tainkc Loc: Kansas City

Got it. Thanks!

CResQ Loc: Cobble Hill, BC

What do you mean by half moon Russ?

PalePictures Loc: Traveling

When I shoot the street I will typically find a person and place them in shadow... Next to a building or under an overhang. I like to find darker solid backgrounds, like grey, red or blue. I start on one side of the subject and circle him half way taking photos while holding a conversation with him. It takes about 2-5 minutes. All my street shots are less than 5 minutes. By taking photos in this manner I accomplish a few things.

1) I never know what the good side of a person is and I don't have time to figure it out in the field. "Shooting the half moon" solves this problem.

2) Light will play off the face differently from the different angles as well. By working in this fashion I get a light that I sometimes don't expect. (In a good way)

It helps to have a solid wall background behind your subject. When I am on either side of the half moon the wall will not come into play. ALthough the wall does not come into play as the background my depth of field becomes much more important. The wall becomes the kicker(subtractor) and the background doesn't matter because it's blurred from my F2.8 aperture.

THis is it in a nutshell of how I can come off the street and get a shot every time. It's really a process. I never look at the back of my camera while shooting(it waste to much time).

Hope this helps.

CResQ Loc: Cobble Hill, BC

Thank you Russ for your informative answer, yes this helps a lot. Cheers

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

I need to ask, must be I missed the explanation, what is the "half moon"?

hikercheryl Loc: Madison, NC

Me too!

PalePictures Loc: Traveling

I start on one side of the subject and circle him half way taking photos while holding a conversation with him. It takes about 2-5 minutes

Explanation 2 responses up.

Russ Elkins

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

Thank you.