Tips on shooting Candid shots/portraits of strangers

[roribarori]

---

Please post some tips on taking photos of people you dont know... is there some sort of photographer's etiquette in doing this or... just get a powerful zoom lens and your set... what about for us with point and shoot cams wherein you have to get up close and personal with the subject?

Thanks a lot.

[rpeg]

Shoot from the hip.

[tolstoi]

pretend that you are adjusting the settings of your cam

[rpeg]

I think the best way to take a strangers photo is to ask him/her politely if you could take a photo of them. If they refuse, no problem, you lost nothing.

[robaldric]

use super telephoto lens.

[nod423]

Atubanga pangutan-a pag di musugot bayari kung di gihapon musugot hala uli sa inyo tanawa imong nawng sa samin kung ngano di sila musugot basi kita kas naswer. peace bro!

[roribarori]

hehehe... mao jud.
yup i think the only way is to ask permission... though i think that would be a problem for me... saon ta man kung shy ta na pagkatao point and shoot ra man ning akong cam so i guess a telephoto is out of the question... for the time being.

[pidz111]

hehehe... mao jud.
yup i think the only way is to ask permission... though i think that would be a problem for me... saon ta man kung shy ta na pagkatao point and shoot ra man ning akong cam so i guess a telephoto is out of the question... for the time being.

yea, i think the best one is to ask the persmission. but if you like it candid shot.. a telephoto would be really helpful with or without permission

[Khitty]

mas nindot man ang candid shots kung wala kabalo ang imong subject na gi kodakan sila.Â* mas natural tan-awon


Here are some tips for taking candid photos:


Take your camera everywhere you go! Keep alert for candid situations - they can be found everywhere.


Some examples of candid shots: A daydreaming store owner; an elderly man sitting beside you; commuters waiting for a train; two lovers on a park bench about to kiss; a child's delight when feeding ducks; elation of a football supporter when a goal is scored; a city tramp surrounded by clutter; a woman lost in thought staring at the beach.

It's rare to get a second chance with candid photography.Â* When you see an opportunity, grab it!

Set your camera to "ISO 400" so it uses a fast shutter speed. This will help you grab the shot even if you are moving.
The best candid photographers blend into the background, so don't be too obvious. Do what everyone else is doing so you fit in with the situation. Then when you see a good candid moment, bring your camera up to your eye.


You don't always need to take the shot with your camera at eye level. Support your camera on your waist when taking the photo. Some luck or experience is needed here to get the framing right.


Use your zoom lens to it's fullest extent so you can keep away from the action while taking your shot. A telephoto lens is essential if you're going to be a fair distance away.


Never take photos of people's backs. Nothing is more boring than a group of people with all backs turned to the camera. It just doesn't work.


Try converting the image to black and white to get that extra punch and emotion.


People 'doing things' make the best candid photos. Sports players, trades people, farmers and accountants are all excellent examples of subjects with things to do.


Try to capture the essence of the person's task. For example, you might capture a plumber concentrating on fixing a leaky pipe.

If you're in a public place, it's usually okay to photograph people. If they object, however, you need to stop. If you're not sure, it never hurts to ask permission beforehand. Your subject may want to pose, so explain what you saw them doing and ask them to continue as if you weren't there.


Experiment! Sometimes the artistic expression of a candid photo can be limited by you, the photographer. Try different angles, places and scenes. Look at candid photos created by others (they can be found in lots of magazines) for inspiration.

[pnoize]

Welcome to the Photography thread Khitty.

Great tips as written by David Peterson. Please give credit to websites and authors where the article was originally posted.

Happy Photography!