Shoot From The Hip
Don't Disturb The Mood
Perhaps you’ve heard this colloquial saying “shoot from the hip.” In general it means when a forthright person speaks, they won’t hold back their honest thoughts and feelings. The act of being blunt.
The term is also used in photography, particularly street photography. Though it doesn’t mean the exact same thing, its aim is similar—to provide viewers with an unvarnished/undisturbed perspective of a given scene in a photograph. The act of being photographically blunt.
There are a technical strategies to use when photographing candidly. I’ve been employing them for decades. Most times, they work. Sometimes not. “Shooting from the hip” negates the use of a viewfinder or display screen to compose a photograph for reasons noted below (and some others)). It’s photographing blindly.
These perspectives are impossible to get if composing through a viewfinder. Maybe with a tilting view screen. They’re “shot from the hip.” It’s the most time-saving convenient way. Knowledge and understanding of lens design, subject distance and exposure are all considered in getting the optimal final result. By default, nothing is a given if not composing with a viewfinder or view screen. An educated guess is sometimes the best option.
In these three above, camera is on my lap, pointed up, angled towards subjects.
When the moment you want to capture is already happening, you don’t have time to look through the viewfinder. Guesstimate the framing based on distance and take the photo. They’re split-second decisions you must make on the fly.
Here, “the jig is up?” Some visual indications when a photographer has blown their cover, and affected a natural flow. The look on the faces of those who “see the camera” is the best indication. Most people can’t help but react when noticing a camera pointed in their direction. Compare these with others in the newsletter. See obliviousness vs inquisition.
Case in point. Although this person seems to be looking into the camera, there’s a certain oblivion—a non-reaction that suggests no response to the camera’s presence.
The use of smart/cell phones in everyday life is a pain to many a street photographer. It was a new novelty around 2010. Capturing the new technology in action was a good recording of the times. After taking dozens of photographs where most people’s faces peering down at their smart phone screen, it becomes monotonous and visually repetitive. That’s not the case for these two above. They present individuals in unique environments from a perspective that shows a level of intimacy during an otherwise private moment.
I leave you with this photograph. Offering a small glimpse of what shooting from the hip looks like for me. I’ll paraphrase one of Isaac Hayes’ lyrics with a change of a word. “If you see me walking down the street and I stop to photograph each time we meet—walk on by.”
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Til next time…
Cheers
I love the woman smiling on her cell phone. you really caught an intimate moment were all familiar with. Going to start shooting from the hip more once i get my new lens.
You're right, those are good ones, with the cell phones. I also like the one from Hell's Kitchen, with the plates and kids.