Snapshot or directed shot

Travel photography on people can be very spontaenous but that does not mean there is no options available. If time permits, or you have to make time available, spend a little more seconds, minutes, or longer if you wish - in case of an interesting opposite sex (for instance, not an encouragement), this way you are not alwasy trying a candid snapshot, not that it is not good, but there are too many or eventually your collection of work may lack certain variety.  Of course, some photographers can craft around their candid shot and make them as their style, is another matter.  I do candid shot sometimes, just sometimes, but while traveling, I like to engage to other people, spend a little time, make them relax, while you always learn something from seemingly nothing, often in seconds or minuts, and to me it is part of fun. Fun in getting a little different picture, fun in knowing something might be unexpected.

This Nepali girl for example, the picture appeared to be snapshot and indeed it is, but then I don't just try to snap a few pictures and go away, in stead, I start a small conversation - quite limited if you realize that I don't speak Nepali except "Namaste" - embassassingly limited but it is a start. And certainly this little girl, perhaps knows a few words in English - very limited, but here you go, you are starting to make a conversation.

Keeping the line of talk going, the spontaneous kicked in, then depends on who your subject is, they react, and you react accordingly. A lady might be shy, turn her face away but look back to you with a smile, or like this gorl, playfully hid herself behind the door.

And do your subject has to look at the camera, yes and no, there is no rule here, but why not both?
So are these considered snapshot? or directed shot? May be both. But htis is certainly not staged shot, where you hire a girl talent to act, it is a business but not photography.

And this Nepali gentleman, his hair interests me, so I started the topic around his hair, and took the shot when he is very relxed.  These all shot with Canon 1Ds III with EF 85/1.2L.

And sometimes you can't really direct your subject, especially when it is a group, then you wait, wait for the right moment to happen.  And because of this, your subject will have less suspecious on you, or tired of paying attention to you, and so you can be isolated from the happening and get the picture. Few example here all taken at almost the same spot, all happened in approx. 15 minutes. All taken with Canon 5D II, with EF 35/1.4L.

And this is my shot of the day, made also with the Canon 5DII attched with EF 35/1.4L.   I like this image for many reaosns.  First, there is a boy on the far left of the picture, he was looking at directly to the camera while everyone else turned their head toward the monkey.  Because of the boy is obviouly looking at the camera - or the photographer behind the lens, the look include the photographer in the picture, rather than an isolated onject, like simply a camera mounted on something and fired by a mechnism. The look at camera to me, does not make the picture un-nature, it put me in the picture too.  Then, out of luck, while the little girl turn her head to the monkey, with a smile, and her hair flying in the air while a sudden breeze came to blow her skirt, this all happened in the instant, that made it the picture of the day, to me.