~Technique~ The Overshoot

[DaveK]

This is the first of (hopefully) a few techniques which can be used to shoot candids without drawing attention to one's self.

Title: The Overshoot

Equipment Recomended: Telephoto lens

Location Reqirements: Something photographable between you and your subject.

Description: In short, you pretend you are taking a pic of one thing while actually zooming over or next to it to capture the candid.

Examples:
1) Shoot over the shoulder of a teammate. This is a great ploy when two candid shooters are working together (excellent for getting sitting uppies!). In the first pic below you will notice a shoulder in the extreme right of the frame...that was a friend of mine who was a 'decoy' for a moment, the acutual subject of the photo was the blonde on the left.

2)In the next picture you can see the exibit at a zoo that is approachable from two sides. To the people around me it looks like I am just admiring the flamingos....in the last picture you can see I've zoomed in over the birds and am shooting my candid subject.

Fairly simple yet effective technique. I would appreciate feedback both on this technique and on these 'tutorials' in general, should I do more?

(As a side rant; For everyone who complains about the 300kb limit these pictures are around 100kb each and both combined took about 9 seconds to upload to the baord. IMHO 300kb is plenty for a reasonably sized high quality image.)

[johnnyeye]

Yah dude, I've been doing the old overshoot since i first started. most people don't notice that i'm taking a pic of some classic car or something WITH THE TELEPHOTO LENS FULLY EXTENDED! but you'll notice chicks get a little self-conscious when they notice they are in the background of a photographer, and i think many instinctively know that they are the true subjects. I like the old 'looking down at my camera pretending to adjust some setting' or just 'walking and clicking from the waist'. I also cover up the light in the front of the camera too with a small piece of thick tape. Don't need some hottie wondering, 'why did that red light on the front of his camera just blink on and off?'
Also, yeah, cool tutorial. I never thought of using a buddy as a decoy, but then again i'm pretty much a loner.
And the kb size limit suits me fine too, especiall since i have dial-up!

[johnnyeye]

one of my favorite subjects from an 'overshoot'...

[Cando Candid]

I think these guides are a good idea. Would have helped a lot if they were there when I started. Will also hopefully help people be a bit more discreet so subjects don't get suspicious of cameras. The guys shooting anything that moves with a huge zoom lense.

I hardly ever take zoom pics from the eye unless I'm using this technique, so if you have any other good ones for using zoom, I'd like to try them too.

It works just as well if the subject is in front, rather than behind the decoy subject. So long as they are close to the decoy you can also pan across, fire off a burst and pan back. Or should these two be separate techniques?

The only problem is the best subjects aren't always near a decoy, or the light is from the wrong side, but when the set up is right it works very well. You can even get to take pictures when they look towards you rather than look away.

Here is my overshoot example for the thread.
Nice picture of a fountain!

[patheticpat]

thank you, hope to see more of those "tutorials" soon.

ps the 300k limit is more than ok in my eyes, the only thing i am unhappy with are the tiny gallery thumbs... but that's a different topic

[bootyluver]

DaveK, being that I have a dslr on the way, I would like to know what lens you used for the "zoo" shot? tripod?

[EboniKat]

A techniques thread is a great idea. I hate to give away some of my secrets, but I think that when more experienced shooters help others learn less conspicuous techniques, it serves the entire community of candid photographers/videographers. I don't want potential subjects to be suspicious because of previous bungled encounters with candid shooters.

[DaveK]

DaveK, being that I have a dslr on the way, I would like to know what lens you used for the "zoo" shot? tripod?

Canon EF 75-300 IS
No tripod or anything else...just handheld. It's easier to get the slight 'off aim' that way without obviously re-adjusting a tripod or anything else.

[bootyluver]

Canon EF 75-300 IS
No tripod or anything else...just handheld. It's easier to get the slight 'off aim' that way without obviously re-adjusting a tripod or anything else.

ok, thanks

[vegasfox]

Thanks Dave and others for your insight and comments. Tutorials from experienced photographers is just what i need. That and a nice SLR!! I appreciate any and all advice you all would care to share.