[RF Techniques] Stay far away, so close

[artspraken]

"Henri Cartier-Bresson claimed that one has to step back from reality and become invisible.

Robert Capa said you have to get so close to your subject that you feel fear."

---Bruce Gilden, on his website


Which school do u belong to?

Personally, I find that I oscillate between the 2 extremes.

When I am in the artsy mood and focus on composition, I tend to prefer 50mm and snipe from afar, paying attention to symmetry, shape and form of the entire picture. Thinking of a picture. Waiting for the fragments to fall into place. Sniping afar gives the advantage of prowling like a hunter, biding for time, awaiting the decisive moment, oui non oui non oui oui OUI! as HCB himself would say.

However, on other occasions, when not in artsy mood, I yearn to try doing the Bruce Gilden, up close and personal approach. I then go for 35mm or 21mm. Hyper-focusing, judging distance, picking a target, sizing up the subject, how will he/she react when I go up and shoot them in the face? wah this guy looks fierce better not. wah that girl looks like she will scream better not. whoa, this dude is the creampuff. the adrenaline, the anticipation, the moment, the boldness of it all, the adrenaline...the momentous entry and capture, the strength to maintain and hold position, not to flee, to stand and secure the courtesy of an elegant and safe exit by smiling, apologising and briskly departing.

You got any such thoughts when you shoot? Do you enjoy trying to fit yourself into either of the 2 paradigms?

(nb. posted in RF forums, coz I'd like to direct this question to street photographers using RF. I'm not interested in DSLRS who use telephoto zoom to snipe from miles away, that is a different school altogether.)

 

[raytoei]

artspraken,

interesing point and quote.

most interesting. i was in KPO 2 days ago, and i shot about 5 pictures similar to the below:

it was exciting because i was discreet, ie. i would pre-set the distance, then I would
shoot when "it was safe" and no one was looking. At 1/15sec and f2 with a 400iso film, it was certainly a challenge.

In retrospect, i realised that it was probably quite dangerous as kpo was a pickup joint and perhaps not everybody wanted theirs photos captured, and to throw in alcohol into the mix makes a volatile situation ....

raytoei

 

[Agetan]

RF is new to me but I generally like to get in close to the subject. Perhaps 70% Robert Capa and 30% Bresson. I like to instant connection to the subject and capturing mood even if you are extremely close.

With RF as the close focus generally about 1m, you can't get as close as DSLR... So I think it is a bliss to the subject matter than I am outside their comfort zone.

I like both but have tendency to be closer than far away.

Regards,

Hart

 

[bayusuputra]

RF is new to me but I generally like to get in close to the subject. Perhaps 70% Robert Capa and 30% Bresson. I like to instant connection to the subject and capturing mood even if you are extremely close.

With RF as the close focus generally about 1m, you can't get as close as DSLR... So I think it is a bliss to the subject matter than I am outside their comfort zone.

I like both but have tendency to be closer than far away.

Regards,

Hart

Haha! i thik i'm the opposite of this.. 3m away 70% of the time and up close the other 30%..
I believe i am still scared that people here would make a scene if i get too close.. thanks to Stomp.. haha! i had one shot too close and that guy start yelling, telling me to go ahead and put in STOMP, when all i wanted was his expression when he inhaled that cigarette.. :sweat:

i am quite conservative shooting here than back in my hometown.. not generalizing nor insulting, but some people here are quite camera "shy" and my problem is, i don't know which one of them is not "shy".. i just don't like to get into arguments, esp because i'm not local, i respect the law here much.. so i rather be that invisible shooter, blend in with the surrounding..

 

[Royale With Cheese]

I like to be close where the action is!!!

Current weapon of choice is 21mm

 

[Joohander]

Really like this thread, I recently watched the interview with Ralph Gibson by Leica and I must say, what he said really resonates with me, something like "the most important thing in photography is deciding what to photograph. Then you need to decide where to place the camera."

The camera is indeed but a tool for our craft, kind of like the needle for the leatherworker or the wok and spatula char kway teow hawker (I think closer to the charkwayteow man, he also needs to calculate "exposure" and "composition", hehe) so I've always wondered more as to what we decide to include and exclude in our photos. Further, I believe that style is evolving and changing according to trends and fashion whether imagined or real; personal preference at a certain point in time seems to dictate what we decide to shoot and how.

I've always enjoyed taking photos of old men, for the expressiveness in their faces and movements, much like I've seen many people here but I wonder, what do we achieve with that? Anyway, I saw Gibson's photo of the priest a long time ago and it is one of the reasons I bought a summicron dr. To answer the question, my current set-up is my camera with the macro goggles on, and I've been shooting the last 2 rolls almost exclusively within that 0.5m and 0.9m range. Not really "where the action is" but maybe more as an exploration of the little things we notice, and the stuff we don't.

Can't wait to develop and scan these

 

[Agetan]

Haha! i thik i'm the opposite of this.. 3m away 70% of the time and up close the other 30%..
I believe i am still scared that people here would make a scene if i get too close.. thanks to Stomp.. haha! i had one shot too close and that guy start yelling, telling me to go ahead and put in STOMP, when all i wanted was his expression when he inhaled that cigarette.. :sweat:

i am quite conservative shooting here than back in my hometown.. not generalizing nor insulting, but some people here are quite camera "shy" and my problem is, i don't know which one of them is not "shy".. i just don't like to get into arguments, esp because i'm not local, i respect the law here much.. so i rather be that invisible shooter, blend in with the surrounding..

One thing I learn is to build a rapport before moving in close. You should have yourself photograph and understand the feeling.

We can only take what is given.

Regards,

Hart

 

[Yoricko]

Physically up close, or out of reach? Spiritually absent, or present?

This does not necessarily refer to the physical distance from the photographer to the subject.

You can take a picture 10metres away with a long lens, but are you emotionally connected?

Think.

 

[Dslrman]

I prefer only to use 50mm prime and get as close as possible and take that once in a lifetime shot because I may not get it thereafter I missed it and will regret it later in my life.

I dislike pepes hanging their DSLRs snooping around with their telephotos and keep firing their shots like they are shooting video, only to choose 1 good shots thereafter. Waste of battery power and shutter-counts.

Just my only 2 f-stops...

 

[bayusuputra]

One thing I learn is to build a rapport before moving in close. You should have yourself photograph and understand the feeling.

We can only take what is given.

Regards,

Hart

haha! yeah, true.. but most of the time, it's quite hard to build a rapport with every single person on the street that i want to photograph.. i do chat with some on the street, but if the person happens to just pass me on the crossing, i just click away.. quite disturbing if i suddenly stop and say, "hi, miss, you've got a nice dress and heels.." haha!

i got what you mean, though!

i don't mind being photographed, but the thing is people don't really want to photograph me.. :think: :sweat:

 

[idi0tekue]

i prefer my subjects to be in the region of 4-5m away. This way, people appear at a reasonable size on my 40mm lens. 4-5m is also the distance where I can stay where I am and shoot at passer-bys (if I'm closer than that I will adopt the shoot and walk away method).