Street shooting at DVinfo.net

Vincent Oliver · September 13th, 2011, 12:21 AM

My background is as a stills photographer, I started shooting video seven years ago with a Canon mini DV, then XL1, XHa1 and now Sony EX3 & XF305. I have been working on a HDSLR DVD for the last couple of months and would like to share some thoughts.

As stated I started out as a stills photographer, I shot many journalist style candid pictures of people in the street. Now I am applying this technique using an HDSLR camera. Maybe The problem I have with shooting video is that I am forced to hold my camera on my subject for 10, 20, 30 or more seconds. For stills I could do a quick grab shot or two and move on to my next subject. I feel very concious about using a HDSLR for street video, almost like I am intruding, peeping Tom etc. I feel I am not being honest with my subject, at least with a video camera people know what you are doing. I filmed some children playing in a fountain, got some nice footage, but all the time I was waiting for an angry parent to confront me, I felt like I shouldn't be doing this.

Am I alone in my worries or does anyone have the same experience.

Charles Newcomb · September 13th, 2011, 04:29 PM

If shooting a particular scene/event makes you uncomfortable, you shouldn't shoot it.

Whenever possible, I ask people if they mind if I shoot photo/video of them. In a park or other public setting, I would certainly seek out parental approval. I understand completely how a parent would feel about someone taking pictures of their child without having been asked, first. In fact, if I saw someone doing it, that person would be going to the hospital to get the camera removed from his...

Vincent Oliver · September 13th, 2011, 11:51 PM

In principal I totally agree with you. However, once you ask people if you can photograph or video them, then you have lost the "decisive moment" the shot can become posed and awkward.

I guess capturing people on film or digital media has moved on since Cartier Bresson's day.

Jerry Mennenga · September 23rd, 2011, 03:38 PM

Vinent and Charles,

I have shot for papers for over 25 years as a still shooter and then video until recently when I was laid off. I always shoot candids without asking first, then afterwards, when I feel I have the necessary images, I go to the subjects, identify myself, and ask for I.D.'s And everything is different with different circumstances. If you are shooting spot news, getting I.D.'s of people is not always possible, but if it is in pubic view, perfectly acceptable to use for the paper's print product or online. If it is a feature, that is different. I would shoot people watching high school football along with shooting game action, or people attending functions. If I interviewed or talked with those people, I would I.D. them in the footage. If not, no. If you look at Network TV usage of footage, cable or broadcast, you don't see credits listing the names of everyone who appeared in the footage during the broadcast appearing at the end of the 2 minute piece.

Vincent, if you feel creepy about what you are doing, maybe the approach for whatever topic you are covering should change. I always take exceptions to people who want to bust my chops because I am shooting or filming people in pubic. They are in public. If for instance I shot kids who are school crossing guards for say weather art on a cold day, snowy day bundled up so they looked like the Michelin tire guy and barely seeing out of their scarf, I would tell them I worked for the local paper and show them my press identification and tell them to tell their parents I had photographed them. If they have a lemonade stand on a street corner, I always ask whose house is closest so I can go chat with the parents and tell them I had photographed them.

If you are open and honest with people, you generally don't have problems. Most know you are working and just doing your job. I never run away from a scene or hurry, act suspicious, because I am not there working surreptiously, just documenting life in my community.

Jerry Mennenga
Iowa

Vincent Oliver · September 24th, 2011, 12:35 AM

Good reply Jerry, I take on board what you are saying. When I am out and about I shoot (used to shoot) many scenario's, to go up to every one and explain what I am doing would involve far too much time and many of the shots do not get used anyway. Here in the UK our news reports now pixelate children's faces or just show feet in the playground. Times have changed, the innocence of shooting in the street has been lost due to security matters, personal privacy and people with other motives for photographing children etc. Yet, here in the UK we are captured on almost every street, on the bus, train by CCTV cameras, the statistics are that we are captured up to 300 times on every visit to a high street. No one asked me if I mind.

You are right, it is time to change shooting techniques. I am now going to shoot flowers and trees - until I have to get a property release for filming someone's land. (not joking on this last remark as I have been asked for that too).

All the best

Les Wilson · September 24th, 2011, 05:04 AM

Interesting issues here. It strikes me that snapping a photo is like glancing and noticing someone ... nobody minds that. But shooting video is like staring ... which pretty much anybody would mind. I think it's good to be sensitive to that feeling.

A little OT but related: After filming in Haiti, Kenya and Zambia, I had to be honest. How would I feel if some tourists drove by my house and took pictures or video of me mowing my lawn, walking down the sidewalk, my family playing outside or whatever. Many people in these 3rd world countries have wised up to rich 1st worlders coming there and making money from their suffering with the photos and videos captured there. I can't blame them.

Press have a little easier time of it with a little more legitimacy but the rest of us, for anyone cares, are just videographers and photographers operating in a public place.

September 13th, 2011, 12:21 AM	#1
Vincent Oliver Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chislehurst, London Posts: 1,724	Street shooting My background is as a stills photographer, I started shooting video seven years ago with a Canon mini DV, then XL1, XHa1 and now Sony EX3 & XF305. I have been working on a HDSLR DVD for the last couple of months and would like to share some thoughts. As stated I started out as a stills photographer, I shot many journalist style candid pictures of people in the street. Now I am applying this technique using an HDSLR camera. Maybe The problem I have with shooting video is that I am forced to hold my camera on my subject for 10, 20, 30 or more seconds. For stills I could do a quick grab shot or two and move on to my next subject. I feel very concious about using a HDSLR for street video, almost like I am intruding, peeping Tom etc. I feel I am not being honest with my subject, at least with a video camera people know what you are doing. I filmed some children playing in a fountain, got some nice footage, but all the time I was waiting for an angry parent to confront me, I felt like I shouldn't be doing this. Am I alone in my worries or does anyone have the same experience. __________________ Eyes are a deaf man’s ears. Ears are a blind man’s eyes

September 13th, 2011, 04:29 PM	#2
Charles Newcomb Major Player Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Salida, Colorado Posts: 561	Re: Street shooting If shooting a particular scene/event makes you uncomfortable, you shouldn't shoot it. Whenever possible, I ask people if they mind if I shoot photo/video of them. In a park or other public setting, I would certainly seek out parental approval. I understand completely how a parent would feel about someone taking pictures of their child without having been asked, first. In fact, if I saw someone doing it, that person would be going to the hospital to get the camera removed from his...

September 13th, 2011, 11:51 PM	#3
Vincent Oliver Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chislehurst, London Posts: 1,724	Re: Street shooting In principal I totally agree with you. However, once you ask people if you can photograph or video them, then you have lost the "decisive moment" the shot can become posed and awkward. I guess capturing people on film or digital media has moved on since Cartier Bresson's day. __________________ Eyes are a deaf man’s ears. Ears are a blind man’s eyes

September 23rd, 2011, 03:38 PM	#4
Jerry Mennenga Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sioux City, Iowa Posts: 98	Re: Street shooting Vinent and Charles, I have shot for papers for over 25 years as a still shooter and then video until recently when I was laid off. I always shoot candids without asking first, then afterwards, when I feel I have the necessary images, I go to the subjects, identify myself, and ask for I.D.'s And everything is different with different circumstances. If you are shooting spot news, getting I.D.'s of people is not always possible, but if it is in pubic view, perfectly acceptable to use for the paper's print product or online. If it is a feature, that is different. I would shoot people watching high school football along with shooting game action, or people attending functions. If I interviewed or talked with those people, I would I.D. them in the footage. If not, no. If you look at Network TV usage of footage, cable or broadcast, you don't see credits listing the names of everyone who appeared in the footage during the broadcast appearing at the end of the 2 minute piece. Vincent, if you feel creepy about what you are doing, maybe the approach for whatever topic you are covering should change. I always take exceptions to people who want to bust my chops because I am shooting or filming people in pubic. They are in public. If for instance I shot kids who are school crossing guards for say weather art on a cold day, snowy day bundled up so they looked like the Michelin tire guy and barely seeing out of their scarf, I would tell them I worked for the local paper and show them my press identification and tell them to tell their parents I had photographed them. If they have a lemonade stand on a street corner, I always ask whose house is closest so I can go chat with the parents and tell them I had photographed them. If you are open and honest with people, you generally don't have problems. Most know you are working and just doing your job. I never run away from a scene or hurry, act suspicious, because I am not there working surreptiously, just documenting life in my community. Jerry Mennenga Iowa

September 24th, 2011, 12:35 AM	#5
Vincent Oliver Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chislehurst, London Posts: 1,724	Re: Street shooting Good reply Jerry, I take on board what you are saying. When I am out and about I shoot (used to shoot) many scenario's, to go up to every one and explain what I am doing would involve far too much time and many of the shots do not get used anyway. Here in the UK our news reports now pixelate children's faces or just show feet in the playground. Times have changed, the innocence of shooting in the street has been lost due to security matters, personal privacy and people with other motives for photographing children etc. Yet, here in the UK we are captured on almost every street, on the bus, train by CCTV cameras, the statistics are that we are captured up to 300 times on every visit to a high street. No one asked me if I mind. You are right, it is time to change shooting techniques. I am now going to shoot flowers and trees - until I have to get a property release for filming someone's land. (not joking on this last remark as I have been asked for that too). All the best __________________ Eyes are a deaf man’s ears. Ears are a blind man’s eyes

September 24th, 2011, 05:04 AM	#6
Les Wilson Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 3,014	Re: Street shooting Interesting issues here. It strikes me that snapping a photo is like glancing and noticing someone ... nobody minds that. But shooting video is like staring ... which pretty much anybody would mind. I think it's good to be sensitive to that feeling. A little OT but related: After filming in Haiti, Kenya and Zambia, I had to be honest. How would I feel if some tourists drove by my house and took pictures or video of me mowing my lawn, walking down the sidewalk, my family playing outside or whatever. Many people in these 3rd world countries have wised up to rich 1st worlders coming there and making money from their suffering with the photos and videos captured there. I can't blame them. Press have a little easier time of it with a little more legitimacy but the rest of us, for anyone cares, are just videographers and photographers operating in a public place.