First attempt at Street Photography: I took the day off today and I THOUGHT it was going to be sunny...it turned out to be a bit of a cloudy day and the conditions were changing...

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

I took the day off today and I THOUGHT it was going to be sunny...it turned out to be a bit of a cloudy day and the conditions were changing constantly...so I ended up culling a lot of bad exposures.

I got to the city early so it was also hard to remember to reset the camera for "shade" and then "in the sunlight" conditions so I culled a LOT of shots. ::)

It was interesting in that the people I shot reacted positively and didn't seem to have a problem with it. The hard part was just composing, framing and sneaker zooming into the right spot/angle for a good shot...I have a LOT to learn, i can see that.

What you see here are the best of what I got...I tried to be critical but I can see how people get numb and don't know when to hack a photo...I'll let you comment and tell me what you think should go....

http://bobpavich.zenfolio.com/p1004748795

docrob Loc: Durango, Colorado

rpavich wrote:

I took the day off today and I THOUGHT it was goin... (show quote)

OK cuz it's you I looked at your folio. 1st thought: Did you get permission to photo any or all of these folks?

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

docrob wrote:

quote=rpavich I took the day off today and I THOU... (show quote)

Nope...not one.

Why?

docrob Loc: Durango, Colorado

rpavich wrote:

quote=docrob quote=rpavich I took the day off to... (show quote)

it shows

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

docrob wrote:

quote=rpavich quote=docrob quote=rpavich I took... (show quote)

Not sure what you mean...can you elaborate specifically on what it is you're referring to?

docrob Loc: Durango, Colorado

docrob wrote:

quote=rpavich quote=docrob quote=rpavich I took... (show quote)

I look at these and I see the same expression of folks faces - not pleased - curious maybe - more irritated I think than happy to have had their space invaded by some camera guy. Couple of em look like they are glowering at you.

Next time you go for a city photo safari don't just point the camera at people from across the road - be respectful - approach them if their faces or clothing or whatever speaks strongly enough to you that you are tempted to raise the camera.....turn them back into people instead of distant photo subjects....OH btw a really good lens for this kind of street portraiture is a 50mm cuz it will force you to get close, to make contact, to connect on some human level.....the photography then becomes musical - like a dance - the art is in creating that relationship.

Just some thoughts........your working your learning you its all good.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

docrob wrote:

I look at these and I see the same expression of folks faces - not pleased - curious maybe - more irritated I think than happy to have had their space invaded by some camera guy. Couple of em look like they are glowering at you.

The only person in this whole lot that didn't react positively to having their photo taken was the last woman..she was sort of "mentally challenged" and was actually yelling at nobody when I took that shot.

The others you see all (except for the guy walking past me with his back to me) all smiled and acknowledged my taking their picture, I said smiled and said "thank you" to each one and they smiled back at me.

An older gentleman (the close up) actually talked to me for about 20 minutes during and after I took his picture.

I was surprised at how positively everyone reacted to having their picture taken...but of course, the shots are just a millisecond in time, and may not show it.

docrob wrote:

Next time you go for a city photo safari don't just point the camera at people from across the road - be respectful - approach them if their faces or clothing or whatever speaks strongly enough to you that you are tempted to raise the camera.....

The lens that I used was a 35mm f/2 (approx 50mm on my crop sensor camera) and I was within 10 or 20 feet to many of them...not "distant" at all...

docrob wrote:

turn them back into people instead of distant photo subjects....

I didn't see them as subjects at all...they were people to me, interesting and we interacted.

docrob wrote:

OH btw a really good lens for this kind of street portraiture is a 50mm cuz it will force you to get close, to make contact, to connect on some human level.....the photography then becomes musical - like a dance - the art is in creating that relationship.

I used a 35mm for that purpose.

Just some thoughts........your working your learning you its all good.[/quote]

Thank you.

docrob Loc: Durango, Colorado

rpavich wrote:

docrob wrote:

quote=rpavich quote=docrob quote=rpavich I took... (show quote)

I look at these and I see the same expression of folks faces - not pleased - curious maybe - more irritated I think than happy to have had their space invaded by some camera guy. Couple of em look like they are glowering at you.

Next time you go for a city photo safari don't just point the camera at people from across the road - be respectful - approach them if their faces or clothing or whatever speaks strongly enough to you that you are tempted to raise the camera.....turn them back into people instead of distant photo subjects....OH btw a really good lens for this kind of street portraiture is a 50mm cuz it will force you to get close, to make contact, to connect on some human level.....the photography then becomes musical - like a dance - the art is in creating that relationship.

Just some thoughts........your working your learning you its all good.

quote=docrob quote=rpavich quote=docrob quote=... (show quote)

Dcrob...
That's interesting that you say that.

The only person in this whole lot that didn't react positively to having their photo taken was the last woman..she was sort of "mentally challenged" and was actually yelling at nobody when I took that shot.

The others you see all (except for the guy walking past me with his back to me) all smiled and acknowledged my taking their picture, I said smiled and said "thank you" to each one and they smiled back at me.

An older gentleman (the close up) actually talked to me for about 20 minutes during and after I took his picture.

I was surprised at how positively everyone reacted to having their picture taken...but of course, the shots are just a millisecond in time, and may not show it.

PS: The lens that I used was a 35mm f/2 (approx 50mm on my crop sensor camera)

quote=docrob quote=docrob quote=rpavich quote=... (show quote)

Well there you have it and I see it's time for breakfast - perhaps a nice cold dish of crow?

I Am glad you used the 35mm good for you! That takes balls. And still, when I look at these pics I don't get any sense that there is a connection between you and them. Guess thats why I said what I said and why I assumed they were taken with zooms from across the road.

No story - just random people passing by and for that one does need to show faces, or get a release.

Now, time to pluck that crow.....and its still good and you are learning...

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

docrob wrote:

rpavich wrote:

docrob wrote:

quote=rpavich quote=docrob quote=rpavich I took... (show quote)

I look at these and I see the same expression of folks faces - not pleased - curious maybe - more irritated I think than happy to have had their space invaded by some camera guy. Couple of em look like they are glowering at you.

Next time you go for a city photo safari don't just point the camera at people from across the road - be respectful - approach them if their faces or clothing or whatever speaks strongly enough to you that you are tempted to raise the camera.....turn them back into people instead of distant photo subjects....OH btw a really good lens for this kind of street portraiture is a 50mm cuz it will force you to get close, to make contact, to connect on some human level.....the photography then becomes musical - like a dance - the art is in creating that relationship.

Just some thoughts........your working your learning you its all good.

quote=docrob quote=rpavich quote=docrob quote=... (show quote)

Dcrob...
That's interesting that you say that.

The only person in this whole lot that didn't react positively to having their photo taken was the last woman..she was sort of "mentally challenged" and was actually yelling at nobody when I took that shot.

The others you see all (except for the guy walking past me with his back to me) all smiled and acknowledged my taking their picture, I said smiled and said "thank you" to each one and they smiled back at me.

An older gentleman (the close up) actually talked to me for about 20 minutes during and after I took his picture.

I was surprised at how positively everyone reacted to having their picture taken...but of course, the shots are just a millisecond in time, and may not show it.

PS: The lens that I used was a 35mm f/2 (approx 50mm on my crop sensor camera)

quote=docrob quote=docrob quote=rpavich quote=... (show quote)

Well there you have it and I see it's time for breakfast - perhaps a nice cold dish of crow?

I Am glad you used the 35mm good for you! That takes balls. And still, when I look at these pics I don't get any sense that there is a connection between you and them. Guess thats why I said what I said and why I assumed they were taken with zooms from across the road.

No story - just random people passing by and for that one does need to show faces, or get a release.

Now, time to pluck that crow.....and its still good and you are learning...

quote=rpavich quote=docrob quote=docrob quote=... (show quote)

Well...I didn't say I was good at it...I just did it to get my feet wet and start learning and was looking for pointers...no crow eating necessary. :) I appreciate you taking the time to comment.