I live in a relatively small town and no one seems to mind having their photo taken but I find you can read people a lot of the time by their body language when they see your camera. There are a lot of "challenged" people on the streets these days and you really have to pay attention and avoid obviously agitated people. Speaking of "your camera" a lot of people use a small stealthy camera (of the Leica M3 type) but some use a big TLR or other equally big medium format camera. Both seem to get good results. I have found that a lot of people are fascinated by the big old camera and like to have their picture taken with it after a friendly conversation.
I've watched some videos recently of folk out and about with TLRs and they look proper cool. I myself use an M3 and M6 (also a iiif, if it didn't need the shutter curtain replaced) so I do try to be as unobtrusive as possible. And I'm wee. Which helps.
I am still struggling with which smaller rangefinder to get. I have always been a SLR user since I started more years ago than I care to admit. I came back to film in 2020 and got an Olympus 35 SP as my first ever rangefinder to see if I liked it enough to spend more money. The Olympus is very reasonable and well made but has a fixed lens not designed to let you set depth of field range to allow for fast shooting. Still trying to figure out what I want to do.
If a Leica's out of the price range, I can recommend the Contax G2. My friend is getting tremendous results from it. I don't have personal experience of it, but it's a well loved model.
Price is not the issue (I have a Leica Q2 for my digital work) although the low value of the Canadian dollar hurts no matter what you are looking for. I looked at several videos on the G2 and am impressed. Thanks.
Great! Let me know if you go for the Contax. Really interested to see what you make of it. :) If price is no issue, get yourself an M3, no question. Quite possibly still the best camera ever made. Mine is boxed just now going out for a CLA next week. I can't wait to get it back in tip-top condition. My poor M6 will be demoted again.
Who do you send your M3 to for a CLA. Those I have looked at all seem to have an issue of some kind and I would want a good CLA from a good technician.
It’s a big topic and it’s not always easy to deal with confrontations. I have many in Paris .. it totally depends on the country, the situation and ... people!
6 years of street photography: 2 confrontations, 10 or so demands to delete a picture, 50+ interested persons resulting in some friendships and more. Empathy, respect and patience are key I guess.
You know, I think that’s so important! As the article was focused on confrontation, I didn’t write too much about the positive side and pleasant outcomes. Thanks for that comment. :)
That's a really important point. No-one these days, except the most exceptional, walks out onto the street knowing innately how to deal with confrontation. We learn as we go.
Love this one.
Cheers Dan. I've been devouring Desire Paths each time it comes out so far. It's excellent!
I live in a relatively small town and no one seems to mind having their photo taken but I find you can read people a lot of the time by their body language when they see your camera. There are a lot of "challenged" people on the streets these days and you really have to pay attention and avoid obviously agitated people. Speaking of "your camera" a lot of people use a small stealthy camera (of the Leica M3 type) but some use a big TLR or other equally big medium format camera. Both seem to get good results. I have found that a lot of people are fascinated by the big old camera and like to have their picture taken with it after a friendly conversation.
I've watched some videos recently of folk out and about with TLRs and they look proper cool. I myself use an M3 and M6 (also a iiif, if it didn't need the shutter curtain replaced) so I do try to be as unobtrusive as possible. And I'm wee. Which helps.
I am still struggling with which smaller rangefinder to get. I have always been a SLR user since I started more years ago than I care to admit. I came back to film in 2020 and got an Olympus 35 SP as my first ever rangefinder to see if I liked it enough to spend more money. The Olympus is very reasonable and well made but has a fixed lens not designed to let you set depth of field range to allow for fast shooting. Still trying to figure out what I want to do.
If a Leica's out of the price range, I can recommend the Contax G2. My friend is getting tremendous results from it. I don't have personal experience of it, but it's a well loved model.
Price is not the issue (I have a Leica Q2 for my digital work) although the low value of the Canadian dollar hurts no matter what you are looking for. I looked at several videos on the G2 and am impressed. Thanks.
Great! Let me know if you go for the Contax. Really interested to see what you make of it. :) If price is no issue, get yourself an M3, no question. Quite possibly still the best camera ever made. Mine is boxed just now going out for a CLA next week. I can't wait to get it back in tip-top condition. My poor M6 will be demoted again.
Who do you send your M3 to for a CLA. Those I have looked at all seem to have an issue of some kind and I would want a good CLA from a good technician.
It’s a big topic and it’s not always easy to deal with confrontations. I have many in Paris .. it totally depends on the country, the situation and ... people!
6 years of street photography: 2 confrontations, 10 or so demands to delete a picture, 50+ interested persons resulting in some friendships and more. Empathy, respect and patience are key I guess.
You know, I think that’s so important! As the article was focused on confrontation, I didn’t write too much about the positive side and pleasant outcomes. Thanks for that comment. :)
I also elaborated on shooting people: https://gent.substack.com/p/6-graslei-and-shooting-people My trick is (mostly) being very visible and close to my subject, I use a10mm so being close is a must
That's a really important point. No-one these days, except the most exceptional, walks out onto the street knowing innately how to deal with confrontation. We learn as we go.