Embrace the Absurd-Street Portraits of strangers.

pullandbang

Gotta love a short focal length and get up close and personal. No cropping, no zooming, just get in there. Three from the Sunday of Peoples Photography.

magicbastarder

pixbyjohn wrote: »

no smile candid

that's something i couldn't do - take a candid photo of a stranger from what looks like close up with a flash.
candid street photography seems to succeed when it's subtle, which has the benefit of not alerting the subject too. using a flash like that is anything but subtle and could conceivably come across as aggressive.

dinneenp

Some from this weekend in Galway
1.
Slight blur, shutter speed was was too slow. Pity as she's a character in Galway. She 'chased/walked' after me giving out...


2. Looks like they're having a heated discussion but they're not


3.



4.

A funny one



5. not sure which I prefer, with or without the crop
a.



b

Adrian.Sadlier

From Alcudia, Majorca







I'm chicken - I don't ask (although these were taken with either 50mm or 60mm lenses)

Fajitas!

I go through phases of asking. I got some results I liked with a Polaroid.

Then I got more into just shooting stuff without any direct contact, usually with rangefinders.

These days, the street stuff I shoot tends to not have anyone in it. Go figure. No point in posting it here though!

spooky donkey

well after this post I thought Id have another go. Took a walk through Dublin last thursday night and got this.


gunniess man by BarryKelly, on Flickr

emrys

here are a couple:


Image by ugog, on Flickr


street by ugog, on Flickr


Image by ugog, on Flickr

Sir Gallagher

I'd love to start doing more of this i've started a new course recently which might give me the kick in the arse to start doing so.

xshayx

smash

I had an interesting experience a while ago walking through Sandyford. A woman walking along with her mobile in front of her looked like she was filming as she walked, then as I was walking by she turned and took a photo of me. From around 4ft away, then kept walking. It made me feel pretty uncomfortable, as it did everyone else she did it to. People were just stopping and looking at each other wondering what she was doing.

Apart from that she was dressed a bit strange... a hat with corks hanging from it and wheeling a small suitcase behind her which had a shovel sticking out of it.

pullandbang

Spent a few hours on Henry Street and Moore Street on Saturday just with the 50mm lens.











Click through any of the shots for more....

pixbyjohn

Pullandbang, nice photos of easy targets

EyeBlinks

pullandbang wrote: »

Would I ever hang a photo of a stranger that I've taken on my wall? Not a chance.

Sad, strange even absurd

pullandbang

EyeBlinks wrote: »

Sad, strange even absurd

Tis a bit absurd alright given that I have one of yours hanging over my head! Still don't think I'd hang one of my own though.......

Adrian.Sadlier

Sometimes lack of sharpness helps :-)

zootshooter

Sir Gallagher

A couple of pics here from Arthurs Day(night)


Rick's by SirGallagher, on Flickr

Tangle Twister by SirGallagher, on Flickr

BigDaddyCan

Seasoft

Misstaken

http://www.flickr.com/photos/misstaken/sets/72157627348660300/
A set of 35mm Film taken in city centre few weeks ago. What to do for a day when you are bored People didn't mind getting their photos taken at all.

zootshooter

pullandbang

Love that first shot zootshooter. It's utterly absurd and absorbing. The crooked angle, the movement and the crazy head on the plate. Just brilliant.

zootshooter

Thanks , great to hear somebody enjoys one of my shots. It was taken on Las Ramblas in Barcelona, there's lots of good photos to be taken there.

okmqaz42

thatsnotmyname

London Friday Night

IamBlip

Seasoft

jpb1974

Sorry to put a downer on this but -Is it just me or is this thread sort of gone off track?

It was supposed to be about street portraits of strangers... but most of the photos that are being posted are not what I would class as street portraits of strangers at all. For the most part they strike me as just general photos taken on the street... not at all portraits and not at all absurde.

Gaspode

Strangers at a wedding in Guingamp, France last week.
Was passing by with my camera around my neck and these guys just did an impromptu pose for me.

IamBlip

jpb1974 wrote: »

Sorry to put a downer on this but -Is it just me or is this thread sort of gone off track?

It was supposed to be about street portraits of strangers... but most of the photos that are being posted are not what I would class as street portraits of strangers at all. For the most part they strike me as just general photos taken on the street... not at all portraits and not at all absurde.

Your probably right, although it did seem like there was a few questions about candid photography too and then people just posted images for examples. Maybe leave this thread for actual street portraits and I'll open a new one for Candid Street shots.

dinneenp

Good article here http://erickimphotography.com/blog/2011/10/how-to-interact-with-your-subjects-when-shooting-street-photography/

EyeBlinks

[URL="[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/tommielehane/5336502531/][img]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5289/5336502531_fb160f8e02_z.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/tommielehane/5336502531/]Unlucky 13[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/tommielehane/]TommieLehane[/url], on Flickr"][/url] Unlucky 13 by TommieLehane, on Flickr

Buceph

Just today I went out and did my first bit of street photography. Interspersed between what I'm sure will be awful "urban landscape" pictures I took a few shots of people. And I have to say, everyone was either happy to oblige or completely non-plussed.

I was quite hesistant at first, I don't want to be Bruce Gilden, but I saw an elderly man sitting have a coffee and a fag. He had a walking stick, stubble and looked like a tough, independent elderly Irish man. He could quite plainly see me but I still stood about 12 feet in front of him and lined up my shot. But he hid behind his hands. I then went over to him and introduced myself, explained that I'm doing a photography course and would he mind if I took his picture. He shrugged to say "away with it!" I thought the shot was ruined, because he was going to change from his contemplative smoke to a pose, but he was far too proud to play up to the camera. He concentrated on his smoke and I took the shot. I smiled, shook his hand and gave my name and said "thank you very much" and walked off. I felt great after it.

I took a few more pictures, one of a guy studying in the park (a really experimental, backlight silhouette that I'm going to have to be real lucky to have pulled off,) I tried to get one of a wet dog and his master but the dog didn't perform. But the one I'm really happy about, and can't wait to see is one of a mother, her four year old and baby in a buggy. She just so happened to be walking the same direction as me, and I started to fixate on her a bit. She was walking so leisurely and the kids were so well behaved it really impressed on me how nice a visage her family were. So I asked her if she'd mind if took a picture of her and her kids. She was a bit taken aback, but I told her she struck me as someone who was having a very happy day. She grudgingly disagreed in a typical, "I'm Irish and come from a long line of misery" way, but I think she was at least pleased that she looked happy and relaxed to other people. She and her kids squared straight up to the camera, and I snapped a single shot. Her hair was blowing in her face, but I didn't want to be demanding and ask her to move it and I didn't want to hold her too long so I could take multiple shots. So, if I've got it, I've got it... I'm really looking forward to seeing that shot come out. And all in all, I had a thoroughly enjoyable time. At the very least I have two stories from the day.

the_tractor

Fair play to you. I've only photo'd people I got chatting to first.

Not yet brave enough to do what you did.

Must try it out.

Buceph wrote: »

Just today I went out and did my first bit of street photography. Interspersed between what I'm sure will be awful "urban landscape" pictures I took a few shots of people. And I have to say, everyone was either happy to oblige or completely non-plussed.

the_tractor

William.

I was taking a few random street shots when William stopped and asked me if I was an American tourist.

When I said I wasn't we got chatting, and he's not a fan of 'Bloody Yanks'.
He resented them during WWII, 'over here taking all the women' while they were off fighting. Originally from England, been living in Belfast for 50+ years I think he said.

An interesting guy, 85, and living independently still.

I'm just glad I wasn't an Yank.


William by TBSteve, on Flickr

Simplicius

I do a lot of Street and never seek to ask, I just prefer it to actually asking. I have though on occasion talked to people usually after initially snapping them and asked to take further shots. more often than not I never find these satisfying. My belief ( & Taste) is for candids or 'attempted' candids this is where someone tags you as you take the shot which often leads to very interesting results.

Any kind of street though, asked or candid gets easier with practice like all things. Even in foreign countries you get a sixth sense for when you are outstaying your welcome on a particular patch. It challenges you too due to the fact you have to invade someones space momentarily with the risk of a bad reaction. The rewards though are personally satisfying and I would reccomend anyone trying it and sticking to it a while because you'll find you'll start at 20 feet away your first day but soon have no issue with closing that gap and getting the more classically accepted street shots

Just my two cents worth..

dinneenp

@Buceph: will you post your photos here?

Buceph

dinneenp wrote: »

@Buceph: will you post your photos here?

I will. I'm doing the darkroom developing course with Monochrome Meath on the 15th, so it'll be after that when I get them scanned and ready to go. These are the shots we're developing and printing ourselves.

the_tractor

Is Honesty the best policy?


Any Money for Booze? by TBSteve, on Flickr

pullandbang

Be careful where you stand :-)

EyeBlinks

Seasoft

I admire this guy's technique. Made me feel a bit braver in approaching street portraiture as opposed to snapping from the shadows.

http://www.learnmyshot.com/How-to-Photograph-Street-Portraits

Hope I'll be as confident in time.

(Hope it's ok to mention the site, as it's free to subscribers.)

mehfesto

In fairness, he is shooting people in carnival attire - at a carnival.
Much easier than doing so on say Moore St.

Still, his banter and attitude were his main points, I guess!

Mensch Maschine

Nice photos EyeBlinks. Some DOF on that one. What lens/camera did you use?

magicbastarder

i suspect the background was blurred in PP.

Mensch Maschine

the_tractor wrote: »

William.

I was taking a few random street shots when William stopped and asked me if I was an American tourist.

When I said I wasn't we got chatting, and he's not a fan of 'Bloody Yanks'.
He resented them during WWII, 'over here taking all the women' while they were off fighting. Originally from England, been living in Belfast for 50+ years I think he said.

An interesting guy, 85, and living independently still.

I'm just glad I wasn't an Yank.


[snippity snip snip!]

William by TBSteve, on Flickr

Great photo. Nice story behind it.

@magic: Oh

pullandbang

zootshooter

the_tractor

Nice shots, but they are not portraits. Put them on the Candid thread.

zootshooter wrote: »

zootshooter

Thanks for the compliment about my pics, but I don't really see how they don't belong here. They are all street shots of people. Shots of people to me are called portraits, whether they are face on, or just a shot of their back, and also if they dominate the frame or do not. Maybe others would disagree?