| Sign in: |
| Members log in here with your user name and password to access the your admin page and other special features. |
|
|
|
|
|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Gaining and managing access
Paul Hayes, Photographer, Photo Editor
 |
Littleton | NH | USA | Posted: 8:41 PM on 06.10.10 |
->> For those of you who have followed subjects for extended periods, how did you go about gaining and maintaining access while respecting the subject's privacy?
Would you check in daily? Weekly? How many days would you shoot them? How did you manage shooting them at their work or social environments (simply follow them or consult others first)?
There's a lot more questions that could be asked. But I think I'll stop here and see what anyone has to say. Thanks in advance for your advice. |
|
David Welker, Photographer, Student/Intern
|
Springfield | MO | USA | Posted: 9:30 AM on 06.11.10 |
->> Paul,
I just wanted to say thanks for posting this, even though no one has responded yet because yesterday I was thinking about starting up a new project dealing with fire fighters/ police officers. So I am in the same boat as far as gaining access and then not crossing any boundaries..
Any help on that would be fantastic as well.
Thanks Paul! |
|
Bob Ford, Photographer
|
Lehighton | Pa | USA | Posted: 9:54 AM on 06.11.10 |
| ->> I'll be keeping an eye on this thread as well. I started a long term project about a few weeks ago. |
|
Jonathan Castner, Photographer
|
Denver | CO | USA | Posted: 11:15 AM on 06.11.10 |
->> For me it's all about building and then maintaining a relationship with the subject. I prefer to have subjects that I have easy physical access to. So my projects are all within an hours drive from my house. If I give my subject a call and find out that something interesting is happening today I don't want to miss it because I have to hop a plane to get there. Also I find that due to the kind of subject matter I'm interested in that living in the same area gives us a common point of connection.
But it's a relationship first and foremost. Treat it as such. |
|
Erik Markov, Photographer
|
anywhere | IN | | Posted: 11:42 AM on 06.11.10 |
->> I agree with Jonathan. I've found being myself is the most important thing, if you're being you and authentic, people pick up on that and they're more willing to open to you. Now you act stupid or are just weird then that will affect the relationship also. You need to know what subjects you can make small talk about and which you can't. Also just spending a lot of time with them is important, particularly at the beginning. Once they realize you aren't going to disappear on them, they're more willing to allow you to see the personal stuff in their life.
I've got a lung transplant story I did 7 years ago and now the gentleman is suffering some rejection so he's prob getting another transplant. I spent 7 months working on the project initially, seeing him 2-3xweek. Once he got the transplant, the project was done and I stopped shooting, but would still see him 2-3x a year. Just saw him on memorial day when he told me about the upcoming surgery, so I'm going to start following him again. But what helps that connection is that when I first worked on the project I would spend maybe 2-3 hours w/ him, might shoot 20-30 pictures. Not a huge amount, might not even use the image, but I was there and spent the time.
Spend the time with people, even during the quiet moments. The camera might be sitting next to you, but that doesn't mean you have to necessarily pick it up to shoot something. And if it is quiet, maybe boring even, don't LOOK BORED like you're itching to get out of there.
another thing I know I did initially starting out on projects is that subjects a lot of the time don't understand why we want to spend so much time with them. When it comes to their own story a lot of people don't see how its interesting it is to other people, they'll make excuses or be sorry that nothing exciting is happening. Don't look nervous tho thru those times, it will make them nervous.
One of the best examples of being comfortable with subjects, sticking with the story and being there for those "moments" is Scott Strazzante's Common Ground series. There are several message board discussions on how he approached that over the years along with on his blog. |
|
Return to --> Message Board Main Index
|