Non-Intrusive Shooting?

[wstotler]

Hello!

I commonly see people commenting on how inconspicuous or non-intrusive their Leicas are for shooting subjects.

When I'm snapping photos with my Digilux 2 attention is invariably drawn in my direction.

Doesn't matter if I sneak (by pre-setting distance, speed, etc., manually and pointing the camera in the subject's direction quickly or slowly) or if I just treat the camera and subject like "nothing to see here--everything is normal."

Any advice on this one?

Personal experience, a tip or two, a book, a technique, etc., or a thread I missed when I searched about this subject?

Thanks in advance!
Will

P.S. Thanks again to those who responded to my M8/M lens simulation thread. Very helpful. The comments have helped get me get more out of Digilux 2 while I'm waiting for the M situation to die down.

[nkag]

Best way to be non-intrusive is just to get in the rhythm and find your own comfort zone shooting.

[umb]

Originally Posted by wstotler

I commonly see people commenting on how inconspicuous or non-intrusive their Leicas are for shooting subjects.

As I wrote in another thread, I read this again and agin but also haven't found it to be true.

Originally Posted by wstotler

When I'm snapping photos with my Digilux 2 attention is invariably drawn in my direction.

Doesn't matter if I sneak (by pre-setting distance, speed, etc., manually and pointing the camera in the subject's direction quickly or slowly) or if I just treat the camera and subject like "nothing to see here--everything is normal."

Read this:

pinkheadedbug.com: photography by John Brownlow

[khanosu]

Hi Will,

I am not sure if you subscribe to Sean’s site; he has a very good articles on the subject of making pictures of people in public places.

Furrukh

[Skippy Sanchez]

i've been wrestling with the same questions for years, but i still prefer so-called 'street photography' over any other kind, and have been doing it for years, most recently in latin america.

some people like to take pictures of peeling paint on old buildings, but i think photos of people are much more interesting.

i rambled about it some in a journal entry a few months back on diviantart.com:
http://skippysanchez.deviantart.com/journal/10431051/

i've got a gallery there that has some of my stuff if you're interested:
http://skippysanchez.deviantart.com/

true, there are some out there who take a "screw 'em" attitude or just get off on the adrenaline rush of potential confrontation. i gotta admit, it can be a rush sometimes, but but mostly i think it's only about taking interesting pictures of folks, and we just gotta suck it up and do it.

[khanosu]

In most of the pictures I make of people in public places the subject is aware of my presence but not threatened by me. I think the interaction between the subject and photographer can lead to interesting pictures (of course there are also many pictures where the subject is not aware of my presence and those can be good also; so this really depends on the picture)

Furrukh

[ChrisC]

Originally Posted by wstotler

When I'm snapping photos with my Digilux ........................Doesn't matter if I sneak.........................

Will - Sincerely, you have inadvertently answered your own question: snapping and sneaking would certainly catch my attention.

Try photographing amongst people whilst exuding understated purpose and ensuring that your persona and body language is no threat to your subjects. Announcing your presence is almost certainly destroying the very thing that photographically attracts you. Great photographers photograph with great respect, and that can mean sometimes not raising your camera if it is disrespectful to do so. Go out to make pictures, not take. We are not thieves.

.............................Chris

[khanosu]

Here are a few where the subject was not really aware of my presence. To be more specific the subject was not threatened by me and was doing whatever he/she/they would be doing anyway independent of my presence.

Furrukh

[Tim Delbeck]

Always nice to have a look at the pros...
http://www.joelmeyerowitz.com/photog...erview_06.html

[stnami]

Doesn't matter if I sneak (by pre-setting distance, speed, etc., manually and pointing the camera in the subject's direction quickly or slowly) or if I just treat the camera and subject like "nothing to see here--everything is normal."

.. such tactics get what they deserve, they see you, the person and the signal goes out, remember you are invading their personal space...........
Why work from the presumtion that candid is better.....

Announcing your presence is almost certainly destroying the very thing that photographically attracts you.

..... Making your presence known works to your advantage as well.

As long as you stay within the parameters that it is about photography and not about something else you are pretty safe.Once you start blurring the boundries you are on your own and should accept whatever consequences arise.
You want to poke a camera at a person with a weapon or in a agitated state........after a smack in the head you begin to understand

[Cyrshot]

Will,

I think this article does make some sense:
Read this:

pinkheadedbug.com: photography by John Brownlow[/quote]


Leicas are small, but it is the photographer, not the camera that will relax people. Just act natural - just like an animal can sense fear - people can sense an anxious individual. Just relax and go with the flow, if you're comfortable they will be much more as well.

-Matthew

[earleygallery]

I just posted in this thread on the same subject

http://www.leica-camera-user.com/cus...-r-system.html

[sean_reid]

Originally Posted by khanosu

Hi Will,

I am not sure if you subscribe to Sean’s site; he has a very good articles on the subject of making pictures of people in public places.

Furrukh

Yes, if you're interested, I did recently finish two articles that are related to this question. One is called On "Street Photography" and the other is called "Photographing Strangers".

BTW, Furrukh, several of those pictures are excellent - which does not surprise me.

Cheers,

Sean

[khanosu]

Thanks for the compliment, Sean.

I enjoyed reading your article “Photographing Strangers”. I think what is particularly relevant to this thread is your inclusion of Paul Strand and the process he might have gone through to used his View Camera to make pictures of strangers. It illustrates that in the hands of a good photographer even a view camera can be used to make compelling pictures of strangers.

Take care!

Furrukh

[sean_reid]

I worked that way too (in city streets with a view camera) for several years.

Best,

Sean

[khanosu]

Hi Sean,

Yes, I had forgotten that; your excellent pictures from Ireland were also made using a view camera. Must have been quite an experience. I wonder if you can use a view camera for wedding portraits today? People got to be intrigued by it

Furrukh

[wstotler]

Everyone, thanks. I asked sincerely (and not without some trepidation) and all of you were kind enough to leave sincere responses. I appreciate the assistance. The comments will not be wasted as I am immediately going to try putting them into practice. (Like I did with the M8/M lens help people provided elsewhere.)

nkag - Thanks for the observation.

umb - Thanks for pointing to the pinkheadedbug.com resource. Very helpful.

khanosu - I was aware of Sean's site but am not a subscriber. (Thinking about it.) Your almost zenlike "non-threatening" take on the issue is helpful.

Skippy - Your blog entry was helpful. Thank you.

ChrisC - The language you used will be helpful to think through how I'm working.

Tim - Thanks for the link.

stnami - The perspective you provided will be helpful when considered alongside the other comments.

Cyrshot - Thanks for the additional comments about attitude.

earleygallery - The thread you provided was helpful. Thanks.

Sean - Thanks for your comments--I'll dig those articles up. BTW, I read your detailed Luminous Landscape review before buying my Digilux 2. Your review helped me understand what I could expect (apart from stats, specs, and corporate PR) from the camera if I bought it. Thanks. Also, in some sense, it's your fault that I'm stuck working with the guy behind the lens to take better and more varied photos because it sure isn't the Leica's fault if I'm getting photos that leave me less than happy.

[khanosu]

You are welcome Will. We are all learning - some have learnt more than others but there is always a lot more to learn for everyone. Good luck in your learning!

Furrukh

[wbesz]

I find they don't always bite, especially when you have a camera and say "hi".

Green-Hair.jpg

[guywalder]

Will,
to my mind it is a question of degree. In some places carrying a camera, any camera, generates attention. Carrying an M does not change that. However if you compare an M to other 'pro' cameras it is smaller and quieter so somewhat less 'obvious'. Of course compared to some compact cameras even an M can seem large! so like I say, its all a question of degree...
Guy