Sometimes its OK for them to know but you get them before they react (I dont mean react badly).
If you look at my focus you will see that because I focus manually that its a part of my strategy too ...I might need to find something at the same distance to focus on (I do this a lot) and then return to them so I suspect my time with the lens aimed at them is faster than AF seeking to focus.
It depends on whats happening, sometimes I will wait for them to notice me, it sometimes makes the pic.
I often take multiples (I have about 60 of the homeless fella) too so you can see not only am I taking the pic but Im keeping the lens there. If I need to I will glance past the subject or make a movement like Im following something and sometimes they turn to see what it is I am looking at and when they look back I snap.
...or like these two where their looking at me becomes the pic
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and this one that I needed him to turn my way and just waited, the expression he has is because just to his left are a group of girls admiring his dog, he isnt looking at me but rather turned his head in my direction, I was waiting and took the shot before he lost the expression.
...its titled 'foreskin'
The way you frame a pic can be a part of the trick too, I never show these but I think it will help you.
This is the pic I wanted ....
but look at this one and you can see the truth, she is sort of daydreaming, sort of in mid-conversation but I didnt want anyone else in the pic. How she doesnt see me?,again Im watching how they move, what they are doing ...and I move slowly with them. Of the two pics, this one below is the first one, she hasnt seen me, and I step forward to compose (because I am using a prime not a zoom) ...and she still doesnt see me.
I dont know if I'd have snapped your father/daughter unseen but Im trying to show you it is possible.
the girl with the blue sunglasses (earlier post), consider that I am looking past her and snapping her off centre, but look again and she is looking at me and pretending to look past and off centre as well ....
The only thing I like better than street is helping someone else get into it, its not just going out and blazing away as some think and its easier for some than others but I think its only because everyone is in a hurry to press the button (Thats a big hint ).
I think Blackbird is already a terrific street photog.
I dont have rules but ...Always have a reason for the pic is NO1
No shots from behind, no pics of people on cell phones or eating lunch, or having a ciggy break ...unless there is a reason for the pic.
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and maybe I get away with it because Im invisible and have a nice hat
I think Blackbird is already a terrific street photog.
Really? I appreciate this! Thanks alot.
I have a huge tendency to take pictures of people who are in motion, like if they are moving. Sometimes, I'll be moving at the same time (picture 19), so it is impossible for them not to notice. I liked the advice about focusing at something else then shooting the subject, but then the problem is, you have no time to frame the shot. The moment you try to spend 5 seconds framing the shot, they probably would have noticed that your camera is pointing at them.
How long would it take for you to be standing and supposedly doing something else before they stop noticing you? That is the key. If you need to stand in a position for a minute or so, then that wouldn't be that bad.
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