|
Apogee Photo - Home
|
|
|
Apogee Photo - Home
|
|
Photo
Wanderlust - Part V:
"Hunting People" with My
Camera
by Ron
Veto
|
© Ron Veto All rights reserved.
Traveling through a city hunting for photos opens doors into
the local culture and always proves to be a new learning
experience. All of these experiences add to my personal
education and understanding, leading to a better trip. But
it all starts and ends with a smile from you.
“Hunting people” is my favorite pastime, one on one and eye to eye. Anyone can do it with any type of camera.
People can be friendly, gracious and hospitable, but they can also be unpredictable, elusive and sometimes dangerous. Like snowflakes, no two are the same.
To successfully enter and connect into the lives of strangers we meet requires a cross section set of skills. The encounters may be brief and intense or perhaps pleasantly linger on, but either way, the intimate rewards are never ending. Group or family portraits are generally welcomed. Everyone likes to have a family photo. After, you may have the opportunity to break away and photograph any interesting characters within the group. You have established a small bond. Be sure to give them your contact card or get their address and please remember to send them a printed photo. I usually find myself walking away from these people encounters with a big smile, a fun memory or a bittersweet tear in my eye. How great is that?
The goal is not
to change your subjects,
If you have the people skills required to connect with others, “people hunting” with your camera is very gratifying.
My favorite portrait people lens would be my Nikon 105mm 1.8. It’s tack sharp and crisply separates the subject from the background. I generally shoot around the f5.6 range for optimum lens sharpness—that “sweet spot”.
Many people within various cultures in the world feel honored to have their photos taken. Perhaps they want some sort of evidence or record that they existed in life. When people show trust and pose for you, the soul comes from their eyes straight into your lens. It is then that I get my most insightful images.
I feel honored for
the opportunity I have been allowed. To me, it translates
as a true compliment. But remember always that there are others who are extremely sensitive about their image being captured by a camera. Afraid that my Nikon is a tool to steal their souls, they hide and dodge my advances. In the desert of Pakistan I once had a sandal thrown at me from a village elder. The man’s aggressive gesture was displaying his highest form of disrespect. Respecting his concern, I quickly waved goodbye and moved on.
Note: There are
instances where you may have to quickly move on. Hanging around burns
the element of surprise and can even make you a target of
theft or unwanted notice. The sun keeps moving and so
should you.
Photo Tips for Capturing People Photos
1. Daylight photography is all about the sunlight and how to add or subtract it from your vision. A little custom light can really make a difference in your close-ups. I always carry a black T-shirt and a white/salmon colored sari cloth for two reasons. In close, the black shirt adds negative light which helps saturate the image. It also lessons the chance of an ugly white reflection in the eyes. When I’m shooting wide angles up close the salmon colored sari cloth adds warm fill and an interesting catch light to the eyes.
Position yourself where the sun is your friend. Finding nice backlight or a low, hard, edge light adds dramatic effects.
2. Sunrise & Sunsets: The
sunrise offers the shooter an opportunity to photograph the
waking of a city. Witnessing the day to day activities
unfold with soft beautiful light. The quiet, clear morning
without the city pollutants adds a cooler hue to a peaceful
beginning of a new day. And at
the days end the sun is low, the shadows are long and the
colors rich and vibrant. Also prime shooting time.
There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer -Ansel Adams
4. Shadows & Catch Lights: If possible, try to catch the shadowed side of the face with a lighter background area and the lighter side of the face with a darker background area. Using the light/dark/light/dark technique is very subtle but it separates and highlights the main subject from a dark background or vise versa. It really helps to create a balanced and pleasing photograph.
Concentrate on the catch lights in the eyes reflection. Focus on the eye closest to you. The sparkle of the eyes makes the image come alive.
|
||||||||||
|
5. Weather: Interesting images can also materialize during adverse weather conditions, so don’t let that stop you. Even if only for a short period, I always try to shoot in the rain. I carry two small disposable plastic rain coats in my backpack, along with a small space blanket to protect my camera. I cut the space blanket to make it narrow and wrap it around my pack straps on my shoulder. And immediately after a rain stops the air is magical. It doesn’t last long, but the sunlight bouncing off the moisture particles in the air is nothing short of magic, so be prepared to capture some great shots.
6. The "Made Shot" versus the “Found Shot": “Making a shot" is all about staging a scene or laying out a shot like you envision it. Capturing portraits while traveling can also fit into this category, but my favorite way of capturing shots are by "finding" them. They can demand a bit more energy and patience and the gift of a quick creative eye, but the discovery process is the most fun. When everyone is looking left, try looking right--think outside the box to “find” the hidden treasures within a scene. Travel photography is all about putting yourself in the right place, at the right time, and then quickly dissecting all the information.
Early mornings at the floating market is a unforgettable location to people watch. Stay low and position your camera with the background in mind. Then wait for the action to come to you. Let the subject do the work. Dal Lake, Kashmir
7. Choose Your Subjects Wisely: There are people everywhere, so wonderful photo opportunities are in abundance. Capture them at their best—during their daily routines, at work, at play, in unusual settings...
I choose to never photograph the ills and misery of those less fortunate—to not have a visual reminder of their misfortune and hardship. I personally find no reward in following a man with no arms or a blind street vendor. It’s just not me--it’s a “Karmic thing”.
Tip: Poverty and hunger forces people to present themselves in unusual ways in order to find a means of supporting themselves and their families, so giving money to begging children anywhere is asking for trouble. This practice attracts a crowd quickly and the situation can escalate and become uncomfortable. To be followed and surrounded by a dozen children picking thru your clothes and begging for money is unsettling. It may not be the photo opportunity you thought it would be. If you want to help with donations, seeking out reputable charity institutions in Asia isn’t difficult.
© Ron Veto All rights reserved.
|
||||||||||
|
A pot of gold is waiting to reward the photographer who takes the time and optimistic energy to engage eye to eye with humans. Don’t be shy. Whether shooting in a foreign country or in your own back yard, photographing people can be exciting and challenging. Try to read people and have fun. Put yourself out there. Everyday smiles and respect is the key to capturing that special shot. Keep your eyes open and remember that it’s fun to be nice.
|
||||||||||
|
Read the
Introduction...
Photo Wanderlust - Part VI: "Photo Shooting Strategy"
Photo Wanderlust - Part VII: "Shooting Silhouettes"
Photo Wanderlust - Part VIII: "Serendipity"
|
||||||||||
|
~~~~~
I feel naked without a loaded camera in my hands. I have been handed the gift of a naturally quick eye for composition, a sense of adventure and having a healthy dose of obsession & compulsion which helps put objects in natural space for me.
I was given my first "Brownie" 127 camera when I was 8 years old--I found my life. It's all about the art and passion to create.
The big show of “on set” film making in Hollywood has been my career playground and life long instructor in the art of photography—shooting underwater, aerial photography and camera movement, rigging and placement, Camera/Steadicam Operator (recent honor of being inducted into the Society of Camera Operators). I learned from the masters how to control & mold artificial light, while at the same time, truly appreciating the beauty and wonder of natural light and shadows. All has been a labor of love and “good fortune has smiled upon me”.
I've been serious into travel photography since age 28, after I bought my first Nikon FM (which I still use along with my Nikon D700) while on location in Hong Kong doing a Chuck Norris karate film. I'll never forget the excitement for me--the feel of my own Nikon.
My career has been a split between the moving "made" shot in film and the wanderlust discovery of the still "found" shot. To balance and respect both techniques has been my passion. The look of a beautiful "still" image is lasting and can be introspective. To capture and look into the soul is magical. Torn between two lovers...
To learn more about Ron's esteemed career
and to see
To find other articles by subject, just type the subject in the Search Box.
Apogee Photo and Apogee Photo Magazine are trademarks of Apogee Photo, Inc. © 1995-2012 Apogee Photo, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
|
