How Street Photographers Are INVISIBLE
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 ก.ค. 2024
- Sometimes you just have to be sneaky and not get noticed while doing street photography. Here's how you can get closer to your subject while not being seen, which is a super useful skill in all different photographic genres.
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im not a photographer, im just a normal human being or a normal pedestrian, now i will see every street photographer i come across.
Say hi when you do! We don't bite
oh no, our secrets are revealed...
I'm a photographer and I agree with people not wanting being photographed. There is something unhealthy about intruding into someone's personal space, I would say even voyeuristic. I'm taking pictures to record memories, which mostly means people, or places dear to me. A stranger on the street doesn't mean anything to me, why would I take pictures of them? That is unless they are performing in public, doing something interesting, in which case they have no objections.
@@USGrant21stlol, then street photography isn't for you. No need to write an essay about it
@@SlashCampable anybody using words like it "isn't for you" is admitting he has no meaningful arguments. Stop hiding behind meaningless words and be honest for once.
technique 1 cool guys dont look at explosions
technique 2 the mr bean
technique 3 professor trelawney
got it thank you
LMAOOO
3 probably works best if you really seem interested in what's behind and focusing on one spot. Not just letting your eyes wander. One makes you seem just interested in something else, the other nervous and therefore creepy
Here's one I found the most useful: use stereotypes to your advantage. People generally love artists but hate paparazzi, understandably so. If a guy wearing beanie, fishing jackets and sandles carrying a large camera with a big bag, I don't like to be in front of that camera. But if someone dresses like a gentleman with a Hasselblad pointing at me, I feel like I must be a very artistic subject worthy of his attention. Using this perspective you can get so much more opportunities and even very friendly dialogues with people on the streets, which I think is the best part of street photography.
It turns out the carhartt beanie meme was a bad idea this whole time lmaoooo
gonna dress like Adam Sandler and see what happens
Then the paparazzi will read your comment, then they evolve thenn.... the plot thickens
As an experienced introvert, I realized that I intuitively found out the base forms of those techniques by myself 😂 great video! Now I can be a professional introvert!
Hahahaha yes!
hey. can I see your photos by any chance?
Not to mention that with my constant kilometer stare it always looks like I'm looking past people even if I'm looking directly at them.
Same!
I'm an introvert too. well more or less absolutely not fond of people, but I also have a hell of an ego for someone so tiny. well it's because I'm tiny.
I basically switch between invisible and "I stare you down so menacingly w/o blinking once, that *you* have to be the one to step aside, because *I* won't"
that type of baseline hostility also is a form of keeping strangers from approaching me. as an autistic person who can't handle crowds it is a very effective protection mechanism when combined with headphones and big sunglasses that prevent people from seeing your eyes directly. it's enough to make people feel the invisible daggers. especially since I've been told more than once that I am very much capable of intimidating people that are way taller than me. thank you, my retail years during the pandemic
Dress normal. Camera strap wrapped around your hand, not around your neck. Flow through the streets along with the flow of other people and learn to blend taking photos into your motion. And if anyone does speak to you, be open and willing to engage.
Great advice!
I occasionally use my "stand out like a sore thumb and be obvious" technique. I'll bring my ols 4×5 Graphlex or Speedgraphic plate camera. Within minutes youl have a small croud around you admiring a vintage camera and asking questions about it. Here's the fun part - these people are perfect cover for you to take candids. People will notice the small crowd before they notice your camera. And if tgey do notice you've taken their photo, they usually join the crowd. The best part is that ypu can tell people exactly what ypu are doing.
Street photography on 4x5 is my kind of crazy hahaha
Break the out the old pocket vest 1912
@@huntercreatesthings The Speed Graphic was designed as a press camera, so street photography isn't that far off from being exactly what it's designed for. Really.
Perhaps that's part of the ruse. It's actually a lot more practical than it looks.
Personally, I would be far more likely to let somebody take my photo if they are using such obvious equipment. It just lowers the creep factor a lot knowing that this is somebody that other people are going to notice and could probably remember if need be. It reminds me of that news crew when I was in elementary school decades ago that filmed me for a fill segment. It was pretty clear that it was legit because there were multiple people with many thousands of dollars of equipment with the local TV stations logo on it. Ah, the '80s, we were so naive.
I do think that the line of thinking probably does apply though. If you make it obvious you're there, then it's a lot easier to get the photos and then get the permission afterwards if you get anything.
The fact that it took me 1 1/2 minutes to notice your microphone is a testament to your magic skills.
Hahaha thank you 😂
or your perception skills 😂 cheers!
Have you noticed the wooden spoon?
@@svt8376 yep. i use those wooden spatulas for pushing the tongue down
That was rather odd, but also captivating. Quite unique. I was thinking why not just clip it on your shirt? 😆
I've been wondering for ages how do street photographers manage not to get cussed at and chased away lol. this video is such a gem
Thank you hahaha
That's how I unintentionaly started street photography. I've always tried to capture scenes and mood of my daily life just so that I can express what I was feeling at the moment and I fell in love with those characters that came in the frame. As you said it, it's quite easy to take a photo of people if you make it look natural, as if you aren't trying to shoot them.
Nice! Completely agree
change the word photography to shootings and it changes the whole meaning 💀
@@ralorv8395street shootings with the photosniper
I kinda appreciate knowing these now as someone who hates being in photos. Lets me know what to dodge 💀
I totally get you hahaha but it's sad to hear you hate being in photos! Happy to do a free portrait shoot for you until you're happy with one.
I use number 3 A LOT. It's sooo easy. People never think I'm taking their photo. I'll also set up in a spot with a scene I like and wait for someone interesting to pass by. I'll be taking pictures in that direction the whole time so they think nothing of it.
Number three is definitely underrated!
I love the bumbling old grandpa one!😂
It's my fave for sure
I've finally found a positive to my aging.
@@mgscheue me too I’m 75
When you get old, you become invisible anyway.
I do the bumbling old grandma variant... though much of it is due to actually being uncomfortable in crowds and trying to look busy so nobody will try to talk to me.
1. Dress up while dressing down your colors.
Blacks, browns, greys. Nice khakis, a clean button-down shirt, maybe even a sportscoat. People are less likely to get nervous or suspicious of a person dressed nice using a camera.
2. Don't make eye contact.
The minute you make eye contact with a subject, they are acutely aware of you.
3. No rapid movements.
Don't jerk the camera to your eye. Don't dance around the subject. Move like a panther. Slow, steady. Stand still. On a crowded street people will walk right passed you standing still and never notice you.
Great tips!! Any excuse to dress well is a good one haha
I read that as "Dress up while wearing clown colors", which would have the opposite effect, I'd think 😆
My technique... Hanging cam...
I connect my camera to my phone, hang it to my neck, and just pretend I'm texting while the viewfinder and the shooting button are literally on my phone 😂
Only works on days with very fast shutter speed and bright surroundings.
It'll also be better if u use a flat pancake lens.
Personally , i use a pinhole, so it's very unassuming.
Oh the camera control app is genius I actually hadn't thought of that!
Where is that App?!
@@BeesWaxMinder i specifically use canon camera connect.
It's on play store
@@BeesWaxMinder just a heads up, it was confusing at first, u don't connect the camera on your wifi, connect it to your phone's hotspot for it to work.
Lol I just realized that I use method 3 naturally because of my social anxiety + to avoid eye contact. I love photography, but I hate conflict, so I just act like I'm an idiot with a camera, works for me and makes me practice my passion without overthinking.
Thanks for the tips though, love your style, just subbed.
Thank you :) Means a lot!
Hah, I think I do that sometimes. Other times I take the photo and thumbs up smile and nod at them…
Another is letting the subject walk into your frame pretending to focus on something else. This way, it creates a feeling that even if they realised that you took the photo, it was their mistake and normally you get a "I'm sorry".
Ooh that's a good one!
@@huntercreatesthings I do a variation on this. I focus on the subject and hold the camera in position very still taking cues from the background on the subject's actual position. I pop my head from behind the camera, smile and pretend that I'm letting them walk-by. Then, at the right moment, click, and I go back to pretending like I'm taking a picture of the background. Works surprisingly well.
People are so self-centered, shy and perceptive where I live that they almost always walk around the shot whenever I post up somewhere. People don’t just walk through the shot because they think they’re messing up a video or photo ur taking… tried it alot, didn’t work most the time
This method is a great one. I started photography doing landscape photos and when I started taking photos of people this came naturally to me. In the transition I also ended up effectively combining this with the third tip from the video. I was taking pictures of interesting scenery in spots that people would often walk past. This made it seem like I wasn't focusing on the people I was taking photos of and gave me a good mix of landscape photos and candid photos. The only problem that I have with this approach is that people often wait for me to finish taking photos or go out of their way to not block the shot.
The approach of taking actual landscape photos alongside the ones with people also helped a lot with my lack of confidence in taking photos of people. I didn't need to work very hard to sell the idea that I was taking photos of landscapes and I could also kind of lie to myself and say that that was all that I was doing.
@@lia_jacobin my experience, that's not them being self centered or shy, but more often them trying to be considerate and not block your shot. My advice to partially get around this is to take photos of people at intersections, or on sidewalks or park paths. Try to stand somewhere where it would be inconvenient for people to walk around you. This way more people will just walk through the frame rather than walking around you. Some people will still wait for you to finish, in those cases just snap a photo and lower the camera to let them pass. Also consider where and when you are taking photos. During rush hour and the evening commute more people are going to be concentrating on getting to work/home than on anything else so you get more candid photos at that time. They also are more likely to just ignore you even if they do notice you as they are more focused on getting to their destination. Taking photos in more crowded environments is also good, try a main shopping street or busy intersection. I would also employ one of the techniques found in the video to be less noticable. The third one wouldn't really help but I find fiddling with the camera as if you don't know what you are doing to be very effective in that regard. Try to make it seem like you are struggling with your settings or the camera as a whole and people will assume you aren't really taking photos. This can be really good if you are taking pictures on your phone and your camera app has manual settings as most people wouldn't recognize that you are taking pictures if they see you fiddling with the screen.
Another tip that I find really useful. Take a picture using your screen but do it from the hip while pretending to be looking at your phone with your other hand
Nice one - sometimes I've even pretended to be taking a selfie with my phone while taking a photo of someone hahaha
@@huntercreatesthingsStreet photography *with* a smartphone is obviously easier in general, but another one I've done is bring the phone up to my face and squint while blocking out the sun from it with my other hand, as if trying to read small text .
I'll also sometimes take a picture of something up high, then pretend I'm bringing my phone up to my eye level to preview (also blocking the sun from the screen with my other hand). A bit ridiculous, but it seems to work and it might even work with a proper camera.
Smartphones are an excellent prop for almost any occasion!
I connect the phone to the camera while shooting from the hip to make sure you have the person framed, then take the shot using the phone
I've done this with a phone a lot but it's so hard to get right because you usually have to hold the phone at an awkward angle. :D
A technique I use a lot is simply have the camera hanging on my neck with a strap and take the photos without looking through the viewfinder. I use a zone focus at f/5.6 to f/11. I shoot in manual mode so I can control the shutter speed and aperture but I use auto ISO. I'm usual at 1/500 speed. I focus on a spot on the ground in front of me. Anything that comes into the zone will be in focus. I can be looking the other way and take a photo. I use a 28mm on a full frame. I have a 40mm lens I also use but it's a little trickier using the no look method.
Nice, I do this too!
I think you're spot on about everything.. except the assumption people are reasonable and good humored. Here in the US, the opposite is true for about 49.5 of these 50 states 😅
The first time I saw Garry doing the bumble, I couldn't believe it. Now it's like my main technique. One time someone asked me if I took their picture, clearly agitated, and I just said "DID IT FINALLY TAKE? DID YOU SEE WHAT BUTTON I PRESSED?" Situation over, guy actually tried to help me find my shutter.
That's actually genius hahahaha
I just like that the guy tried to help you after all that! 😂😂
@@Just_Call_Me_Tim He switched to pitying me for being a casual idiot lol. I'll certainly take that over a smackdown.
Definitely agree with this, most people will be cool with public photo. Return the favor by avoiding the shot if someone appears uncomfortable, to be deliberately looking away or covering their face, and always be willing to delete a shot by a subject if asked.
Of course! Being generally chill and willing to chat to people is key
This.
I am actively uncomfortable having my photo taken without explicit consent and all these examples in the video would be red flags to me. I refuse to be ANYWHERE near the front of someone's camera, regardless of how they're acting.
Me and my 15 yr old kid are both wheelchair users and my 12 yr old rides on my lap a lot of the time. I also have blue hair and facial piercings, so I'm very recognisable. One day, I had someone see us and then openly pull his camera up and take a photo. My discomfort was obvious, but instead of stopping to check if it was okay to have taken it, he disappeared too quickly for me to be able to confront him.
If he'd bothered to stop and ask, I would've explained that it's a danger to me and my kids to post that image online and he needs to delete it. What he doesn't know is that I have had abusive people in my life who may recognise me in that photo and become motivated to insert themselves back into our lives. It could also lead to people targeting me with violence or using my recognisability to target my kids. My kids' faces aren't online for a reason.
If I ever find that photo online.... May the odds be ever in his favour.
@@mockingjay478 This is a case of just because it's technically legal, doesn't mean that you should do it. That being said, it's well past time for the laws to be updated to address the issues of distribution and ML training data. It used to be that if somebody got a photo like that, it would probably only get printed a few hundred times, at most, for some sort of art book. If you were a celebrity, it might be a lot more copies, but most of those photos would get printed a couple times and not be distributed any further.
That's not the case these days where most people can get a photo out to dozens, and even hundreds, of people without any thought.
Haha, you fool! I have no intent of taking candid photographs. I watched this video to learn how to catch photographers. Learn from the enemy, my brethren! We will yet defeat the unseen evil!
You can be the villain in the photography anime from that other comment hahaha
@@huntercreatesthings As an anime fan, I can hinestly say that would be awesome. I can imagine handsome tall man with long blond hair and sharp facial features, walking in the black coat and hat and spotting photographers, making internal monologues about waiting for the perfect moment to expose them as they make small mistake, always knowing where to find them XD
Hey! I have a really sincere question... What about the consent of people? Like, I took a photo of someone without asking if I could. Posting this photo in social media doesn't seem to be right. So, every people u photograph in street photography needs to be questioned about the consent?
Idk, it kinda seems to be obvious, but I always had this doubt inside my mind.
This is a rather nuanced topic to deal with in a comment reply but I'll do my best! No I don't ask for consent, ever. That's because on a day out I'll take anywhere from 2-3k photos, and share almost none of them. I think intent matters a lot, and my intent is to document the world. I don't make any money from the candids I shoot either.
Also, asking for consent changes the nature of the scene you're photographing. I try to disturb the scene as little as possible so I can capture it as true to life as I can, which is similar to a photojournalism approach. Of course, if someone is just too interesting to pass on, I'll ask them nicely for a portrait, but that's a whole different thing imo. I may or may not make a video about this... But I know for sure it will have some spicy comments hahaha
@@huntercreatesthings Thank you so much for answering!
I couldn't agree more about what u said.
It really changes the whole scene if you insert yourself in the context asking permission to do it.
And that's really nice to know your intentions, like doing it for documenting the world
I'm new here in your channel. Loved these tips (and your content), and would really appreciate a video talking about this another subject. As you said, though, it would attract some spicy comments xD
I’ve used a variation of technique iii. Take a stance facing subject but turn your torso facing something interesting to photograph. Come to the spot looking around so that when you stop you are not facing your subject if digital you will have already set a delay timer. Take the fake photo then turn towards the subject and appear to be looking at the screen for the fake photo while the timer triggers the actual photo. When I first did this it was out side of a coffee shop/ice cream place in Toronto on Roncy call the Cherry Bomb above the door was a great big red cherry bomb. The guy I shot was a huge guy, looked like a biker, eating an ice cream while looking straight at me, non the wiser.
Nice!
That is really a great idea!!
When Vivien Maier was using a twin-lens reflex camera (held at chest-level), she'd be looking down at it to frame and focus. This is way less "in your face" so people wouldn't be as aware of her camera. Plus the slight upward angle had several advantages.
100%! I've been thinking about picking up a TLR for a while now...
The ‘problem’ is that supposed street photographers put picures of people on the internet without them knowing or without consent. Especially with all the machine learning i think that is a problem. Secondly, as soon it is placed on your futile feed the ‘art’ is not yours anymore, but belongs to the platform. (Few exceptions and its not art, its found footage)
I disagree that it's not art.
If you are in public, you have no expectation of privacy. An artist does not need your consent. It is protected under the 1st amendment. Don't wanna be photographed... don't go to a public place.
@@grampafpv Do you even hear the stupidity in that sentence? "don't want to be photographed, don't go in public". It so disrespecfull. It the same as cussing someone out and then say "It's a free country!!!" Well a free country does not mean you have to behave like an ass. There is still something as courtesy and respecting someone's private space. In Europe there are laws against taking images of bypassers. In my country it is illegal to take pictures without consent. Same goes for placing them on socials. It's for instance not allowed to place private CCTV aimed at a public road.
@thortele don't shoot the messenger. I get that you think the fact that in public you don't have an expectation of privacy is stupid. I didn't make this up so attacking me doesn't change fact. Comparing it to something else does not strengthen your argument, nor does it make your insults valid. Your feelings don't matter here and being but hurt does not make your point...
@thortele your country 🤣🤣 yet you cannot take photos in public🤣🤣 you can keep that shit. I don't want it in the US
The somewhat lost tourist works every time in Melbourne. Day backpack, an old Akubra hat and a touch of confusion in the big smoke. Even had a city tourism volunteer ask me where I was from & how I liked Melbourne. Got the full rundown of what was where but it worked. Had an Olympus Stylus 1 for most of my street work. It’s ideal, small, 28-300mm, viewfinder & 10 fps. After that I dragged out a DSLR which is my preferred option…no drama. Just gotta follow your gut feeling.
The other persona is the pro at work with the DSLR & small tripod…ostensibly shooting great architecture & arcades. No one gives it a second look. Shooting from the hip with a DSLR is fun or just sitting with the camera in my lap gets some shots but nothing beats asking people for a candid shot. The more ‘out there’ the better the hit rate. Thanks for the video. Well done.
Great techniques! Thanks for watching :)
My favorite technique for large crowds and events I used just last night: being as non-challant as possible. If you're at a large local event, or gathering of people, especially around a specific time of year (IE graduation time here in the US like it is right now), and you happen to see a large group of people dressed up and congregated in public place ( in front of the local ice cream joint for instance), and just don't photograph anyone in particular, then get in and get out after a few minutes, most people will probably assume "oh, he works for the local paper or something", and no one's the wiser.
100% yes. This is also why I think the big DSLR gets a pass too!
@@huntercreatesthings I'm all film and shoot with a Nikon F5. Looks juuuuuuust DSLR'y enough to pass (since it is the grand-daddy of DSLR's, after all ;) )
Instructions unclear, took photo of embassy, now imprisoned.
Cannot personally recommend tbh
My problem with modern street photography : 99% of street photography are just snapshots without any value and story.
Story is the most important factor for a good photo IMO
Stories are everywhere. History is everywhere. A living being to me is well enough a story just by knowing they’ve lived and are living - experiencing this life all the same as you or myself, except with their own views, memories, feelings, etc. All citizens, people, are so interesting and special to me. I believe it is the job of the photographer or artist to be able to highlight that specialness within every subject.
It's always been like that. It's just that nowadays everyone can publish their work on social media, so we only notice them more.
I suggest you look at more street photography then, and after flipping through and seeing the photos, go back again and really look at them and notice themes and juxtapositions and subjects you might have missed. Gary Winogrand is a great example of subtle detail and deeper contextual photos, that at first glance a lot of people might not see. And there’s plenty of other amazing street photographers with photos that have multi layered compositions of subjects that tell great stories. Just gotta look, honestly it’s hard finding the good stuff tho and in my opinion many of the “greats” are pretty over rated. Bresson cough cough
I do use trick 3 and it definitely does work. But I'm quite bad at being stealth or sneaky in a public place I'm too aware of myself. I'll sometimes do the drive by, but like I'm shooting everything and I've got nothing to hide, just take the picture and walk away. If I spot someone whose portrait I want to take, I usually make eye contact and smile and just shoot. If I'm shooting digital, sometimes I will show my images to whoever it is I'm shooting on the street, specially if we make eye contact. It usually makes them feel good to be involved in the photo and you can have a bit of a chat. Just today, I had a flower seller in the bazaar strike up a conversation, about what I do with the pictures I was taking, I showed him some pictures I'd taken in the past and he was really nice about it. I have a friend who brings his mini printer with him sometimes when traveling and gives pictures to folks.
100%. Photography is dialogic, and street candids count!
The part about not feeling nervous about it is the real key here. I didnt get comfortable with street until i got comfortable with enjoying street for the art form it is and for the pure enjoyment i get out of it, i love getting peoples reactions to me in the moment too.
How do candid photographers handle people who don't want there pictures taken at all. If I found out someone took a picture of me and I didn't know I would be really upset, so do you always reveal it to the person afterwards? Or can you only share publicly the pictures that have consent?
Great question! Since I take so many photos, I don't ask for consent. Instead, I carefully curate what I shot after the fact, and think hard about what I share online and in print. Most of my work is less like portraits of people, and more like street scenes, things happening where people are part of the story. I've had lots of similar questions and so I might do a video on the topic!
Ok. The mic clipped to the wooden spoon adds a certain je ne sais quoi to the whole video.
Hahaha I do what I can
It always makes me a little happy inside when I catch a Firefly reference
Shiny!
Oh wow, I have inadvertently done the ‘look at something else while shooting’ technique with my phone. I’ve also successfully pretended I was trying to avoid glare while shooting a pic of someone or something. It’s amazing how well it works. Just look frustrated by your phone and move it around while looking right at it. Great stuff.
Nice! Thanks for watching ☺️
5:40 in some countries taking a picture of a stranger is doing something wrong and it is punishable by fine or even jail time. So check Your Countries law first, before You listen to a stranger on TH-cam.
Goes without saying
@@huntercreatesthings Clearly it doesn't, because it's been said. /jk
I hold the camera in front of me at chest height staring at the back screen talking to myself. People assume you are live-streaming or shooting a video.
Also a great technique!
I use the "point at where people will walk by"... Most people think I'm taking a picture of something else, and they just happen to be walking by. Some people would even stop thinking that they're messing up my shot.
Sometimes it works just a little too well and you have to encourage people to get in the way haha!
This is great! Each bit of advice is spot on. Thanks for sharing. Your last point is also so important. I used to catch myself walking round with a very serious look on my face. I had people ask me whether I was undercover police! Being open and smiling in demeanour works really well.
Thank you for sharing!! I'm glad you enjoyed
These are actually extremely useful! It’s so smart but I wouldn’t have thought of that myself 😅 That will definitely help me feel more confident when I take photos in the future
I'm so glad I could help!!
That spoon is the greatest mic holder I've seen! ❤️
Hahaha thank you
I can't wait to try #2. Brilliant. But that bonus 4th "technique" is the most valuable. Premise applies to much more than photography.
Thank you!!
Thank you for this! I shoot events and while people expect me to, I love candids and try my best to be unnoticed, but that usually limits me to telezooms. With your techniques I can try to get wide angle candid pictures 🎉❤
Nice! Glad I could help :)
I haven't done much in terms of street photography, but I took my first early steps in it during the eclipse earlier this year. The first picture I took with my dinky OnePlus6t was of a vintage mailbox in a historic area of a Texas town at night with some excellent string lights and a restaurant behind it. It was almost a macro shot, but I managed a nice bokeh. While I was taking a shot my dad yelled my name, jolting me back to reality. Then I heard "Excuse me sir, what are you doing?" from a lady eating dinner with her family 30 feet from the mailbox, and they happen to be dead-center behind it from my shot. Apparently it was maybe the 3rd or 4th time they tried to ask, but I was in the zone. After stuttering for a bit, I just answered "oh, I'm trying to get into photography. I took a picture of the mailbox" I didn't have much more of an answer than that, but they accepted it, probably realizing I was a tourist.
I will say, probably didn't help that I was using a smartphone. My dad heavily advised me against trying to take more pictures with people in the shot (which also ruined another shot I tried to line up, which wasn't even directly at people, but ehh). I plan to just get smarter with it, and just use it as an opener for conversation in the future, cus it doesn't have to be awkward when you have nothing to hide. Probably will get a real pocket sized camera though. I feel that'd put more people at ease.
That's a rough start - but it happens to all of us. Keep going! If you're young, one of the best excuses is "I'm a photography student".
The ambiance, the tips, the spoon : you're my new favorite content creator
Thank you so much hahaha!
I really appreciate your "spoon microphone" as well as your sense of humour 🙂 Greetz from cloudy belgium.
Thank you! Means a lot
Incredible my dude ! And you have a great sens of humor. Loved it
Glad you enjoyed it!
You really spoon fed us that information.
oh stop it 😂
Great info. thanks
then you forget to silence the shutter
On the other hand having it on rapid shutter mode and making sure you're always holding down the button to take at least a few gets people to tune out the repetitive noise really fast. And if there are moving things in the environment it helps sell those as the subject you're trying for
After 50 years as a street photographer, I can tell you the best technique is to just act like a pro. People don't care if you take their photos. They care if they think you're some kind of a creep. Don't be a creep. Also, by the time I press the shutter, I'm already looking away for my next shot. They know you probably took their photo, but, again, they DON'T CARE. Be professional.
Amen
the winogrand technique is fantastic.
I have definitely missed photos in the past because I felt I was too close to my subject. It doesnt help that I usually shoot on a camera that has a pretty loud shutter as well.
Will have to try this one out next time I am on the street.
Good video!
Thanks for watching!
Thank you for the video! I have been on street photography for years, but my experience with people photography has been so low due to my anxiety disorders and frustrations, constantly worrying about getting yelled at after getting noticed (and I did once get yelled at... for taking photos of a 20+ years old Hyundai).
So far my attempts at being invisible was "holding and looking at my phone while focusing the camera to the subject", hip shot, and pretend like I'm testing out the camera with sony a7's silent shooting. But those attempts usually ended up with unfocused and shaken images.
Not only techniques, but now I feel less anxious for the shots I take and will take, and realized that just dying in anxiety will lead me to nowhere. Hoping to try out these techniques asap with new attitude in photos. Subscribed!
So glad I could help! Practice makes perfect, keep going!
I don't really do street per-se, but I'm keen to give it a go as I try new subjects to capture. My shoots are mostly done whilst urban exploring, so my subjects are typically inanimate.
But anyway your story of getting yelled at for shooting a car is a bit surprising. I love snapping unusual cars, but I always ask if there's an obvious owner nearby (not sure why ... probably equal parts being respectful and opening up opportunity for a chat) - and I've never had someone say no, and most times I get a quick history of the vehicle too!
@@KristovMars tbh, for car spots I used to think 'people might look at me suspiciously if I get busy taking photos of 20-30+ years old cars' and I think that made me behave suspiciously for those car photos 😅
Nowadays I try to be more open about it - going around the car, take about 4-5 shots, and then leave. Sometimes owners come to me wondering for the shots, and I also have been going honest about my intentions which thankfully all lead to good talks. Definitely feels great to be more confident about my photography instead of feeling like I'm illegally taking pictures!
Great tips I'd never heard before or knew I needed. The bonus tips from the war photog in the comments are also priceless!
Glad to hear it! Agreed, what a legend
That was pure gold, on every level. Thanks a bunch!
Hahaha Thanks! Glad you enjoyed.
Please keep in mind people's privacy. In Germany, using these tricks to take secret photos is illegal (according to my non-lawyer perspective). If the person is primary subject to the photo, you usually have to ask first.
Respecting local laws is step zero which goes without saying
okay, second technic is the best 😂😂😂
Hahaha it's my favorite - and it works so well!
As a magician I can tell you. These misdirection tips are very good. Very good!
Thank you!
I've done it pretty successfully with a Minox III. People don't even realize it's a camera. The very few that do are impressed to see a Minox.
Cool!
I do a lot of street photography for my school’s photography club.
my main way of taking pictures of people is always to stay far away from them or when they are busy lookking at something else.
I would also do the second technique. pretending that my camera was bugging out or there was a smudge on the lense.
The only time I was confronted is when a cop had to check my camera because I had accidentally took a picture of the US Ambassador’s residence at Suropati park. :]
When I had first moved to London I was unfamiliar with the civilised world and got rather curtly told off for taking photos of what I thought was just a nice building and ended up actually being the Embassy of Qatar
I just get familiar with my focal length and hold the camera flush with my chest. Hands on either side of the camera and when they get within the range I like let my thumb hit shutter button. And they just think I'm carrying my camera across my chest. I get about 60% hit rate of success.
That's a great one!!
Wow, I totally forgot how much I hate street photographers.
Why?
Taking photos of people without their knowing or consent really doesn't sit well with me.
I took a photography class in college. Out of all of our projects, the street photography one was my favorite. I'm usually a shy person, so I was definitely going for stealthy, (I would probably cry if someone yelled at me...) but I kept my cool, and I got some great shots. These are some really great tips if I decide to pick it up as a hobby again~
You should do some more!
just picked up a old canon, T80 thanks for all the tips. So far i just have a 50mm and have only gone through 1 roll. cant wait to take some more shots.
Awesome!! Get some 400TX in there!
One thing of note is to use camera that's obviously not "pro" - in common person's eye, that is. Something like big and bulky top range camera with extra grip, or somewhat longer lens (not even telephoto, longer 85mm is usually enough to standout) and you are suddenly suspicious.
Instead, you want to go smaller, which is (luckily for street photographers) easier today. Compacts or mirrorless cameras, or even smaller DSLRs are way to go. Pancake lenses are great, because for non-photographers small equals amateur - better not tell them about those Zeiss and Voigtländer pancakes!
You can also work with your camera - is your camera boring pro black? Get a leather case and look more like a tourist that wants their camera to be pretty (and get extra protection with that). Put a silly sticker on your camera. Use a strap that's not default (because they usually suck ergonomically), but it's in jarring colour, because purple is your wife's favourite colour and she picked it, you see? Misdirection is everything here~
Definitely - but in some situations, in certain places (London) I feel like my big pro gripped up Nikon with a jumbo lens is almost more camo and unnoticeable than a Leica since it looks like I'm working rather than just taking photos, although I guess my subpar wardrobe also helps with that look haha
Didn’t notice the spoon mic until 1:33
Once you see you cannot unsee
Great tips!
From my experience, if you dress well and look like your interest is somewhere else, people won't notice.
Most people like to be photographed, as long as you are not giving them a creepy feeling, it's ok.
One technique I like to use in crowded areas, is to settle a frame by looking through my camera and wait for subjects to enter.
I called it fishing photo, because it's really what it feels like!
No one will question you, because they stepped into your frame.
It's also really interesting to see some people acting different when they notice they are entering your camera sight.
The advice in this video is simply brilliant, as well as brilliantly simple.
Thank you so much!!!
Creeps that take pictures without people's permission is one of the reasons I hate going out
I totally understand where you're coming from! It's not so much about photographing people, it's avoiding disturbing the scene so that you can document it.
The intention for my photography is to document the world, and the destination for my photos is photo books and art galleries. Of course, I post my photos online to share what I'm working on and to educate, like on TH-cam, but none of this is for popularity or likes, and I can promise you it's definitely not profitable!
Street photography has a rich and important history, and I think it's got a pretty bad rap over the past few years with social media influencers being disrespectful without understanding the genre, and how close it is in nature to photojournalism and documentary photography.
If you'd like to learn more, I highly recommend you check out Robert Frank's "The Americans" to get an idea of what (hopefully) most street photographers are trying to do :)
Look, people taking pictures of crowds is fine. But trying and taking pictures of specific people without their consent is and always will be creepy.
@@yeti25934 We definitely are well-past due for a new set of laws covering this. I previously would have been OK with that, but with how ML has changed that, I pretty much think that if you're not an actual photojournalist, that you probably shouldn't be taking pictures that have people's faces in them.
@@SmallSpoonBrigadesure but 'actual photojournalist' is a terrible distinction to make. Many of the most important photos have been taken by people who just happened to be there. Think civilian views of warzones or police brutality for instance.
the best tip. Be confident. Not just with taking photos. It helps with EVERYTHING
Very real. Absolutely life changing growing more confident ... May or may not be what next week's video is all about 🤫
Really like this video! I’ll use the tips my wildlife techniques! Seriously though this is really helpful, I think the last point about not looking creepy is the most importantly one. Thank you!
You're so welcome! Glad I could help.
The last tip is very true. People are mostly against creeps, or uses phones for photos. If you are a professional with a cam, people subconsciously dont mind or ignore it.
100%
Taking "candids" of strangers never gave me a good feeling in the first place, after seeing this video of techniques on how to trick others it makes me feel even more icky.
I totally get your perspective! It is super dependent on context, and setting. Sometimes in smaller towns or abroad I also feel wrong about taking candids, so I don't. I do think it's a valid artistic practice though, and I think there's a lot that can be learned from the techniques that we can apply elsewhere :)
I'm genuinely curious why you feel icky about taking photographs of people on a public street. I'm older and have no problem photographing people but I find it concerning that younger people find it amoral to have a curiosity and appreciation of your fellow human beings enough to want to capture a photograph of them. There's a lack of humanity in that thinking. Unless you're taking candids for "adult purposes" or to intentionally embarrass a person, wanting to capture a moment of another human being you encountered on your path through life because you found them interesting or the scene they were in interesting, shouldn't be a concern.
@@ABC-sc2ip I agre, and I think the reason for the icky-ness nowadays is young people are more familiar with being recorded/photographed on phones for social media/to be made fun of online and so theyre a bit more nervous about it, but im not old enough to say for sure if thats the cultural shift.
@@ABC-sc2ip Because in the modern era there are far more uses for the photos than there used to be. When the laws were written, the ability to discretely take a photo and publish it was limited to basically nobody as cameras were large and required that people stand there for a prolonged period of time to get a usable image. These days, anybody with a phone can take pictures without permission and distribute them globally. What's more, tech companies use them to make money and I've even seen photos for porn ads that used images of real people that probably didn't consent to the use.
Not to mention that the internet doesn't necessarily forget the things you want it to forget. During the McCarthy era being photographed with a communist sympathizer could ruin your life. And, more recently there have been photos taken out of context like that kid that appeared to be in blackface at the Chief's game who turned out to not be in blackface at all and had to deal with that issue. Then there's the issue of deep fakes and photoshopping things to look like something they're not. Most of the time this sort of stuff doesn't happen, but it does happen.
Dude i love the spoon. i just cant get enough. Im headed to record a video for FUJIFILM but i will come back to this!!
Thank you haha, looking forward to seeing it!
Immediately after I finished this video I proclaimed “i love art!” loudly started washing some prunes
Do you need to wash prunes? I usually eat em straight from the bag
There was a really interesting video where a guy masters how to shoot from the hip in street photography. He had the exposure, the DOF and the process to aim all ironed out. It was really interesting. You get angles from it you might not get with holding it up to your eye as well
Shooting from the hip is awesome - I recently did a video about all the different ways I shoot without looking, you should check it out!
Or just ask
Sure, it doesn’t work for all types of photography, but it’s the moral thing to do in most cases.
This is specific to shooting candids - morality of street photography is another whole video, but as I said at the start, this can apply to situations where you already have express permission, like event and wedding photography :)
i got almost yelled at and thrown beercans at from 20 meters buy just having a 5dmk3 with a big lens dangling from my neck… that changed: try a small camera , an innocent point anshoot. i tried first a g10 (when i put a bit gaffa tape on the logo noone looked a the camera anymore) now a tiny grd3. next wear a colourful shirt with the name of the city your in, wear a cheap neon rucksack, on of those stupid hats and flip flops would help. in short: look like a dumb tourist. no photographer black ninja gear at all!
Honestly tourist mode is so effective it almost feels like cheating
Keeping the camera low and looking at the rear screen from the top also helps. Wide angle with a reasonable amount of depth so you don’t need to worry too much about focusing. In the past with my M6, I’d shoot f8-f11 and lock the focus between 3’ to 12’ ish. So I only pointed the camera quickly and was gone. Never shoot from far with a long lens, that feels more threatening than right on your subject’s face.
I dislike super long lenses for much the same reason!
This is really good advice.
I have not tried the "Winogrand" yet and it is tempting.
I just take the photo and keep walking at my usual pace. Some subjects will look into the camera which I often like to see. Others just think I am pointing behind them. I use a zoom lens but keep it at 24mm (35mm equiv) for the entire duration. The long size of the lens helps with the illusion that I am aiming for something behind them.
All the illusion goes away if you start using flash. I have not been brave enough to do that yet.
Winogrand is a great combo for using flash!
Don't you guys feel bad that you're uploading stuff without people's consent??? I wouldn't want my face being shared around without my knowledge or consent and someone profiting from it or getting more popular. This whole video is really creepy - it's just "how do I fool people into thinking I didn't just take a photo of them?" Really f*cking weird!
I totally understand where you're coming from! It's not so much fooling people, it's avoiding disturbing the scene so that you can document it.
The intention for my photography is to document the world, and the destination for my photos is photo books and art galleries. Of course, I post my photos online to share what I'm working on and to educate, like on TH-cam, but none of this is for popularity or likes, and I can promise you it's definitely not profitable!
Street photography has a rich and important history, and I think it's got a pretty bad rap over the past few years with social media influencers being disrespectful without understanding the genre, and how close it is in nature to photojournalism and documentary photography.
If you'd like to learn more, I highly recommend you check out Robert Frank's "The Americans" to get an idea of what (hopefully) most street photographers are trying to do :)
@@huntercreatesthings but why not ask for consent afterwards? I get it if it's a big crowd, but if you are focusing on only a few individuals it just seams imoral and lazy not to. (Granted im from a country where taking pictures of people who are not in a crowd without consent is a crime, so im properly biased.) honestly i would be fine if someone took a picture of me in public as Long as they ask me afterwards, but otherwise its just really creepy and especially if they were trying to hide it and didnt tell me once they got there shot
@@NatSkovlund I assume it has to do with volume. That being said, I do think that a shirt with a URL or contact info would probably be the best compromise if you're not going to ask, especially if you're just using the pictures for personal offline use and aren't distributing or running them through ML software as part of a training set.
this is kind of creepy ngl. time to start wearing masks again I guess.
Not creepy! It's art :) street photography gets misrepresented on social media a lot, and it's much less about portraits of people and more about documenting life.
Without the express permission of the people who's picture you're taking, it is creepy as fuck. Something being art does not automatically make that thing not creepy.
@@huntercreatesthings
I don't think there's anything wrong with going up to someone and asking for their photo, but the intentional subterfuge kind of belies your point lol
This couldn't have come at a better time for me, because I just started practicing street photography and working through the nervousness of someone getting mad or something. Also, apparently I've been doing the Winogrand without realizing it
I literally did a video a couple weeks ago on getting past street photography anxiety! You should check it out
Good advice, I'll try them and see which suits me better. Thanks!
Glad I could help!
this is a lesson in deceiving people and getting their picture without their consent?
This is the the philosophy of street photography that you stand behind, that you want to promote?
Gross. Have some respect for your subjects.
I totally understand where you're coming from, and without context, I see how you could see it that way. It's not so much about photographing people, it's avoiding disturbing the scene so that you can document it.
The intention for my photography is to document the world, and the destination for my photos is photo books and art galleries. Of course, I post my photos online to share what I'm working on and to educate, like on TH-cam, but none of this is for popularity or likes, and I can promise you it's definitely not profitable!
Street photography has a rich and important history, and I think it's got a pretty bad rap over the past few years with social media influencers being disrespectful without understanding the genre, and how close it is in nature to photojournalism and documentary photography.
If you'd like to learn more, I highly recommend you check out Robert Frank's "The Americans" to get an idea of what (hopefully) most street photographers are trying to do :)
And yes. I stand behind what I do in street photography fully, and I do want to promote it.
So if you want to be a creep, here's how to do it.
I recommend checking out Robert Frank's book "The Americans" so that you can learn what street photography is and why it's important ☺️
Great tips, especially at the end!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I'm an amateur, but taking photos with the camera on a short tripod, hand held and using a remote control for the shutter tends to leave folk looking at you, then at the lens then back to you...I've had some fun with this even indoors and very close up.
Pairing my smartphone to my Sony a6500 has allowed me to be looking at my phone while shooting (shutter release on the phone) - also works.
Did you try not taking photos of people who didn't consent to having photos taken of them? Seems pretty simple to do.
I get where you're coming from but I think if you had a look at some street photography that isn't what you see on social media you'd get it. Maybe check out Robert Frank's book "The Americans"?
F/16, pushed to 800 or 1600 iso, set your focus just behind affinity so everything in the frame is in focus. I usually shoot using a 35mm when I use this technique- it’s ridiculously subtle so you can get close to your subject and the angle of view is wide enough to ensure you get your subject.
Scale focus is top tier
I like the advice you've got after talking about the techniques
Thanks! I think it's the most important
The final tip is a key to success with the first three in this nicely done video.
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed
How do you not have more subscribers? Your content is great and so is the editing!
Ah thanks! I'm just getting started but I'm loving it, appreciate you!
i have been using all of these techniques, works great, but always check the vibe of the place
Nice!
You've earned a new sub! Your videos have taken my stalker game to a whole nother level!
hahaha thank you but please no stalking!
thanks for the great video man! love the microphone!
Glad you like it!
Very neat techniques... Love the wooden spoon!
Thank you! Cheers!
the "being clueless" technique sounds good. I'm not a good actor, but I'll try it some day :)
Works even better if you are genuinely clueless hahaha
Ultymate stealth technique is make photo without directly look into back of camera.
Problem is obvious, only half or less controll over finnale image but sometime when there is a really lot of people, it can be less noticable.
I agree... keep an eye out for Friday's video, I think you might like it.... for no particular reason
Great tips and tricks my man. Keep it up!
Thank you so much!!