Don't shoot the face!

in Black And White6 months ago

Alcobaça streets bw 1.jpg


Learning new things about photography is like with many other things (cooking, drawing, building... you name it). You can know all the theory, basic rules, tricks and techniques. But until you try it yourself and see what works and what doesn't, it's like you know nothing Jon Snow.

I have been admiring street photography for a very long time, wishing I could do that too. And I know I am far behind. But I will get there. Slowly. Or not.. who knows :)
What I did not want to do was annoy people seeing me shoot them. The thing is - I do not have to show their faces at all (though street portraits are amazing!). A silhouette is enough... or simply avoiding focusing on the face. Simply to respect their privacy (just as I would like to have mine respected in case someone points their camera at me).


Alcobaça streets bw 5.jpg


These were shot in Alcobaça in the center. It is good to stop and look around. The opportunities to shoot are endless. Just slow down and look at the fragments instead of the whole town in one go. It helps me at least.

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They didn't even know I was there :)


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Some the long streets near the center were quite empty. One half in the sun, the other in a shadow. It's all about contrasts.


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The walls of the monastery from old stone.


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Mandatory pigeon shot :)
Few of them were parading on the big empty space, like if they were kings there. And despite that I am ok shooting their faces they were not the most cooperative pigeons I shot.


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Bonus monochrome song for today:
Besides - Tenth
year 2022




»«
Shot with Nikon D5500 + Nikkor 18-55mm lens
All photos and text are my own.

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A telephoto lens could help you capture people's expressions on the streets... I know there's the whole privacy thing and all, but I think a street photographer should be bold. Haha.. sorry, just my humble opinion.

(of course there are many solutions that can help convey the atmosphere and play with the whole scene in front of us)

I invite you to look at street photos of... 🤔... Henri Cartier-Bresson (1908-2004), for example.

https://www.oldskull.net/fotografia/10-fotografias-imprescindibles-de-henri-cartier-bresson/

I agree with you @nanixxx ;) Maybe a 70-300mm would be ideal, it works for me! This photographer you mention is amazing, I have seen his work and cannot admire it.

I also recommend seeing the photos of Chinese photographer Fan-Ho 😁

https://oscarenfotos.com/2016/07/03/galeria-fan-ho/

¡Imagínate es el gran Cartier-Bresson! 😁 Fundador de Magnum Photos.

https://www.henricartierbresson.org/en/fondation/magnum/

Thank you for recommending Fan Ho.

I will try with telephoto next time. I know it wont bother people as much at least.
I agree about being bold... I should work on that then :D

I should work on that then :D

😂 OMG... but yes, you should.

Oh boy... 😬

You've got me laughing here, I can't stop laughing! 🤣

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they were not the most cooperative pigeons I shot.

They were just in a hurry, they had to go and help humans pick some apples 😁

Hahaha better not...

image.png

Nice photos I understand the way it is, when we want to do something but seeing that, it was more tactical than we hope about, nevertheless, you did so good, your photos are nice, it was a great timing on the pigeon as you capture it while one of her leg was not on the ground..
The way the camera face the monastery building is nice also, the streets and the people walking was greatly capture, impressive.

Thanks a lot! :)

There are many ways to do street photography, you can choose not to focus on people's faces and depending on the composition that can be very interesting. There are shots where you necessarily have to focus on a person's expressions to compose according to their emotions and what they are doing. Either of the two is very good and here you have shown it to be wonderful 😍

I also totally know and understand what you mention about privacy :)

I noticed you used the 18-55mm kit lens. One more point in your favor that you have a beautiful photographic eye for street photography.

There are shots where you necessarily have to focus on a person's expressions to compose according to their emotions and what they are doing

Yea I like this type too. Though I am not too comfortable doing it. Maybe one day :)

you have a beautiful photographic eye for street photography.

😊 wow thank you!
That's the lens I had with me that day as I thought it will be a good one (and not too big to carry around).

The photos are amazing, with their own twist. As for people, you can pretend that you are not taking pictures of them so that they do not know anything😉

Haha hard to pretend when I am points a big camera at them :D

Nice photos. The old architecture is very interesting and awesome. It’s very difficult shooting street photography as most people don’t like being in the photos. I go for landscape photos instead!

I like landscape too, but I always wanted to shoot more street... so have to find a way to be comfortable doing it.

The city that @ewkaw photographed is very beautiful and clean... 👍👍👍

It is a nice one :)

!ALIVE
!LOL

 6 months ago Reveal Comment

Your street photos are great for someone who's new to it. Perhaps you're a quick learner.

I love the fact that you tried to respect people's privacy by making sure their faces didn't show.

Thank you! There has a been a lot of very bad photos in the meantime too :)

From the way you shot on the streets, I think you are very successful, in my opinion there is nothing impossible if we do it will definitely get maximum results, I really enjoy your street portraits today.

Thank you!

Good morning dear friend @ewkaw happy start to the week
What a beautiful city, I really like the architecture of the period buildings.
We love urban or street shots, but I have never done them in monochrome, I'm afraid to try shots like that
As always, your photographs are beautiful. Have a great day

I'm afraid to try shots like that

You shouldn't! If you dont like them, you just delete them and try again :)

Hello @ewkaw
What you say is very true, you have to be careful when photographing people on the street, you have to respect their privacy
Beautiful monochrome shots

Thanks a lot :)

As in every area of knowledge you learn more and more every day, and with regard to street photography to be able to capture more of the emotions of people, you have to have as they say more daring no matter if those people are uncomfortable or upset, that way many photographers have that daring.

you have to have as they say more daring

Yea, that is what I am missing.
Thank you!

Good street photographs!! i'm sure you will learn and get used to it really fast!

and yes, shooting them from behind is a really good strategy, sometimes with a good composition you only need a human figure in the photo to add more visual weight to it...

another good thing is to use a zoom lens, that way you can shoot from far away and people dont even notice that you are photographing them

Thanks! Next time I will try with zoom lens. It could really work :) I didn't have it with me that day.

Congratulations @ewkaw! Your post brought a smile to the TravelFeed team so we have sent you a smiley. Keep up the good job. 🙂

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Every art really needs a lot of practice and we have to have a lot of experience to be able to develop art or a field.

Very true!

I love your pictures!! I believe you are a great street photographer!

Aww thank you :)

 6 months ago Reveal Comment