Critique Welcomed Covert Method - Street Photography

[Chris Dodkin]

Having read the Ming Thein blog http://www.realphotographersforum.com/general-discussion/6787-street-photography-%96-ethics-photographing-random-strangers.html#post57489 on the ethics and techniques of stealth street photography, I figured I'd give it a shot today.

The idea is to go in undercover, get in close with a wide lens, and shoot without looking through the viewfinder, using wide apertures.

I used the 18mm lens on the X-Pro1, and set f/2.8 and the central AF point - all confirmation beeps and shutter noises were turned down/off to keep things quiet.

Holding the camera at waist level in both hands - I found I could pause and appear to study my surroundings, whilst actually composing and shooting the shot. (Landscape format)

No one had any idea that a shot was being taken, and I could move freely around an area, snapping away.

You have to visualize where the AF zone will land - and adjust accordingly - or you could go MF and zone focus.

I used Auto ISO to keep things moving along when going from bright outside lighting to dark inside lighting.


The 2nd method was to hold the camera in one hand, vertically, shooting below waist level from my side in portrait orientation.

This method was extremely stealthy, but also harder to judge the comp and focus, as you weren't necessarily looking in the direction the camera was pointing.

All in all a successful first outing, no one noticed a thing, and no one got punched/arrested

 

[Darren Turner]

was looking at the linky & thread of that guy who does similar to this that you posted, he has some amazing photos.

As for these wow brilliant, just proves his methods work, when someone know what hes doing.

I can see you getting rather addicted to this style, and lets face the results are brilliant.........!!

Great work & keep them coming

Daz

 

[Kev Pugh]

Great shots Chris, I've long gone out and done similar that was possibly one reason for me getting the X10 to allow me to shoot without being noticed.

A true natural set......keep em coming

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Thanks Daz and Kev - it was exciting to get home and see what the camera had captured, and also slightly nerve wracking to be shooting stealthily in public - I kept wondering if I'd get spotted and have to explain what I was doing!

The out-takes were truly terrible, lots of missing heads, legs, people generally!

More practice required.

 

[Brian Moore]

Nicely done, Chris. I tried a few yesterday with my new XA3. I can identify with you out-takes comment.

Below is one that I got yesterday that wasn't too bad I don't think. A wee bit fuzzy. I think I may have had the zone focus button set for close up.

The one below that I took on Thursday at the place where I picked up my new XA3. (Silvio's Photoworks in Torrance--won it off E-bay then picked it up at the store.) As the two wee lassies were trying to figure out the billing on the E-Bay sale I loaded the camera with film I'd brought and snapped a couple of shots to move the film through. I figured why waste an opportunity so I pointed the camera at the lassies and fired away. I ended up with two decent shots out of the film leader.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Excellent stuff Brian - but why did those people bring their pony with them to the mall!

 

[Pete Askew]

At least it's not galloping around like in your first one Chris!! Nice shots both and it certainly shows promise.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Thanks Pete - it's horse racing season here, with a month of activity at Del Mar - so there's horsey stuff everywhere!