~Technique~ The Right 'UpTheRide' Angle

[DaveK]

Title: The Right 'UpTheRide' Angle

Equipment Recomended: Any camera should work (if you can turn off the flash and beeps).

Location Reqirements: A ride or other similar area where people would walk which is elevated from where you, the photographer, could stand.

Description: In short, you lean against the side of the ride watching it, or waiting for someone. During the loading/unloading you snap pics looking up at the subjects.

Examples:
1) In the first example you will notice a lady reaching down to pick up her purse that she left off to the side of the ride. If you are really swift you would take note of where the hottest girls leave their purse/shoes/prizes knowing that they will be going back to that same spot when the ride is over.

2) Here in the second pic you should get an idea of how effective this technique could be!

Please note, this particular ride was a little high (almost eye level) so I had to shoot from cheast/chin height. Had I reached up and rested my arms on the platform the cam could/would have been on the other side of the railing, yeilding FAR better pictures I'm sure.

Fairly simple yet stealthy technique. It will take some balls...but give it a try and see if you can make it work. The hardest part is finding a ride of this type. I suggest looking to traveling fairs with movable rides.

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 each an 80% crop at 80% of original quality which makes them 250kb each. IMHO 300kb is plenty for a reasonably sized high quality image.)

[Alexantia]

Technique : seems logical and sure works fine (look at those pics)
Tutorials : the more the better no ? We can always learn a thing or two.

Grtzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

[Satan]

Examples:
1) If you are really swift you would take note of where the hottest girls leave their purse/shoes/prizes knowing that they will be going back to that same spot when the ride is over.

EXCELLENT advice...... the only concern I have is since people will be leaving valuables there ( purse/shoes/prizes ) ... someone like security could be watching that area close or people will be extra alert.

[Satan]

(As a side rant; For everyone who complains about the 300kb limit these pictures are each an 80% crop at 80% of original quality which makes them 250kb each. IMHO 300kb is plenty for a reasonably sized high quality image.)

I agree... unless you are going to print these sizes are more than reasonable for web.

I still like to shoot my images as big as possible in care I want to crop later which still gives me a clear and very large image.

[Benjammer]

you are wize... wize and evil

[eddynoname]

Thanks for sharing. Unfortunately will have to wait till next summer to try it out. Really appreciate the tutorials to provide a starting point for developing techniques.

[RD313]

I'm not really one to say anything ever, but this technique is probably one that newbies will want to stay away from.

Beyond the security, shooting candids in the open is dangerous enough in itself. There's always the issue of protective relatives, and zealous boyfriends.

I saw those shots you took, DaveK (who I've ALWAYS respected very much) and let me say this : those are some ridiculous shots.

You seriously can't expect someone with low skill to be able to pull off a shot like that. I mean, outdoor shooting's ALWAYS easier (the sun is so much more friendly than a flourescent bulb) however, those are the kind of shots that get someone busted!

Besides being out in the open, you'd be near a place that would NORMALLY be watched. I mean, just like in malls, security is always going to assume you're stealing something way before they think you're shooting a candid. Not only them, but anyone on the ride, or anyone legitimately waiting for someone would feel the same suspicions.

It's an awesome idea, and it could probably yield some kick-ass shots.
However, I'd like to maybe make a couple suggestions/amendments to the tutorial :

1.) You probably won't want to stick around the ride and WAIT for your intended target. You might want to eyeball the target, walk around, and when the ride's ending, you'd probably want to get into place. If you wait for someone, and you end up leaving WITHOUT that person, it'll look kinda weird. Also, if there's someone else there..... and you're there the whole time, they're going to eye you.

2.) As crazy as this sounds, you may want to do this ONLY when there are a LOT of people around. I don't mean a few, but so many, that no one could ever notice. This is the same theory that makes candid shots at Disneyland/world so great. With so many people waiting in lines, it'd hard to spot out just ONE person. Of course, the reverse is also true. The more people that there are, the more people that could bust you. I wouldn't even recommend this one as a tip unless you're REALLY good at concealing your camera/device.

3.) You'll probably only want to do this a few times per site visit, or just EVER. If you stick around that one place a lot, the ride attendant, or security, or just general staff might notice you, and might think you're weird. In other words, you might want to do this once or twice, and then not make it a habit. Get your shot, failed or not, and move on. A shooter who runs away, lives to shoot another day.

4.) When you do this, you might want to do it while moving. If you stoop down, or wait around, someone might suspect something. In short, do all of the things above, but when you go in for the shot, it should be more like an assassination. You move in at exactly the right time, you take your shot, and you hope that you get a good one.

Oh, and DaveK, awesome pictures. That took some serious intestinal fortitude. As experienced as I am, I seriously doubt I would ever try a shot like that, it's way too risky. That's why I shoecam it now, so that I wouldn't have to do something like that, rather, I'd just wait in line behind my subject, get my shot, and either ride the ride, or just leave. It works beautifully, and very few people ever notice, or suspect anything.

[makavelithedon]

DaveK, I think your present a very feasible technique. It would most definitely yield some awesome shots.

RD313, you also have some valid points. This technique should probably only be attempted by the experienced candid-er. Preferably someone who could pull it off without looking super suspicious, as most newbies do. (Hell I can't help but get all anxious when I am about to get a good shot)

But thanks for the tutorial, keep it up!!!

[DaveK]

RD313> I agree with you that this is not a 'newbie' technique, there is a level of skill here. But, thats why I make this tutorial, to help people to learn new ideas and to get an idea what they are doing, before they make a fool of themselves.

To re-iterate how difficult this technique is, I attended the same fair again this year but the ride was set-up in a different location. Because of this minor change, the people waiting for people getting off the ride were waiting in a different spot, leaving me standing alone while in the 'prime shooting location'. Therefore, I didn't get any of this type of shot this year.

I like the attitude of "run away, live to shoot another day".

[AngryPirate]

I use something very similar to this at a club I go to where some girls stand on a balcony at chin level and I rest my elbow on the floor of the balcony and shoot striaght up skirts with my camera phone. It really helps that there is a strobe light on the platform because my phone has no flash.