photography- i need your opinions

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nat

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Hi everyone.
I am a thrid year student at leeds university and im writing my dissertation on candid photography and the way people react to the camera.
I was wondering if people can be bothered to answer a few questions for me? I would appreciate it so so so much. pleeease.

Thank you,
Nat.


1.Is candid photography a form that you are familiar with? Do you use this form often in your work?


2.What are the problems you have faced when attempting to take pictures of people without their knowledge?


3.What are common practices/techniques you use to achieve natural candid images?


4.What is you opinion on candid photography and what do you think are the main problems facing this form?


5.Do you think it is possible to achieve a natural photograph when a person is aware of the camera’s presence? Or is natural imagery only achieved when the subject is unaware?


6.Which photographers would you regard as achieving truly candid photographs?


7.Technical problems go hand-in-hand with this ‘snapshot’ style of photography. Often, a flash cannot be used as it draws attention to the cameras presence. Do you think that the features that are accepted as characteristics of candid photography (such as under/over exposure, colour shifts and blurring), result in the form not being taken as seriously as other style of photography? How do these photographs stand up against other forms, is their lack of technical sophistication an issue?


8.When taking photographs of people, what do you do to get them to relax? Are there any methods you use to make them feel at ease and forget about the camera?


If you have any other opinions on the subject, I would be interested to know.
 
1. I'm aware of candid photography but I never, never shoot candids.
2. Not applicable.
3. Not applicable.
4. I don't find it very interesting.
5. I don't know. I've never tried.
6. I'm not sufficiently interested in candid photography to be able to name any leading practitioners.
7. Being shot at is a pretty good excuse for poor technique. Precious little else is.
8. Not applicable.

Not very helpful I guess, but at least I've broken the ice! Next.....
 
1. Yes, often
2. None, apart from the occasional snarl when they catch you
3. Sit and wait - compose a shot and wait for something to happen in it. Or for snap shots point the camera at the subject while looking the other way, turn and take the shot, and then look away before lowering the camera.
4. For me it's an important part of my work, I can't think of any problems facing it as such.
5. Yes, as long as the subject is being natural with the photographer
6. Don't know
7. I don't think that the features you listed are acceptable, there's no excuse for showing a poor photograph. Flash can sometimes be used in candid photography - it doesn't matter if the subject becomes aware of you after the shot ...
8. Act the fool, makes them feel less foolish.
 
Wow! Lots of questions, but here's my 2p worth....

1. Yes

2. Often if they are unaware, it isn't a problem. It's only when they spot you then demand to know why the **** you are taking photos of them without permission. Usually a truthful explanation of what you're doing and why works ok (well, it did for me anyway). Or just blatantly lie and say you were taking a pic of something else.

3. Try to blend in, have done candids using telephoto and short lenses. Appear relaxed and don't look shifty. If someone approaches me and asks what I'm doing, I explain.

4. It is a form of photography that shows people behaving naturally, but often there is a lot of suspicion from Joe Public when he spots someone clicking away, esp if children are involved.

5. I have taken natural shots where I have approached people, obtained permission to photograph them and asked then to carry on as normal.

6. Define 'truly candid'. Walker Evans, Martin Parr, Diana Arbus, Garry Winogrand, Paul Strand are photographers who's work I like in this genre.

7. This isn't an issue for me personally, but I can see what you mean about the technicalities. If it is a candid where the subject is totally unaware of being photographed, then it is difficult for the photographer to set the shot up, so it is not going to be technically perfect in that sense, but no excuse for poor exposure or focus.

8. Haven't had this problem. I guess I'm approachable :) A sense of humour helps!


Hope this helps you :)
 
1.Is candid photography a form that you are familiar with? Do you use this form often in your work?
yes all the time!

2.What are the problems you have faced when attempting to take pictures of people without their knowledge?
Demands for the film, suspicious looks. No outright physical confrontation, YET, but I am 6'3" with a shaved head, goatee, earring and tattoos, so make your own mind up on that one! Look at this for one such occasion:http://www.17minutes.co.uk/cafe.htm

3.What are common practices/techniques you use to achieve natural candid images?
Shoot from the hip, prefocussed using a 28mm lens at about F8 for depth of field.

4.What is you opinion on candid photography and what do you think are the main problems facing this form?
It's great! Privacy laws are a problem, or peoples perceptions of the right to, even in a public place.

5.Do you think it is possible to achieve a natural photograph when a person is aware of the camera’s presence? Or is natural imagery only achieved when the subject is unaware?
What is a natural photograph? A person posing can illustrate their character more than a candid capture of a fleeting moment. The photograph determines the "naturalness", not the method.


6.Which photographers would you regard as achieving truly candid photographs?
Cartier Bresson, Joel Meyerowitz

7.Technical problems go hand-in-hand with this ‘snapshot’ style of photography. Often, a flash cannot be used as it draws attention to the cameras presence. Do you think that the features that are accepted as characteristics of candid photography (such as under/over exposure, colour shifts and blurring), result in the form not being taken as seriously as other style of photography? How do these photographs stand up against other forms, is their lack of technical sophistication an issue?
The best cameras for street shooting are small rangefinders which do not as yet have the multi-point metering systems of modern, mainly digital slr's, hence the gamble with exposure. Using a wide enough lens with adequate dof usually remedies blur.
A photograph, to be a success, must mean something to the taker initially, but then to the viewer. A landscape can be fantastic to some, but anathema to others. As the saying goes, "one mans Picasso is another mans piece of crap!"


8.When taking photographs of people, what do you do to get them to relax? Are there any methods you use to make them feel at ease and forget about the camera?
Talk to them for as long as possible and be casual about using the camera. Don't make it a big deal. If you have the time with them, and the film, shoot until they forget about it. Then your best picture will come.

Cheers, Lol
 
Excellent site just spent best part of an hour going thro photos
Bob
 
You're both very kind. Just done a relaunch of a new compact design so I'm glad people like it!

Thanks, Lol
 
Interesting thread and I hope you have a great deal more replies

For my part though - I don't get the point of candids and have never thought to do them, same with 'street' photography - leaves me cold

Each to their own I guess, but I'll pop back to see how the replies are stacking up
 
1. i shoot candid,sort of, as 2nd tog at weddings. often getting shots that no1 cant get. kids playing, expressions of parents an relative. people being silly.
2 only realy had a prob with camera shy types when they spot me and turn away.
3biggish lens and stay in the background .point camera in one direction then swing round to catch the action.
4. it has its place.
5. yes.helps if theyre relaxed tho.
6.pass
7.a certain amount of imperfection maybe acceptable in an exceptional shot, but the photo still has to be of good quality
8. humour, often slightly course.conversation about almost anything.
 
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