Shooting your Turf/Territory/Area/Neck of the Woods

SolaresLarrave · 03-31-2004

All of you guys know I came back from a trip to Barcelona some days ago. In fact, sorry about flooding (well, not so much) the Gallery with my Spanish images, but I wanted to show them to you.

The trip and my photo experiences got me to think on something: that I have never been so, say, bold when I'm not in my turf. Say, in Barcelona, I was able to point the camera at some people, act nonchalantly and take a picture. Every time I go to Chicago (my nearest big city) and try to do that trick, I simply cannot do it. Are we different when we shoot in our little territories? Do you guys become too self-conscious when in you're in a "strange land" or do you actually grow daring, like I do?

I've seen great, breathtaking street shots done in Chicago by people who do not live there. I have been reasonably good taking photos of people and places where I do not live (like Colombia, New York and Barcelona), but miserable at doing it in my turf. Any ideas why? Does it happen to you as well? Can it be overcome? Let's talk attitude and approach here...

Doug · 03-31-2004

I've enjoyed seeing your nice pics of Barcelona, and wished I were along too! While there, you snap your victims and say (in effect), "Hey, don't kill me, I'm just a dumb tourist!" Around home you have no excuse!

As has been evident, I don't often snap strangers on the street. I shoot people with whom I'm having some other interaction, usually a purchase or other business. So there's at least a tacit agreement to be photographed. This largely eases any concerns. :-)