There have been a lot of posts during the last couple days on street photography, so I decided to start a different thread about technique and shooting strangers. I’ve been doing it for about 15 years now, and I am completely comfortable with it, which is exactly the opposite of when I started.
If I see someone who looks interesting to me, for any reason…hair color, clothing, action, I never ever just start shooting. I do not want to grab a shot and run. I want to be able to “work the scene.“

I start a conversation with my camera over my shoulder, that conversation begins with something about the person. I engage the person so that he/she/they know that they are being heard. Only then do I express my interest in photographing them. Many times they will ask why I want to shoot them, and I answer with one of several stock replies: hobby (true), camera club (true), taking a photography course (sometimes true)…you get it.
None of the four images here is the first shot. Nor are any of them wall hangers. I just want to show that even in a city like New York, perfect strangers can we models.
Do I ever feel threatened? No, because I don’t wander around in areas that are threatening. Also, at nearly 87, I don’t think I look threatening either, nor did I when I was in my early 70s.
If any of you hogs would like to share your experiences on learning to be street photographers, and show some examples, feel free to put them in this thread.

There have been a lot of posts during the last couple days on street photography, so I decided to start a different thread about technique and shooting strangers. I’ve been doing it for about 15 years now, and I am completely comfortable with it, which is exactly the opposite of when I started.
If I see someone who looks interesting to me, for any reason…hair color, clothing, action, I never ever just start shooting. I do not want to grab a shot and run. I want to be able to “work the scene.“

I start a conversation with my camera over my shoulder, that conversation begins with something about the person. I engage the person so that he/she/they know that they are being heard. Only then do I express my interest in photographing them. Many times they will ask why I want to shoot them, and I answer with one of several stock replies: hobby (true), camera club (true), taking a photography course (sometimes true)…you get it.
None of the four images here is the first shot. Nor are any of them wall hangers. I just want to show that even in a city like New York, perfect strangers can we models.
Do I ever feel threatened? No, because I don’t wander around in areas that are threatening. Also, at nearly 87, I don’t think I look threatening either, nor did I when I was in my early 70s.
If any of you hogs would like to share your experiences on learning to be street photographers, and show some examples, feel free to put them in this thread.

There have been a lot of posts during the last couple days on street photography, so I decided to start a different thread about technique and shooting strangers. I’ve been doing it for about 15 years now, and I am completely comfortable with it, which is exactly the opposite of when I started.
If I see someone who looks interesting to me, for any reason…hair color, clothing, action, I never ever just start shooting. I do not want to grab a shot and run. I want to be able to “work the scene.“

I start a conversation with my camera over my shoulder, that conversation begins with something about the person. I engage the person so that he/she/they know that they are being heard. Only then do I express my interest in photographing them. Many times they will ask why I want to shoot them, and I answer with one of several stock replies: hobby (true), camera club (true), taking a photography course (sometimes true)…you get it.
None of the four images here is the first shot. Nor are any of them wall hangers. I just want to show that even in a city like New York, perfect strangers can we models.
Do I ever feel threatened? No, because I don’t wander around in areas that are threatening. Also, at nearly 87, I don’t think I look threatening either, nor did I when I was in my early 70s.
If any of you hogs would like to share your experiences on learning to be street photographers, and show some examples, feel free to put them in this thread.