| Public perception of any person with a camera in | | | | photography. |
| their hand in and around public landmarks, was | | | | With those caveats out of the way, here's some |
| forever changed as a result of Sept 11, 2001. | | | | suggestions on equipment and technique. |
| It didn't help that the paparazzi contributed to | | | | EQUIPMENT |
| Princess Diana's death. | | | | A telephoto lens and a wide angle. |
| The hordes of paparazzi through their dogged | | | | A telephoto lens is a necessity, something in the |
| pursuit of their quarry, contributed to her untimely | | | | range of 80 mm to 200 mm works well. |
| demise and in the end, they lost a source of | | | | The lens even with the lens hood doesn't look |
| income. | | | | that imposing. |
| Still, if you're a people watcher like I am, those | | | | Longer focal lengths like a 300 mm or longer are |
| changes in attitudes shouldn't dissuade you from | | | | of course better, but you will surely stick out like |
| pursuing street or candid photography of people. | | | | a sore thumb. |
| Psychology 101 | | | | Another lens of necessity is a wide angle |
| 1. To ask or not to ask. | | | | something like a 15 mm or 16 mm if your camera |
| Most folks in public places don't mind being | | | | has a magnification factor and doesn't have a |
| photographed if you ask. | | | | full-size sensor. |
| But sometimes asking first, ruins the moment, | | | | When you're in a crowd and you can't possibly |
| especially if that something they're doing is spur | | | | move back, the wide angle lens is more versatile |
| of the moment. | | | | and easier to work, especially if it's a zoom. |
| Shooting your pictures first and asking for | | | | Wide angles also allow you to shoot from the hip |
| forgiveness afterwards is my advice if that's the | | | | without raising the camera to your eye for true |
| case. | | | | clandestine work. |
| But under no circumstances should you run off | | | | Digital SLRs work better than point and shoot |
| when discovered as if you've done something | | | | cameras. But if a point and shoot is all you have, |
| wrong. My years as a newspaper photographer | | | | shoot at your longest focal length and at a quality |
| has taught me no 2 situations are alike. | | | | to give you the largest file size. Don't use the |
| You probably don't want to read that, I know. But | | | | digital zoom. |
| it's true. | | | | You want to use your maximum optical zoom |
| Here's why. If you ask first and they say no, | | | | and also your quality or lowest compression giving |
| then you risk tipping them off. | | | | you the largest file size. |
| Then they'll either be hamming it intentionally for | | | | TECHNIQUE |
| you, or they'll stop and growl at you. | | | | Set your exposure for the lighting conditions |
| 2. Be a good sport | | | | beforehand. |
| Just remember if they're not happy with your | | | | This is all part of being ready. When shooting in |
| presence with the camera, be a good sport and | | | | the streets, you have little or no time to be |
| move on. | | | | fiddling with aperture and shutter speeds. |
| Most times if you remain calm, smile and explain | | | | Most people think you don't need to do this with |
| yourself, saying something like , "I took your | | | | today's cameras because of all the automatic |
| picture because that looked like such a special | | | | modes and autofocusing. |
| moment between your wife/girlfriend and you." | | | | I recommend you set the exposure manually |
| I would have asked before hand but I didn't want | | | | then all your camera needs to do is focus when |
| to interrupt your spontaneous display of affection. | | | | press the shutter speeding up the process. |
| Place yourself in their shoes for a moment and | | | | If you set the camera on automatic, the camera |
| see if you wouldn't want a great picture of you | | | | has one more operation, deciding what |
| and the love of your life smooching against a | | | | combination of shutter speed and aperture to set |
| wonderful setting. | | | | while trying to focus on your subject. And that |
| Take no for an answer unless you're a | | | | slows it down. |
| paparazzi-in-training. | | | | Since you already know you want to emphasize |
| Never be so insistent on photographing someone | | | | your person and what they're doing, you'll be using |
| to the point they consider you a stalker. | | | | your widest aperture to blur out the distractions |
| Even if the law says no one should expect | | | | in the background and foreground. |
| privacy in a public places, that doesn't give you | | | | Remember not be too pushy when taking |
| any special right to literally point a camera in a | | | | pictures of people in public. |
| person's face. | | | | The law says no one should expect privacy in a |
| 3. Be sure to smile and appear friendly. | | | | public places. But when a worried mother flags |
| When you're walking around with your camera | | | | down a cop because you're taking pictures of her |
| and that long lens, acting aloof, distant and | | | | and her child in the public park, it is more than |
| avoiding eye contact or sneaking around is bad | | | | likely you'll be asked to stop or leave. |
| body language. It suggests you're hiding what | | | | The First Amendment protects free speech, |
| you're doing, so that is a no-no. | | | | which means that no law enforcement official can |
| You are engaging in a fun activity which is not | | | | prevent the photography or filming on the street |
| illegal. | | | | or anywhere else that is considered public |
| Do I need to elaborate about your attire as well? | | | | property. |
| So if your wardrobe is just a trenchcoats, | | | | In practice we all know some cops can get |
| sunglasses and large hats because you're sensitive | | | | overzealous and heavy-handed just because they |
| to the sun, you might consider a different kind of | | | | are the ones with the guns and handcuffs. |