Shooting from the hip

I read David77's post regarding 'from the hip' street photography with a little bit of surprise, especially at the comparison with the shot he'd posted. A very lovely landscape of a well recognizable Edinburgh landmark.

In my mind that is like comparing a Formula One car with a Rally car. Yes they both have four wheels and an engine, but they are completely different beasts.

The comment reminded me of something a lecturer said to me way back when I was studying photography in Glasgow.

He was a studio photographer, used to doing pack shots, fashion shoots and the like. I however had a passion for live event photography (I enjoyed getting into gigs for free) and for two years I took photos of all the big bands that came up to Scotland. Now taking photos of a gig is not easy, the lighting is poor and very variable, the band members tend to jump around, the crowd barge and push (if you are lucky there is a 'pit' at the front of the stage where you are in with the bouncers) and to cap it all you are lucky if you get the first three numbers to take photos - before the band warm up and get into the swing of it.

In my time doing it I had all sorts of things happen from getting soaked with water to being hit by Henry Rollins - but I always got the shot. He looked at my work and made a comment to the effect that they were snapshots.

Months later he went to take photos of one of the mega concerts at the castle - one where the photographers were well catered for - I was there when he was reviewing his photos and I overheard him justify his mediocre event photography with the refrain "it was bloody hard"

And thats my point. He was a very good studio photographer, and I a very mediocre one. Although the end result is a photograph there is where the similarity ends.

In defense of street photography, not that it needs defending, I find that it is about reading the moment, observing actively your surroundings, and capturing it. The wide angle lens is the tool of a street photographer, shooting from the hip allows candid, unforced photographs to be recorded. It is documentary photography.

I shoot from the hip, I have done for well over a decade, when I still used film I shot with a 20mm lens from the hip, I got to learn my tools, understand their limitations, most of my street photography is from the hip. Have a look and tell me it doesn't need skill. All one needs is practice.

Here's my from the hip shots:

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from the bike
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from the bike
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