Toronto Photography Meetup Group

take a lot of candid shots, and I thought I'd start a thread for them. The rules are, they have to be true candids (they're not just pretending to not look, but truly don't know you were shooting), and ideally people that you don't know.

I know it's hard to take a stranger's photo, but I started out having never taken a portrait before too.

Bonus points for shots from the front rather than the back of the head , and also if they're doing something cool.

I'll start it off with some recent shots:

105mm f1.8 AIS @1.8

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/maelswarm/1944213726/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2012/1944213726_f87ba36151_b.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="whisper/kiss love/sounds"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/maelswarm/1944707782/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2218/1944707782_51070ca014_b.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="embrace"></a>

Looking forward to seeing everyone else's candids!

great job.. how did you pull this off?

Taylor

I like all kind of candid shots. Yours is cool. Spontaneity is the key.

Taken right in front of Moulin Rouge (background) in May this year



It was a very busy intersection and they did that 5 minutes. Well they are French, not Torontonians

Daniel

In my entire catalogue this picture is my favourite and means the most to me. I guess it's a candid because nobody had any idea I was taking it.

how do you overcome the awkwardness of pointing your camera at random people? don't you feel kinda.. . creeperish?

Chris Gardner who's life story was portrayed in the movie The Pursuit of Happiness. October 19th, T1 @ Pearson both of us headed to Philly and ironically the same hotel where I bumped into him two more times. A really really friendly person.

Taken on a boat ride down the Danube river. A bored bride on her wedding day...

ok, not a front shot, but one of my favourite candid moments from Germany last year.



do pets count as well?



And another moment, as these folks performed an aztec ceremony in the marketplace of Mexico City

If we are giving out points then there should be some for proximity. Shooting ducks in a pond with a telephoto is no sport.

This baby kept starring at me when I was eating. The mother gave me permission just in case you worry about that sort of thing.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/metrix_feet/175383901/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/76/175383901_2011ac4900_o.jpg" width="1000" height="800" alt="My Dinner Companion at Salad King"></a>

This was from the streetcar Using a streetcar is very good for hit and run tactics.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/metrix_feet/143081761/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/50/143081761_4a6b359c83_o.jpg" width="682" height="1024" alt="Riding the red rocket on Queen St. West to the TPMG social"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/metrix_feet/523384528/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/212/523384528_64214a1926_o.jpg" width="1024" height="819" alt="Everyday Drama"></a>

Great shots everyone! I think candids are the best style for capturing the emotion and character of the subject.

As for feeling awkward about it, well you just have to keep shooting and you'll get over it! Start by shooting from far away with a longer telephoto, then shooting from the back, and then from the front. If they look at you, don't feel awkward about it and wave at them or something! It's legal and okay for you to take photos of people in public places. Everyone should know the photographer's rights (http://www.krages.com/phoright.htm)

Here is one of mine. Trying out Hotwires 70-200mm f2.8 G for the first time on my A700. Needless to say I have my own now.



Also, here is one from way before after first obtaining my A100 while at A.Y. Jackson Lookout at Onaping River near Sudbury.

Thanks Andrew, I was just waiting on the platform and standing quite close to this couple. I saw them doing that and I took the shot as fast as I could (that's why the focus is a bit off, it was all manual with a 105mm f1.8 AIS). I was caught in the end though, when she looked at me!

Daniel: I love that shot! It's very contextual but the subjects are well isolated. The accidental theme with Moulin Rouge makes it more interesting.

I love candids and I don't think a signed letter of release is necessary everytime you do candids.

I did a lot of candid snapshots (some people in here blasted me for using the word headshot) with my 300mm prime lens.

This is from St Patrick parade Toronto.












Daniel

The Colonel lives! He's retired in Cannes!



Street performers waiting their turn in Barcelona



From the streets of Bangkok



From a cable car in Barcelona



Having fun under the boardwalk in Barcelona

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Good use of motion blur! How do you feel about shooting homeless people? Would you give them some money after taking their photo? And has any of them ever accosted you for taking their photo?

Here are a few of mine:

Calligrapher taken in Seoul
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sue70/1210695790/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1035/1210695790_9531a8fe51.jpg" width="351" height="500" alt="Calligrapher"></a>

Casual Police Gear taken in Seoul
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sue70/1210698218/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1255/1210698218_22376fbc00.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Casual Police Gear"></a>

Boring Conversation taken in Yorkville
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sue70/1353059593/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1025/1353059593_c27f54e713.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Boring Conversation"></a>

Punk Chick taken in Yorkville
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sue70/1353946992/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1089/1353946992_19bc2a6831_o.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="Punk Chick"></a>

Child with mother on streets of Peru


Peruvian folks waiting to be picked up for work.

One of my favourites, (except for the crooked horizon). San Francisco Bay with Alcatraz in the background.

I have a hard time overcoming my discomfort taking candids. Probably because I do not like having my own picture taken, so I empathize they would feel the same.

But one of very few attempts

All from the Taste of Little Italy this year. Canon EF 85/1.8

these two shots are superb.
Peter

Kensington:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tedbattye/125533041/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/47/125533041_1280f9fbd2.jpg" width="336" height="500" alt="Mary"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tedbattye/508560602/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/200/508560602_d965368f87.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="Amblin"></a>

Nuit Blanche:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tedbattye/1465182308/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1252/1465182308_ed7c8f8737.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="wonder"></a>

Harry Rosen salesmen taking a smoke break - Yorkville.

This is on the streetcar home from Harbourfront on Canada Day. It is the only photo I took the entire day!

Thanks Peter!

Robbanz: I would like to see how it would've looked with a fisheye!

Why can't I edit my original post? The perspective was all messed up so here's the second photo again:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/maelswarm/1944707782/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2218/1944707782_51070ca014_b.jpg" alt="embrace"></a>