Guerilla Photography what is it?

InsuredDisaster

I came across the term and did did a google search but I haven't quite got a handle on it.

I've seen examples of people shooting in malls and concerts while dodging security, while others use the term when taking photos of stranger unaware. Is it both? Is it any time you are being sneaky and perhaps trying to hide the camera? (as opposed to just snapping a picture or someone who is blind or otherwise too engrossed in what they are doing to notice you?)

Is it guerilla photography to use some insanely long lens to snap candids from a mile away or do you have to be much closer?


I'm sure that everyone's taken a sneaky shot at some point. Personally, I go for my ultra wide with my camera hanging around my neck. The vertical grip helps as my fingers can be nowhere near the "obvious" shutter button. I've tried narrower lenses but usually I'm lucky if I have an ear or something that belonged to the subject in the frame.

Of course, the increased size and "pro-ness" of the D300 that comes from the V grip rather negates the advantages of the hidden shutter button!

darryl

Hrm, what about sneaking into abandoned buildings to take amazing photographs:

http://www.opacity.us/
http://katwest.com/

But I ended up in this thread because I was searching about concert photography. I wanted to gather opinions about:

[post=877296]"Camera Policies at Music Festivals"[/post]

Mnemosyne

From the description, sounds like papparazzi

davidweaver

Huh. I personally call it ambush photgraphy. I do a lot of this for a client. It isn't paparazzi photography. I will take pictures of an event and will frequently shoot a frame when they (subjects) are not aware of me. Sometime they want to pose and I will continue to shoot. It's not a blam-blam-blam continous shooting method, I shoot mostly in Single mode. Rather, I'm looking for expressions that you would not find in a posed shot.

geez...tons of examples here:
http://www.austin360.com/alist/content/alist/index.html

Not every shot is that style but you will see what I do.

Keep in mind I have permission to be in the venues I shot. Given the portability of small image creating devices (aka cell phone cams) you can also do this. Shooting pro gear helps keep the shutter delay to a minimum but you can do it with almost any camera.

PM me or email me if want some more assistance here. (da v id at W eav Er dot ne t)

Cheers,
David

Caveat: When I shoot a performer I will take a lot of continuous shots (w/o flash)and then sort out the best ones later.

Mnemosyne

davidweaver wrote:

Huh. I personally call it ambush photgraphy. I do a lot of this for a client. It isn't paparazzi photography. I will take pictures of an event and will frequently shoot a frame when they (subjects) are not aware of me. Sometime they want to pose and I will continue to shoot. It's not a blam-blam-blam continous shooting method, I shoot mostly in Single mode. Rather, I'm looking for expressions that you would not find in a posed shot.

The problem though is that he said taking the pictures with people unaware, or from far away as if no one knew he was doing it.

You just mentioned a way to get candids when you had permission.

When I first started I did the whole "hold the button down" method, since then I learned more and I pick my shots more than hoping one out of 20 will look good. But that's just me.

Richard

InsuredDisaster wrote:

Is it guerilla photography to use some insanely long lens to snap candids from a mile away or do you have to be much closer?

I have tried several approaches when doing street photography. You can use a 50mm or wider lens and shoot from the chest or side without looking through the viewfinder. I get a very low keeper percentage this way but once in a while, you get a shot that would have been impossible otherwise. More often, I use a 70-200 and shoot from a medium distance. It's a big and obvious lens, but if you place yourself off to the side on a busy street, most people will pay no attention to you. I have also started experimenting with a new method using wide angle...most non-photographers don't realize just how much you can get in a frame with a wide angle lens when you are close. The camera is pointed away from them, so they think they are out of range. The problem with this approach is that you get maximum distortion at the edges of a wide angle shot. People can end up looking weird, though that's not always a bad thing.

InsuredDisaster

Richard wrote:

It's a big and obvious lens, but if you place yourself off to the side on a busy street, most people will pay no attention to you. I have also started experimenting with a new method using wide angle...most non-photographers don't realize just how much you can get in a frame with a wide angle lens when you are close.

Problem: I'm slightly above average height in the US. I tower above nearly everyone in China. Oh yeah, I'm don't look Chinese, either. Its very difficult to blend in. When I stop, people notice me.


The wide angle thing works very well, except for everything you mentioned.:D

achambers

With a little bit of practice you can hold the camera at your waist (like you're carrying it) in a portrait orientation and snap the shutter. The practice part comes in learning to point the lens where you want it. I do this with a 18-55 kit lens. Initially you will have a very low keep rate, with time and practice your keep rate goes up. I shoot events and when people see the camera they want to pose so I developed this method to get candid shots of people.

http://www.achambersphoto.com/gallery/5275308_26279#321309703_o4s3M
the flash gave me away, in my next shot they posed
http://www.achambersphoto.com/gallery/5275308_26279#321310697_ZnsYh

it can also be done in landscape but it's a bit harder to be discreet
http://www.achambersphoto.com/gallery/5219052_LKYQr#317214402_L4zgX
http://www.achambersphoto.com/gallery/3554374_q4Qjy#202278104_haKE4
http://www.achambersphoto.com/gallery/3554374_q4Qjy#202280193_rtXvx