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Shooting From The Hip

By: Debbie48 Comments

Shooting From The Hip

At the moment niggly hips are preventing me from running so in a bid to maintain a certain level of fitness I’ve taken to walking around route from Lagana to Kalamaki and back down the beach. It’s not far to walk, measuring just under 5km, but when early evening temperatures are still touching 33C (any hotter than that I don’t go) I feel it’s enough.

Walking on the dry sand really gets the muscles working and when time permits or the mood takes, it’s nice to have a quick dip in the sea afterwards.

Recently I’ve been thinking about the St. Dennis Festival that takes part on Zakynthos. It may not be until the 24th August, but the time is flying by right now. Can you believe it’s mid-July already?

The past couple of years I’ve gone to the market and taken photos of the spectacular firework display, but this year, if I can summons the energy to go I want to take a different approach in regards to taking photos.

That’s where shooting from the hip comes in. It’s a subtle style of taking photographs that enables us to take nice, candid photos. It’s a bit sneaky, so it’s a style that I’m not sure will sit well with me, but I do like the idea of it. My biggest fear? Someone noticing and confronting me!… I’d die!

I thought that my walk would be a perfect time to try shooting from the hip. Obviously, I had to be careful what I photographed on the beach as there are some sights best left unseen!

For My First Attempt

I used my 50mm lens, set the ISO at 100 and left the camera to do the focusing. The F stop was 5 and I had to vary the shutter speed according to where I was walking. I also had the shutter on continuous mode, I felt at least then I may have a chance of getting something… Oh, and I also turned the beep off, although my shutter is hardly silent and I was very aware of that.

When I got out of the car, I stood and took a few practice shots, just to get a feel for the angle. Then off I headed with the camera on my hip.

I took just under 200 photos and hardly any of them were interesting, let alone worth keeping. But I did manage to salvage two, with a little cropping and lightening up (1600 shutter speed was a little too quick!).

So here you have…

My Sunday Photos

shooting from the hip

7 pm and the beach is still busy. 

Have you tried shoot from the hip photography?
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shooting from the hip

That man looks engrossed in whatever it is he is doing. And those people in the distance are not meant to be at the back of the beach. That’s where the turtles’ nest!

For me, shooting from the hip photography is going to take a bit of practice. Is it a style you’ve ever tried?

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About Debbie

Hello, I’m Debbie (also known as ChirpyDebs) and thank you for stopping by my little corner of the internet. Now the children are all grown up I’m happiest when I’m out with the dogs or hiking a trail with my camera in hand. My blog is where I like to share photographs showing the wild beauty of Zakynthos that most people don’t get to see, recipes and other seemingly random things that come to mind.

Comments

    • 48

      Debbie says

      Hi Robert, I have to be honest and say I'm not sure what the rules are for disability aid dogs. However, I do know that dogs, in general, are not allowed on the beach as it's a nesting beach for the loggerhead turtles. I don't recall reading in the rules of the beach any mention of exceptions being made for aid dogs. Sorry, I can't be any more help than that. Thank you for stopping by. xx
      Reply
  2. 49

    Jeanna says

    I'm using today to play catch up (and eat ginger snaps) so I'm barely opening the blinds so I won't be tempted. I believe it's about 33C here today too and I want no part of that. This is a great post, congrats on the nifty fifty, I got a nifty 40 last year and one of the draws was its ability to take those sneaky candid shots. I just read the aperture "sweet spot" is two or three from the lowest number. So the 40 goes to 2.8 making the sweet spot 3.5 or 4.0. I don't know if you can turn off the shutter noise, I actually had a dream last night about taking those kinds of shots and some camera noise giving me away. But it was a dream so I could have been taking photos with a banana. You sure do live in a beautiful place but that guy, ahhhaaaa, it looks like he's reading while on the John. But then again, I've taken that photo before.
    Reply
    • 50

      Debbie says

      Hi Jeanna, I really need to do the same, but I've just looked at the comments I have to reply to and want to go to bed! A nifty 40 would give a wider angle? My next lens will definitely be a 35mm for a wider angle (I have a list of lens I would like, but have you seen the prices!!)... I haven't been out with it since, but I'll remember that, so my 50 goes to 1.8, which makes the 'sweet spot' between 3.8 & 4.8?...a mask the shutter It's those ginger snaps that make you dream funny, but I have heard that bananas do take a good photo (in dreams). I don't think I can mask the shutter sound and I can't imagine sneezing everytime I hit the button will make for a stable photo... People sleeping on loos are the funniest or is that just in this house? Thank you for stoppng by, it's always nice chatting. xx
      Reply
  3. 51

    Jen says

    I have never done it before. I think people are truly fascinating though. I always wonder when you see or meet people without really meeting them and then wonder what their story is. I wish we had a beach nearby :)
    Reply
    • 52

      Debbie says

      Hi Jen, they are especially when they are just 'being'. I wonder that too sometimes, although I suspect the reality is nowhere near as exciting as the imagination... I can't imagine not living near a beach, the air smells of it and in winter on a rough day, we can hear it. Thank you for stopping by. xx
      Reply
  4. 53

    Tamara says

    I have tried it, only because I get really embarrassed when I'm "caught" taking photos on the street. When it's a client thing, I don't mind being watched. I think you did a nice job! I'll sometimes pretend I'm taking photos of something, but really it's something else. It's all in where I'm looking and how wide my lens is.
    Reply
    • 54

      Debbie says

      Hi Tamara, that's my biggest fear too... I have done that too, but I still swear they know I'm trying to fool them! It is a style I would like to play around with, for sure. Thank you for stopping by. xx
      Reply
    • 58

      Debbie says

      Hi Nat, now that would be funny! Imagine me rolling around the sand dunes playing cowboys & Indians?... I'm sure professional photographers have a technical name for this style of photography! Thank you for stopping by. xx
      Reply
  7. 59

    Mary says

    Debbie I've never tried it but my daughter who is a photographer does it a lot. Yours came out really good. I think all it takes is practice.
    Reply
    • 60

      Debbie says

      Hi Mary, thank you. I was pleased with my first attempt but I'm going to need plenty of practice!... I wonder where your daughter gets her photography 'eye' from? Thank you for stopping by. xx
      Reply
  8. 61

    NotmyyearOf says

    I absolutely love people watching and love things like this. You can look at it for ages. My other half loves shooting from the hip. He’s always taking shots when people aren’t looking.
    Reply
    • 62

      Debbie says

      Hi Tas, people watching can be an interesting pastime, you can see some odd things (I expect they think exactly the same about me too). It is a style I like, but am going to have to practice to get it right. Thank you for stopping by. xx
      Reply
    • 64

      Debbie says

      Hi Kim, it is, unfortunately, there are parts of it that are chockers with sunbeds, but that's tourism for you. Thank you for stopping by. xx
      Reply
    • 66

      Debbie says

      Thank you. I like that style too, although it's something that I'm going to need to practice, a lot! Thank you for stopping by. xx
      Reply
  11. 67

    Carlee says

    It does seem like a great way to get candid shots and neither of these are too invasive of anyone's privacy. It's fun to see the sights of the beach!
    Reply
    • 68

      Debbie says

      Hi Carlee, it is, and I don't think I'm brave enough to be too 'in your face'. It's a style I'm, planning to practice. Thank you for stopping by. xx
      Reply
  12. 69

    anne says

    oh your beach is gorgeous, that backdrop!! I'm not really one for candid photographs like this, but i have bought one of those octopus holders in the hope that I can put my phone on my wheelchair and take photos or videos as I go along. It does have an attachment for my camera, but I think it would look a bit too obvious. #mysundayphoto
    Reply
    • 70

      Debbie says

      Hi Anne, that's the Kalamaki end of the Kalamaki to Lagana beach. The backdrop is lovely and they are the hills we walk in. Usually, I share photos taken in the other direction, I'm not sure why... An octopus holder sounds like fun, imagine the photos/ video you could get! It's funny that a phone is less conspicuous than a camera when we all know that phones are loaded with a camera these days. Thank you for stopping by. xx
      Reply
  13. 71

    Victoria Welton says

    It is great to hear how you set this all up Debbie. I like this style of photography and it does take a bit of getting used to. I actually like the composition and set up of the first one.
    Reply
    • 72

      Debbie says

      Hi Victoria, it almost sounds like I know what I'm doing, doesn't it... But I don't, not really. I love this style when done by someone who knows what they are doing, but as with anything it takes practice to get right... I prefer the top photo too, I like the way people are just being people. Thank you for popping by. xx
      Reply
    • 74

      Debbie says

      Hi Carol, I thought so too, but it's not so easy. I take plenty of bad shots too, I just don't share them! Thank you for stopping by. xx
      Reply
    • 76

      Debbie says

      Hi Nikki, you should give it a go. I'd be interested in how you find it. People are usually the last thing I like to photograph because of posing, but if I can get them looking natural I'll be happy. Thank you for popping by. xx
      Reply
    • 78

      Debbie says

      Hi Fiona, I'm sure it's just tendon trouble but won't be sure until I see the Doctor in November. I've had it for quite a while, but it's got really bad recently. I enjoy the walks and they don't bother the hip. Unfortunately, turtle numbers are declining mostly down to human actions. Thank you for stopping by. xx
      Reply
  17. 79

    Comedy Plus says

    I love your photography so anyway you do it works for me. I'm terrible with a camera. Haven't a clue about any of the settings. I'f it's not point and shoot then I'm lost. Even point and shoot pictures of mine are terrible. Have a fabulous day. ♥ Comedy Plus recently posted...Feline FridayMy Profile
    Reply
    • 80

      Debbie says

      Hi Sandee, that's a really nice thing to say, thank you!... Sadly I have turned into a camera snob, the other day I dug out the old point and shoot, which is a very nice camera, but I wasn't inspired by it. We had planned a family day out (that never happened) & I didn't want to take my big girls camera. Thank you for popping by. xx
      Reply
  18. 81

    Dad says

    Great location to be testing this out. I love the backdrop! I'm not usually game enough to aim my camera at people, although I did get told off by my wife for taking photos of cosplayers in the city the other day!
    Reply
    • 82

      Debbie says

      Hi Dad, I thought so too, but maybe the beach isn't the best place to take secret photos? The beaches here do have some lovely surroundings, it's something I don't think I'll ever get fed up of... I would have thought that cosplayers wouldn't mind having their photos taken, some of the costumes are quite impressive. Thank you for stopping by. xx
      Reply
  19. 83

    ChrisTine says

    I took an iPhone photography course at the start of the year and one of the modules was about candid street photography. I just couldn’t do it! In the video tutorial the chap was just taking random photos of people as they walked in front of him. There’s no way I could feel comfortable with this - I’d never make a good spy 😄 I like your man on the beach though, far enough away that he’s not too recognisable. ChrisTine recently posted...Race to the Stones – a 100km jog along the RidgewayMy Profile
    Reply
    • 84

      Debbie says

      Hi Christine, I was a cowardly hip shooter, which is probably why most were no good. I did watch some YouTube videos and they were the rather brazen too. It's a style I would like to play with, but it goes totally against my nature, so we shall see. Thank you for popping by. xx
      Reply
  21. 87

    John Adams says

    I think you can also call this reportage photography! It's what I had to do as a journalist from time to time (those days, thankfully, being in the dim and distant past and we were armed with nothing but a Canon Sure Shot camera). Love your attempts here. I think the second one is my fave. There's the one definite subject that catches the eye. Loev the way you are willing to experiemnt Debs, always look forward to your pictures.
    Reply
    • 88

      Debbie says

      Hi John, I imagine as a journalist you are a little more vulnerable to people confronting you! And was that the Sureshot camera really what you were armed with?... They are pretty cowardly attempts, but the first one is my favourite, I think with people doing what people do on the beach (on a crowded one anyway!)... That's a nice thing to say and thank you. I'm sure most people with an interest in photography often get 'ideas' to try. Thank you for stopping by. xx
      Reply
  24. 93

    Sarah MumofThree World says

    They're really good, natural photos! You must have had to check that crowded one carefully to make sure there aren't any of those sights that shouldn't be seen! Hope you are back to running soon. A 5k walk in 33 degree heat is definitely plenty. Sarah MumofThree World recently posted...Silent Sunday 22.7.18My Profile
    Reply
    • 94

      Debbie says

      Hi Sarah, thank you. I was careful when I clicked. The beach probably wasn't the best place to try this style of photography... I hope so too, but I have a feeling I may hang my running shoes up and just keep hiking and walking. Hip pain is making me consider whether running (for me) is wise in the long-term. Thank you for stopping by. xx
      Reply

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