DISCREET in the STREET: Guide for HIP Photography

Summary

In this video, the photographer takes viewers on a hip shooting adventure through Santa Monica, California, during golden hour. He shares insights on camera settings, technique, and how to capture candid moments without drawing attention. Emphasizing the importance of focusing on interesting subjects while avoiding ethical pitfalls, such as photographing children or homeless individuals, the photographer demonstrates how to make the most of hip shooting. As he walks the pier, he showcases tips for adjusting angles and experimenting with different shots for more dynamic photos. The video concludes with a reminder to stay creative and mindful when shooting.

Takeaways

• 😀 The video takes place in Santa Monica, California, where the host practices hip shooting during golden hour.
• 😀 The camera settings used throughout the video are f8, 1/500 shutter speed, and auto ISO.
• 😀 The host practices hip shooting by keeping the right hand on the shutter and the left arm casually covering the camera.
• 😀 The host looks for interesting subjects such as intense contrast, cool outfits, unusual moments, or people acting in odd ways.
• 😀 For flexible hip shooting, the host uses the right thumb on the shutter and the middle finger to quickly adjust focus.
• 😀 When shooting far-away subjects, the host uses the infinity focus setting for convenience, then resets to 2.5 meters.
• 😀 The host emphasizes the importance of shooting what personally interests them, as photography is subjective.
• 😀 The host avoids taking photos of other people's children and people in less fortunate circumstances, such as homeless individuals.
• 😀 To ensure level shots while hip shooting, the host checks that the lens mount is visible and not the camera logo or too much of the lens.
• 😀 The host suggests experimenting with different angles, such as high and low shots, to add variety to hip shooting photos.
• 😀 The video concludes with an invitation to like the video, subscribe to the channel, and thanks to the viewers for watching.

Q & A

What is the main objective of the photographer in this video?

The main objective is to practice 'hip shooting' while walking through the crowd on Santa Monica Pier, capturing spontaneous moments and interesting scenes without drawing attention to the camera.

Why does the photographer keep their right hand on the shutter and left hand on the camera body?

The photographer keeps their right thumb on the shutter and their left arm positioned to cover the camera to make the shooting process more discreet and natural, allowing them to blend in with the crowd while capturing photos.

What are the key camera settings used in the video for hip shooting?

The camera settings used are f/8 for aperture, 1/500 second for shutter speed, and auto ISO. These settings help capture quick moments while maintaining flexibility in different lighting conditions.

How does the photographer adjust focus while hip shooting?

The photographer uses their middle finger to adjust the focus tab. They snap the focus to infinity for distant subjects and bring it back to 2-3 meters for closer subjects, which allows for quick adjustments during dynamic scenes.

What types of subjects does the photographer avoid photographing?

The photographer avoids photographing other people's children and homeless individuals or those in vulnerable positions, as they believe it is unethical to profit from people's difficult circumstances.

How does the photographer ensure their camera is level while shooting?

The photographer checks the camera’s angle by ensuring that they can see the lens mount but not the logo. If they see the logo, the camera is too high, and if they cannot see the lens mount, the camera is too low.

What is the importance of having the camera level while hip shooting?

Keeping the camera level ensures that the photos have straight lines and do not unintentionally capture awkward angles, such as shooting kneecaps or only a subject's chin.

Why does the photographer change their approach on the last lap?

On the last lap, the photographer switches things up by moving the microphone to the jacket and shooting freehand, trying different angles, such as shooting from high and low perspectives, to capture more varied and interesting shots.

What does the photographer mean by 'interesting' moments when shooting?

Interesting moments refer to scenes with intense contrast, unusual outfits, fun or odd occurrences, and people displaying quirky or unexpected behaviors that capture the photographer’s attention.

What advice does the photographer give regarding posing subjects?

The photographer advises that if a subject is already posing, it is an indication they are open to being photographed, making it easier to capture a natural, posed shot.