The area of Sliema known as Lazy Corner is a popular haunt for me and on this bright sunny day, I went for a stroll with videographer Heba Ahmed so she gets a glimpse of how I shoot in the streets. On this Saturday morning, the streets were busy with old ladies out on errands or looking out from the balcony, people buying vegetables, the pet store owner was looking out his shop and as usual Sunny was at his usual place greeting people as they passed by.
We attracted more attention than I usually get with my camera only because Heba has her filming camera too with her so we were being asked if the footage would be shown on TV. Patiently I explained that it was just a feature on how I shoot in the streets. We had people who posed without being asked and others who were a tad hostile and as usual spoke in Maltese thinking we were foreigners.
We ended our little tour with a sweet cat who was interested in us but soon ran away chasing a bird!
TIPS on Shooting People in the street:
- Anticipate the scene ahead
- use on lens and no backpacks
- underexpose when you are shooting in broad daylight so that you do not have blown out highlights
- when people are hostile walk on
- when people smile or ask what you are doing be polite and smile
- when people say something rude to you just walk on as well
- do respect people who do not want to have their photo taken
Gear:
Canon 5D MKiii
35mm f/1.4 lens