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Anonymous
Dear street photographers of /p/,

How do you go about taking people's pictures without coming across as creepy or awkward?

Advice, reading material, etc. appreciated.

Pic related, soldiers off to Iraq.
EXIF data available. Clickhereto show/hide.
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>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
camouflage, motherfucker, do you wear it?
>> Anonymous
>>217393
The tiny camouflaged lenses look cute.
>> Anonymous
You don't. Just make yourself look respectable, like casual work clothes, like you're actually out there for a reason. People who are going to be bothered in the first place are going to be bothered no matter what you do or look like, so don't worry about it. Just grow a pair and take pics.
>> Anonymous
>>217395

those are teleconverters
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
>>217393
lol, I was asking for that...

I use a small lens (50mm) with the XT for capturing people, I'm not the guy who walks around with a footlong telephoto to take someone's picture. Still, I can't help feeling like a stalker/asshole just pointing a camera to someone and taking their picture.

More of mine.

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>> Anonymous
>>217398I use a small lens (50mm) with the XT for capturing people

Fail, too long for a normal, too short for a medium tele.

The 31, 21, or 35 is what you want.
>> Anonymous
smile
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
They don't think you're creepy or the situation is awkward. It's only in YOUR head.

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>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
And you will always feel like a creepy stalker.

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>> Anonymous
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In fact, if you wouldn't feel like one anymore, you'd have become one.

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>> Anonymous
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Try to appear serious. Like if you exactly know what you are doing. And if they see you just smile, nod your head like saying "Thanks!"

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>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
Also I often find a good spot where to camp with my camera and wait for a good motiv to pass by. Usually when you're not jumping around like a tourist, photographing a parade, they don't notice you at all.

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>> Anonymous
>>217400
Great, I'm finally copypasta.

On Pentax's 1.53x crop (and Canon's 1.6 and Sony and Nikon's 1.5) 50 is definitly a medium tele. A 40 is in that weird awkward space between normal and medium tele. That's my point.
>> Anonymous
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What I yet have to try is to run away when they spot me. Just for the lulz.

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>> Anonymous
You are always going to be somewhat awkward when taking photos... I'm a photojournalist, people usually always learn to warm up to the camera when they physically see the camera, usually when you hold the camera, without pointing it at them. Body posture is important too, you don't want to seem like you're crouching to get the shot or something... take a photo and wait, with the camera being held up, wait for people to act natural, it never fails.
>> Anonymous
>>217505
This. Just do your thing calmly, naturally. If they notice you, nod, wave, whatever. If they wave or smile, wave or smile back. Relate to them. Keep shooting. If they're pissed, stop, you'll just get a bunch of bad pictures of scowling neurotics.

The most helpful thing I've seen is the documentary on Jim Nachtwey, "War Photographer." Watch how he works, with people who it would be totally understandable if they hauled out and smacked him: people burying their children, inside people's houses shooting them sobbing.

Then shoot like that with people who really don't have much to bitch about. If it's at a concert or some other cheery atmosphere, liven up a bit, but stay smooth and deliberate. No one will bother you except to say "Hey! Take my picture!" if they're showy or drunk enough.
>> heavyweather !4AIf7oXcbA
Smile, try not to be creepy or awkward. Body language, you gotta speak it.
>> Anonymous
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Happy 4th /p/

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>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
by being an attractive girl
>> Anonymous
>>217579
But girls can't take good photos, so it's a wash.
>> Anonymous
somebody said something in a thread similar to this that you should wait a little while after you take the shot and make to take another picture as they move away. that way it makes it seem like you wanted a picture of something behind them
>> Anonymous
>>217692
>someone said to be deceitful

Only when you're in a situation when it's necessary. But if you have balls, it should never arise. Man up.
>> Anonymous
>>217692

not a great idea when you're using film.
>> Anonymous
>>217579

Yeah, that tends to help said girl get a lot of things she wants that most other people have to work for.
>> angrylittleboy !wrJcGUHncE
relax, be confident & smile.

Suggested reading:
http://2point8.whileseated.org/wow-footer/
>> Anonymous
>>217761
Someone's bitter.
>> Anonymous
if you're doing something creepy and awkward, you're going to come across as creepy and awkward. Taking someone's picture isn't. If you act like you're supposed to be there, people will assume that you're supposed to be there. If anyone asks say it's for a school project or just tell them you're freelancing for a local newspaper. You might even ask for some names for a photo caption.
>> sage !i/euDJmWr2
>>217788
this. If you hide your camera every time someone notices you then people are just going to notice you more.
>> BurtGummer !!RRMHFHglFsy
     File :-(, x)
1. Sue them.

2. Take photographs as freely and as happily as possible. Smile. Nobody likes having their photo taken without justification.

Try to avoid being arrested for trespassing, and if you go too far taking ANY photos just plead ignorance (or pretend to be polish, most cops wont bother trying to caution you if your polish).

If anyone ever attacks you while taking photographs refer to point 1.

(Pictured is dipshit "coldplay" frontman Chris Martin attacking a Photographer. Paparazzi should of fought back, he would probably of got cash for the interviews.)
>> Anonymous
>>217868
Woah, do not lump in documentary photography with paparazzi.
>> BurtGummer !!RRMHFHglFsy
>>217881

im not, but they do suffer from the same image problems.

Even though im not big on the paparazzi, i hate it when they dont fight back.

"oh please dont hit me mister celebrity!" - fuck em, they are only human. Anyone who tries to break my cameras getting a broken nose.
>> Butterfly !xlgRMYva6s
>>217890
if you had a nikon, you could give them a broken nose with that.
>> Anonymous
>>217890
>Anyone who tries to break my cameras getting a broken nose.

QFFT
>> BurtGummer !!RRMHFHglFsy
     File :-(, x)
>>217897

I do, im a proud nikonfag. D80, its the poor mans D200, But i love it.

But if its my camera or a celebrity, imma bringin out ma Shillelagh!

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>> Anonymous
>>217912

Same here Burrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrt.
Burrrrrr Burrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Buuuuuuuuuuuuuurrrrt!
>> Anonymous
>>217890
Exactly, they're human. There's a difference between either:

-A street photographer snapping a few shots of a random person.
-A documentary photographer working respectfully on a long-term project
-A documentary photographer shooting a few images of someone for something else
-A photojournalist shooting some real event to tell people about it

and

-Dozens of paparazzi continually stalking a specific person just to feed the media machine.

The first four should be able to do pretty much anything without anyone so much as scowling about it. The last one- while I don't approve of beating someone up, they kinda have it coming. Big difference between one photographer taking a few shots of someone and dozens following them everywhere they go. They're human; they deserve respect, privacy, solitude, and not to be treated like a commodity like everyone else.
>> BurtGummer !!RRMHFHglFsy
     File :-(, x)
>>217916

Phew, Sure is SERIOUS in here.

I hear what youre saying, the point im making, however, is that anybody who is agitated by your actions is free to complain, and you should respect that and stop taking photographs near them, or involving them.

I was making a minor side comment on how you never see the Paps fight back at all. I know they might lose their job, but what the hell, id do it if i could say "I've just smacked Coldplay guy in the chops".
>> Butterfly !xlgRMYva6s
>>217918
if you fight back you wont have any chance against suing them.
>> BurtGummer !!RRMHFHglFsy
>>217933

Sue and get cash - look like a pussy in the eyes of a small number of people.

Fight back, lose your job - but KNOW you knocked that Coldplay bastards teeth in, and possibly get into FHM for it.

...its a tough choice, but i think sueing is probably the winrar.