unposed, being themselves.


06/21/2005 08:35:05 AM · #4
here is a girl at a burger joint in town.
06/21/2005 08:40:50 AM · #5
Taking shots of people is almost all I did before I found DPC. People make the absolute best subjects IMHO. It's worth getting comfortable doing. I've approached strangers at least 15 times and they are always friendly and like mentioned before, you should show them the image and offer them an e-mailed copy.


These people didn't know that I took this but after I printed it and saw how nicely it came out(on 8x11), I walked over to their apartment building, rang their bell and gave them a print. I left them my e-mail and they asked me for another two, which I gave them at cost.


This guys a minor legend around Midtown West. In fact, after he saw this shot he insisted that this picture go up EVERYWHERE on the internet.


This lady was siked when I showed her this shot about a month after I took it. I usually carry around 15 or so prints in my camera bag and when I saw her again, I layed it on her. Great fun.

Message edited by author 2005-06-21 08:41:43.
06/21/2005 09:27:13 AM · #6
Do you always aks permision? Before or after?
06/21/2005 09:48:37 AM · #7
i'm a freelance photojournalist and unless i'm on assignment, i still find it hard to approach someone for a shot. it's all in the mindset.
06/21/2005 09:59:59 AM · #8
Hi there,

I like this type of photography "paparazzi pictures". I like it very much because you can catch spur-of-the-moment, spontaneous, impulsive pictures. Sometime I sit in a bench to watch people. I've found lots of beautiful subjects by doing that. I remember one day, I was in Regent's park (London, UK), and a friend of mine was taking pictures of two children, playing with their father. Suddenly, a woman (who was their mum), approached to us to offer us her e-mail, so we could contact her to send her those pictures.

I have some examples on my portfolio.

Greetings,

Luis
06/21/2005 10:01:56 AM · #9
Originally posted by pawdrix:


This guys a minor legend around Midtown West. In fact, after he saw this shot he insisted that this picture go up EVERYWHERE on the internet.


This is an awesome shot. Great composition! Wonderful colors, and filled with interest! You might make a few $$$ with this shot down the road sometime. Very Nice! :-)
06/21/2005 10:30:42 AM · #10
This has always been a huge fear for me but it isn't only in photography (I think it's more fear of making a fool of myself), heck I get a nervious stomach just calling the DJ on the radio lol. Photography has helped me overcome this quite a bit though. I took the below pics then showed them to the dad and asked if he wanted me to email them. He had a much better camera then mine but said "wow a pro huh, sure I love them, they are great". I'm still scared of shooting kids because I don't want to be prosumed a monster or pervert, I always make sure I ask the parents at some point. If they don't like the idea I don't do it or delete them.

//www.sabphotography.com/gardens/pages/P5220172.htm
//www.sabphotography.com/gardens/pages/P5220173.htm
//www.sabphotography.com/gardens/pages/P5220171.htm

Peter I think you really had the right idea when you photographed the lady sitting having a beer...you mentioned you liked the sun on her face, you made her feel special enough to photograph, not many will pass up on that opportunity.

Pawdix...man those are some awesome images, I love the one of the people on the fire escape talking, really nice.

06/21/2005 10:41:35 AM · #11
I have difficulty taking pictures of people period. Even when they ask me to! Partly I'm actually worried they won't turn out, but I think the main reason is because I HATE getting MY picture taken. ESPECIALLY posed.So I seem to displace this discomfort in taking pics of others.
06/21/2005 10:44:07 AM · #12
I hate hate hate hate taking pictures of people. So it made sense that when I became a volunteer photographer at the zoo they would have me taking pictures of people only. Karma or what? One of my first assignments was to take candid pictures of people stuffing their face with free food. Boy was it hard to do. I'm finally getting more confident with it but that's mostly because I'm fed up of being disappointed with crappy shots and missed opportunities.



This was a homeless guy who was very energetic and happy. He told a story about how he had a pet cow as a kid but how he had to kill it.



I think older people have so much more character. You can see the lifetime in their face. When I saw this guy I immediately thought of Santa. He was friendly and enjoyed to laugh.



This was taken at one of my recent assignments. Him and a bunch of other kids were painting a school bus with their hands. It was very messy and they seemed to love it.
06/21/2005 10:47:26 AM · #13
Not one of my favorite shots, but a complete stranger photographed at a party. He was stoned. I tried to get the pipe in the picture, but he kept it hidden pretty well.


06/21/2005 11:02:50 AM · #14
My hardest thing about taking pictures of people is asking them to sign a model release form.

FYI: From "Digital Photographer's Handbook" by Tom Ang:

"Model-release form:
This form is a legally binding agreement between subject and photographer allowing the photographer to use the picture without any further financial obligation or reference to the person depicted.

For the personal use of a photograph, it is generally not necessary to obtain the model's release; however, if an image is intended for commercial use it is advisable to obtain signed consent. A simple form of words is: "I permit the photos taken of me (subject's name) by (photographer's name) to be printed and published in any manner anywhere and at any time without limit." The consent form should also note the date the pictures were taken, the location, and include the signature and contact details for both the subject (or parent/guardian) and the photographer. Both parties should sign 2 copies - one is kept by the photographer, the other by the subject. In some countries, a consideration (the payment of a sum of money or the giving of a print) is required to make the contract binding."
06/21/2005 11:03:56 AM · #15
Do any of you ask these strangers to sign a release form? That's the part that keeps me from taking such shots. I think people are much more likely to reject you if you ask them to sign something...

Edit: Looks like inspir8tion beat me to it ;-)

Message edited by author 2005-06-21 11:04:53.
06/21/2005 11:16:24 AM · #16
If you need a model-release to use a photo commercially, how is it that poperazzi sell their photos to entertainment rags, when the stars obviously didn't want their photo taken & didn't sign anything, & sometimes chase & hit the photographer?

Message edited by author 2005-06-21 11:16:59.
06/21/2005 11:17:03 AM · #17
Originally posted by lenkphotos:

Do any of you ask these strangers to sign a release form? That's the part that keeps me from taking such shots. I think people are much more likely to reject you if you ask them to sign something...

Edit: Looks like inspir8tion beat me to it ;-)


It depends on what you plan to use the image for. If you dont intend to sell the image either as a print or stock etc then I do not believe you need one.
06/21/2005 11:17:29 AM · #18
Originally posted by Strikeslip:

If you need a model-release to use a photo commercially, how is it that poperazzi sell their photos to entertainment rags, when the stars obviously didn't want their photo taken & didn't sign anything, & sometimes chase & hit the photographer?


Because it is for editorial use only.
06/21/2005 05:55:55 PM · #19
Originally posted by ClickNSee:

Originally posted by pawdrix:


This guys a minor legend around Midtown West. In fact, after he saw this shot he insisted that this picture go up EVERYWHERE on the internet.


This is an awesome shot. Great composition! Wonderful colors, and filled with interest! You might make a few $$$ with this shot down the road sometime. Very Nice! :-)


I have an 8x10 of this and at least 15 people who've seen it, all suggested that I sell it....but where?

Who buys these types of images? I have no idea where it would sell or similar images that I have, like it.

Any ideas on how to sell something like this? Who or where might be the market?

Message edited by author 2005-06-21 19:00:26.
06/21/2005 07:03:52 PM · #20
Just take the photo from behind...sometimes it works :D


06/21/2005 08:54:15 PM · #21
Originally posted by inspir8tion:

My hardest thing about taking pictures of people is asking them to sign a model release form.

FYI: From "Digital Photographer's Handbook" by Tom Ang:

"Model-release form:
This form is a legally binding agreement between subject and photographer allowing the photographer to use the picture without any further financial obligation or reference to the person depicted.

For the personal use of a photograph, it is generally not necessary to obtain the model's release; however, if an image is intended for commercial use it is advisable to obtain signed consent. A simple form of words is: "I permit the photos taken of me (subject's name) by (photographer's name) to be printed and published in any manner anywhere and at any time without limit." The consent form should also note the date the pictures were taken, the location, and include the signature and contact details for both the subject (or parent/guardian) and the photographer. Both parties should sign 2 copies - one is kept by the photographer, the other by the subject. In some countries, a consideration (the payment of a sum of money or the giving of a print) is required to make the contract binding."


Does anyone here have a standard release form that they could post that's good for general use?
06/21/2005 09:55:41 PM · #22
I need to start growing the cahones and asking strangers too. People are so fun to shoot. Although them not knowing can be just as fun. Here are a few of my only decent ones.



And a couple subway shots from my lap.



06/21/2005 10:14:44 PM · #23
I've taken shots of the homeless in NYC. I also took a shot of a guy walking around with two garbage bags filled with empty cans. He could barely walk. He must have had about 300 cans over his shoulders! He was smiling.

Message edited by author 2005-06-21 22:14:56.
06/21/2005 10:16:58 PM · #24
Originally posted by nfessel:

He could barely walk. He must have had about 300 cans over his shoulders! He was smiling.


Why?



Message edited by author 2005-06-21 22:22:12.
06/21/2005 10:17:34 PM · #25
Originally posted by pawdrix:

Originally posted by nfessel:

He could barely walk. He must have had about 300 cans over his shoulders! He was smiling.


Why?


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