Archive for the ‘candid street photography’ Tag
I bought this lens a couple of years ago to take pictures of architecture and landscape. In the last two weeks I’ve tried it for my candid street photography. This is the widest lens I have and it requires a very close range to the subject to take a picture. Don’t even think about using the viewfinder and autofocus. The mode of operation is “point and shoot”.
This is not a small glass, but when you are very close to the person it is hard to conceal your intentions anyway.
The lens is fast. I often use it wide open. I don’t think that a faster lens would be useful. When you are in a range of six feet or less, it becomes a shallow depth of field. This makes the misfocus problem more pronounced.
For more pictures go to Shooting with Pentax 14mm f/2.8
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The Rules and Myths of Candid Photography: Wide angle or telephoto lenses
Many bloggers and experts like to say that you should use wide angle lenses because they require being close to the subject. This makes street shooting a “fair” game. It seems dishonest to use a telephoto by hiding from a distance.
Hunters have the same debate when choosing a weapon. They will argue that it is valiant to select a tool that will give their victim a chance to escape.
However, we are photographers and our goal is to make great images. We are not in a contest with people on the street or with each other. The choice of lenses is governed by artistic considerations, feasibility, or convenience, not by some superficial notion of machismo.
Often I use lenses from wide to short telephoto, including small zoom. On occasion I have fun with my old long telephoto 60-300.
I don’t toggle lenses during shooting. My choice is based mostly on my current mood and situation. If I am in doubt I use a “normal” 31 mm (with 1.5x crop factor).
I don’t use a long telephoto because being far from the object (using small view angle) makes the depth of perspective compressed. But sometimes this compression is an important part of the composition.
Wide angle lenses allow the photographer to be very close to the person. Photographers can invade the personal space of the subject before getting a chance to use the camera’s viewfinder. This may require shooting from the hip or belly. Do not frame tightly in order to have latitude for rotation and cropping.
Use any lenses that you think are most appropriate for your situation. Don’t concern yourself with artificial rules that many candid street photography experts try to push.
Related topics
Pentax 14mm f/2.8 for Candid Street Photography
Pentax 70 mm f/2.4 DA Limited for Candid Street Photography
Even though it is hard to categorize artistic expression; I need to define the purpose of this blog.
The topics on this site are focused on images where people take an important role. The purpose of this restriction is more for photographic intent and not specific composition. Usually pictures have a foreground focused on people in order to imply story, or a single person for a portrait. However, this is not necessary.
I am including an image where the person is in the background and out of focus.
Falling ice
In this image the man takes up a very small portion of the picture
Man
Without people these photos wouldn’t be interesting or would have a different meaning.
Candid photography implies that people are not aware of the camera. Sometimes people stare right into your lens at the moment of the shot. Is this“candid”? I say “Yes.” This interesting issue will be addressed in my blog.
Chicago - Ogilvie Transportation Center
In this blog I will discuss the photography of total strangers. I never introduce myself or ask permission. This method presents an unique psychological impact that gives a special quality to many pictures.
I took almost all of these photos on the street simply because this is the easiest place to see strangers, but I’m looking for an opportunity whenever I have my camera.
Lyric Opera
The topic of this blog encompasses a great variety of styles that have the common challenges and excitements of “the candid photography of strangers”.
Candid Street Photo 