Might be useful for my future hunting with '3rd eye' ...

5 Tips for Street Photography Beginners
by Kai

At one point in my photography life I only did landscapes. At one point, I was happily content with trekking through fields, stepping in cow pats, making my way up a bloody big hill in order to get one elusive shot. It was incredibly therapeutic: it was mainly about enjoying the journey and, when you arrive, soaking up the environment in your own time and thinking about the shot; the light, the filters you’ll use and taking your time to get composition so that the trees all line up with however those photography books told you it would look good like.

The buzz you get from shooting street photography is completely different: there’s no time to stand there to soak up the fresh air (well, the air isn’t that fresh anyway) and contemplate your shot nor is there a planned journey to get your shot. Street shooting is rewarding because you don’t know what you’re going to get until you see it, it’s like a photographic box of chocolates (well, at least that’s probably what Forrest Gump would say). But there’s a whole lot more than just seeing something, because you have to capture it too. Knowing when to press the button and seeing the shot at the end is a great feeling. Henri Cartier Bresson was a complete genius, not just for being such a talented artist, but also for summing up street photography with two words: “decisive moment.”

Sometimes capturing the “decisive moment” is about as easy as catching the dreaded Swine Flu. Certainly, your hit rate of catching something will increase when you hang around heavily-populated areas. There are other hurdles (apart from Swine Flu) that get thrown in your way that will hinder your progress like Sonic the Hedgehog hitting a brick wall head-first. You’re mainly shooting people and your success depends on whether they will comply with your intentions. When I say “comply” I mean “don’t give a sh*t” or “don’t know” about you taking the shot. Street Photography is about capturing a slice of street life and that doesn’t necessarily mean the subject has to turn to you and say “I do”. So, how can you make getting that shot easier? Here are 5 things that I tend to do when out shooting on the streets.

1. Don’t look like you’re a convicted sex criminal
Sounds silly, but think about what kind of person you would trust coming up to you and taking a photo of you.

2. Settings
Either don’t bother setting the camera settings at all and snap away or think about it before you get into the zone. You don’t want to faff about when that shot is about to be made because you’re just making things harder for yourself. If you’re just starting out then you might want to try putting it on P mode to begin with and just concentrate on shooting. Don’t give a crap what some trolls on the internet say about P mode not being “pro”, that’s utter tripe.

To be honest, I use Aperture-Priority mode quite often when doing street stuff. Then I team that up with choosing spot-metering, which is something that I’ve gotten used to when shooting Leicas, and lock the metering and focus on the subject (centre point) and then recompose. But, of course, you can choose the metering that suits your style more.

Shooting with a Leica M on the street is a slightly different process but if you’re using a DSLR then the point is essentially the same: have those settings ready before hand so you don’t have to think so much about the settings when you are busy taking that shot.

3. Get into the zone

I think that there’s nothing more threatening than someone shooting with a long lens from afar. Snipers are scary, a man with a handgun less so. At least with close quarters stuff - from the point of view of the person on the receiving end - they are within punching distance of you.

Treat your subject like a stray cat (no need to stroke their head): approach slowly or else they’ll notice you and think you’re a convicted sex criminal, and then make your intentions clear without forcing it in their face. Usually when you are this close you will know whether they want their shot taken or not, whether they are comfortable with you around with a camera, or simply think that you look like a deviant.

4. Judge your subjects

Alright, so there’s all that hoo-haa about teaching you how not to judge a book by its cover (which was probably first said by an ugly person), but in this case you should. Once you’ve studied some human behaviour you can kinda tell how they are going to react when they have their photo taken or just a camera pointed their way. If they look like they don’t want their photo taken then you don’t force it or you ask politely. Then thing is, once you’ve asked them, the shot usually doesn’t have that mood in there anymore because they will probably pose for you. Even if you have taken the shot and they show their discontent (which is a nice way of saying “pissed off”) about having their photo taken then you just give in and stop it.

5. Watch and predict what they are going to do
When you are at a location, there won’t always be something happening for you to just waltz on in and casually take your photo. Spend a bit of time not just to look whether they look like they will cave your head in for taking their photo but also get a feel of what kind of person they are, what they are doing on the street, where are they going, what action are they going to do next. It makes the photo much more interesting if you at least have a bit of empathy for your subject.

The thing with street photography is that you won't always have stuff to shoot. It doesn't matter that you're not creating Henri Cartier-Bresson street shots to begin with - as the master himself says "your first 10,000 shots are your worst" - what matters is that you get out there and spend lots of time shooting. Of course there will be some shots that are complete rubbish, but you'll also get your keepers too. What matters most is that by shooting more you will get more practice, and the more practice you get the more comfortable you will feel with your camera and the situation, which will mean that you only need to think just a little bit about the shot rather than fumbling around with your camera and getting scared or scaring off your subject.

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Kai presenter of DigitalRev TV, is passionate about photography and collecting camera equipment that he never uses but caresses gently in his spare time. He has a tendency to talk about his love for Nikon & Leica equipment as well as speaking his mind in a rather forthright manner.

Happy New Year 2012.

2011, I failed, I learned [tried hard(at least tried)], I try again... how's 2012 will be?

I made a lot more new friends in the 2011, and I believe I will soon have to in contact with more people in coming 2012.

2mr is my first day of work, 3rd January 2012, a full time work. I will be receiving my first monthly salary at the end of this January. Sounds very money minded huh? Who don't want money anyway. The interview in last year December was just like a normal procedure I have to go through before joining the company. The result already expected and most probably I will be hired, and I am hired!

The job scope describe by my manager sounds challenging. No harm for me to try isn't it? To be honest I am quite nervous and worried when she read a long (quite long for me) job description during the interview. I believe 2012 would be another 'turning point' in my life.

"They can do it, so can I" - for Kee Shen in 2012

I got my ideal working days in my mind. I must make it realize for at least 80% or 90%. I want to wake up early for breakfast everyday then head for work. I want to finish my job as soon as possible so that I can head for gym after that. After working out I shall have my dinner before I am back home. Reach home, rest a little catching up on the website and sleep early. Weekend will most probably occupied for classes and studies.


I still missing you. It's been so long. Had you really forgotten me? I still remember you! I still remember... our first and last conversation in the phone till now... house 9 room E, bus on the way to LHR... the first date in my life... though is not like a date for couples but I still remember it... I will be very happy even just to hear a word from you after a year and 5 months.

How are you doing? =)

Perhaps it's a 'Growing Up' - Something for me to take note.

Soon it's the end of 2011. I am gonna start my career next year. Perhaps, a firm and solid step into the working society, or maybe not. Interview is on next Monday! =S

Sister will be moving to '15' next year. She will be starting her college life very very soon. Somehow I do feel worried whether she can cope with it. New environment, new lifestyle, new friends, new subjects to learn and gotta really learn to be independent. And gotta be smart, be aware, be alert to the surrounding, so that she won't be losing herself to others. But, I gotta have faith in her. She is growing up too. She no longer a little girl, she is a teenager now.

Regard to this, I had learn something for myself too. Dad had too much worried over us, I shouldn't add further worries to him. But I wanna write it out in my blog. So, dear readers, a secret k?

Yesterday (17 December 2011, roughly 3:00am) while I was asleep, I woke up by loud knock on my door and shouting from my housemate that our house was broken in by thieves. Luckily he came back on time when the thieves were just leaving. There were three of them according to my friend. Guard were informed at the very first he realize it.

It so happened that 3 suspect thieves got arrested nearby our block and it so happened that one of the guy match our physical description and outfits. They were all suspects, we weren't sure about them because the face couldn't be recognize at that time. But they were wallop by the 'head' of the security because they were lying while being interrogated. Too much susicious statement made by them. But the wallop scene it's really a scary scene, trust me. The very first thing in my mind, "what if it's a mistake? Our stay in apartment may not be safe anymore isn't it? Revenge?" In the end, their suspicious behavior lead all of us went to the police station after the guard reported to police...

Report were made as per how my housemate describe the situation. We end up 'overnight' at the police station. Three of them were further interrogated by the polices during the report being made. As you may know, police in Malaysia can really be violent. Shall leave this to your imaginations my fellow readers because all these were done in closed door where I only can hear loud knock and shouts, maybe the followings can help with your imagination. "nunchucks(双截棍), thick cable wire or smth like that, shoutings, iron rod, fists, scary eyes". Polices reveal that there were already 80+ cases of 'broke in' nearby, one of the culprits actually got criminal record before but he got away with insufficient evidences to sentence him for punishment. Further reports were made with guards who had helped in arresting the 3 culprits.

We were only able to go back around 8am. A police car 'escort' us back home to snap some pictures for references.

Through the night, I was in a shocking (not too serious) and worrying mood. During the broke in, I was asleep.

Following of the day, before I could had enough hours of sleep, Dad Mom and Sis came by to '15' for enrollment and looking for room to rent. It was then by that time I had decided to keep this to myself with blog.

Couple thoughts regarding the safety here crossed my mind. I though of moving at the very first moment. But, we will be strengthen our 'security' of the vulnerable place in our house as suggested by our neighbor as well. Maybe in the short term I will still stay here. But longer term, 'no thanks to landlord', even though I have to move to a much expensive place.

Dear readers, no worries, I will be extra alert. Let's keep this within this blog.

2012 JCI World Congress in Taipei, welcome to Taiwan!!

Talking to the moon...

Exam coming in one month time, very soon. Review back my performance in last sitting, I am gonna try harder this time. Hope I can sustain the sustain the stress or boredom of keep reading notes bla bla bla, and survive it through this very important one month. I am planing to say bye bye partially, almost fully but partially to the cyber-world, aka internet/facebook. I am not bringing back my computer this time! Yea~ I am gonna miss 'you' a lot... but never more than how much I miss you...

I told quite a number of friends about my plan, they don't think is feasible, even myself lack of confidence to have such good self control.. So I still plan to give myself some entertainment, I just joined a one month unlimited free accessed to 'Sunway Lagoon Club'. Say, morning study, evening workout, sounds great to me. If once a while wanna update status, I got my handphone with me, but the limitation of the phone will not make me spend more than 15 minutes with it. Or else, listen to the radio! Man, kinda miss myFM DJs already.

However, I am still bringing my '3rd eye' to Subang. I wonder if it is a good idea. But I doubt it will be bad idea. Hmm...


Recently, the surroundings, the songs I listened, the stories that ppl who told me, the place I went to, even the drama I watched, indirectly reminding me of you, many times... Had you really forgotten about me? Hope you are doing fine. =)