Eye Contact Assignment?
B
Brian Watt
@brianwatt10 Jun
Eye Contact Assignment?
I wondered whether a good idea for another assignment might be eye contact? Sometimes I quite like a candid street shot with eye contact even though, or because, it bruises the scene. What do you think about eye contact in an image? Are there any images from other photographers whose eye contact shots you love?
Great idea Brian. Sometimes a bit of eye contact can really elevate a street photograph especially in a busy scene where everyone else is looking the other way.
that is a cool idea. like breaking the fourth wall in filming. I did not know there was a street photo style / term for that
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With this image I didn't so much bruise the scene as entered with both feet. However, when I pointed the camera at them I had no idea what their reaction would be and the man with the short hair on the right walked into the frame and gave me a very hard stare. There is definitely eye contact from the three of them but is it still a candid image? How much eye contact is too much? Does it matter? Would be really interested to hear what people think and see the different approaches to eye contact. I took this last year at the celebration and commemoration of the 80th anniversary of VE Day in my local town last year.
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I dont think it matters. It is still not a portrait and the person on the right, walking in and not geared up makes it all the more interesting.
Here are some old ones of mine from years ago when I went on a photowalk in central london. I stood up by a bus stop and was taking photos of people riding the bus. This provided some sort of "bubble" keeping me and them from interacting with anything but gestures and the camera.
So I did get some eye contact. Got some smiles as well but these are not busy scenes
Thanks. Not sure if they are the best ever but every time I see them I remember the moment and how I felt. And as they smiled back when they saw me pointing my camera I think it was a good moment. Except for the lady on the phone. She wasn't that amused ....!
Always thought I should try this again but it has been a good 10 years since I stalked any bus stop
I do like a busy scene where somewhere in the mix, one person is making eye contact. We're programmed as humans to respond to that, so I think it can draw the viewer in, especially when it isn't immediately obvious.
It’s one of my favourite
Nice idea. I like these from the archive. First was in sri lanka a couple of years ago. The other from porto last april. I dont really mind of i get noticed if the energy in the shot is sincere.
I always liked this one. The artist looks very contenplative, but he could also be sneaking a peek. I find I rarely get noticed (or elicit a reaction from people), but I'll usually chat for a bit or pretend I'm just a silly tourist depending on my mood. Bruising the scene doesn't come into it, there's usually something that caught my eye and that either photographs well, or won't. Fully agree with Wouter on this, the energy should be right. Exception to this was visiting the US last year; I had people actively asking for my Instagram and even had people come up to ask if I could take their picture. Coming for cold, cold Northern Europa, that was a fun change of pace for once.
The 4th wall break, you can't go wrong with that.
I love some eye contact in images. I have a few where I was probably lucky to get away unscathed. This chap was sizing me up for concrete boots.