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Portraits/ candids Anonymous
So, /p/hotographers, how do you take candid shots?

How do you generally approach people when you wish to take their photo?

How do you not get caught if you don't ask?

I just want to hear techniques from other photographers.
>> beethy !HJGkSBB3Ao
inb4 dog

main thing is having a long ass lens
>> beethy !HJGkSBB3Ao
>>153765
to add to this...

i did a lot of street photography with my old point and shoot camera. but it's not very easy with a SLR since they're obvious as hell.
what i've heard often from experienced street photogs is that they just snap the shots and keep walking. they don't worry at all about what other people think.
>> NikoMan
>>153767
From what I've learned, you might as well take photos of people without a care in the world. Most people are too oblivious to even notice the sound of a Slr clacking away. If anyone objects, just be polite and delete the photo on the spot if using a Dslr.

Personally I don't ask. I hate how the attitude changes. Before when something was interesting to look at, it now becomes like a big brother over the shoulder picture, with the subject aware that they are being hovered over.
>> Anonymous
>>153767
>>153772
But please do note that this can be illegal in certain countries, depending on what the people are doing, where they are, the position of the moon, etc. Not to mention be seriously offensive in some cultures, if you care about stuff like that. Be careful with this.

The best way would be to ask, then hang around until they've gotten used to you and then take the picture. The can get refused on the first step and the second step can take ages. But if you do get to the third step, you'll be able to get better shots that you would candidly.
>> Anonymous
>>153765
Bullshit. Normal or moderate wide. Rarely MT or ultrawide.

>>153772
>if anyone objects, just be polite and delete the photo on the spot if using a Dslr.

I've done this once, and it was someone I knew and that made the difference. If someone is in public, they have no reason to object to photographs of them. Security cameras take multiple frames a second of everyone; I can have one or two.

>>153783
>But if you do get to the third step, you'll be able to get better shots that you would candidly.

This works better for most people, but others (Cartier-Bresson, Winogrand) do better with random ones.
>> Anonymous
>>153772
Never delete a photo even if they insist. In most countries its legal to shoot people and stuff in the public places as you wish.

Deleting photo makes them think that photographers have no rights and its more likely that theyll start to harass other photographers as well for shooting in public.
>> ac !!VPzQAxYPAMA
>>153765
>main thing is having a long ass lens
Disagree.
1. Long lenses make you look like a creepy stalker. Makes us all look bad.
2. Moderate-wide to moderate tele perspective looks more natural.

>>153791
>Never delete a photo even if they insist.
While legally, you have that right, it's a dick move. In the real world, you're not an anonymous asshole on 4chan. Don't act like you are. If someone asks you to delete the photo you took, it's polite to do so.
>> Anonymous
>>153818
>While legally, you have that right, it's a dick move. In the real world, you're not an anonymous asshole on 4chan. Don't act like you are. If someone asks you to delete the photo you took, it's polite to do so.

Or just lie and say you did. Everybody wins.
>> Anonymous
Who cares if you are taking pictures of strangers? Unless you are making money off the pictures, you shouldn't have to worry.
>> Anonymous
>>153818
Not if you have a 70-300mm DO!
>> Anonymous
>>153772

Seconded. In NYC you could take their picture with a horseman view camera and they wouldn't even notice.

>>153765

Very disagree, normal is the grange to be in. My personal favorite being 85mm.
>> Anonymous
>>153818
I might comply if the people asks me nicely.

However most of the time those people are total dicks who whine even if you photograph wideangle shots in the street with them in the background. No need to be mr. niceguy for those.
>> Anonymous
>>153818
Most people don't know what a long lens looks like, or is even for. The best way to take candid shots is, regardless of lens or camera, to act like you're taking photos of something else. You'll just be some dude taking photos of something and your subject won't care.

Well, another good way is to use a good point and shoot, one you can easily fit into one hand, and practice shooting "off the hip." Bonus points if you can turn off all sounds on the camera.
>> Anonymous
>>153854
Using p&s or rangefinder also gives you the looks of random tourist snapping photos so people are less likely to think that youre street photographer.
>> Anonymous
>Most people don't know what a long lens looks like, or is even for.

This isn't exactly true in my experience. I was intentionally using a long lens once, for the effect, and shooting some people down a long brick bench by the bus station. Guy all the way at the other end from the people I was shooting:

"Hey! Motherfucker! You better not be takin' no pictures of me!"

"I'm not!" I yell back."

"Ain't nobody gonna be takin' pictures of me! I'll beat your ass!"

"I haven't taken any pictures of you!"

This went on for about a minute, us yelling at each other all the way across a bus station, before he was finally satisfied and sat back down. I left; obviously all candidness was lost.

But yeah, beyond flukes like that, it seems to me that people tend to intuitively sense longer lens = "more zoomed in."

>Well, another good way is to use a good point and shoot, one you can easily fit into one hand, and practice shooting "off the hip."

This works, but don't shoot it off the hip. Get one with an electronic or optical viewfinder, practice prefocusing and shooting quickly.
>> Einta !!MWv3ICYobCM
>>153822
Actually, in Alberta and Ontario, you have the right to commercially use photos you take of people regardless of permission [by take of people, I mean take of people with them as the primary subject. All of Canada has the right to commercially use photos without the permission of those who are not the primary subject]. That is, of course, given that they are taken in a place where there is no reasonable expectation of privacy, and there isn't anything excessively untoward (eg. no upskirts, no confidential mail in hand, etc). We have amazingly pro-photographer laws...
>> Anonymous
I understand and support commercial restrictions. Would you want to be in an ad for a company whose business practices you consider unethical?
>> Einta !!MWv3ICYobCM
>>153915
Not so much, no. But there it is - them's the laws.
>> NikoMan
>>153791
Honestly man, I think it's their right to ask you explicitly to not photograph them, and if they'd like you to delete the shots, do so. I would rather delete the shots, and be on my way, than have to deal with an a peeved person I don't know at all. The shots probably aren't worth it anyway. If they are, delete some insignificant ones, and then point you have an appointment, and sorry for inconveniencing them if you're so inclined.
>> Anonymous
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I was taking pictures of some foliage and this couple came up to me and asked me to take pictures of them. I was like...okay...

Anyways, sorry about the size (you don't really have to click on the picture); I didn't want to take the time to edit it.

Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeCanonCamera ModelCanon PowerShot A520Maximum Lens Aperturef/2.6Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaLens Size5.81 - 23.19 mmFirmware VersionFirmware Version 1.00Image-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution180 dpiVertical Resolution180 dpiImage Created2007:11:03 13:00:16Exposure Time1/400 secF-Numberf/4.0Lens Aperturef/4.0Exposure Bias0 EVFlashNo Flash, CompulsoryFocal Length5.81 mmColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width1600Image Height1200RenderingNormalExposure ModeAutoScene Capture TypeStandardExposure ModeProgramFocus TypeAutoMetering ModeEvaluativeISO Speed RatingAutoSharpnessNormalSaturationNormalContrastNormalShooting ModeManualImage SizeUnknownFocus ModeSingleDrive ModeSingleFlash ModeOffCompression SettingSuperfineMacro ModeNormalSubject Distance65.530 mWhite BalanceDaylightExposure Compensation3Sensor ISO Speed128Image Number129-2979
>> Anonymous
>>153934
Most of the time i shoot film on the streets, film doesnt allow deleting. Also i see no reason why i should act differently with digital.

You can tell them that you are not going to publish them if they wish so.

In the end they anyway have no idea if the photos are really deleted if theyre not familiar with the camera. Lie if you have to or something but i still wouldnt delete a photo. If they make big deal out of it just walk away.
>> Anonymous
>>153940
Hahaha, the couple.
>> Anonymous
Bring an extra memory card. You can act nice and delete the photo, switch to the second card, and recover the photo when you get back home. Great for dealing with policefags.
>> Anonymous
>>153934
Why? You don't know them. You'll probably never see them again. And they're peeved over something totally harmless. They're being silly and stupid. It's a photograph.
>> Anonymous
>>153765

long ass lens =/= candid.
>> angrylittleboy !wrJcGUHncE
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candid/street portraits, standard to moderate tele (50mm - 135mm).

I approach people and ask them nicely, presenting myself as an enthusiast (lately, I would also show a couple of my photos in 4R to show them what my work looks like), but only as a last resort.

Be obvious that you're taking photos. I found that the more you try to hide what you're doing, the more creepy you look. Also, smile and/or wave if they manage to see you instead of just turning and sprinting away as if you're guilty of doing something sinister.

Here's a guy who I think is awesome when it comes to candid portraits:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/motionid/sets/72157594486719792/