How to overcome apprehension

agentlossing said:
I'd happily punch Eric Kim out on the street.
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Grown been punched until I've grown myself confidence and body mass (with my parents help to start) to deal with it.
I have realized people who are punching are very week people.

Here is no reason to punch in 99.99%, but to understand the other side. This is the way to take pictures on the street.

Acting goofy doesn't deserve punching.

Kim is harmless street clown from the past. Giftless in photography, but was bringing street photography to the masses. Like no-one else did so far.
 
Wilderland said:
I really appreciate all the comments. Vitaly's question really got me to thinking. Why do I want to do this? Well, there has been the component of a lot of people seem to be doing it so maybe it's rewarding, or fun. I want to challenge myself to find serendipitous moments where, to me, the shot is interesting. With the little bit I've done, it is more comfortable to ask, rather than just doing it, but of course that runs against the whole serendipity thing. That's how I took the picture of this street preacher. He hammed it up when I started taking pictures on my Yashica Electro.

Maybe I was hoping some of my pictures would be so powerful my wife would suggest I buy an M6. He he. I live in a little rural town in the mountains, so it's like the country mouse in the big city. I think simply more time in crowds will help me to feel more comfortable taking pictures.

The suggestion of starting with some events and easing into it makes sense. I've done that and it did feel less intimidating. In the end, it sounds like a lot of you have had to work through the same comfort zone.

Thanks again for the comments, well, apart from the urination tangent.


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Well taken picture, especially been on film.

Small town photogaphy success comes differently. Take all of the approaches as street photogaphy for taking pictures of involving situation.
But instead of crowd you need to find your object, story to tell, doesn't have to be glorious. Everything which is followed and documented for years eventually becomes worthy.
Wear camera as soon as you go out. Everywhere. Locals will get used to you wearing camera. Then start to show of using it. Camera to the eye, framing. They will get used to it. Then get to the story. It could be years of documentary of some and something you get closeby and they don't react on camera anymore.

It is nothing new, well known method for small places and not so. You could start it within family. To practice and realize how it takes time, but you and camera becomes invisible.


IMO. M6 is waste of money. And not really best made Leica camera. Use your mobile phone with exposure metering application which shows it real time on real picture, not just digits. After sometime you'll become electronics independant, because you will measure all of the possible scenarios and you will set exposure without even thinking.
 
My best advice for all public photography, including events, is to be friendly and act like you belong there. I find most people won't give a second though to a guy with a camera in public but they will react negatively to a person who's acting like they're trying to be sneaky. I'm too conspicuous to be stealthy so I don't even try.

When someone seems curious, I make eye contact, smile and nod. Be prepared to chat or show the photos you've taken (if it's digital). Keep in mind that if someone is upset, they're probably having a bad time and are not actually upset at you in particular. Being calm and sympathetic de-escalates many awkward situations.
 
otto.f said:
This won’t help against anxiety, on the contrary, it will only result in worrying about the other side of the sheep; life is dangerous and all that stuff.
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You are right. It referenced the quoted material concerning public urination as a "white guy" thing. Sorry I was not more clear.
 
Here is how I do it, and it is very similar to the way Pan interacts with people in public. I carry business cards with me that have my website and email address on them.

I usually shoot with wide to normal lenses. I do not try and hide when I shoot- that only makes you look suspicious. After you do this for a while, you get a knack for when to raise the camera and shoot. Sometimes I shoot from the hip, but not that often. If someone spots me, I smile and wave at them.

If they seem to be upset about me taking their picture, I smile, walk over to them, introduce myself and hand them a card. I explain to them what I am doing and that the photo will probably go up on my website. I tell them that if they want a copy of the shot to email me, and I will send them one for free. In all these years, I can count on one hand when someone objected to me taking the photo and I deleted it on the spot. However, I have had quite a few people take me up on my offer of a free copy of the shot, once they see the photo on my website. And finally, practice, practice, practice. It will come to you eventually. Hope this helps.
 
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Rick Waldroup said:
Here is how I do it, and it is very similar to the way Pan interacts with people in public. I carry business cards with me that have my website and email address on them.

I usually shoot with wide to normal lenses. I do not try and hide when I shoot- that only makes you look suspicious. After you do this for a while, you get a knack for when to raise the camera and shoot. Sometimes I shoot from the hip, but not that often. If someone spots me, I smile and wave at them.

If they seem to be upset about me taking their picture, I smile, walk over to them, introduce myself and hand them a card. I explain to them what I am doing and that the photo will probably go up on my website. I tell them that if they want a copy of the shot to email me, and I will send them one for free. In all these years, I can count on one hand when someone objected to me taking the photo and I deleted it on the spot. However, I have had quite a few people take me up on my offer of a free print, once they see the shot on my website. And finally, practice, practice, practice. It will come to you eventually. Hope this helps.
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All true, all advisable.
 
Jonathan R said:
Ah, my apologies. I now remember reading that. I took it to be a joke. If the OP’s wife suggests such a move, it might actually increase his anxiety, because of the fear of being mugged for the camera.😬
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Another reason for M2 or even M3. :) If wife will suggest Nikon SLR it is fine as well. Less trouble in the long run...
 
A funny story about this type of photography. Years ago, I was at a biker rally in Texas. I saw a really interesting group of hard core bikers in the crowd and took a photo of them. Immediately, one of them noticed and I smiled and waved at him. He did not smile back. He nudged one of his buddies and pointed at me. I thought, uh-oh. His pal came over, and in the most polite voice I have ever heard, said "My friend over there does not like his picture taken. Do you think you could possibly delete it while I watch?" By now, all of the bikers were looking at me and I promptly deleted the photos and he thanked me and bought me a beer. Sometimes when you are street shooting, you simply have to know how to read the room.
 
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Wilderland said:
I am the definition of a long time lurker, having registered 9 years ago and this is my first post. How do others overcome the apprehension of street photography? I have tried several times, but it just feels so awkward taking pictures of people on the street. Someone like Yokosuka_Mike is so darn prolific with pictures seemingly right in their faces. How do you overcome both your and the subjects' anxiety, or maybe better put, their objections? I try to take pictures in stealth mode, praying no one sees me taking their picture and making a scene.
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I find that if I know why I'm taking the picture, and I'm comfortable with why I'm taking the picture, the apprehension eases away.

Best,
-Tim
 
OK, OK. When I lived in Mulege, BCS, Mexico, I made one of my usual carne asada visits to the best carne asada stand in the universe. He opened at dusk. And he had a constant stream of patrons for simply freshly thin sliced beef cooked on the domed device used in Mexico and then chopped and allowed to slowly soak up juices in the rim around the dome. If you have been to Mexico you know what I am talking about. I was there this night when a group of women in a women's chorale were coming back from a rehearsal in Santa Rosalia on their way home to Loreto. It's about a two hour drive. And they knew, everybody knew, the taco stand and stopped for those delicious carne asadas. I had my trusty Sony DSC S70 and asked, "Con permiso?" You can see the result. I showed them the image on the back of the camera, tiny. But they were thrilled and kidded around a lot. That was in 2001 and while still primitive it was also magic. More so in Baja. Mulege is a great little town if you want to live in Mexico not some tourist enclave. Mulegé - Wikipedia

 
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And while I am on the subject of tacos, . . . The food in Mexico is insanely great. These folks know food and how to prepare it. Tacos are 100% democratic, a great equalizer and everyone eats them, they eat them together and enjoy the event as a meal and as a rite whether they are from the top or the bottom of the social ladder. Netflix has a great series on them which is worth watching for the romance, interest and the awful appetite excitement. Those shows will make you want to run out to a roach coach. Taco Chronicles.

This is all about these two photos from Patzcuaro. There is a day market and a night market in Patzcuaro. Two different deals in the same place. Look at these two pics and tell me if you do not think they are about the best tacos ever. They were, Al Pastor which came from the Middle East and was modified by the Mexicans from shawarma to taco. These guys can cook! Yes, the usual "Con Permiso?" You can see that they were fine with having their picture taken. Most people are, especially folks working in the public like these guys. The second photo is directly to the right of the first photo in the market.

 
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