Archive for the ‘Candid photography techniques’ Category
There is nothing different between infrared and visible light in terms of candid photography techniques or composition.
It is very popular to use infrared photography for landscape or cityscape. Infrared light dramatically changes tonality of grass, tree leaves and sky giving picture sometimes surreal quality.
In candid photography infrared was popularized by Weegee. He used infrared flash to take pictures in the total darkness. I don’t use a flash, even invisible one.
As a candid photographer I like infrared for unusual tonality of the skin and cloth. Infrared gives contrast to the image that is impossible to achieve using visible light.
When sun is in zenith of the clear sky, it is absolutely the worst time for taking visible light pictures and it is usually the best for infrared shooting.
All pictures are taken by converted to infrared Pentax *istDS with Pentax-DA 1:3.5-5.6 18-55mm AL
This is the oldest and the cheapest lens that I have. My wife bought me this glass as a gift fifteen year ago for about $300. At that time it was very expensive for us.
I almost never used it. Oddly, I thought that having such expensive zoom I should stay with Pentax brand. This is the classic example how wrong reasons lead to great decisions.
Now, when I do candid street photography, this lens has the second life. I even bought rubber hood for it. It is fun to take quick snapshots using pull-push for zoom and manual focus. With some practice you can operate it pretty fast. Image quality is good enough.
Pentax’s in-body image stabilization technology works great with this stuff too. Usually, I configured it for 200mm. When I am in the mood for long range hunting I have fun with Promaster 60-300.
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Some street photographers use flash to capture a moment with the contrast of its penetrating light.
I don’t use a flash. This is my personal choice and the only restriction I impose for my work in candid street photography.
There are practical reasons for this restriction. A flash’s light distorts reality and directly impacts the person in the picture. If you worry about confrontation from taking pictures of people, then using flash greatly increases the chance your subject will be upset.
Night scenes require the highest ISO setting that can be used for reasonable image quality. When people are moving it’s impossible to use low shutter speed unless motion blur is your goal.
I try to create a composition that does not depend on details. The mood of the situation, the strong contrast of light emitted by lamps, cars, and advertisements are more important for the photograph.
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