Let’s Be Discreet

Why

• You might be told not to take photos

• People will act differently when you are taking photographs

Isn’t this kind of sneaky?

• Yes• And it’s not the only way to do it• If you’re not in their face most people don’t care• If they do care have a good explanation…• “You looked great there with lights in the

background.”• “My photo teacher said I had to.”

Restrictionssome things that may lead to discussions with security people

• Tripods

• Flash

• Big cameras

• Weddings

• If you look like a pro

• Lots of equipment

This is not legal advice

• If a public space is private property…• They can tell you can do on that property• But not if you are off the property• Different countries are different

Keep It quiet

• Turn off noises

• Pick a quiet camera

• Hide things that move on the camera

• Turn off flash

• Turn off lights such as focus assist

• Turn off the screen

Don’t look loud

• Minimal equipment

• Small camera

• Dress boring

Photograph…

• Quickly• Without looking at the camera

• Without looking at the subject• With looking in the direction of the subject• Without reviewing the image on the screen

Holding is hiding

• Hold the camera so it doesn’t look like you are using it

• Put part of your hand on the shutter release- not your index finger

• Hold the camera to partially hide it

Don’t auto focus

• It’s noisy and the there’s movement on the camera

• But mostly because you can’t see what you’re focusing on

• Focus on something an equal distance to the subject

• Then turn the camera/lens to manual focus

More on not focusing• Guess the distance and set it on the lens• Google “Hyper focus distance”• Google “Depth of field Charts”• You can get paper charts• You can get free or cheap apps for your

smart phone• This is old fashioned auto focus• Kind of limited but very quick!

A little secret

• Every year small, compact and ultra compact cameras get better

• They attract very little attention

• They are very quiet

• Generally more mega pixels means more noise

• Even $100 cameras are pretty good

A little secret continued

• Because they have small sensors they have short focal length lenses…

• Even at f2.8 almost everything is in focus when using a wide angle setting

• You will have to play with the settings and menus