Photo ideas for photography?

[mdarnton]

I can't remember whose site it was but I saw some nice 8x10 street photos the other day. It looked like the photog had set the camera up in a likely spot and then just waited. I also remember seeing on flickr a couple of years ago someone who'd pre focused his 4x5 view and was hand holding it, shooting "blind" as in sans finder.

[ImSoNegative]

Some of these are good ideas. There was a guy on flickr I can't think of his name but he shot an 8x10 one sheet a day for a year many around his own neighborhood interesting shots I enjoyed looking at them

[arca andy]

This a Large Format Photography Forum. Some of your suggestions just do not fit into this style of photography. Shooting an 8x10 from the hip just won't work, dances and football are, in my opinion, not practical with anything other that a press camera. Most of all taking a decent camera to a dump like Hackney and hoping to get home with it is pure fantasy.
Sorry to be critical,
Pete.

Hackney a dump!!? I used to shoot a lot of social housing refrubishment around Hackney and never once had any of my gear knicked or was hassled in any way. Its now becoming very trendy or so I have been told!

[Dennis]

Cliche' city!

[ImSoNegative]

I think I would like to do some environmental portraiture now that I have my 8x10 back

[arca andy]

Cliche' city!

Not half!
My theory is that if you stand in the middle of any urban enviorment with an LF camera on a tripod people come and talk to you...usual with many questions about what you're doing and what sort of camera that is....They won't mug you because you don't fit into typical street demographic....this theory of mine, of course, could be one big fools paradise!

[Richard Wasserman]

Arca Andy, this has also been my experience. My photography which has a strong historical/social component often takes me to shall we say, less desirable neighborhoods. I have had many people talk with me about my camera, and what I was doing. Invariably when I explain they are interested and supportive. I have only had good experiences—except for one time when I was in an affluent suburb and an attorney in his Bentley gave me a hard time, encouraging me to hit him. I think he was looking for business....

Not half!
My theory is that if you stand in the middle of any urban enviorment with an LF camera on a tripod people come and talk to you...usual with many questions about what you're doing and what sort of camera that is....They won't mug you because you don't fit into typical street demographic....this theory of mine, of course, could be one big fools paradise!