Candid photos...

Been wanting to take a few candid street photos, but am cautious to do such thing here in HK.

I was wondering if anyone has had bad experience or reaction from people when they find out you are 'snooping' and taking 'secret' pictures of them (which in fact it is isn't it?). Especially if you had something like the 70-200VR (with hood) pointing at them.

--
-------------
Steven
17-55DX f/2.8 + 70-200VR f/2.8 Great Combo!

Which, having shot in several large cities in Asia, is a somewhat similar situation to HK. In my experience, a lot of people don't mind if you photograph them, even with a 70-200.

There are a couple of scenarios:

a) you take their photo and they don't notice.
b) they notice and ignore you
c) they notice and verbally object
d) they notice, and ask what you're doing

Success in all of these situations depends somewhat on the level of confidence, compassion, and professionalism you exhibit as a photographer. You need to be confident when you take the photo, and confident that you can explain exactly what you like about the scene, their face, etc. Keep in mind that you're going to be told to p!ss off plenty of times, no matter what.

Generally speaking, if you like someone's face, or outfit, it's best to walk right up to them, introduce yourself, explain what it is that you like about their look and ask them if they wouldn't mind you taking a few photos. You're occasionally going to talk to crazy people, mean people, etc, but I think you'll be surprised at the number of people who either love the fact that you like something about them or who are somewhat uncaring as to whether you take their photo or not.

Example:

I saw this scene, knew I needed to take a photo, and walked right up and asked for it. The first few shots, the subjects looked very conscious of my presence, but after a few minutes of talking and me shooting, they naturally ignore the camera.

Both shots are good, but for very different reasons, I personally prefer the second one.
D200, 17-55mm, f5.6

[1]



[2]

Hong Kong is the place for street photography. I've done it lots and found very few people object to it. There are so many people doing candid street photography in Hong Kong that they are used to it. Sometimes I found that it was best to ask, but when you do you risk losing that moment that you wanted to capture in the first place. Like the previous poster said, you just have to be confident when you do it. Have fun!

Bryan
--

'I like beer. On occasion I will even drink beer to celebrate a major event such as the fall
of communism or the fact that the refrigerator is still working' Dave Barry

http://www.bappelt.smugmug.com

Hong Kong sounds like a place where street-photography should not be problematic.

However, when you go 'snooping' or take 'secret' pics.... people may not like that.

But if you're using your 70-200mm VR lens, it is hard to snoop around

It is also in your attitude. Be a photographer. Act like one. And people 'expect' you to shoot pictures (of them).

--
Happy Snapping!
Anton Spaans,
http://www.streetsofboston.com
http://blog.antonspaans.com

I'm kind of shy when it comes to candid photography and I find a lot of people here in NYC do an amazing job, so I concentrate more on the landscape and abstract side of things.

That said, I still have a lot of opportunities for candids, and my recommendations are:

1. Have a positive attitude. I find it helps to smile, look like you're just having a good time, not crouched around in some sort of hiding or "secretive" position.

2. Keep moving. Frequently right after blatantly snapping someone's photography I immediately might aim towards the sky, the ground, something just to make it look like the person being photographed was my original intention.

3. Bore your subject to death. If it looks like the subject will stick around for a while, you can try to shoot other, uninteresting subjects around him, he/she forgets about your presence, and then you have a go at it.

4. Be friendly. If someone asks you what you're doing, I tend to be friendly, explain I'm an amateur, my intentions, be talkative. If people object, I almost always delete the shot (well, except once/twice when a person flipped out and overreacted, I felt in that case it was best to walk away rather than confront)...

Nick
http://www.ashotapart.com/ - photoblogging nyc and beyond

NickInFocus said:

2. Keep moving. Frequently right after blatantly snapping
someone's photography I immediately might aim towards the sky, the
ground, something just to make it look like the person being
photographed was my original intention.

Click to expand...

Oops.

I meant "like the person being photographed wasn't my original intention" of course here...

Nick
http://www.ashotapart.com/ - photoblogging nyc and beyond

no one seemed to mind when i was in HK in 2004...

Never had trouble here in NYC, where the streets are generally full of people... They see you but then keep walking...

--



http://photography.leung.us

Me too never had trouble here in Holland.

Jan
The Netherlands

LeungPhotos said:

Never had trouble here in NYC, where the streets are generally full
of people... They see you but then keep walking...

Click to expand...

--

Some of my pictures with the D2X

http://www.xs4all.nl/~roadrats/D2X/D2X.html

and with the good old D100

http://www.xs4all.nl/~roadrats/Nikon/Nikon.html

When confronted I just say "you bear a striking resemblance to Rosie O'Donnel and I had to capture it!" (even if they are a male). Works like a charm. Very flattering. Try it!

I take a lot of candids in HK and Thailand, and I find that a BIG smile and a big thank you goes a long way when they notice me shooting. Learn to say thank you in Cantonese (or whatever/wherever you are). Sometimes I'll smile and point to my camera before shooting, sometimes thank them after.

If someone really objects I'll stop, but it's very rare.

--
Z-Man

Sometimes you get this reaction



this reaction



or this reaction



Actually Zanta's a nice guy !

Pierre

--
http://www.pbase.com/sakhnini

taking candid street shots and always see some interesting people in Atlanta but I'm always a bit shy in taking their photo. I've tried to use many of the techniques suggested by Nick and I'm beginning to make some headway and become bolder.

I think streets shots are simply amazing shots, they're like reading a short story because they tell you so much about the setting and about he people in the shot.

I hope we keep this thread going with suggestions and examples of candid shots. I've only taken a few but I'm becoming bolder with each shot.

http://www.pbase.com/artist/people_in__passing

NickInFocus said:

I'm kind of shy when it comes to candid photography and I find a
lot of people here in NYC do an amazing job, so I concentrate more
on the landscape and abstract side of things.

That said, I still have a lot of opportunities for candids, and my
recommendations are:

1. Have a positive attitude. I find it helps to smile, look like
you're just having a good time, not crouched around in some sort of
hiding or "secretive" position.
2. Keep moving. Frequently right after blatantly snapping
someone's photography I immediately might aim towards the sky, the
ground, something just to make it look like the person being
photographed was my original intention.
3. Bore your subject to death. If it looks like the subject will
stick around for a while, you can try to shoot other, uninteresting
subjects around him, he/she forgets about your presence, and then
you have a go at it.
4. Be friendly. If someone asks you what you're doing, I tend to
be friendly, explain I'm an amateur, my intentions, be talkative.
If people object, I almost always delete the shot (well, except
once/twice when a person flipped out and overreacted, I felt in
that case it was best to walk away rather than confront)...

Nick
http://www.ashotapart.com/ - photoblogging nyc and beyond

Click to expand...

--
Olympus E20
Nikon D200
80-200mm f/2.8
Nikon 18-200mm
Sigma 10-20mm
50mm f/1.4
SB-800
Schilke and Benge (my other loves)
http://www.pbase.com/artist/root&page=all

Some good advice given here. Don't do candids often, but might appear to look at, focus on a distant subject, then shoot when they walk into the frame. Might work in some situations.

This was taken shortly after 9-11 in NYC with that method:



Best,

Alan

If they mind or not.



So you just keep shooting



Some just ignore photographers



The secret is to blend in.



All taken with the D200 & 85 1.8 (it's a lot less intimidating than a big zoom)

The rest are here:
http://www.jimcphotos.com/yborbikes/index.html

I love doing candid street photos in Hong Kong. I usually use a few different techniques that seem to work quite well. One is I will pre-focus on the distance of what I want to take a picture of, but I will point my camera at something else. Often I will be pointing my camera up towards a building or something like that. Then when the moment is right I'll recompose and shoot. Another technique I'll use is the 'shoot from the hip' technique, but the percentage of keepers is much lower. I get some good ones, but it takes a lot of practice. Eventually you can get quite good at it. Then other times I'll just straight up point my D200 with 17-55 or 80-200 attached and click and not try to be secretive about it. Often people will just continue doing what they do.

1. 1 - I didn't have to be secretive about this one as I was in a pub across the street.

1. 2 - I've found in temples people don't seem to mind photos being taken. I often ask there, but sometimes an opportunity arises and you have to shoot first, ask questions later so to speak.

1. 3 - And sometimes shooting from the hip gives a great shot, and perspective that you otherwise just wouldn't get.

1. 4 - This is one of those times when it's good to pre-focus, aim at something else, and then anticipate the moment you want to capture, re-compose and shoot. But you have to be quick.

1. 5 - Other times you just need to be in the right place at the right time. You often just get one chance, but that makes it fun.

I hope this gets you excited to photograph the many faces of Hong Kong!

Bryan
--

'I like beer. On occasion I will even drink beer to celebrate a major event such as the fall
of communism or the fact that the refrigerator is still working' Dave Barry

http://www.bappelt.smugmug.com

ARB1 said:

taking candid street shots and always see some interesting people
in Atlanta but I'm always a bit shy in taking their photo. I've
tried to use many of the techniques suggested by Nick and I'm
beginning to make some headway and become bolder.

Click to expand...

Hey ARB1,

Get yerself over to Little Five Points tomorrow for the Inman Park Festival! There will be some fine photo ops for sure, and a festival atmosphere is a good time to practice, as people will be less likely to get in your face.

Maybe I will run into you. I'll be the old dude with electrical tape over the "Nikon" and "D200" on my camera.

Regards,

--
Bob

If you publish candids taken in Quebec you can get sued by ruling of the Supreme Court heh.

--

Olympus E20
Nikon D200
80-200mm f/2.8
Nikon 18-200mm
Sigma 10-20mm
50mm f/1.4
SB-800
Schilke and Benge (my other loves)
http://www.pbase.com/artist/root&page=all