DPC Mentorship - Candid - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 135mm f/2.0L USM

07/22/2005 12:04:11 AM · #76

Originally posted by jmsetzler:

Am I allowed to post some comments in this group?

Well, I would normally say no, but since you asked so nicely and since you have kind of a knack for candids and a badass lens hood, I guess it will be ok just this once. ;)

lentil

Canon EOS-5D

07/22/2005 01:30:36 AM · #77

Sorry i havent posted on here about my candid moments. I will think about it now and promise to put something on here tonight when i can concentrate

Lisa

pixieland

Fujifilm FinePix S602Z

07/23/2005 12:14:07 AM · #78

We don't have any interesting people. Nobody shouting or beating on a car, no one strolling around reading newspapers, no homeless people , and all our protitutes are at the local massge parlor instead of on the street--no wait, they shut that down. Darn, guess I'm going to have to move!

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8

07/23/2005 02:02:03 AM · #79

Here is the latest round of candids. I only have my fixed 50mm on vacation, so I have to get pretty close to get the shot. I am still really shutter shy and have a difficult time pointing my camera at people, but I'm trying to kick it. (The man in the suspenders was shot by my wife.)

pcody

Canon PowerShot G6

07/23/2005 07:21:59 PM · #80

I've been trying to get comfortable with the new tc. I have to say it's pretty awesome. I wanted to use it before I go to the zoo tomorrow.
And I'm really trying to get used to raising the camera to eye level when other people are around. I think that is the hardest part. Here are a few practice shots.

This one was posed. He was at the bus stop I use sometimes and was kind enough to let me take his picture. Early morning light.

I tracked him all the way down the street and he turned his head at the wrong time then dissappeared behind a building.
I have noticed that I take a lot of vertical pictures and am trying to take more horizontal ones. Hard habit to break.

07/23/2005 11:04:07 PM · #81

OK... let's look back at what you've accomplished this week.

Your assignment was to share with the group five "scenes" you would have liked to have photograped (but did not) and WHY you would have liked to capture them. Overall, I think you got the concept pretty well and understood what I was looking for.

It's so important to understand the emotive nature of candid photos. It's also important to understand the difference between candid photography and street photography, because to me, they are not one and the same. Street photography is capturing images that contain people, captured in a candid manner, most often by "stealth" (we'll discuss stealth in a little bit more in detail momentarily). Candids, however, contain one or up to a few people, and they essentially fill the frame...whatever it is they are doing, or who they are, what the essence of the moment is, or whatever moment it is you are capturing...that's the entire frame. When you are a street photographer, you are an observer of a scene. When you are a candid photographer, you become PART of the scene, not just an observer. Does that make sense?

I see a lot of "stealth" photography posted in the thread so far. It's not bad, it's not wrong, it's just a different genre. Stealth is when you use your longest lens, zoomed to it's fullest extent, and stealthily snap away without being noticed. It's more comfortable, especially for those who are shy, and it's not as intrusive so you don't feel like you're invading anyone's space. I would like to get you out of this habit, if only for our little group. Stealth photography is great for some street photography...but not for the things I'd like to see you accomplish. This is where I propose my next challenge to you.

I need you to post a reply that indicates your camera, your lenses, and put in bold your widest lens. For your next assignment, I'd like you to capture three candid images of people using that lens at it's shortest focal length. Remember, your goal is to become part of a scene rather than just an observer (no stealth mode). You can still feel comfortable knowing that with a short, wide lens, you don't necessarily look like you're pointing your huge bigma at people...you can still get them in the frame without pointing directly at them. ;)

If you were a street photographer back in the day, like Cartier-Bresson, you'd likely be using a rangefinder with a wide-angle lens. I urge you to look at his work, and the work of another great who I've just become acquainted with, Elliot Erwitt. I'll post some links at the bottom of this assignment. You'll see the kinds of decisive moments those gentlemen captured with equipment that brought them into their scenes. Yes, a lot of it is street photography, but the images have something that tells you a little bit about each person you see...the moment captured is a decisive one, and the scene is captured from within...not from 30 or more feet away (there are always exceptions). Some tips to keep in mind:

1. Faces are important. Not the backs of heads, not profiles, but faces.
2. Don't be a stealth photographer. Move into your scene. Become a part of it, not just an observer.
3. Look for moments that say something about your subject...a decisive moment. Look for people doing both common and uncommon things. Watch them and what they are doing. Learn to anticipate human nature. Click the shutter when you can capture that moment that really speaks to you and to your viewers.
4. Try tilting the camera. Put an edge, a touch of uniqueness, into your image. Everyone takes straight-on shots with composition that says "yes I know the rule of thirds." Be different...tilting the camera adds something to the image that says "spontaneity." It creates a nice dynamic and triggers a response in people, which is the whole point anyway. One of our dpc friends told me that "careful composition is against the flow of true candid photography." A tilt or an angle might be one thing to try when striving to bring your candid image to life.

Elliott Erwitt
Henri Cartier-Bresson

Bonus assignment... go through those two links, pick out a photo, and explain to us what the image makes you feel...and why you think it makes you feel that way.

I don't think I'll go into shutter speeds and flashes and all that other technical stuff...just keep in mind it's best to use your widest lens at it's shortest focal length, and go from there. I look forward to hearing and seeing what you come up with. Enjoy!!! :)

P.S. Big hugs for my buddy Setz who helped me out with some things this week. ;)

Message edited by author 2005-07-23 23:23:28.

bobdaveant

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8

07/24/2005 12:01:47 AM · #82

For our next assignment:

Camera:
Canon EOS-20D

Lenses:
Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6
Canon EF 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 IS USM

Lori, this is great stuff, this will challenge me, I am getting very comfortable using my zoom lense for these candid shots, forcing me to use my shorter focal length will be harder, but Im sure wil pay off.
Thanks.

pcody

Canon PowerShot G6

07/24/2005 12:29:01 AM · #83

camera g6. I will just get in close and mingle with the people. Most of the pictures I saw on the link that worked look like they were taken at about 10 or 20 feet away. The wide angle would allow more of the scene to be captured and will force a more close interaction. Guess I was confused about candid and street and stealth and nonintrusive. Thanks for guiding us in the right direction.
One of my favorite pictures that Cartier-Bresson took was "Gold Rush". I look at it and am amazed that people could be that tightly crunched together. I've always wondered what those guys in black are doing and what they are standing on. I feel like a victim when I look at the picture and I feel the crushing weight of desperate people around me.
Just a thought. Could we introduce our personal favorite (old time)photographer to each other in future assignments? Maybe do a short written bio, why we like them and links to some pictures?

Message edited by author 2005-07-24 00:39:23.

PhantomEWO

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

07/24/2005 12:36:10 AM · #84

WOW I go on vacation for a month and now all of these great mentorship forums. Would love to join ya but if full will just follow along. So far some great ideas and concepts, way to go ya'll.

ADGibson

Canon EOS-20D

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

07/24/2005 12:40:54 AM · #85

Here is one pic from Sea World for the group. I will try to get 2 more tomorrow. The performers came down in the crowd for a little fun.

Apple iPhone

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical DF for Nikon

07/24/2005 06:17:39 AM · #86

Cameras:
Konica-Minolta 7D
Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro
Minolta DiMAGE 7Hi

Lens:
Konica Minolta AF D 24-105mm f/3.5-4.5
Konica Minolta 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6 D AF
Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical DF for Nikon
Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX APO IF HSM for Nikon
Tamron AF 19-35mm f/3.5-4.5 for Minolta

ADGibson

Canon EOS-20D

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

07/24/2005 12:11:49 PM · #87

Canon 20D

Canon 50mm f1.8
Tamron 28-75mm f2.8
Sigma 70-300mm f4-5.6 APO Super II

nico_blue

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

07/24/2005 08:25:43 PM · #88

Camera: Canon 350D

Lenses:
Canon 50mm f/1.8
Tamron 28-75 f2.8

Message edited by author 2005-07-24 20:26:13.

07/25/2005 01:34:18 AM · #89

Canon Rebel xt
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8
Canon 50mm f/1.8
Still saving up for a wide lense so fixed 50 it is.

07/25/2005 01:47:50 AM · #90

null
This photo just feels iconic to me. You can feel the stress.

//www.magnumphotos.com/c/htm/CDocZ_MAG.aspx?Stat=DocThumb_DocZoom&o=&DT=ALB&E=2K7O3RNY2WJ&Pass=&Total=461&Pic=133&SubE=2S5RYDZC00AA
This just has a romantic fifties feel. Nicely juxctaposed to the picture of the women with the three kids.

I love the composition on this one. Very bold with the off set subject, the tree and the edge of the car.
//www.magnumphotos.com/c/htm/CDocZ_MAG.aspx?Stat=DocThumb_DocZoom&o=&DT=ALB&E=2K7O3RNY2WJ&Pass=&Total=461&Pic=165&SubE=2K7O3R2ZOTP

Message edited by author 2005-07-25 01:51:11.

07/26/2005 06:37:48 PM · #91

a tiny bump in case some participants have missed it... ;)

bobdaveant

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

07/27/2005 06:44:42 PM · #92

I only had my zoom lense with me at lunch today- forgive me Laurie, I know I was supposed to use my smaller one, but I still got some nice, close up shots and the closest zoom I could at least on two. I was under a building overhang taking some shots in the rain when a young girl and her father waiting for a bus asked me what I was shooting, ten minutes later into our conversation I took these candid portraits of James and Zakita. I hope you like them along with another not co close rain shot.

BKerr

Canon EOS-20D

07/27/2005 07:32:52 PM · #93

Originally posted by bobdaveant:

I like these..I left a few comments

07/27/2005 08:47:25 PM · #94

Originally posted by bobdaveant:

Very nice...even if it is a longer lens. ;)

Of the three, I like the one of James the best. His expression (or lack thereof) speaks more to me about the years he's lived and the miles he's seen. Thanks for sharing!

bobdaveant

07/27/2005 11:01:37 PM · #95

I cropped the picture of James and converted it to B & W, what do you think compared to the original? Im not sure which I like better...I think I'm leaning towards the one in full color.

07/28/2005 01:17:17 AM · #96

Here is a shot from LAX. I went up to the guy and asked him if I could take his picture. He gave me a wierd look so I said I was part of a photography club and he seemed to loosen up. This is my first candid where I engaged the subject directly.

Canon EF 135mm f/2.0L USM

07/28/2005 01:18:56 AM · #97

I like the BW crop Bob.

lentil

Canon EOS-5D

07/28/2005 01:23:57 AM · #98

sorry i am not a very good student :( I have had a child home sick FOREVER!! LOL

My 5 things i would like to of photographed are
1. Council men - Erecting a banner outside our local library, there were 4 of them putting up a 6ft banner. I spotted them putting it up at 10am and were still putting it up at 2.30pm. LOL. I just thought this would be a good one for time wastage. :)
2. I spotted my 3 yr old niece singing and dancing thinking that nobody was watching her. Very funny, the expressions she was doing were very serious.
3. More council workers - building a new path near our local waterway. Lots of machinery and lots of men. (all in uniform ;).
4. 2 old women sitting having coffee at another local attraction. Obviously been friends forever. Giggling and patting each other on the arm.

Sorry i can only think of 4. Exhausting week
As far as my camera goes. I have a nikon 4100. That is it. No lenses. really hoping to get a DSLR one day. :)

Did i answer everything?

skief

Pentax *ist DS

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

07/28/2005 01:52:56 AM · #99

Here's 4 recent candids from the past week. Only one of them is a stealth photo.

Dairy Worker

Dairy Workers

Retired Russian Navy Man(btw, it is image #210000)

Showing the New Kids How