Dark Photography School

To make complete strangers more interesting subjects, you have to deal with a few trained reactions. What’s the first thing you do when someone is taking a picture of you? Usually you smile and look directly at the camera. If you are looking for something beyond what you’re used to seeing, you want to try and capture something other than that familiar photo.
There is nothing with smiling and looking directly at the camera. Those pictures are great for people you know. The problem is that when you are photographing complete strangers, they won’t feel at ease with you enough to let out a genuine smile. Trying to achieve this can be painful and/or embarrassing.

EXIF: ISO 1600, 1/6 sec., f/4.0, 31mm focal length, flash on

EXIF: ISO 1600, 1/6 sec., f/4.0, 17mm focal length, flash on

If you are going to instantly take a picture of someone you just met, don’t try and tell them not to look at the camera. You also do not want to say “I’m trying to get a candid shot” or something along those lines. When you tell them your intentions, they know what you’re doing so they will be nervous and won’t feel at ease. When people are tense or nervous, it’s easy to spot in photographs.

Instead, oblige and react expectedly (take the picture) when the person or persons leans it or leans closer to the other person and smiles at the camera. Wait a few seconds until they are relaxed and went back to what they were doing. You’ll catch a more genuine moment, which won’t happen when they know you’re pointing the camera at them.