Conquering the streets

[hamlet]

OP, you keep on posting like you think there is some sort of magic lens or special button or mystical technique that will MAKE YOU UNOBTRUSIVE.

There isn't.
What will get you good shots - and a good shot does not mean sneaking up on someone and catching them unawares - is actually being unobstrusive, not attracting attention by waving your camera around or by spending 30 seconds fiddling with the settings or by looking through the lens for a minute until you get the frame you want.
I shot for years with a large ff Nikon and huge 24-70 lens and did reasonably well.

So stop looking for a magic solution and just get out there and shoot and develop your skills.

Forgive me for my ignorance, i don't actually know what a good shot is but i know what i'm looking for. I'm not trying to downplay your vast experience, but maybe there are some techniques to become part of the wallpaper, to be the background noise nobody pays attention to. Sitting in one place all day long is a good way, or befriending your props.


I've noticed that by just looking at your target will attract subconscious attention from your props. So maybe just scan the area with your eyes around the target. I just have to practice and get to a point where when my viewfinder meets my eyes, i can take the picture right that second.


I have to also look into purchasing a mirror-less camera for a more discrete way of shooting my targets. A dslr is a bit intimidating.

 

[hamlet]

This is one i tried:

A prop taking a picture of its prop.


And two parents taking pictures:

Now i do see a lot that is wrong with my pictures, but i will work on ironing these mistakes out. Lighting conditions were horrid that day i took these pictures.

 

[The_Traveler]

A good shot is hard to define because it is many things.
The photographer is trying to show the viewer what he/she sees that is interesting or important or moving or instructive. The shot must carry something more than just the content, more than documentation.

If you can't teach yourself to see good shots, then technique won't matter.
Concentrate first on looking for good shots then on getting them, then the techniques you need will follow automatically.

 

[hamlet]

I will take that advice to heart.

 

[davf]

You could try going out without a camera if that is what distracts you from seeing potential interesting shots. Train your brain to see what you are looking at and to look at what you are seeing. Enjoy yourself and enjoy what you see. Just a thought.

 

[gsgary]

I shoot with a film M4-P and M4-2 in close with a 28mm lens, my camera is always ready to shoot without touching focus or exposure by using hyper focus
camera is set to F8 and shutter speed needed for light (iso400 film) and distance on lens set to 10 feet, camera by my side strap wrapped around hand when i see the shot it is up to my eye and back by my side as quick as possible much faster than a DSLR

 

[wyogirl]

My piece of advice.... Quit worrying about what people might think. If you feel like you are doing something shady then people will pick up on that. You need to get comfortable on the street with a camera, ANY camera. You are a photographer not a spy. Take your shots, if people ask about it, show them, converse with them. But if you feel like a weirdo, then you will be seen as one.

 

[hamlet]

My piece of advice.... Quit worrying about what people might think. If you feel like you are doing something shady then people will pick up on that. You need to get comfortable on the street with a camera, ANY camera. You are a photographer not a spy. Take your shots, if people ask about it, show them, converse with them. But if you feel like a weirdo, then you will be seen as one.

Thank you, that is very good advice. I do feel nervous when i'm out on the streets. The two shots above i messed up purely because im' not confident in what i do. I saw those two shots in my head, but look at the horrible angles i shot them in my previous post.

 

[hamlet]

When i'm shooting outside i always have this thought of: "what are people going to think? what if they misinterpret what i'm actually trying to do?" Like i'm not trying to make anyone look bad, i just want to capture people as who they really are in their natural environment.

 

[gsgary]

When i'm shooting outside i always have this thought of: "what are people going to think? what if they misinterpret what i'm actually trying to do?" Like i'm not trying to make anyone look bad, i just want to capture people as who they really are in their natural environment.

I'm lucky because i don't care what people think when i'm shooting', just like this chap

 

[hamlet]

I think i've gotten enough input from everyone. I will find my own style of street photography.

 

[TheFantasticG]

Learn to ninja

But what do I know. I shoot bugs and lightning and neither of which care of they are being photographed... except for wasps. Wasps care very much and will let you know very quickly.

 

[limr]

I think i've gotten enough input from everyone. I will find my own style of street photography.

Bingo! Now go shoot something

 

[Patriot]

I'm very shy so street photography is hard for me.

 

[vintagesnaps]

When I've done sports and events I've found that it doesn't usually take long for people to realize that me and my camera aren't all that interesting to watch and they go back to what they're doing. I think it's timing, after getting the camera set I may spend time looking thru the viewfinder before taking photos, or may stop from time to time as I'm moving around to watch what's going on, without the camera or thru the viewfinder. Everything with photography seems to take time to learn and plenty of practice.