Critique Welcomed Covert Photography - Ocean Beach

[Chris Dodkin]

After the success of covert day 1, we headed out to Ocean Beach today - a funky seaside area with lot's of 'interesting' people, and plenty of street life.

I kicked-off with another street technique today - staying put in one place, and waiting for people to pass me by, and come into range.

To and from the beach

This method definitely has promise - especially in high traffic areas - you just hold your ground, blend in, and wait for the subjects to come to you.

The only issue I can see is that you get multiple shots with the same or very similar backdrops - so you may not want to stay too long in one place.

Heading back to the sidewalk, I held the camera at waist level in both hands, set f/2.8, and walked along looking for suitable victims.

Baywatch

I found I could shoot as I walked, and didn't have to stop and draw attention to myself at all.

OB Low Rider

I also tried the single handed, shooting from below the hip, method - and used this as I walked past people on the sidewalk. I never broke step!

Waiting on the corner

Walking and shooting worked really well - I walked alongside SWMBO, who provide excellent cover, and angled the camera at waist level towards interesting subjects as I approached or walked past.

The Illustrated Man

Bar-side Crew

The final image of the day I shot vertically, camera at my side - maxing out the shutter at 1/4000 with the wide aperture.

Beach Crusin'

No one showed any sign of spotting my covert activity - and there is no way in hell I would have stopped to get that bar shot using normal shooting techniques.

It's a really fun experience - and even though swmbo frowned at my new found interest, she was still excited to see the images when we got home.

I'm starting to get a feel for distance and composition with the 18mm lens - and getting more confident that the camera will get the shot if I can just point it in the right direction!

 

[Steve Dormer]

Hi Chris
Great work I particulary like the last shot.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

I've used these techniques too, with some success and dozens of failures. This is a great selection, revealing how good your eye is at spotting a good composition.

 

[Brian Moore]

Some really good shots in here, Chris. Well done. I like the Bar Side Crew especially. Just wondering,...why shoot at wide aperture in daylight? Thanks.

 

[Julian de'Courcy]

Chris I enjoy reading the process . I Like the last image a lot and after seeing canons offerings of their first digi mirror less camera will certainly take another good look at the fuji.

 

[Kev Pugh]

I see someone who is addicted to this undercover photography and for good reason a great selection here Chris, particularly like the chopper OB low rider and the one before Baywatch, and the final one Beach Cruising, clearly there is something that is attracting their attention but what?? a nice set in their own right....Keep shooting and don't get caught

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Thanks chaps

It is a lot of fun, and you definitely get an adrenaline rush from the process - so maybe I'm getting hooked

Brian - just looking to get some separation of subject from surroundings with DOF - and with the wide lens you have to open up pretty far to get it.

I can see why street shooters like the wider lenses, as composition is easier, and more is in focus at a given aperture, so mistakes with focus may not be shot killers.

Doing this same process with a 50mm equiv lens would be super challenging - accuracy of comp would be a real issue aI think, although I'm sure you'd adapt in the same way eventually.

A 35mm equiv might be a nice compromise.

 

[Pete Askew]

Superb haul there Chris and an interesting insight into the technique. The wide and wide approach certainly makes sense and the camera seems ideally suited to the method (whereas the Leica would be dismal). I might have to look into this new-fangled AF business after all!!

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Thanks Pete - You mean you pay all that $$$ for a Leica, and it doesn't even auto focus?

 

[Pete Askew]

It barely meters accurately!!

 

[Brian Moore]

It's the AF that I had failed to account for when I asked Chris about shooting at wide ap. The only AF camera I own is the 7d. All the film cameras are either MF or fixed. I've loaded some 120 film into one of my Brownie Hawkeye Flash Models. Going to give it a go on the streets. I'm thinking waist-level finder and one button, fixed focus captures might be just the ticket.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

That does sound like a good option Brian - what's the effective focal length on the Brownie?

 

[Brian Moore]

That does sound like a good option Brian - what's the effective focal length on the Brownie?

Chris I had to go searching for the answer to that question. It seems a debatable thing. From what I can see of what others have mentioned, its between 75 and 81 mm. Not terribly wide, therefore. However, anything from 5 feet to infinity will be in focus. I put some Acros 100 film in it, so I'll need decent light.