Candid portraits

[briansquibb]

Setting up an event for next week, I was 'checking the light levels' when this person 'walked infront of the camera' ;D ;D

 

[NotABunny]

I guess it's open to debate about what constitutes a candid photograph. My dictionary defines it as "(a photograph of a person) taken informally, esp. without the subject's knowledge."

I don't know for whom and why this would be open for debate, but the dictionary says "Candid = Informal or natural; especially caught off guard or unprepared" not "unaware".

 

[Crapking]

As the OP, let me add that MY intent was to share images we took 'spontaneously', not those where our subjects posed, not those where we artificially adjusted lighting, and definitely not those with models. If the subject happened to look at the camera, that is ok by me, but if the shooter asked them to look, smile or say cheese, not so much....

I would like to learn from those with more experience, and in particular, I was curious as to how shooters 'quickly' decide on settings, etc. A much older thread discussed custom settings which can be preset, but I was hoping to add to that discussion with candid examples, so keep posting and feel free to add to the 'practical' technical discussion on settings, and quick setup procedures. We all have our own visions, composition styles, etc, but the newbies who follow along might benefit from how we set our equipment.

 

[briansquibb]

This was in a Dickens event so I was set up for those in costume .... I had setup 2 flash by a window. This lady had sat in the chair in the middle of it all when I was out and she was talking to the Dickens people ... so that was an easy one ;D ;D ;D

 

[jeffryTanudjaja]

 

[Tijn]

60D with 70-200 f/4L IS.
ISO 100, 127mm, f/4, 1/640s.
Ice skating outside at sunset. The light was gorgeous.

 

[candyman]

Canon 7D
TV 1/80
AV 6.3
ISO 400
Spot AF
Tamron 18-270

 

[Crapking]

Nice shots, looks like a little catch light in the eyes - off camera flash or ambient lighting ?

 

[candyman]

Thanks.
Ambient lighting. I have a favourite corner in the house with good light ....when the sun is shining ...

 

[Kamera Obscura]

summer.

 

[smirkypants]

I guess it's open to debate about what constitutes a candid photograph. My dictionary defines it as "(a photograph of a person) taken informally, esp. without the subject's knowledge." So I suppose there might be some overlap. But I tend to take the view that once the subject has awareness of / reacted to the camera then it's no longer candid.

Soooo... if I have a person in the studio and I am shooting her. Then we start chatting and she's not expecting the shot, and I snap it when she's giggling, is that candid? Even though she's in makeup and surrounded by lights? Avedon was actually quite famous for tricking people into letting their guard down and then snapping a shot. Were these candid?

 

[smirkypants]

Clementina waiting...

 

[bchernicoff]

7D, Sigma 17-50 f/2.8 OS

 

[wellfedCanuck]

I love both of these last two shots. They each capture the essence of childhood, that sweet innocence that burns off somewhere in the teens. I'm a father of 3, my oldest has long since passed that stage but my youngest is still there, hopefully for another year or two...

 

[bchernicoff]

They each capture the essence of childhood, that sweet innocence that burns off somewhere in the teens.

Well, that innocence wore off two seconds later when she made the face she always makes while being photographed. The only keepers with her are the candids ;-)

 

[wellfedCanuck]

haha... awesome!

 

[Sc0tt White]

Crazy Frenchman

 

[rebelphil]

7D, EF 85mm 1.8, f/ 2, 1/100 sec, ISO 1000

I sat on my living room floor by a window, my granddaughter came by, gave me a quick glance, and I took the shot. After that, all I saw was tail lights and a cloud of dust…she was gone!

 

[facedodge]

 

[Crapking]

Don't forget to include camera settings, situation, etc. We are trying to learn from each other how to quickly capture candid moments, NOT how to set up lights, position models, etc.