Why am i still not confident?

Marzi

Marzi

Suspended / Banned
Messages
124
Name
John
Edit My Images
Yes
Been out with the camera today with the aim of getting some street pictures of people out and about . As I only have the kit lens it means I have to get quite close.

But I felt so nervous doing it and missed a great opportunity due to my lack of confidence taking the shot.

What do I do should I just keep trying and it will get easier?
 
Gin.
 
Over the weekend I was out walking and saw some local kids sledging with their parents.

I was itching to capture the action and practise with AI Servo on some moving subjects.

In this situation though I too didn't have the confidence to just start taking pictures.

However, another photographer walked straight up to the family, engaged in general conversation, and then just started shooting. He then said his goodbyes and walked off.

I don't really know whether he was asking permission or just being friendly but it worked.

I guess for street work letting your subjects know you are shooting might be defeating the object.

Gary
 
Ohhh! the bad joke day.......:bonk:

If you take a card out with you're E-Mail addy on if they approach you waft it at them and say "that looks a good one,send me you're E-Mail and I will send you a copy."
Puts them of there guard.:naughty:
 
I went out in Istanbul last week and took some 'street' photos of the locals fishing off a bridge. Many didn't speak much English but with a simple gesture they gave me the nod that they were happy for me to take photos. So started of with their kit till they forgot about me and grabbed few more natural looking shots. For some reason I'm not so sure I'd act the same way in Manchester for some odd reason!
 
Just do it, you will be unlikely to get any bad experiences but don't take pics of children without asking the parent(s).
 
SteveRob said:
I went out in Istanbul last week and took some 'street' photos of the locals fishing off a bridge. Many didn't speak much English but with a simple gesture they gave me the nod that they were happy for me to take photos. So started of with their kit till they forgot about me and grabbed few more natural looking shots. For some reason I'm not so sure I'd act the same way in Manchester for some odd reason!
Click to expand...

Get the drift, I can't understand Mancunians either.:bonk::p
 
towershot said:
Get the drift, I can't understand Mancunians either.:bonk::p
Click to expand...

I get away with quite a bit in Manchester due to my Scottish accent (I can pretend to be a visitor to the city if needed :-D) but there's only so far I dare to push it lol.
 
SteveRob said:
I get away with quite a bit in Manchester due to my Scottish accent (I can pretend to be a visitor to the city if needed :-D) but there's only so far I dare to push it lol.
Click to expand...

:lol::lol:
I am loosing my hearing and were aids,a Highlands accent I can understand,;)
But put me in Glasgow and it's like being in China.:bonk::thinking:
 
Yeah I make a point of not taking pictures when there are any children around. I just need to stop being a wuss, going out again tomorrow so going to go for it!

Think I will sort out a card with my email on just incase thanks for the advice!

Would of headed for the gin but I had to drive home from Ambleside/Bowness so thought better of it haha
 
I dont tend to do unobserved street that much, but when I am shooting on the street a simple "Hi i'm a street photographer, do you mind if I take your photo?" seems to suffice along with a friendly smile.

Plus, I send them a copy if they ask for it...
 
Marzi said:
Yeah I make a point of not taking pictures when there are any children around. I just need to stop being a wuss, going out again tomorrow so going to go for it!

Think I will sort out a card with my email on just incase thanks for the advice!

Would of headed for the gin but I had to drive home from Ambleside/Bowness so thought better of it haha
Click to expand...

For me, if you are going to give a card/'request' permission before taking you will risk losing the best shot.
 
Thats was what I was thinking as the natural looks will be gone and they will probably start smiling and ruin the shot I was looking for :/
 
It's amazing what you can get away with as long as you keep smiling and act as if you are doing nothing wrong.

I would never ask permission to take a shot as that almost implies I am doing something that "needs permission".

A nervous or apologetic looking tog will make others around think he is "up to no good" and will put their guard up.
 
Marzi said:
Yeah I make a point of not taking pictures when there are any children around. I just need to stop being a wuss, going out again tomorrow so going to go for it!

Think I will sort out a card with my email on just incase thanks for the advice!

Would of headed for the gin but I had to drive home from Ambleside/Bowness so thought better of it haha
Click to expand...

AMBLESIDE AND BOWNESS, John you wuss, if you ain't got a camera there you are looked at suspiciously.
get a Japanese face mask and blend in with the tourist.:naughty:

PS.
I am not racist nor ever have been, no remarks made in jest are meant to be taken seriously.
they made my fine camera.:naughty:
 
I know I know ha

I chose them two places as a good way to ease my way into doing street pictures, and still bottled it haha

Disappointed in myself but I'm going to stop being a wuss from now on as I really want to start taking these kind of pictures
 
Marzi said:
As I only have the kit lens it means I have to get quite close.
Click to expand...

The way you have written that makes it sound, to me, like you'd rather be shooting from further away with a long lens. So, when you had to be close up with your wider lens you instantly felt like you were doing something wrong. Not immoral wrong but technically wrong. It's a doubt in your mind though.

Try going out and saying to yourself "shooting wide today" "lovely wide angle shots" then you'll not have that nagging feeling your doing something wrong.

As for getting confident with pointing your camera at people, try people that are distracted. I find that during lunch time in the financial district I can rattle through a couple rolls of film no bother because people are rushing to get to the sandwich shop or back to the office etc so they don't even notice me.
 
boliston said:
It's amazing what you can get away with as long as you keep smiling and act as if you are doing nothing wrong.

I would never ask permission to take a shot as that almost implies I am doing something that "needs permission".

A nervous or apologetic looking tog will make others around think he is "up to no good" and will put their guard up.
Click to expand...

Good points here and I'd say that thinking you're using the 'wrong' lens might make you nervous and apologetic looking.
 
Thanks for the advice everyone.

I just need to go out and be confident when taking shots of people.

I did get a couple of shots but nothing to shout about :/ think I might go somewhere else tomorrow that's abit busier and try again maybe Lancaster.

Will get some shots posted up soon and see how I can improve
 
John ,if you go to Lancaster,lunch time as Brian says is the best time, wrap up warm and find a bench in the centre and just sit there taking shots as people go to the sandwich shops.
And don't forget.
worthless.gif
 
Just a word from a southerner who has been up norf plenty of times. Have found northerners are much friendlier and easy going than London locals who often have security at the back of their minds. Preston centre and dock area are great for street and if necessary you can always switch your view to landscape or architecture shots as a guise. Better is Blackpool, especially Friday and Saturday. Plenty of people, many strange to area, thoughts somewhere else. Along the front plenty of shots in the hotel lounge windows. Just need the confidence to hold camera and let people come to you. Also plenty of light at night for low light photos of people going out.:thumbs: Fleetwood markets are also good.
 
fazer said:
Just a word from a southerner who has been up norf plenty of times. Have found northerners are much friendlier and easy going than London locals who often have security at the back of their minds. Preston centre and dock area are great for street and if necessary you can always switch your view to landscape or architecture shots as a guise. Better is Blackpool, especially Friday and Saturday. Plenty of people, many strange to area, thoughts somewhere else. Along the front plenty of shots in the hotel lounge windows. Just need the confidence to hold camera and let people come to you. Also plenty of light at night for low light photos of people going out.:thumbs: Fleetwood markets are also good.
Click to expand...

Now there's a lad who knows His way around ooop norf.:lol:
 
Thanks for the links will have a good read through them. Just uploading pictures onto computer now so will post them up in 10 mins if anyone will offer me some advice?
 
If I'm deliberately going out to do some street shooting (as opposed to just spotting something while I'm out doing something else), I'll sometimes put a shirt and jacket on. Having a professional appearance makes it look as though I should be there, and so people just assume I'm working and leave me to it. It also stops people trying to sign me up to Lovefilm.com.

Perception is everything.
 
Just go out for the day and make yourself talk to 10 people for 5 mins each and take a couple of close up portraits of them.

The first few will make you nervous, but by the 10th you should be ok.

If you can approach a stranger and start up a conversation then you will have no problems doing stealthy shots :D
 
towershot said:
:lol::lol:
I am loosing my hearing and were aids,a Highlands accent I can understand,;)
But put me in Glasgow and it's like being in China.:bonk::thinking:
Click to expand...

If it's any consolation, Rick I struggle to understand what most Glaswegians are saying, and I've lived here all my life :lol:
 
Marzi said:
Yeah I make a point of not taking pictures when there are any children around.
Click to expand...

It's a sad old world isn't it :(
I have a male friend who is a primary school teacher. He's not even allowed to give the little ones a hug when they fall over and scrape their knees :(
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top