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Response to In Your Face or Behind A Bush?

from Mike Dixon (mike@mikedixonphotography.com)
"I think it has far more to do with how you act than whether or not the camera is out."

I've said the same thing many times on this topic. Generally, if people are uncomfortable with you taking their photo, a big part of it comes from you being uncomfortable taking their photo. A huge amount of the "information" communicated between people in person comes from non-obvious cues like the tone/volume/inflection of voice, posture, eye contact, facial expression, etc. While you don't actively attend to these things, you do notice them. When you're uncomfortable photographing someone, you're probably telling them that fact (whether you want to or not), and they're reacting to it.

Todd, your intial question ('Debate: what to use for street and candid photography..."in your face" or long teles? I tend to be shy and prefer teles...Others enjoy confrontation.') reveals a bias that makes it difficult for you to take an up-close approach. The terms (even if you're not fully serious) like "in your face" and "confrontation" have aggressive connotations, as though the photographer and subject are in opposition. They usually aren't!

As for my approach to up-close candid photography, I don't really have a specific method. A lot of the time, though, I'm somewhat "anchored" in one place (cafe table, spot at the bar, street corner)--that has certain implications on the psychology of the situation. But I also go roving around, too. I suppose one consistent factor is that I act like I have very right to be doing what I'm doing . . .

It's an interesting topic. I'm going out of town for a few days, but I may come back to it when I return.

(posted 8065 days ago)

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