Click here to see a larger version of this photograph.
Here is a great way to engage in the fine art of street photography with minimal set up time and very little effort. As a matter of fact it’s the rare time when you can actually relax and do street photography simultaneously. You also have the benefit of nearly complete stealth ability using this technique.
Here’s the deal. Find yourself a bench to sit on that is directly across from another bench. (It doesn’t have to be a bench but I use one in this example. It can be anywhere you can comfortably sit and just people watch). When you are sitting on the bench rest your camera on either your lap or leg. Point the lens at the bench across from you and compose a photo so you capture the entire bench in the frame. Use whatever f-stop and shutter speed are appropriate to your taste. Shallow depth of field, deep depth of field. It’s your choice. You decide. Once this is done let the games begin.
Now you simple wait for a person or persons to sit on the bench across from you. With your camera already pre-focused and the photo pre-composed all you need to do is stay still and click the shutter. You can make minor compositional adjustments on the fly such as pointing the camera or tilting it up or down or side to side. It’s easy with just a bit of practice.
The way I caught the photo titled “Mango” above was to use the method described. I missed the framing ever so slightly in the initial shot so I chimped the LCD and very slightly tilted the camera higher. Hit the shutter again. Nailed!
My wife was with me so we just sat there and people watched and when the opportunity presented itself I grabbed a photo.
You have the luxury of being able to physically relax yet mentally concentrate on getting interesting expressions by simply waiting for the right moment to present itself. Given enough patience one could capture numerous quality candid street photos just by sitting and observing.
A lot of very interesting things can happen on a bench.
Below is another photo of the same bench on the same day. Both photos taken within minutes of each other.
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Those smiles and expressions are as real as real can get. Not posed. Not staged. Not rehearsed. Just a small slice of the human experience caught by the lens. Street photography perfection.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Insightful article and great tips…I have tried this but not on a bench, and not with as good results as these…when you say prefocus, you are in manual focus then? not using AF?…I like the fact that you can be “resting” yet still have opportunity to capture candid moments. Both images are the same bench but tell a different story…fantastic! Also, the more I think about it, most city designers do in fact place benches across from each other….which allows for many opportunities in just about any public setting…enlightening my man!
Keith Chastain’s last blog post..Body language speaks on the street…Part I
Initially I use autofocus and once focus is locked I just turn off the auto switch on the lens and I’m good to go. Putting a small piece of gaffers tape on the part of the lens that you use to manually focus is a good idea just in case you might accidentally touch that. Works like a charm.