I was out cruising yesterday, looking for anything to shoot. It wasn’t going well, and Mrs. C and I wonder if we have ongoing brain fog after our recent episodes of norovirus. When I was parked at a curb to photograph a building across the street, this driver pulled into a queue at a traffic light. He saw my camera and gestured at me to take his picture. It was a gift. Being an old white guy, I could use help interpreting the hand gesture.
I live in Podunk. Wouldn't see people like this back in STL. These are some of the faces I saw on the street in San Francisco yesterday, mostly at the Saturday Farmers Market at the Ferry Building and the Cherry Blossom Festival in Japantown. I'll add more if I have time to edit them.
This man was selling ice cream and snacks on a side street just off the parade route. I stopped and chatted with him well before the parade started when he was not busy. He works special events and, in between, just cruises neighborhoods and parks. The idea for this kind of shot is that a photographer can just go up and start talking to somebody about him or herself - never about you. Once a little relationship is established you can ask to take their picture. Few people say no. If that happens, just be polite, smile, say thanks anyway and find someone new to meet.
The Annie Malone parade Sunday went on for about two and a half hours. There was a huge amount to shoot but the main parade route was out in hard sunshine, creating harsh shadows and bright spots. I went up a side street where the parade was ending and there was some shade. This man was riding on top of a truck, promoting his DJ service. His hat says "King."
This young man and a couple of friends were on the street below the Arch, taking pictures of one another in front of the monument. I wandered by with all my gear hanging off me and offered a suggestion for framing the shots better. Since all my gizmos are like the Official Photographer Badge, they were interested in discussing this and liked the results they got. They were really fun to talk to. This is one of the little tricks. If possible, don't just walk up to someone and ask if you can take their picture (you do ask permission, don't you?). Engage people in conversation about themselves. Never talk about yourself. Things warm up and you get friendly. Only at this point do you say something like, "Gee, that looks really cool. Would it be ok if I took your picture?"
