Street photography + DSLRs

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Street photography is the type of shooting that most appeals to me; I find unposed pictures of people in normal day-to-day situations very cool.

I've read loads about it and been out to try my hand with a 40D.

The thing is, it feels like you attract too much attention with a DSLR to get a decent percentage of keepers per shoot. People talk about Leicas being the only option for street work and, whilst I hate the snobbery, I kind of feel like they might be on to something. The bulkiness, the shutter snap, the lenses protruding... are DSLRs the best for most types of togging, but bad for street work?

Just after thoughts and ideas for capturing that decisive moment rather than a definitive answer.

Thanks! :thumbs:
 
If you shoot a 50, it doesn't stick out too much, a dslr is still a biggish thing but if you were using a Leica for street, that would be your focal length...or wider.
Rangefinders, film or digital are the classical weapon of choice for street shooters, but you need gonads....or not care too much.
I used to think that size was the problem with dslr's but maybe its more psychological in the mind of the shooter.
If 50mm is the length then peeps are still gonna see you with a Leica or a D3.
Both are equally expensive to get bonked on the head for...:eek:
 
joxby said:
If you shoot a 50, it doesn't stick out too much, a dslr is still a biggish thing but if you were using a Leica for street, that would be your focal length...or wider.
Rangefinders, film or digital are the classical weapon of choice for street shooters, but you need gonads....or not care too much.
I used to think that size was the problem with dslr's but maybe its more psychological in the mind of the shooter.
If 50mm is the length then peeps are still gonna see you with a Leica or a D3.
Both are equally expensive to get bonked on the head for...:eek:
Click to expand...

Any tips on growing bigger gonads?

This is the type of shooting that try/want to do and usually go for a longer lens, however I always feel uncomfortable and will often dip out of shooting when I really want to duh!
Jamie

:baby:
 
I guess big,ugly, tattooed biker-looking guys like me have it easy. People almost never object....

Or not until after I am gone...

:p
 
DSLRs vary so much in size (Oly 420 with 25mm pancake vs. D3 and 50mm for example) that it's a very sweeping statement to lump them all in together.

Then there's the Zigview option - plug one of those into the DSLR, keep looking at the detatched control panel (with the wire up a sleeve) and snap away!You'll probably need to have a good play to get the angle of dangle right but it'll be way l;ess obvious that wandering around with a camera stuck to your face.
 
...... or do it the old fashioned way. Walk up to subject, say hello, take picture. Quite often strike up a conversation. :D


..... occasionally get shouted at. :lol:
 
Don't forget that the Leica design leaves the left eye with a fairly unobscured view.
You can find the same viewfinder position in other non-SLRs.
 
shoshone said:
Any tips on growing bigger gonads?

This is the type of shooting that try/want to do and usually go for a longer lens, however I always feel uncomfortable and will often dip out of shooting when I really want to duh!
Jamie

:baby:
Click to expand...

don't go for a longer lens this isn't the real way to do street imo.. you have to be in there in the moment not a mile away when I do street I use a 50mm.
 
Ive done quite a bit of Street photography, i think especially if you have a DSLR, just get out there and start shooting, if you have the confidence, most people will just assume you are from a newspaper or similar and wont bother you, ive never had any problems with people but then i am pretty big and have a shaved head!

Just get out there and do it!

I would however reccomend you have a copy of the laws regarding photography in your bag just incase...

:)
 
I use a D300 and a sigma 30mm without problems. Walk up, take a picture, big smile and say cheers or give a thumbs up if they noticed you. Look confident and be up front about what you're doing, if you feel embarrased then people will think you're a weirdo.
 
Say you're from Google and that their faces will be blanked out!
 
this is really odd iv not though about it like this, now im pondering if i should try this out. i was thinking about when the local market is on go down and shot some shoots, but not if people might get funny.
 
The new weapon of choice for street shooters is the trusty Canon G9. Stick a Lensmate and a grip on it and it even looks like a rangefinder :D
 
Some people do get funny if they seee you. They strike weird poses and act wild. The main complaint I hear is 'hey you didn't take a photo of us!' Most people love a bit of attention.

Having said that I avoid heavily tattooed skinheads and obvious roid-rage'ers. ;)
 
Don't wash for a fortnight and buy some stick on tats :)
 
Steep said:
Don't wash for a fortnight and buy some stick on tats :)
Click to expand...

Flash In The Pan said:
tattoos or potatoes? :lol:
Click to expand...

After a fortnight of not washing you'll be able to grow your own :lol:

I use my D300 & 70-200 when out & about in Liverpool & agree with what Jamougha said about people really wanting a bit of attention - not really an easily concealed combo but it works for me :)
 
There's a nack to street photography. In the days of 35mm the 35mm lens used to be the focal length of choice. That would be a 20mm on the 1.5 crop sensor. Don't hide behind a long focal length, get in there. As Capa said, if your shots aren't good enough you're not close enough. There are a number of ways of feeling less self conscious. Use hyperfocal focusing and shoot from the hip is one way. Whatever you do, don't fall into the trap of just taking photos of people. Just because you can shoot a pretty girl walking down the street on a 70-200 from 30 yards away doesn't mean that you should. There's no skill in that and why would anyone who didn't know her want to look at a shot like that? Street photogrpahy has to have a contaxt, it's all about the context provoking a response.

Have a look at this chap's site. He's a member of another forum I frequent and his work is pretty much 100% street photogrpahy.
 
A second for what NortherNikon said... pretty people are everywhere and so what? The best shots in street photograpy are those that tell a tale.

Street people, the homeless or disaffected can offer some outstanding opportunities. Street performers, or just people going about their daily jobs.

Two of my favorite shots are just that, a happy-go-lucky homeless guy who wanted a smoke, and gave a pose in exchange and a painter touching up some decorative trim outside a business.
 
I reckon you gotta be a people person to do street photography. To me its just creepy sneaking about with a long lens and taking candids from across the road. Get in close and if the people object just walk away. You aren't breaking the law so use your gonads and get in there.
 
When I do street photography I use my holga, no one notices then!
 
xsjado-man said:
i was thinking about when the local market is on go down and shot some shoots, but not if people might get funny.
Click to expand...

Local market might be dodgy ground re whether it's truly a public area. A market might be on private premises, or cordoned off roads indicating that a normally public area is private ... you don't want to get into any potential (even if unlikely) complications in that area. Make sure where you are is completely public.

Why not start by going to an event where people expect to be photographed - a 1940s re-enactment event or something - that way you will get used to photographing people candidly, work out what kit you feel most comfortable using, and then you'll be more prepared for real street photography.

Cathy
 
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