Street Challenge

[PolaroidSky]

That's really great Drew, great attitude and great shots!... good for you!

In the spirit of posed street portraits, here's one I made with a gentleman called Walter I got chatting with in Rome really early one morning outside a cafe about his travels to Italy and his life there.

I actually, mid conversation asked him to walk about half a block to where the light and background was just right, I really think if you get into a decent conversation with anyone, let them know how and why you're doing it, most people are great sports about it and want to help you get a shot worth keeping

Walter

Roma 2010

18 - 70mm f3.5

Natural light

Crossed the Sahara by foot to find work in Rome.

UNODC/UNICRI Report :

"Travel by road often involves traveling many days in the Sahara Desert in tightly packed jeeps with up to twenty or more victims (male and female) to safe houses along the way.

The journey could also be undertaken on foot in a long tortuous trek under the scorching sun broken spatially with the help of camel runners at a highly exorbitant fee.

The journey often lasts anything from 2 months to 1 year as traffickers had to stop along the way to prepare fake travel documents or determine safe periods to continue the journey.

The victims then crossed from Morocco or Algeria by sea in small boats carrying up to carrying up to 20 or more persons. Crossings are done at night to avoid Spanish maritime patrol boats.

At Spain an agent would meet and take them to Italy by air or train."

[Cathus]

well done, this is the one area I really struggle with, approaching people.

I saw a vid with a guy who stood in the street with a sheet of white paper, taped it to a shop wall & stopped random people to pose for shots against the white paper background, got some fantastic portrait shots. I wish I had the courage to do that.

[PolaroidSky]

Thanks!

That video sounds great!... it's a good idea... like to see that if you can find the link

[amk1977]

Originally Posted by Cathus

well done, this is the one area I really struggle with, approaching people.

I saw a vid with a guy who stood in the street with a sheet of white paper, taped it to a shop wall & stopped random people to pose for shots against the white paper background, got some fantastic portrait shots. I wish I had the courage to do that.

Maybe have a shot of the old Dutch Courage, Cathus. Just don't take too much, otherwise the shots might come out on the wonk lol.

[OldBoy]

Cracking shots posted all.

You would be surprised how many people stop me to ask if I would take their photos.

The only snag with this is you don't get the natural shots.

[PolaroidSky]

Totally agree with you OldBoy!

I do think these type of shots could be considered a totally different genre from regular street photography, at least that's how I see it.

It's more relative to portraits as you have the interaction with the subject... street, traditionally I think retains an invisible wall between the shooter and the subject/s to preserve the moment as witnessed rather than it's having being engineered by interaction or communication between subject and photographer

[Cathus]

Originally Posted by PolaroidSky

That video sounds great!... it's a good idea... like to see that if you can find the link

found it, Clay Enos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQHJcmpoAvM

[Drew Smith]

Hey Cathus

Thank you very much for posting this. Great character. Irresistable.

[PolaroidSky]

Ahhh great! Thank you