He says many smart things, especially the friendliness angle.
I disagree with one thing though: the claim that using auto-exposure slows the camera down. I don't know what kinds of cameras he's been using, but I've never used an auto-exposure camera which slowed me down even for a split-second. The focusing is the bit that takes time. Only in the bigger and more professional cameras (over $600 or so) does this get under half a second and therefore negligible.
Update: Bruce reminds us of this article on Lum-Land, which confirms that automation is your friend when things go fast. I did read that article when it came out, and like usual from Lum-Land it's worthwhile.
I know this is going to get me kicked out of the fraternity, but set your camera on a high ISO (400) and set it in Program mode. The reason for this is that documentary photographs often happen in a split second. You don't want to be thinking about whether or not you have a fast enough shutter speed selected, or enough depth of field. Buy yourself some time by setting the camera so that you can swing from the sunny side of the street to a shadowed doorway in a split second, and still get the shot.I would even say that unless there is too much light, ISO 800 might be an even better bet with modern camera. Hardly any camera which came out in the past year or two can't make nigh-perfect pictures at ISO 800. And the bigger of them (DSLRs) maybe at 1600 too. Test it.
Hmm, I'm sure my ZX-L had >=500ms focus time with the kit zoom lens. The only time it flaked was shooting through chain link fences.
ReplyDeleteI am always horrified at how slow my D80 is at focusing, sometimes it feels like a couple of seconds, especially from close up work to distance shots.
There was an article on Luminous Landscape a while back about street photography in a foreign country. I thought it was pretty good.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/china-street.shtml
In street photography, as in all other aspects of life, if you're good-looking it will be better received. Same way Ted Bundy was able to get people to get into his car. It also helps to be white.
ReplyDeleteUm, (hitting the game-show buzzer) FALSE.
ReplyDeleteAuto focus, on-the-fly averaging, stabilization and other automatic functions are to the camera what IRQs are to a computer.
I shot on the street with Mamiya 645 cameras (and Leicas). The key was using the WA lenses to their optimum focus - and get the shot.
The modern auto everything cameras wouldn't have kept up.
Informing yourself would be a good idea. Especially on the topic of real photography.
Michael Reichman shot with Leicas professionally for years, I think he knows both sides of that picture.
ReplyDeleteKabel, the pharmacy called. Your pills are ready for pickup.
ReplyDeleteThe name emptyspaces says it all.
ReplyDeleteWe can argue all day - but what images have you captured and published using your 'technique'?
Zero.
I use reality - no pills.
Go ahead, idiots - ignore and common sense. And shoot your pictures for your walls with your mamby-pamby cameras.
ReplyDeleteYou have no idea what protography really is. KaableYaaache is right - you have no business blabbering about photography. Go on vacation and take your aunts picture on the cruise ship.
I'll bet you have no idea what 'chrome' is in reference to...
Emptyspaces:
ReplyDeleteI can see where all your knowledge about professional and commercial photography came from...
Must have been from your Interests as listed below from your profile:
* bass guitar
* cooking
* gardening
Defense rests. Hugs and Kisses.
And lube.
Now, who is this KabelYaache. A genius, obviously, and to talk like such a douche he must be a very well known professional photographer. No? What, just some Comic Book Guy talking cunt, you say? I'm shocked!
ReplyDelete