8/9/2019 People Skills via Shutterbug September 2010

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ON THE ROAD: Maynard Switzer

People SkillsSpeak Softly And Carry A Short LensIn my last column I talked about

fixersthe guide/translators who

smooth the way and open the doors

so I can get the photographs. Theyre

important when it comes to photographing

people, especially when I dont speak the

language, which is most of the time. But

while I dont always have a fixer, I have my

people skills.

The most important thing is the ability

to connect with people. When I know Imgoing to be in an area for several days, Ill

go to the marketplace and just walk around.

I wont take any pictures at first. Ill just go

through the market several times, getting

familiar with the place and letting people

get used to seeing me. Im showing them

that Im not just going to start banging

off shots right away. And Im observing:

checking the area for its light, angles,

backgrounds, and people. Im almost

setting up the shots in my mind before I

even lift the camera.When Im ready to photograph, no

matter the location, there are a few things

that are critical: I approach slowly, calmly,

and with a friendly manner, and I always

make eye contact. People have to see that

Im not there to take advantage of them, so

Im not in a hurry. I take time to establish

a rapport. For example, in Vietnamese cities

I often see women on street corners in the

early morning with little counters at which

they sell soup. I sit down, order some soup

and eat it. My camera is out and they seeit. I take my time and then, with gestures

or a few words, I ask if I can take pictures.

I think that most people who

feel intimidated when it comes to

photographing other people will tend to

use a long lens; theyre more comfortable at

telephoto distance. But thats the opposite

of what they should be doing. Even people

who dont mind having their photo taken

dont like it when a long lens is pointed at

them from a block away.

In a marketplace in Uzbekistan I sawa wonderful old woman selling brooms. I

brought out my 180mm lens to shoot a

Rain postponed the barley harvesting Id come to the Ladakh village to photograph. It was drizzling, but I walkedaround and saw this woman coming to the village with her turnips. I couldnt let this wonderful face get away. Iapproached slowly, smiled, and got her cooperation.

In the early morning in Dibrugarh, India, this man

shakes the little drum and sells cotton candy and

popcorn. I went up to him, bought some, showed himthe camera, and motione d for him to come with me to

the brightly colored wall Id noticed. He was friendly

and very cooperative.

She was leaving a marketplace in Mali with herpurchases. I pointed to the camera, then motioned that

she should keep walkingI didnt want a static shot ofher just standing there. Shes laughing because Id just

shown her some of the photos, and she found it funny

that I had to keep walking backward while shooting.

Photos 2010, Maynard Switzer, All Rights Reserved

8/9/2019 People Skills via Shutterbug September 2010

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ON THE ROAD: Maynard SwitzerCREATIVITY

portrait of her. Its a lens I rarely use

for portraits unless Ive already made

some kind of contact and connection

with a person and want to knock out

the background because its busy,

unimportant, or ugly. Here I couldnt

get close to her, and it was my only

choicebut every time I brought the

lens up, she turned her face away. It was

like a game: shed see the lens, smileand turn away. Her smile told me there

was rapport between us, but not with

the 180mm lens. So I walked around the

market for a half hour, then came back

from a different direction with a much

shorter lensa 35mm or a 50mm. And

thats what she wanted. When you come

closer youre sort of coming into the

persons life; youre showing an interest,

and youre showing respect.

From my days as a fashion photographer

I have a real appreciation of the otherpersons cooperation, and with travel

photography my success depends on the

cooperation of others. When I get that

cooperation, when someone gives me the

time to shoot with them, I work it quite

a bit. Ill shoot quite a few frames, from

different angles, sometimes in different

locations if theyre very cooperative. And

digital photography helps out: the ability

to show people their pictures has helped

me get more pictures.

Its also important to be observant. Ina marketplace I might be photographing

a woman who sells pots, and as Im

working Im looking around for my next

subject. If I see her colleagues looking

on, laughing and enjoying themselves, I

know Ive got my next subjects. Also, I

wont shoot all my frames at onceIll

stop and show her what Ive taken,

and Ill even walk over to some of her

colleagues and show them, all with the

hope that I can shoot them later on.

No matter what the people are doingwhen I see them, I almost always want

them to keep on doing it. First, because

they dont feel theyre taking time out to

pose for me and second, they understand

that Im interested in what theyre doing.

If there are children around and I

get the parents tacit permission to

photograph them, that almost always

means Ill be able to take pictures of the

parents as well. In a family situation in a

village, I always approach the men first,

shake their hands and make personalcontact. Im letting them know I respect

them and their families and I find what

theyre doing interesting and want to

share in it.

The most important thing is to

use common sense, be comfortable

and relaxed. Most people will be very

cooperative and willing to help you get

your photographs if you show respect and

genuine interest.

Maynard Switzers website (www.maynardswitzer.com) features several

portfolios of his travel images.

She was sitting in the doorway of a small hut in Mali with one of her children.I gestured that I wanted a picture of them, but it was her photo I was mostinterested in. I took several frames, showed her the pictures, then indicated Idlike to photograph her by herself. With her child close by with neighbors, I got therelaxed, natural picture Id envisioned.

I wanted to isolate the driver of the tuk-tuk (the three-wheel auto rickshaw) soI made an exception to my no-distance-shooting practice and took this with my180mm lens. He was aware of me and willing to pose. When I went up to himafterward to thank him, I found he spoke a little English.

Photos 2010, Maynard Switzer, All Rights Reserved