Taking candid portraits....?
Discussion
hi all...
I'd like to take more photos of people, and I keep seeing some absolutely fantastic portraits (mostly candid ones) on the net which are very inspiring... so my question is this:
how do you (personally or otherwise) go about taking such photos, and how do you find the response?
I appreciate some are taken with longer lenses (across a street or whatever) and you wouldn't be in the subjects face so to speak, but what about ones that are closer..? do you ask first? do you ask after? do you snap and run away? do you use a really long lens and hide in a bush? etc etc....
here's a couple that I quickly found on flickr that illustrate the kind of thing I'm talking about:
(I realise some of these may be staged, but say for arguments sake they weren't.....)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/castlephotos/20270407...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/maelswarm/1944707782/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/robez/1529458529/
I'm just after stories of your general experiences really...
I'd like to take more photos of people, and I keep seeing some absolutely fantastic portraits (mostly candid ones) on the net which are very inspiring... so my question is this:
how do you (personally or otherwise) go about taking such photos, and how do you find the response?
I appreciate some are taken with longer lenses (across a street or whatever) and you wouldn't be in the subjects face so to speak, but what about ones that are closer..? do you ask first? do you ask after? do you snap and run away? do you use a really long lens and hide in a bush? etc etc....
here's a couple that I quickly found on flickr that illustrate the kind of thing I'm talking about:
(I realise some of these may be staged, but say for arguments sake they weren't.....)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/castlephotos/20270407...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/maelswarm/1944707782/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/robez/1529458529/
I'm just after stories of your general experiences really...
Just be warned that if you intend to publish/sell any images with identifiable faces in them, then you may well come up against the requirement for signed model release forms.
As an example, this is one library's requirement:
"If you take a picture of a person in a public place then you are legally entitled to sell that picture.
The picture can be used for editorial purposes, i.e. newspapers, education, etc. without a model release being needed.
If the image is to be used for commercial purposes, i.e. to sell a service or a product, then a Model Release form does need to be signed and ‘consideration’ given to the model, i.e. money ( can be 50P if agreeable ), or copies of the photograph for example, in exchange for the model’s rights to the photograph being waived. If you take the photo the copyright belongs to you anyway. It is up to the buyer of the picture to know whether they will need a Model Release Form for it depending on how they want to use the picture.
If you want to reach a wider market then you should try and get Model Release forms filled in for all your people pictures, with the exception of crowd shots. If you think you have a cracking photo but can’t get a Model release for it, send it to us anyway and we may upload it for just non-commercial use.
Picture Nation asks you to submit a Release Form for any and all uploaded images that feature -
1.
PEOPLE:
Clearly identifiable people (with the exception of crowd shots). Even if the subject of your picture is your partner or best mate, we still want a signed release. If you take several images of a person on the same day then you can submit one form from them as long as all the image IDs are written on the form.
Pictures featuring minors (under age 18) must always have a signed Model release Form, signed by the parent/legal guardian of that minor. It is up to you the photographer to make sure the person who signs the form is who they say they are and is the legal representative of that minor.
If you don't have a Model Release - and we do appreciate it's not always possible to get one - send your picture in anyway and we'll have a look at it. We have take images without MRs but it depends on the picture, the location, and us doing a bit of homework."
As an example, this is one library's requirement:
"If you take a picture of a person in a public place then you are legally entitled to sell that picture.
The picture can be used for editorial purposes, i.e. newspapers, education, etc. without a model release being needed.
If the image is to be used for commercial purposes, i.e. to sell a service or a product, then a Model Release form does need to be signed and ‘consideration’ given to the model, i.e. money ( can be 50P if agreeable ), or copies of the photograph for example, in exchange for the model’s rights to the photograph being waived. If you take the photo the copyright belongs to you anyway. It is up to the buyer of the picture to know whether they will need a Model Release Form for it depending on how they want to use the picture.
If you want to reach a wider market then you should try and get Model Release forms filled in for all your people pictures, with the exception of crowd shots. If you think you have a cracking photo but can’t get a Model release for it, send it to us anyway and we may upload it for just non-commercial use.
Picture Nation asks you to submit a Release Form for any and all uploaded images that feature -
1.
PEOPLE:
Clearly identifiable people (with the exception of crowd shots). Even if the subject of your picture is your partner or best mate, we still want a signed release. If you take several images of a person on the same day then you can submit one form from them as long as all the image IDs are written on the form.
Pictures featuring minors (under age 18) must always have a signed Model release Form, signed by the parent/legal guardian of that minor. It is up to you the photographer to make sure the person who signs the form is who they say they are and is the legal representative of that minor.
If you don't have a Model Release - and we do appreciate it's not always possible to get one - send your picture in anyway and we'll have a look at it. We have take images without MRs but it depends on the picture, the location, and us doing a bit of homework."
I'm going to buck the trend, and recommend that you DON'T use a long lens - IMHO it's a sure fire way to get a smack on the nose, especially if you happen to take a candid of a child.
I'd be looking to use a 35mm - 85mm and would try to muster the guts to make myself obvious to the crowd, and to possibly ask people for their portraits. This guy does it brilliantly: http://www.flickriver.com/photos/eamon/popular-int...
Another excellent 'street photographer': http://www.flickriver.com/photos/62413635@N00/popu...
Some of the stuff here is excellent: http://www.flickriver.com/groups/onthestreet/pool/...
This guys stuff is quite quirky, but sometimes NSFW: http://www.flickriver.com/photos/96679019@N00/popu...
And two more: http://www.flickriver.com/photos/68898571@N00/popu... and http://www.flickriver.com/photos/eavis/popular-int...
I'd be looking to use a 35mm - 85mm and would try to muster the guts to make myself obvious to the crowd, and to possibly ask people for their portraits. This guy does it brilliantly: http://www.flickriver.com/photos/eamon/popular-int...
Another excellent 'street photographer': http://www.flickriver.com/photos/62413635@N00/popu...
Some of the stuff here is excellent: http://www.flickriver.com/groups/onthestreet/pool/...
This guys stuff is quite quirky, but sometimes NSFW: http://www.flickriver.com/photos/96679019@N00/popu...
And two more: http://www.flickriver.com/photos/68898571@N00/popu... and http://www.flickriver.com/photos/eavis/popular-int...
As mentioned in another thread, I'm making a book of photos of the locals up here in the West Highlands. As I'm mostly trying to get shots without the person knowing, I'm using mostly a long lens (also to easily get the very narrow depth of field - as in these - sorry to those who have seen some of these before)
But also have developed a natty way of getting shots in bars - I just set up the camera with a fairly wide lens, plonk it on the bar pointing roughly at the subject and then shoot. Thus:
Of course sometimes I just get in their faces:
These have all had the same post processing... sharpen the subject, desaturate the rest of the photo a little unless it relates to the person (i.e. beer!)
As everyone up here knows me, none seem to mind, and I'd certainly not try it in parts of Glasgow!... but I used to take lots when I lived in London - mostly where people have cameras out anyway, so I blended in (Covent Garden etc)...or track days:
But also have developed a natty way of getting shots in bars - I just set up the camera with a fairly wide lens, plonk it on the bar pointing roughly at the subject and then shoot. Thus:
Of course sometimes I just get in their faces:
These have all had the same post processing... sharpen the subject, desaturate the rest of the photo a little unless it relates to the person (i.e. beer!)
As everyone up here knows me, none seem to mind, and I'd certainly not try it in parts of Glasgow!... but I used to take lots when I lived in London - mostly where people have cameras out anyway, so I blended in (Covent Garden etc)...or track days:
Edited by GetCarter on Saturday 17th May 10:45
GetCarter said:
Of course sometimes I just get in their faces:
FANTASTIC shot!Do people not feel the use of a long lens to take candid portraits of people you don't know is a touch voyeuristic (for want of a better word)?
Ok, if you're at a public event - F1 paddock etc - but other than that it seems a bit odd to me. Not only that, the photos come across as very one dimensional with no real depth. Take Steve's photos as an example; I don't mean to be dismissive of the long lens shots (which are pretty good), but the 'in their face' shots are IMHO much much better than those taken with a long lens. There's a real sense of warmth to the shots taken with the shorter lens, the photographer has become part of the shot through the expressions of the subjects.
I loved this quote: "I am often accused of being a portrait photographer. A bit like accusing your reflection of being a mirror. My people may be staring at the camera but they are not portraits. They are not staring at you; I am."
http://www.olivierlaude.com/
This is quite interesting as I had wondered the same. When on holiday a couple of weeks ago I tried taking a few candids but felt very obvious, even with a 250mm lens. One thing I have found is that live view actually does have a use. You can sit with the camera on you lap and frame the picture and take it without it being obvious.
Thanks for the links/photos/comments all.. it's all interesting stuff.
4hero - your first and last photos there, did you ask? or speak to them after you'd taken the shot?
it's obviously easier to get pictures of people that obviously expect to see cameras pointed at them or around, the b&w pics show, of at events like races of shows etc.. jsut the 'walking down the street' stuff that's a bit more difficult!?!?
edit: some fantastic stuff in those links Andy.. thanks!
Andy M said:
Ok, if you're at a public event - F1 paddock etc - but other than that it seems a bit odd to me.
that's what I'm worried about.. a long lens gives you some opertunities sure, but if someone sees a long lens pointing directly at them, I think they'll be dialling the perv-police before the shutter's come to rest! 4hero - your first and last photos there, did you ask? or speak to them after you'd taken the shot?
it's obviously easier to get pictures of people that obviously expect to see cameras pointed at them or around, the b&w pics show, of at events like races of shows etc.. jsut the 'walking down the street' stuff that's a bit more difficult!?!?
edit: some fantastic stuff in those links Andy.. thanks!
Edited by Pierscoe1 on Saturday 17th May 17:26
Elderly said:
I think people react better if they have a small non-pro looking camera pointing at them
I've found that. My best shots, whilst not technically as good, have come from my point and shoot rather than my DSLR. Plus you can kind of wander around a market with it at your side just snapping away. Takes a bit of practice and it is very luck of the draw - but it's quite interesting what you can come back with - and makes it a bit more fun/less technical.
There's getting close and there's getting close, check out this on youtube of Bruce Gilden, ho I'm somewhat supprised hasn't been punched, although he does get the element of supprise in his shots. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkIWW6vwrvM
For me it's been 70-200 from away away, but recently I've been trying with a 10-20 and getting close up, although there's also a lot of shooting from the hip - but thats a confidence thing at the moment.
For me it's been 70-200 from away away, but recently I've been trying with a 10-20 and getting close up, although there's also a lot of shooting from the hip - but thats a confidence thing at the moment.
I'll have to be the exception here... I believe you have to get over your fear and get in close to the subject. As long as you're not threatening and stand-offish (as I have seen many people be), 90% of people will be fine with you. If they notice you, they will usually weigh you up - usually a simple flash of a smile of 'hello' will see them happily submit to a photo.
I find the camera is also a big variable. The bigger the SLR and lense, the more hostile people tend to be. The more 'unusual' a camera, the better they'll be.
I usually use between a 28mm or a 50mm lense, either on a Ricoh GRDII or a Leica MP rangefinder - if I'm more than 2m away from the subject, the photo will fail.
However, the best reaction I get is to my Hasselblad 503CW mounted with an 80mm lense (approximately a square 35mm equivalent). There is a woman that I have shot on numerous occasions, and every time she shouts at me - except yesterday when sat with my Hassie barely a metre from her ear and she studied me, smiling after the 'thunk'.
Here's a photo I took recently in Shanghai with the GRDII - I ran after the woman to take this, and she didn't notice...
And another taken at past midnight here in Tel-Aviv. Leica MP, Fuji Pro800Z film, 50mm Noctilux @ f1.0 (NEVER FLASH!!!)
I find the camera is also a big variable. The bigger the SLR and lense, the more hostile people tend to be. The more 'unusual' a camera, the better they'll be.
I usually use between a 28mm or a 50mm lense, either on a Ricoh GRDII or a Leica MP rangefinder - if I'm more than 2m away from the subject, the photo will fail.
However, the best reaction I get is to my Hasselblad 503CW mounted with an 80mm lense (approximately a square 35mm equivalent). There is a woman that I have shot on numerous occasions, and every time she shouts at me - except yesterday when sat with my Hassie barely a metre from her ear and she studied me, smiling after the 'thunk'.
Here's a photo I took recently in Shanghai with the GRDII - I ran after the woman to take this, and she didn't notice...
And another taken at past midnight here in Tel-Aviv. Leica MP, Fuji Pro800Z film, 50mm Noctilux @ f1.0 (NEVER FLASH!!!)
Edited by urban_alchemist on Saturday 31st May 08:12
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