Uninspired, Unsure, Unhappy

Philpalmer

Philpalmer

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Phil
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Hi all.

Recently I have been diving into all sorts of photography. Sports, aviation, wedding, music. None of which have really excited me.

Whenever I'm browsing the net, instagram, flickr or here I find myself looking at peoples portraits. I feel i would really love to get stuck into taking street portraits. (No studio stuff). However, I just can't picture myself walking up to interesting looking folk in the street and asking if they would mind having their photo taken.

Has anyone got any experience or tips on how to break this barrier and just do it?

I've jotted down a few dates for upcoming Tattoo conventions and Comic Con events as I thought maybe there the types of places where "interesting" folk will be more than happy to have their photo taken. Can anybody suggest any other types of events that may be of use?

Thankyou!

Phil
 
Try the candid approach. Some may call it photography by stealth.
Gramps has posted 3 good examples here https://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/bristol-street-candids.604992/

I did it a few years ago in Glasgow. Grabbed some shots of dossers and winos in and around the main railway stations. 70 - 200mm lens was my tool of choice. It allowed me to stand farther back if some of the subjects looked like they may have an adverse reaction (a few did).
 
•
I think you are looking at the wrong place!

Uninspired, Unsure, Unhappy… is your title. These are all emotions
that come from inside of you and have nothing to do with any event
or subject. These are irrelevant!

One day or the other everyone, and that many times in a lifetime, will
experience hitting his/her nose against "this barrier". You are probably
at a turning point in your photographic development where you have to
be generous towards yourself:
• after discovering photography, discover yourself though it
• go image hunting with a contemplative eye on the world and the
things happening in it
• do not only record reality but start telling stories​

Keep rockin'
 
Last edited:
Philpalmer said:
I just can't picture myself walking up to interesting looking folk in the street and asking if they would mind having their photo taken.

Has anyone got any experience or tips on how to break this barrier and just do it?
Click to expand...

It's a question of personality. Some people find it easy to strike up a conversation with strangers. I have a friend who goes on holiday and comes home with the life stories and phone numbers of people he's met! He's a people person but isn't interested in photographing people, only landscapes and wildlife.:rolleyes:

On the other hand I've always been crap at talking to people I don't know and find it really difficult, but I like taking photos of people. On the rare occasions I have asked if I could take a stranger's photo I've never been refused. If they are engaged in some activity I ask them about that to break the ice. If it's something you are interested in it's easier. This chap was selling pies. I like pies! :D

DL2_1840.jpg
 
I have done a few,the best place to get started for me was the seaside,on an lovely day where most people are in an relaxed mood,i usually start of with an small conversion :)
 
@Philpalmer
Phil, I thought I'd pitch in here in response to @sunnyside_up Bethy tagging me.
I don't think there is any magic bullet for this sort of project that you are thinking of doing. I haven't shot any strangers at any specific event, they have all been on the street. I understand your thinking about the comic con event, that would certainly be a great introduction to stranger portraits. As @simonblue mentioned above, there are many places to shoot strangers, the seaside being one of them.
I obviously don't know where you live but any big town/city has a wealth of interesting people. You will be surprised at how amenable people are to having their photograph taken. It's all about your approach I feel. Be open, honest and have a smile on your face. I introduce my project, what the ethos of it is and tell the person why I'd love to make their portrait. Their style, hair colour, etc, what drew my attention to them.
Sure there will be people who decline, I just thank them for their time and move on.
I don't subscribe to the long lens way of shooting, all strangers barring a few have been shot at 50mm. If you ask someone to make their portrait, what's the worst that can happen? They say no. It would be a completely irrational reaction if someone were to get annoyed/angry at your asking, so you couldn't really odds that. Being some sort of photography sniper on the other hand may attract an adverse reaction.
If I can be of any other assistance, give me a shout, I'd be happy to answer any questions if I can. Just don't ask to make my portrait, there's a reason I'm behind the camera, I've got a face for radio!
 
I have to say I think that's a good way to start. The folk at these events can see you have a legit reason for wanting to photograph them and most will be flattered, most likely asking for a copy for themselves; your ordinary person in the street less so, particularly in this day and age, but like anything it's a matter of working your way into the craft. Honing your approach technique and above all building your confidence because if you're not confident then this makes any prospective subject wary. I watched Martin Parr on Countryfile (I think) a bit ago and was amazed at how people reacted to his almost authoritative approach to them!
 
Thanks all for your advice and words of inspiration.

First I may start with friends and family to get my 'style'. Both location and editing.

Then hopefully I can boost my people confidence at the events such as tattoo conventions and comic con. I'm also going down to my local zombie walk where no doubt they will love being snapped.

Hopefully then I can have a good project set up to show the public people I approach just what I'm trying to achieve. And of course give them the link/opportunity to have a shot of themselves to keep.

Thanks again!
 
Good luck with it Phil (y)
I will mention, don't over think it. Yes, plan when and where you are going to shoot but beyond that go for it.
It's easy to try and second guess people, almost putting words in their mouth about what you would perceive their answer to your asking to make their portrait.
You will be pleasantly surprised by their reaction.
 
You know what... I write this so often in here I think I shoudl just draft a perfect copy, and get the mods to make a sticky.


You're drifting from one kind of photography to another looking for photographic happiness, but you'll probably not find it. You need a PURPOSE for your photography. You need a project.

Read chapter 3 of this book... (Selecting a Subject)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/j4kr3cg02bcjrb6/On Being a Photographer, 3rd Edition, CD version.pdf?dl=0

Stop trying to make pictures for the sake of making nice pictures, and start using photography to say something. You must have interests that you're deeply interested in apart from photography... bring them together, and use photography to discuss it, show people etc.
 
I have phases of street shooting I do it two ways.
1, with a reasonably long lens (70-200) in a candid way.
2. with a 35mm or 85mm in peoples faces

I have asked many strangers and only once been turned down. Generally interesting looking people are interesting people...
 
I think David's right, the key is having an interest in it. Many who choose a particular photography subject will have had a previous interest in it at some point.

I photography wildlife and a little bit of landscapes. I do this as wildlife and nature interests me and I like being outdoors. Photography is really just a side line to enjoying nature. Having this interest helps me get up at stupid times and travel miles to get out for cold sunrises to see wildlife, if I didn't have this interest then my interest in wildlife photography would have waived long ago.

It's also lead me to joining local wildlife trusts and nature groups, and hopefully putting something back. One of my most enjoyable recent trips out was a canoe trip then bat walk, I had no camera with me but it showed me I don't need a camera to enjoy it. I've had long days looking for water voles and seeing nothing, photographically it was a poor day but being outside with nature was enough to enjoy it. I'm currently trying to work out a couple of longer term projects that I could tell a story with, its deciding the subjects/storybthat is the difficult part.

What interests you? Could you combine one of your interests outside of photography with a photographic project?
 
My main interest is wildlife but I often go into the city and do people-watching ... personally I prefer the idea of candids, i.e. natural, unprepared photos.
Whilst many people take 'portraits with permission' it's not my interest as it almost always looks posed and I prefer to capture what's going on naturally, the expressions, the actions, the environment and, if possible, the interaction.
I guess what I'm saying is that you don't need to worry about asking people's permission to approach and take a photo ... it doesn't have to be 50mm 'in your face' either, I use a 24-120 and it works for me :)
 
just go and take them,

As for being worried etc etc, the less you give a f*** about what people think, the happier you will be ;)
 
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