Taking you camera out

[N01Chris]

First off I would like to say, I'm 16, I take my camera out while walking the dog and round to gigs and other peoples houses but, I would like to start doing street photography but I'm a little weary about walking round with £1000 worth of gear (i'd probably only take my 50mm)

Any tips or advice that would give me more confidence in that I can walk round without worrying too much and also to persuade my mother? (although it is my camera and lens so I technically should but lets not get into that)

btw I live in south tyneside and I would be walking round Newcastle or South Shields opposed to the back field behind my house.

 

[wontolla]

I have walked around Newcastle & Durham a couple of times without any problems at all, and thoroughly enjoyed it. A great spot for photography.
A 50mm would be ok, but for the really candid shot I prefer my 70-200.
If anyone asks, just tell them you are doing a project for school/college/uni and you should get away with it ok!
One tip I can give is, if you see a good subject and you have the time, make it look as though you are focusing on the roof/top/building and then drop down to take the shot, works quite often for me!

 

[gary996]

For a start make sure you home contents cover you gear in and out the house. I mean REALLY MAKE SURE. Telephone and ask them or get your mum to. Insurance companies will try there hardest not to pay out on a claim.
I would just go out but be careful try not to be in the middle of nowhere in gangland territory.

 

[tamphotography]

when ever i have to shoot in areas I'm unsure about i follow a little check list in my head be it a dodgy area in the uk or Indian slums, or even a riot:

1) ensure insurance is up to date, some insurance companies won't cover violent protests etc but doubt you'll be going to those just yet

2) tape up logo and even my grey L lenses (if i take them)

3) wear neutral cloths nothing bright

4) wrapp strap around your wrist tight or wrap it across your body

5) don't be scared most won't notice you,

6) some have said different, but id say go to the dodgy places you'll be surprised, you'll more than likely not even be bothered by people, and if you do people love to think they will be famous and on camera so have a laugh

7) get into the old pit houses around your area, speak to the people, ask where its run down, take thoer pics and...

8) enjoy it

 

[N01Chris]

I have walked around Newcastle & Durham a couple of times without any problems at all, and thoroughly enjoyed it. A great spot for photography.
A 50mm would be ok, but for the really candid shot I prefer my 70-200.
If anyone asks, just tell them you are doing a project for school/college/uni and you should get away with it ok!
One tip I can give is, if you see a good subject and you have the time, make it look as though you are focusing on the roof/top/building and then drop down to take the shot, works quite often for me!

thanks, that sounds good, I'd probibly stick with my 50 for the first few 'visits' and then go with my 70-200 but i dont think i would take both as I'd have to take my bigger bag and its about twice as big as my smaller bag (only really good for gigs where i can leave it backstage or close to where im standing)

 

[tamphotography]

thanks, that sounds good, I'd probibly stick with my 50 for the first few 'visits' and then go with my 70-200 but i dont think i would take both as I'd have to take my bigger bag and its about twice as big as my smaller bag (only really good for gigs where i can leave it backstage or close to where im standing)

you'll get better pics with a 50mm it forces you closer, telephoto candids never have the same impact personally

some great advice bellow from Timothy Allen who shot for human planet for the bbc:

1. When shooting people, stop using your long lens so much

After many years of perusing the portfolios of aspiring photographers, I can safely say that the single most common factor I see leading disillusioned travel photographers to accumulate huge collections of mediocre travel images is an unhealthy dependence upon using long lenses for shooting pictures of people. I hate to say it folks, but for most people the inconvenient truth about this addiction is the fact that it is born out of one thing and one thing only… fear.

I don’t think that it’s any coincidence that the English language has evolved the use of the verb ‘take‘ to describe the process of taking a picture. For me, this etymological hint serves as a reminder to us that when we photograph someone, maybe we shouldn’t overlook the fact that we are in fact taking something from them and that in just about every other aspects of our lives, when we take something from someone we normally ask first and say thank you afterwards.

Why should it be any different in photography? Asking and thanking involves connecting with people and long lenses make that a very easy thing to avoid. They tend to put a large distance, both physically and emotionally between you and the people you are photographing which does a fine job of insulating you from any potential intimate interaction.

I’ve seen it many times before. This lack of intimacy will show in your images.

Losing your big gun will mean that you will have to start connecting with your subjects again. I know all too well how nerve racking that process can be. Believe me when I say that even after all these years, I still get butterflies in my stomach when I have to approach a stranger in order to photograph them. That’s a fact of life for me but as far as I’m concerned a healthy and invigorating life involves addressing a lot of uncomfortable feelings like these, so if you recognize an aspect of yourself in what I’m saying then you will have to feel the fear and do it anyway if you want the power of intimacy to resonate within your images.

Don’t get me wrong. There is a place in this world for long lenses… I use a 200mm f2.8 and 400mm f5.6 but I would say that when I’m shooting people, I generally tend to use them in order to condense the background contents of my frame, often when I am photographing somebody in their environment. However, using a long lens to pick off people in a crowd like a sniper shooting his victims is certainly something that I don’t condone if you want to make your images stand out from the rest of the drones of travel photographers who are regularly shooting unexceptional head shots and portraiture on their long lenses.


Using a long lens to condense the background contents of an image (400mm)
“What about the fact that when you use a long lens you get more candid shots of people because they don’t know you’re taking their picture?”

Candid?.. Yes, possibly.. Dull? .. most definitely. I’ve often heard this argument used to justify hiding behind a camera, fostering laziness and producing bland, unengaging pictures IMO. Why not try and get a candid shot with a short lens?… now that’s a real skill.

Try this technique next time you decide to approach someone to take his or her picture. Instead of snapping them and bolting, try asking them if they wouldn’t mind if you accompanied them for a little while whilst you take some photos. If they say no, then thank them and move on. However, if they agree then in my experience before not too long they will have forgotten you are there, and your resulting images will have a far more intimate feel to them. This technique works particularly well when you are visiting people in their homes. Just make sure you can give the situation your full time and attention, which also means forgetting about your cameras . The quality of your images will be a direct reflection of the degree to which you engaged with both your subject and their environment… and in my experience, the biggest part of that is usually what happens when your cameras are packed away in their bag.

 

[ernesto]

Agree about focal length. I use a 28 lens (35 eqv) and find it ideal. A 200 lens is spy photography not street photography!

 

[N01Chris]

Agree about focal length. I use a 28 lens (35 eqv) and find it ideal. A 200 lens is spy photography not street photography!

yea, the next lens I would like is the 28 f1.8

 

[wontolla]

A 200 lens is spy photography not street photography!

I could not disagree with you more! It's just from a further distance.

 

[gramps]

I would like to start doing street photography but I'm a little weary about walking round with £1000 worth of gear

Can you find any other local photographers to join you, there is less risk in a group.

 

[rjbell]

Agree about focal length. I use a 28 lens (35 eqv) and find it ideal. A 200 lens is spy photography not street photography!

I agree regarding the 200mm

I wouldnt be taping my camera either.

 

[Cagey75]

Get yourself a decent shoulder strap, like a Black Rapid. A thief would have to actually cut the strap, which would take some time, to get your gear from you.

 

[Pookeyhead]

I could not disagree with you more! It's just from a further distance.

Can't agree with that. Street photography puts you in the action, amongst the people. Long shots with telephoto lenses with flattened perspective don't offer the same feel as great street photography with short lenses and people up close.

Robert Frank, Elliot Erwitt, Gary Winogrand, Walker Evans... the vast majority with shorter lenses and in with the action. It just works, and this is what makes great street photography. Shooting from far away with a long lens is a cop out for cowards and shy people who want to avoid confrontation if you ask me... and it's sterile.. and dull.

I wouldnt be taping my camera either.

Pointless. As if that will fool anyone any way?

Get yourself a decent shoulder strap, like a Black Rapid. A thief would have to actually cut the strap, which would take some time, to get your gear from you.

Unless he just knifed YOU first Seriously... don't worry about it. If all we did was worry about what could go wrong, no one would do anything.

 

[Cagey75]

When we were in the museum in NY, some guy asked me to take a picture of him and his wife, using his camera. He'd obviously copped mine hanging off my shoulder and thought maybe I could at least hold a camera straight. I said "no probs", as I always do. He handed this badly taped up lump, I asked "had something happened to it?" "No", he said, "I like to hide all the logos so nobody knows what I'm using" - I said to him, honestly "Why would anyone else care?" - I mean, the chances of getting mugged just because the thief can see "Nikon" are slim. If they want to rob you, they'll do so without prejudice, a camera is a camera to a scumbag mugger.

 

[tamphotography]

as with tape, afraid a grey lens stands out much more than a black lens, in some situations its handy, believe me

 

[N01Chris]

you'll get better pics with a 50mm it forces you closer, telephoto candids never have the same impact personally

some great advice bellow from Timothy Allen who shot for human planet for the bbc:

1. When shooting people, stop using your long lens so much

After many years of perusing the portfolios of aspiring photographers, I can safely say that the single most common factor I see leading disillusioned travel photographers to accumulate huge collections of mediocre travel images is an unhealthy dependence upon using long lenses for shooting pictures of people. I hate to say it folks, but for most people the inconvenient truth about this addiction is the fact that it is born out of one thing and one thing only… fear.

I don’t think that it’s any coincidence that the English language has evolved the use of the verb ‘take‘ to describe the process of taking a picture. For me, this etymological hint serves as a reminder to us that when we photograph someone, maybe we shouldn’t overlook the fact that we are in fact taking something from them and that in just about every other aspects of our lives, when we take something from someone we normally ask first and say thank you afterwards.

Why should it be any different in photography? Asking and thanking involves connecting with people and long lenses make that a very easy thing to avoid. They tend to put a large distance, both physically and emotionally between you and the people you are photographing which does a fine job of insulating you from any potential intimate interaction.

I’ve seen it many times before. This lack of intimacy will show in your images.

Losing your big gun will mean that you will have to start connecting with your subjects again. I know all too well how nerve racking that process can be. Believe me when I say that even after all these years, I still get butterflies in my stomach when I have to approach a stranger in order to photograph them. That’s a fact of life for me but as far as I’m concerned a healthy and invigorating life involves addressing a lot of uncomfortable feelings like these, so if you recognize an aspect of yourself in what I’m saying then you will have to feel the fear and do it anyway if you want the power of intimacy to resonate within your images.

Don’t get me wrong. There is a place in this world for long lenses… I use a 200mm f2.8 and 400mm f5.6 but I would say that when I’m shooting people, I generally tend to use them in order to condense the background contents of my frame, often when I am photographing somebody in their environment. However, using a long lens to pick off people in a crowd like a sniper shooting his victims is certainly something that I don’t condone if you want to make your images stand out from the rest of the drones of travel photographers who are regularly shooting unexceptional head shots and portraiture on their long lenses.


Using a long lens to condense the background contents of an image (400mm)
“What about the fact that when you use a long lens you get more candid shots of people because they don’t know you’re taking their picture?”

Candid?.. Yes, possibly.. Dull? .. most definitely. I’ve often heard this argument used to justify hiding behind a camera, fostering laziness and producing bland, unengaging pictures IMO. Why not try and get a candid shot with a short lens?… now that’s a real skill.

Try this technique next time you decide to approach someone to take his or her picture. Instead of snapping them and bolting, try asking them if they wouldn’t mind if you accompanied them for a little while whilst you take some photos. If they say no, then thank them and move on. However, if they agree then in my experience before not too long they will have forgotten you are there, and your resulting images will have a far more intimate feel to them. This technique works particularly well when you are visiting people in their homes. Just make sure you can give the situation your full time and attention, which also means forgetting about your cameras . The quality of your images will be a direct reflection of the degree to which you engaged with both your subject and their environment… and in my experience, the biggest part of that is usually what happens when your cameras are packed away in their bag.

thank you, this has made me look upon this in a different way, In a good way, Im looking forward to go out but Im waiting on my dad to ring the home insurance and check that it would be covered and Im gunna make sure he gets it in writing (although I doubt it would get stolen (its not like they'll snatch it from around my neck (or when I get one of those pro straps))

I wasn't actually thinking if taking pictures of people, I prefer landscapes and wildlife photography but I would like to try something new

 

[Cagey75]

The only time taking pictures of people with a long lens really works, is for posed portraits. For street, you want to get right in there really.

 

[Nod]

Get yourself a decent shoulder strap, like a Black Rapid. A thief would have to actually cut the strap, which would take some time, to get your gear from you.

And they have been known to do just that using a Stanley type knife and simply slashing, cutting strap and carrier.

 

[minibloke]

And they have been known to do just that using a Stanley type knife and simply slashing, cutting strap and carrier.

There is a make (Sun strap) I think that do a strap with a steel wire in it to prevent this.

 

[N01Chris]

you's aren't really helping, I mean, your just suggesting things that could go wrong

 

[Pookeyhead]

you's aren't really helping, I mean, your just suggesting things that could go wrong

Exactly. You could also get hit by a bus, or trip and break your wrist, or get hit by a roofing tile blown off.. ect, ect,...


Let's just stay at home.. it's safer... oh, hang on... are the batteries in the smoke alarm OK? What if the TV catches fire... best unplug everything too... oh hang on... what if someone breaks in and murders me... damn... best fit re-enforced doors and windows.. GERMS... best disinfect the whole house too...


Where does it end?

If it's your time to go.. so be it... stop worrying and get out there. There's always risk attached to everything you do. You're far more likely to get killed driving to work, but no one considers that. It's like when parents drive their kids to school because obviously, our streets are now populated with slavering packs of predatory paedophiles, yet fail to consider that the risks of driving them to school are actually greater, especially the ones I see every day driving with a phone in their hands, or without their kids wearing rear seatbelts.


Man up!!!

Seriously, use your common sense. Dead of night with loads of expensive gear.. then probably nowhere is completely safe, and in that case, even I'd take someone with me. During the day when people are around? Just go for it.

 

[oROSSo]

Just use common sense, don't go walking round benwell at night etc. I live in Durham and would be very surprised to hear of a camera mugging there. Shot Newcastle quayside a few times and never had any aggro. It may be with being 16 you feel a little unsure but I honestly wouldn't be too paranoid about it. Saying that I am 6'6" 17.5 stone so any potential muggers probably give me a wide berth

 

[PMN]

Man up!!!

Very helpful post there, well done.

He's 16 and asking advice, at least have the common decency to ignore his post if you have nothing worthwhile to contribute.

 

[Pookeyhead]

Very helpful post there, well done.

He's 16 and asking advice, at least have the common decency to ignore his post if you have nothing worthwhile to contribute.

Maybe I should have added a smiley.... that last comment was meant to actually be a joke.

No.. I'm not recommending that a 16 year old walks around dangerous places in the dead of night, but during the day when there are people around I really don't see that there's a problem. Besides, I've had hassle from people in places where I thought I'd be completely safe.. you just can't tell.

The biggest risk in my opinion is people taking offence at being in the shot, or business owners who get bolshy at having their store fronts in shot. They can actually get quite aggressive if not handled well, but during the day you can get mugged anywhere. It's probably best not to worry about it. Being 16 makes you no more likely to be a target of a mugging.

 

[PMN]

Maybe I should have added a smiley.... that last comment was meant to actually be a joke.

That would certainly have made your intent and tone a little clearer.

I agree with your (now clarified) point though, if you're overly worried about things you'll probably never end up going out at all. I'd say a good guide is stick to places you'd normally feel comfortable going if you didn't have a camera and just enjoy shooting.

 

[Pookeyhead]

I know I can be a bit of a git.. but come on... do me a favour

I've edited my post to make my meaning more clear before other pounce on me.

 

[PMN]

Sorry, a mistake post here! Mods, if you could kindly delete it (as I can't find a delete function to do it myself) it would be much appreciated.

 

[Pookeyhead]

Sorry, a mistake post here! Mods, if you could kindly delete it (as I can't find a delete function to do it myself) it would be much appreciated.

Leave it there as a lesson to read your posts carefully before hitting send

 

[PMN]

Leave it there as a lesson to read your posts carefully before hitting send

Funnily enough I hadn't intended to post anything at all, I accidentally quoted you and then somehow managed to hit post. I blame a lack of coffee!

-goes to make a massive Americano-

 

[Cagey75]

you's aren't really helping, I mean, your just suggesting things that could go wrong

What "you's" on about?

I suggested exactly the kind of thing you asked about. A good strap that keeps your gear safer. I just said a potential thief would actually have to knife it to get through, meaning highly doubtful. If you're actually really worried this may happen some time, stay off the street, or stick to shooting in the garden.

 

[Carter64]

How about the Quayside on a nice day? It's 'touristy', and one more person with a camera is pretty much going to blend in.
I reckon anywhere like that should be fine: Times Square, Grey's Monument, Old Eldon Square (Goth Green) etc.
Maybe even closer to home, the bus terminus area? (I'm not too familiar with South Shields).

 

[jon ryan]

Out of curiosity, does anyone have stats on camera street thefts? May be useful to know where the hot spots are. My initial Google hasn't tuned up anything much.

 

[st599]

I've wandered round Newcastle a lot.

1 buy a camera strap with no branding on it
2 gaffer tape over logos, add a couple of bits to make it look like you've dropped it before
3 make sure it's on your house insurance
4 avoid certain pubs when NUFC have lost
5 No red and white stripes.

It's an incredible city to photograph. Start easy in Central Arcade or somewhere.

 

[N01Chris]

What "you's" on about?

I suggested exactly the kind of thing you asked about. A good strap that keeps your gear safer. I just said a potential thief would actually have to knife it to get through, meaning highly doubtful. If you're actually really worried this may happen some time, stay off the street, or stick to shooting in the garden.

I was just making a generational, Everyone was pointing out the bad points as if I should just stay indoors :')

 

[st599]

I was just making a generational, Everyone was pointing out the bad points as if I should just stay indoors :')

Nah, where's the fun staying indoors. You need to have situational awareness when out, you need to take basic precautions and you need to start with easily controllable situations - you need to be able to step away, into a shop or cafe or similar, if you get into a situation you're not feeling comfortable with.

 

[rjbell]

Another logo taper! This is a fashion thing more than anything else. To tell other photographer you're a serious street photographer, or look my big expensive camera is just a tool for a job like a spanner... A thieve isn't gonna give a monkeys if it nikon canon sony or pentax. If It's big and black it will make them some money.

 

[David Stallard]

Seriously - make sure you are insured, I got it in writing that I was covered for 'mugging / theft' - then it's simple, go out and enjoy the day, take some terrific shots because your relaxed and 'IF' some little scroat comes up and demands your camera just hand it over (might be cheeky and ask to remove the memory card) because the end of the day

It's just a camera! period, your life is worth a lot more and these days you have no idea if / what 'they' are carrying.

.DAVID.

 

[Krisstiffer]

If you're relying on house insurance then make sure you double check the T's & C's. When it comes to theft my house insurance would cover my rucksack and contents if it was ripped from my back (i.e. I wasn't actually using the kit) but if I was using the camera and it was wrenched from my grip or taken with a strap cut then I'm not covered.

 

[tamphotography]

Another logo taper! This is a fashion thing more than anything else. To tell other photographer you're a serious street photographer, or look my big expensive camera is just a tool for a job like a spanner... A thieve isn't gonna give a monkeys if it nikon canon sony or pentax. If It's big and black it will make them some money.

have to disagree in some situations, good example is recently in Northern irland, a press photographer had his nice bright 70-200 and camera taken from him because the grey stood out, another had the grey covered in tape and wasn't spotted, makes sense to do it to me

 

[st599]

Another logo taper! This is a fashion thing more than anything else. To tell other photographer you're a serious street photographer, or look my big expensive camera is just a tool for a job like a spanner... A thieve isn't gonna give a monkeys if it nikon canon sony or pentax. If It's big and black it will make them some money.

Actually, they do. Ask a pro gear insurer.