Photos of strangers
06.01.2009
Tonight was an interesting case where I had full intentions of doing the usual selfy albeit uninspired and tired. Not to mention I’ve been a bit out of my rhythm not having my own camera while I borrow my wife’s 5D2. The controls are not intuitive (for me) and I’m still not use to the color rendition entirely. But that’s a topic for another post.
So to the point, after setting up my entire scene, a man walks up to me and inquires what I was up to (to make a long story short). To avoid extra conversation, the easiest thing to do is simply ask people if they want their picture taken. This usually makes people stray away — and then you’re back to work. But on the slight chance that they say yes, then you’ve got yourself a model! But be willing to shell out a few dollars. It’s only right.
The man you see in the photo was willing go on a full on model shoot around the rest of the city after showing him the review on the viewfinder. At that point it’s a bit tough. You have to say your thank-you’s and get on your way. Not to mention, on a night like tonight, I just wanted to get home, post the photo, write a blurb about it, then go to sleep.
And speaking of that sleep. It’s time to get on top of that. But I leave with a simple request to share your stories when taking of photos of strangers and how you went about your situations.
Comments
Leave a Reply
Nicolas on 06.02.2009
Nice picture and nice story, I once was helping some friends with some fashion shots and a group of people came up with all these grayhounds asking about the shot. And ended up on the shot as part of the setup!! Enhorabuena for the pics and your 365 goal!!! Following all the way from Spain
jimmyang on 06.02.2009
Usually I get people to agree for a shoot just by simply nodding at them and giving them the thumbs up.
If they ignore me, I’ll move on. If they smile, I’ll get my shot. However, I haven’t convinced strangers to POSE for me though. Usually ppl shun away from a photographer cause they don’t really know what they’ll get in the end. A photographer can change that by showing them the review. If they love it… you’ll get a happy model.
Eric Martin on 06.02.2009
Interesting tips - I like the part about asking if they want their picture taken ;)
Speaking of strangers, there’s a neat Flickr group for that - the 100 Strangers group.
For me, taking pictures of people, especially strangers is tougher to do. Practice makes perfect, I guess.
ed pingol on 06.16.2009
i just wanted to thank you for doing what you do. please keep shooting and don’t every stop. =)
best,
//ed pingol
Bulbboy on 07.02.2009
If the act of observing something changes what is being viewed (a la Heisenberg) then asking strangers to pose definitely changes them, sometimes into something not worth taking a photo of.
Maybe better to get a great shot then ask the subject’s permission afterwards. Ethically unsound, I know, but you know it makes sense.
Jaspal Sawhney on 07.16.2009
I find it a tad difficult to get strangers to pose in North America Canada specifically compared to in India. However one of things which I usually do is to for festivals here and there usually you would have food stalls so where ever we go and eat I politely ask the chef if he would want to pose for me - most of the times they do not refuse :-)
Apart from that I myself find a little hesitation to approach someone to shoot because I tried it a couple of times and they said no or even bummer asked me for money.
phototrain on 07.19.2009
I have been talking to strangers quite a lot these last few months. Normally I offer to send them e-mails of the photos. This is how I have started getting portrait subjects.
This apptoach has worked well with ladies by themselves or with a female friend. It works sometimes with single guys. The group that I get consistent ‘no’s’ from are couples on dates. I think they are just busy with focussing (pun intended) on each other.
I think I have learnt to recognize interest or lack thereof, in the way that people look at the camera.
Coming out of a coffee shop today I did ask a 40 something guy who was covered in tattoos. I thought for sure he would be a ‘no’, but pleasantly he was a definate yes. Tat’s everywhere … he even pulled up his pantleg to show off more.
The one that interested me the most was the Canada flag tat on the left side of his neck.
If I really want to get a shot of some one in particular, I strike up a conversation to see if I can get the shot. A ‘no’ usually means just that, although occasionally they will agree after I ask a 3rd or 4th time.
You take incredible images … thanks for the help.
Mike.