How do you approach a stranger on the street for a photo?

RioRico · 06-14-2012, 02:30 PM

Originally posted by cali92rs

I'm an engineer, therefore very socially awkward and inept, so I don't have the courage to ask them straight out. But what I do is use live view. It looks a lot less "suspicious". If I put my eye to the viewfinder, people think I am a pro (which is about as far away from the truth as possible). That's why if street shooting were my thing, I would ditch the DSLR and go for something smaller and something with a good swiveling rear-lcd

Originally posted by slackercruster

Good idea cali!

We have occasional threads here on street-shooting techniques. Cali's method is one of the basic tactics discussed: Don't be conspicuous. Think: you're not at home. Nobody knows you. You can be whatever you want. Reinvent yourself. Be a dumb goofy tourist with bad hair and a little camera. If you actually ARE a dumb goof, all the better!

I've mentioned reports filed from Guatemala by journo Jeni Xardin (BoingBoing, WIRED, NPR). Ain't no way she gonna pass as a local. But she carried just a little tourist P&S and and stared around like a tourist got stills and videos that would be impossible by someone looking 'serious' or even competent.

mysticcowboy · 06-17-2012, 02:12 PM

Originally posted by cali92rs

I'm an engineer, therefore very socially awkward and inept, so I don't have the courage to ask them straight out. But what I do is use live view. It looks a lot less "suspicious". If I put my eye to the viewfinder, people think I am a pro (which is about as far away from the truth as possible). That's why if street shooting were my thing, I would ditch the DSLR and go for something smaller and something with a good swiveling rear-lcd

I'm shy by nature, too. Asking for photos is a skill, like any other. Take small risks and gradually stretch. My nervousness never totally goes away, Over time I've gotten comfortable enough to take most photos.

One other point. I find that people notice my picture taking less when I use a small camera, now a Sony NEX 5n compared to my K-5. Little cameras with little lenses are less intimidating than bigger ones.

yusuf · 06-20-2012, 05:36 AM

Originally posted by joe.penn

The resident master (and when I say master I mean like freak'n Yoda Master) at "Getting The Perfect Street Portrait By Asking For It" is @outsider - I have seen no other like him; his work speaks for itself (look at the threads prefixed "Streets"):

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/search.php?searchid=6404811

Edit: IMHO if there was a niche market for this sort of style it would be modeled after him.

link does not seems to be work, can you repost.

joe.penn · 06-20-2012, 07:32 AM

Originally posted by yusuf

link does not seems to be work, can you repost.

The search links must expire - try this one:

Search Results - PentaxForums.com

His threads prefixed [Streets] and [People]...

Blue · 06-25-2012, 08:37 AM

Some times asking can actually cause just as big of a negative reaction as not asking. If its in public, I rarely ask. I recommend looking through one of the longest and largest running threads started by one of our resident experts Javier (jgredline).

Here it is at the beginning:

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/43981...eet-style.html

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
=Capture a stranger street style=	jgredline	Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories	9125	03-15-2024 02:53 AM
Is 42nd Street Photo Reputable??	outsider	General Talk	6	04-02-2011 09:19 PM
People Stranger	dexmus	Photo Critique	10	12-20-2010 03:26 PM
People Pensive Stranger	zephyrsky	Post Your Photos!	8	07-14-2010 03:01 AM
Street photo from NYC	nycxaro	Post Your Photos!	2	09-20-2007 07:15 AM

06-14-2012, 02:30 PM	#16
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	Originally posted by cali92rs I'm an engineer, therefore very socially awkward and inept, so I don't have the courage to ask them straight out. But what I do is use live view. It looks a lot less "suspicious". If I put my eye to the viewfinder, people think I am a pro (which is about as far away from the truth as possible). That's why if street shooting were my thing, I would ditch the DSLR and go for something smaller and something with a good swiveling rear-lcd Originally posted by slackercruster Good idea cali! We have occasional threads here on street-shooting techniques. Cali's method is one of the basic tactics discussed: Don't be conspicuous. Think: you're not at home. Nobody knows you. You can be whatever you want. Reinvent yourself. Be a dumb goofy tourist with bad hair and a little camera. If you actually ARE a dumb goof, all the better! I've mentioned reports filed from Guatemala by journo Jeni Xardin (BoingBoing, WIRED, NPR). Ain't no way she gonna pass as a local. But she carried just a little tourist P&S and and stared around like a tourist got stills and videos that would be impossible by someone looking 'serious' or even competent.

06-17-2012, 02:12 PM	#17
mysticcowboy Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: port townsend, wa Photos: Albums Posts: 968	Originally posted by cali92rs I'm an engineer, therefore very socially awkward and inept, so I don't have the courage to ask them straight out. But what I do is use live view. It looks a lot less "suspicious". If I put my eye to the viewfinder, people think I am a pro (which is about as far away from the truth as possible). That's why if street shooting were my thing, I would ditch the DSLR and go for something smaller and something with a good swiveling rear-lcd I'm shy by nature, too. Asking for photos is a skill, like any other. Take small risks and gradually stretch. My nervousness never totally goes away, Over time I've gotten comfortable enough to take most photos. One other point. I find that people notice my picture taking less when I use a small camera, now a Sony NEX 5n compared to my K-5. Little cameras with little lenses are less intimidating than bigger ones.

06-20-2012, 05:36 AM	#18
yusuf Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Palo Alto, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,497	Originally posted by joe.penn The resident master (and when I say master I mean like freak'n Yoda Master) at "Getting The Perfect Street Portrait By Asking For It" is @outsider - I have seen no other like him; his work speaks for itself (look at the threads prefixed "Streets"): https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/search.php?searchid=6404811 Edit: IMHO if there was a niche market for this sort of style it would be modeled after him. link does not seems to be work, can you repost.

06-20-2012, 07:32 AM	#19
joe.penn Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Maryland (Right Outside Washington DC) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,902	Originally posted by yusuf link does not seems to be work, can you repost. The search links must expire - try this one: Search Results - PentaxForums.com His threads prefixed [Streets] and [People]...

06-25-2012, 08:37 AM	#20
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Some times asking can actually cause just as big of a negative reaction as not asking. If its in public, I rarely ask. I recommend looking through one of the longest and largest running threads started by one of our resident experts Javier (jgredline). Here it is at the beginning: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/43981...eet-style.html