Four Levels of Being (or Not Being) Invisible as a Street Photographer
We've had a few conversations here about taking pictures of strangers, and the anxiety around what happens if the strangers notice you. There’s a continuum of preferences about invisibility as a street photographer. I’ve watched a lot of videos on the topic of remaining invisible as a street photographer, and seen a lot of tips on how to pretend you’re didn’t just take someone’s picture. Also, I’ve seen a fair amount on allowing the person to be aware their picture was taken. Here are videos I’ve seen that address different four levels of being (un)noticed.
First, Hunter Scott reviews the basic techniques for looking like you’re not taking someone’s picture:
How Street Photographers Are INVISIBLE
Jeff Ascough is an introvert, and his wife Sarah is an extravert, and they have different approaches to remaining unnoticed:
How to stay invisible on the street
Brian Martin is at the second level: he, and several famous painters, think it’s cool if your subject is looking at you:
When Your Subject Looks Back At You—Everything Changes
A third level is when Jamie Windsor approaches strangers and asks if he can take their picture.
How to ASK STRANGERS for PHOTOS
At the fourth level, Pablo Strong actually interviews strangers on the street.
Asking Strangers "What Was Your Happiest Moment?" - Streets of Brighton - Episode 29
I have that problem photographing cows - they can kill with a look!🤣
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DeleteYea gotta watchout for those cows haha
DeleteMy tried and tested way of being invisible is not clicking 😄
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DeleteLooking forward to watching these videos. Thanks. I'm getting better at pretending I was focusing on something behind them.
ReplyDeleteI usualy aim somewhere else and the they turn away a little and then shoot again
DeleteIf I were being honest, I'd say I would rather be invisible all the time, but sometimes it doesn't work that way. I have tried each of these different levels. My least favorite is asking strangers for a photo...to me it is no longer candid nor in my opinion true street photography. The last level reminds me of Brandon Stanton, that's exactly how he got started with his projects, and definitely not my thing. Thanks for sharing these links always nice to see someone else's point of view.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the last two levels are not really street photography. And yes, Brandon Stanton has taken the street interviews beyond what Pablo Strong does. My only experience asking strangers for a photo was a 52Frames challenge a few years ago. It was terrifying, but went surprisingly well.
DeleteWatched a couple of clicks need to comeback and watch the whole you tube very interesting My story when I get caught they just stare back or if they say something to me I just say there is no right to privacy in public do you realize how many camera are out there and I walk away haha
ReplyDeleteSarah Ascough, mentioned above, will hang out in an area with strangers until people get so used to her that they don't notice her any more. So she sort of hides in plain sight. 😊
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