Sat Feb 09 03:16:49 UTC 2008

Photographing Strangers - Close up

People as photographic subjects have always been a fascination of mine. It took me quite a while though, before I actually developed the skills and confidence to approach strangers to make the kinds of photos I most wanted - up-close and personal. With the arrival of digital photography, all of this has become somewhat easier. Why? Because the world-over, people enjoy seeing their picture and this joy can now be realized on-the-spot. Taking someone's photo and offering to show it to them on the back of your digital camera is an excellent "ice-breaker" and entree for making even and interesting shots. Below are three examples made in the city of Cologne, Germany, where I was recently assigned by the New York Times newspaper to "go into the Turkish neighborhoods and capture people living and working". The first of these shots, made in a religion class held at the Turkish Community Center, was a whole lot of fun to do. I simply went around the room before the start of class and made portraits of these young students. From a few feet ( a meter or so) away, I'd start and if I saw a positive response, I moved a bit closer for the next picture. Immediately after that, I showed what I'd captured to my subject and, of course, everyone gathered around to see and giggle. This started the ball rolling! I followed nearly the same "formula" with the next photo. In this case, I was walking along the main shopping street in the Turkish quarter when I spotted this interesting looking hairdresser. The light inside the shop looked pretty good, so I just went for it! When I asked if the two minded having their pictures taken, the answer was to my favor and I shot from a variety of angles and distances. This particular photograph, I found most to my liking. The last image in this collection was a real bonus! I walked past a photo studio and spotted this extended Turkish family all neatly arranged for a portrait. I politely walked inside, greeted photographer and family and asked with a smile if it was OK to take a few shots of this beautiful family. The shop owner was gracious and the family flattered. I put a 24mm lens on my camera and crouched down in front of the assemblage, making three or four exposures in total. Then, I walked over and showed what I'd done to all involved. It was met with smiles and laughter. I felt good and they felt good! There's much social interaction that goes into making people photos, especially those of strangers. And it is something - along with the camera skills involved - that can be learned and practiced to effectiveness. All of this is covered in my "People Pictures with Impact and Emotion" course, where we cover this exciting topic from A to Z. Take a look!