Shoot and Run Street Photography

Of all the different kinds of photography, candid shots are perhaps the most difficult to take. Because unlike shooting still objects, in street photography, your subject is constantly and therefore it is fairly difficult to frame your shots. Besides, most people don't like to be shot. If you're caught secretly snapping away at them, pray you didn't mess up with someone you wouldn't want to. The obvious solution is to get permission before you shoot, but that won't be called a candid shot, will it?

That's where shoot and run street photography comes in. The point is to blend into the surroundings, anticipate your subject's moves, shoot and evacuate. Sometimes, you get cursed. But if you're good enough, you'd be gone by the time they notice.

In street photography, a telephoto lens might be a good option if you don't want to risk getting beaten up by pissed off strangers. But if you've tried this before, you'll know that nothing's better than working with your subjects in proximity. These photos were shot at "point-blank" with a 50mm prime lens.


Faces of Japan :: Smile
Asakusa's Nakamise (浅草仲見世) is famous not only for the humongous lantern at Kaminarimon (雷門) but also for its old shops that line up the street. Somewhere in the middle of the street, is this guy who sells traditional manjuu. His makeshift shop consists of two carts which he carries by hanging them on both ends of a stick and shoulder them.


Faces of Japan :: Waiting
I was trying to shoot the rickshaw guy in the background, but whether deliberately or not, this guy kept walking in and out from the scene. He was stretching his head looking here and there as if he was looking for someone. Thought his expression looked fun so I took a shot at him. In the end, I ended up without being able to take a photo of the rickshaw guy. By the way, that red thing on the far right is the big lantern in Asakusa. The words say kaminari-mon (雷門).


Faces of Japan :: Longingness
A homeless man standing in front of a stall in Asakusa's famous Nakamise. Homelessness is unheard of in Japan until after the bubble burst in the early 90s.