How do people react when you steal a shot using a flash?

[Street_Photography]

I bet many people are like me and too scared to use a flash as it seems rude and invasive without asking permission. Plus I would expect many people to get annoyed.

For those who do use flash please share your experiences e.g. are people aggressive about it? Is there a way to make sure they don't get blinded? So many great images use a flash that it needs exploring.

I rarely ask for street portraits but want to it more and start using a flash when I do. Would be nice to leave the flash out the whole time.

 

[The World Ahead Of Us]

I bet many people are like me and too scared to use a flash as it seems rude and invasive without asking permission. Plus I would expect many people to get annoyed.

For those who do use flash please share your experiences e.g. are people aggressive about it? Is there a way to make sure they don't get blinded? So many great images use a flash that it needs exploring.

I rarely ask for street portraits but want to it more and start using a flash when I do. Would be nice to leave the flash out the whole time.

I've done some experimenting with a handheld flash. What a lot of photographers don't realize is that it's important to have people skills when doing street photography. Even more important than camera skills.

Be confident and don't act all sneaky. You'd be surprised how many people are interested in what you're doing if you interact with them after taking the shot. Just be confident and smile!

 

[Easy Rider]

I'm with Bresson regarding flash. I can't paste the quote from my phone as I don't know how to.

I've used it twice as it suited the photo but both were crowd shots, I'd never use it for a close candid portrait, is rude imho.

 

[mschf]

I'm with Bresson regarding flash. I can't paste the quote from my phone as I don't know how to.

I've used it twice as it suited the photo but both were crowd shots, I'd never use it for a close candid portrait, is rude imho.

"Like attending a concert with a pistol in your hand"

I'm not a fan of flash photos either... don't see the point other than to coax people into reacting. Silly.

 

[Easy Rider]

Yeah thats the one.

 

[Paulmorgan]

I bet many people are like me and too scared to use a flash as it seems rude and invasive without asking permission. Plus I would expect many people to get annoyed.

For those who do use flash please share your experiences e.g. are people aggressive about it? Is there a way to make sure they don't get blinded? So many great images use a flash that it needs exploring.

I rarely ask for street portraits but want to it more and start using a flash when I do. Would be nice to leave the flash out the whole time.

Simple, I don`t often steal shots if I`m using flash.

 

[lightandaprayer]

I use fill-flash a lot. It's never been a problem. . . I almost always interact with my subjects on some level, be it verbally or non-verbal. I prefer to establish a rapport with my subjects. Sometimes it isn't feasible to speak with a person before photographing or even catch their eye. It's obvious if someone isn't interested in being photographed. In that case, I just move on.

 

[Street_Photography]

I was hoping to hear about things like "fill flash" to avoid blinding people. Will read up on it thanks. Just been watching the below video and it was interesting to see someone other than Bruce doing it. Some people barely noticed, but it made a worker jump. I liked that he takes some shots just of legs, which could be a way to ease into it.

 

[lightandaprayer]

I was hoping to hear about things like "fill flash" to avoid blinding people. Will read up on it thanks. Just been watching the below video and it was interesting to see someone other than Bruce doing it. Some people barely noticed, but it made a worker jump. I liked that he takes some shots just of legs, which could be a way to ease into it.

From what I see in the Mark Cohen film the flash is actually the key light, not fill. . . My style is different from Mark; I won't stick a flash really close to someone's face, grab a shot and then walk away. To Each Their Own.

I usually make images that will be viewed in color but I do monochrome when it works for the subject. I am often wanting to slightly open up shadows or make the color pop, especially on overcast days, in shade, etc.

I use manual settings on my camera and I adjust the amount of light on the flash. My flashes don't have TTL so I usually use the flash sensor (which works really well in my experience). The only TTL flashes I have are the pop-ups on my DSLRs. They work pretty well for fill, within their inherent limitations. . . For example, I cannot go wider than 18mm on my 12-24mm DX zoom because the lens will throw a shadow from the pop-up strobe. Sometimes I'll place a Fuji-style film canister on the pop-up which softens the output and makes it a tiny bare-bulb flash.

I always have a 1/8CTO Rosco filter on my flash. It warms up the strobe just enough to get rid of the slightly cool/blue look that most flashes have. That's a dead giveaway that a flash was used. . . I want my pics to look like a flash wasn't used to anybody but another photographer who would only know because of the subject and ambient light conditions.

I hope that these tips help. Practice makes perfect, natch!

 

[Street_Photography]

What an awesome jam packed post of helpful advice. Thank you.

 

[jeff hladun]

I've done some experimenting with a handheld flash. What a lot of photographers don't realize is that it's important to have people skills when doing street photography. Even more important than camera skills.

Be confident and don't act all sneaky. You'd be surprised how many people are interested in what you're doing if you interact with them after taking the shot. Just be confident and smile!

I completely agree, Joris. Using flash is the opposite of stealth photography, which means it requires the photographer to have strong people skills on the street.

To Matt's query, the use of flash is sometimes objected to by the subjects, but no more so than if a stealth photographer gets caught by them. Because there is no stealth in the practise, I'd say the acceptance level is even better, even greater, than if a stealth technique is used.

Remember that most people like to have their picture taken, and learn how to deal with those that don't.

Flash intensity is dependent on ISO level, distance-to-subject, aperture opening. Cohen and Gilden work with the 28mm focal length with a narrow aperture of f/8, f/11, f/16. For close-up work it's adequate to pre-set the focus at 1 metre, shutter speed slow enough to capture some natural light (and within the flash-sync speed limit). Usually around 400 ISO. At these settings, the flash needn't be stronger than 1/16 or 1/8 power (adjust for taste). These settings won't blind your subjects.

Good luck! Learning to use flash and learning to work close up, allow the street photographer to have a full bag of tricks at hand...and no excuse not to take a shot.







--

Jeff Hladun

Explore Jeff Hladun’s 670 photos on Flickr!

www.flickr.com

 

[Street_Photography]

Great information Jeff, thanks. I was hoping to find out how to avoid blinding people.

 

[lightandaprayer]

Flash intensity is dependent on ISO level, distance-to-subject, aperture opening. Cohen and Gilden work with the 28mm focal length with a narrow aperture of f/8, f/11, f/16. For close-up work it's adequate to pre-set the focus at 1 metre, shutter speed slow enough to capture some natural light (and within the flash-sync speed limit). Usually around 400 ISO. At these settings, the flash needn't be stronger than 1/16 or 1/8 power (adjust for taste). These settings won't blind your subjects.

With all due respect, when you stick a flash in someone's face as close as Cohen and Bruce Gilden tend to do, that strobe is going to be blinding at any setting. Just take a look at the title image of the Mark Cohen video clip. . . The flash is no more than 18 inches away from the man; notice the intensity of the light on his face. Then there is the surprise factor. . . You are walking down the street, minding your own business and perhaps deep in thought. Then some joker sticks a flash in your face and pops off a shot. The two words that come to mind are intrusive and obnoxious. It doesn't matter that the photographers' subjects are in public; they cross the line when they invade the subject's personal space and momentarily blind them with a flash.

It's this kind of "technique" (and I use that term lightly. . .) that gives photographers a bad name. I'm amazed that these guys aren't punched in the face on a regular basis.

 

[Street_Photography]

The video shows several people barely noticing it. Bruce creates some important and great photography and I think it is unfair to sit on your high horse negatively judging others.

Nobody is saying it is ethical, but it isn’t really harming anyone as long as you don’t blind someone crossing the road (or ideally ever). You can argue ethics all day with all candid photos being stolen moments from people.

Bruce gets people wanting to punch him all the time and rightly so. Doesn’t mean he should stop, it shows just how much he loves that style. The extra pop of photos with a flash is often the difference between average and good. IMHO

I think Jeff summed it up nicely with...

“Remember that most people like to have their picture taken, and learn how to deal with those that don't.”

(hopefully I get a chance to try it for the first time tomorrow, it will also be an exercise in people skills)

 

[lightandaprayer]

The video shows several people barely noticing it. Bruce creates some important and great photography and I think it is unfair to sit on your high horse negatively judging others.

Nobody is saying it is ethical, but it isn’t really harming anyone as long as you don’t blind someone crossing the road (or ideally ever). You can argue ethics all day with all candid photos being stolen moments from people.

Bruce gets people wanting to punch him all the time and rightly so. Doesn’t mean he should stop, it shows just how much he loves that style. The extra pop of photos with a flash is often the difference between average and good. IMHO

I think Jeff summed it up nicely with...

“Remember that most people like to have their picture taken, and learn how to deal with those that don't.”

(hopefully I get a chance to try it for the first time tomorrow, it will also be an exercise in people skills)

I am certain that those people noticed that a flash was placed close to their faces regardless of how we perceive their reactions. And just because you believe that "most people" like to have their pictures taken (which is definitely arguable. . .) doesn't make it a more pleasant experience. Bruce's love of his so-caled "style" doesn't matter one whit. Many obnoxious people seem to feel entitled; that doesn't mean that others must defer to them. Cohen and Gliden's way of doing street photography requires little in the way of people skills; quite the opposite, in fact.

Simply because I have a different opinion doesn't mean that I am sitting upon a "high horse." (In this case I would say that is the pot calling the kettle black.) As far as Bruce Cohen creating some "important and great photography" well, that is also a matter of opinion too.

There are methods for making candid images that do not excessively intrude into a person's personal space without permission. It may require personal interaction and developing a rapport with your subjects, something that may be uncomfortable for some photographers. In other words, it requires developing some "people skills." Fortunately, the results are usually well worth the extra effort.

 

[Paulmorgan]

I've done some experimenting with a handheld flash. What a lot of photographers don't realize is that it's important to have people skills when doing street photography. Even more important than camera skills.

Be confident and don't act all sneaky. You'd be surprised how many people are interested in what you're doing if you interact with them after taking the shot. Just be confident and smile!

I completely agree, Joris. Using flash is the opposite of stealth photography, which means it requires the photographer to have strong people skills on the street.

To Matt's query, the use of flash is sometimes objected to by the subjects, but no more so than if a stealth photographer gets caught by them. Because there is no stealth in the practise, I'd say the acceptance level is even better, even greater, than if a stealth technique is used.

Remember that most people like to have their picture taken, and learn how to deal with those that don't.

Flash intensity is dependent on ISO level, distance-to-subject, aperture opening. Cohen and Gilden work with the 28mm focal length with a narrow aperture of f/8, f/11, f/16. For close-up work it's adequate to pre-set the focus at 1 metre, shutter speed slow enough to capture some natural light (and within the flash-sync speed limit). Usually around 400 ISO. At these settings, the flash needn't be stronger than 1/16 or 1/8 power (adjust for taste). These settings won't blind your subjects.

Good luck! Learning to use flash and learning to work close up, allow the street photographer to have a full bag of tricks at hand...and no excuse not to take a shot.

Dougie Wallace has a good approach using flash on the street, he gets all sorts or reactions, lots of people accepting, some not so, he also talks about his techniques, how how sets up his camera, typical settings etc.

Interest short 30 minute doc for anyone interested, I`ve posted this before but I will post it again just in case it got missed or someone new comes along.

--
There is no greater disability in society than the inability to see a person as more.
Robert M. Hensel

 

[skanter]

I bet many people are like me and too scared to use a flash as it seems rude and invasive without asking permission. Plus I would expect many people to get annoyed.

For those who do use flash please share your experiences e.g. are people aggressive about it? Is there a way to make sure they don't get blinded? So many great images use a flash that it needs exploring.

I rarely ask for street portraits but want to it more and start using a flash when I do. Would be nice to leave the flash out the whole time.

Try it yourself - let us know how it works out and post some photos.

 

[jeff hladun]

With all due respect, when you stick a flash in someone's face as close as Cohen and Bruce Gilden tend to do, that strobe is going to be blinding at any setting. Just take a look at the title image of the Mark Cohen video clip. . . The flash is no more than 18 inches away from the man; notice the intensity of the light on his face. Then there is the surprise factor. . . You are walking down the street, minding your own business and perhaps deep in thought. Then some joker sticks a flash in your face and pops off a shot. The two words that come to mind are intrusive and obnoxious. It doesn't matter that the photographers' subjects are in public; they cross the line when they invade the subject's personal space and momentarily blind them with a flash.

It's this kind of "technique" (and I use that term lightly. . .) that gives photographers a bad name. I'm amazed that these guys aren't punched in the face on a regular basis.

That video clip's title freeze shot shows Cohen taking a street portrait, with the subject already fully engaged. There is no ambushing involved. I can't think of any Cohen photograph where the subject has been flashed straight-on. (Gilden has several, but are a rare percentage of his work.)

The idea of using a hand-held flash is to remove it from the film-plane, in order to make dramatic use of shadowing. The result is to try and get the flash anywhere but in front of the face. (In my image above, the flash was placed low so as to remove hat shadow from the main subject's eyes, and was well past the quarter-angle of the woman's face-plane, moving to the perpendicular.)

Low flash intensity, combined with off-plane flash placement, practically removes the blinding effect people worry about. Frankly. I'm surprised at how often flashed subjects are unaware of the event of the flash going off so close to them.

 

[Street_Photography]

Great response Jeff, I will be coming back to this post as I try it. I shouldn’t have responded to that post.

 

[Street_Photography]

I bet many people are like me and too scared to use a flash... [but want to try]

Try it yourself - let us know how it works out and post some photos.

thanks for the encouragement. I will do it ASAP.