I was assigned to cover a midnight Playstation 3 event at the local mall. It was sort of a fluke as only about 10 people showed up.People are waiting anxiously for the clock to pass 12AM. (Photo: Brian Poulsen)(Canon EOS-1D Mark II n, EF 17-40mm f/4L USM @ f/4 1/40sec, ISO1250)

I wrote the following text for a guy I know. He was going to use it on his website along with other street photography tips. Anyway. His little project went down the drain so he encouraged me to post it here instead.To start with, the law in general says you can shoot photos of anyone or anything in public space. In other terms, If you are somewhere you didn’t force entry to you have every right to shoot photos of people. Certain areas do have restrictions such as railroad stations and post 9/11, federal building are off limits most places. If you’re in doubt look up the rules for your country. Contact the national journalists union/association. I’m sure they can help you.Keep that in mind.First and foremost carry the camera in your hand or around your neck. No need to wave it around, but show your intentions. Which is that you take photos. You’re sending out a signal to people. You’ll notice that most people wont even give you a second of attention. If you’re a DSLR owner or using a camera that is not you average point and shoot, people might look at the gear longer than they look at you.Shooting people on bikes. People will most likely just ride on and say nothing. This was taken on a pretty busy street with a bus stop to the left of me. 4-6 people were waiting on the bus. NOBODY gave me more than a few seconds of attention. (Photo: Brian Poulsen)(Canon EOS-1D Mark II n, EF 17-40mm f/4L USM @ 17mm f/4 1/40sec, ISO400)Before I started working as a full time photojournalist I was nervous as hell when it came to shooting photos of strangers and I would occasionally force myself into what I considered “extreme situations”.I would place myself somewhere really crowded take out my camera and shoot a photo of just about nothing. My heart rate would go through the roof expecting somebody to confront me any second. I would shoot a couple of frames, put the camera away and leave. It was quite a rush thinking about what I just did.I proved a couple of things to myself doing this. The main thing is people really don’t take notice of you. People don’t confront you out of nowhere.A photo of city hall. It’s a pretty crowded area. I waited a few minutes to get some traffic in front of the building. Again, nobody cared about my presence. (Photo: Brian Poulsen)(Canon EOS-1D Mark II n, EF 17-40mm f/4L USM @ 27mm f/4 1/400sec, ISO400)A good place to start if you’re having problems just shooting pictures in public, is to pretend you’re a tourist. Shoot photos of things that is considered a possible attraction where you can’t avoid having other people in the frame. If you’re shooting a fountain or even a tall building, you’ll notice that people will walk right by you and sometimes even right in front of you. This can be a good exercise where you can improve at a pace that fits you. Next instead of shooting something that requires distance, shoot something that requires that you’re somewhat close to the object/subject.Back to the thing about keeping your camera visible. If you have your camera visible and you want to shoot a picture of something where poeple are in the picture or somebody, if they don’t want to be in the picture they’ll most likely tell you before you even get to shoot anything.Some people prefer to just shoot the pictures instead of approaching the individual(s) first to ask permission. If you’re looking for candid shots approaching somebody can still be a good idea. This way you totally eliminate the risk of being approached by somebody with his arms raised in madness.My number one advise would be to be honest about what you’re doing. Be prepared for questions:Me: “hello sir, would you mind if I shoot a couple of photos of you?”Individual: “why do you want to shoot photos of me?”Me: “Well I’m doing a personal project on X and I was thinking that this would be a really good picture” bla bla bla …Of course saying that I’m from the local newspaper helps me out a lot. I could just as well have told this guy “hello, mind if I shoot a few photos of you? I’m doing a little photo essay about all the snow we got these past few days”. I asked the same, only introduced myself as being from the local newspaper. (Photo: Brian Poulsen)(Canon EOS-1D Mark II n, EF 17-40mm f/4L USM @ 17mm f/4 1/500sec, ISO320)Most people will not just lean back and say “sure, knock yourself out” … It might take a little conversation before they either accept or reject. He might ask you if the pictures are going to be posted in a newspaper or whatever. Again be honest if you plan to post them on your website, tell him/her that.Also, it’s my experience that having a reason to shoot a picture of somebody will get you far.If they ask why and you just say “uhm.. I don’t know .. I just felt like it”. Think how far that’ll get you?How would you react if somebody said that to you? You’d most likely say no.You’ll probably get reject a few times, but with an open mind and honesty you’ll be amazed by how nice people are or can be.

I was assigned to visit the local animal sanctuary to shoot some photos which the newspaper was going to use on a story about a dog that was abandoned. It was taken to the sanctuary but was returned to the previous owner (not the one abandoning the dog). I saw this mixed breed with the rottweiler gene really showing. It was so eager to get my attention and was so excited. It’s amazing how sad those dogs can look. It’s basically saying ‘please take me home!’.A total of 605 animals including this rottweiler mixed breed was delivered to the local animal sanctuary by either the police, the animal rescue or pet owners who no longer see them selves fit to take care of the animals. (Photo: Brian Poulsen)(Canon EOS-1D Mark II n, EF 17-40mm f/4L USM @ f/5.0 1/400sec, ISO400)

Today was the national cancer fundraising day. In short, volunteers go door to door with a money box asking people to donate money to cancer research.I was assigned to find somebody collecting money for the cause.At age 4 this girl was out raising money along with her mother. (Photo: Brian Poulsen)(Canon EOS-1D Mark II n, EF 17-40mm f/4L USM @ f/4 1/250sec, ISO640)

A table tennis or ping pong tournament if you will, was played at one of the local sports facilities during this past week.The light was absolutely horrible. (yes I complain about the lack of light a lot!).Canon EOS-1D Mark II n, EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM @ f/2.8 1/250sec, ISO1600 (Photo: Brian Poulsen).

So once again I thought the hockey shooting was done for the year. Tuesday I got an offer to go to Sweden to shoot some junior hockey where three danes are playing, so of course I gladly accepted the invitation. Junior hockey is so intense and these kids are throwing some really great bodychecks and really give it their all.This was the first quarterfinal for the Swedish Junior Elite championship between Malm√∂ and Fr√∂lunda. If Fr√∂lunda reaches the final I might go shoot hockey once more. Here’s some pictures from Tuesday.Canon EOS-1D Mark II n, EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM @ f/2.8 1/500sec, ISO1250 (Photo: Brian Poulsen).Canon EOS-1D Mark II n, EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM @ f/2.8 1/500sec, ISO1250 (Photo: Brian Poulsen).Canon EOS-1D Mark II n, EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM @ f/2.8 1/500sec, ISO1250 (Photo: Brian Poulsen).Canon EOS-1D Mark II n, EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM @ f/2.8 1/500sec, ISO1250 (Photo: Brian Poulsen).Canon EOS-1D Mark II n, EF 17-40mm /4L USM @ f/4 1/320sec, ISO1250 (Photo: Brian Poulsen).Canon EOS-1D Mark II n, EF 17-40mm f/4L USM @ f/4 1/320sec, ISO1250 (Photo: Brian Poulsen).Canon EOS-1D Mark II n, EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM @ f/2.8 1/640sec, ISO1250 (Photo: Brian Poulsen).Canon EOS-1D Mark II n, EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM @ f/2.8 1/640sec, ISO1250 (Photo: Brian Poulsen).

The local hockey club’s women’s team made it to the championship game so I had one more last hockey outing this season. Here’s a couple of shots from today’s game.Canon EOS-1D Mark II n, EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM @ f/2.8 1/500sec, ISO1250 (Photo: Brian Poulsen).Canon EOS-1D Mark II n, EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM @ f/2.8 1/640sec, ISO1250 (Photo: Brian Poulsen).

If I really have to find a negative thing about my job, it would be that my Lomo, Holga, Yashica and even my Canon A95 has been doing nothing but collecting dust for six months now.When I shoot as much as I do on a daily basis, I don’t have this “need” or desire to go explore the city. I should probably sell them all. Well… Maybe not the Lomo. I’m sure I’d bring it when going on a vacation or something.Anyway one of the papers I work for ran a story on a dog training ground that is occupied heavily in the weekends. Here’s a few outtakes from my trip to the field.Canon EOS-1D Mark II n, EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM @ f/2.8 1/2000sec, ISO320 (Photo: Brian Poulsen).Canon EOS-1D Mark II n, EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM @ f/2.8 1/1600sec, ISO320 (Photo: Brian Poulsen).Canon EOS-1D Mark II n, EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM @ f/2.8 1/1600sec, ISO320 (Photo: Brian Poulsen).

The preseason games have begun and the soccer season is less than a month away. Out of nowhere the weather has turned around from blizzard like weather to sun and temperatures around 10 degrees (50 degrees fahrenheit).With a pretty bad hangover I had to shoot some soccer today. The weather made it worth it for sure.Canon EOS-1D Mark II n, EF 300mm f/2.8 @ f/2.8 1/2000sec, ISO100 (Photo: Brian Poulsen).Canon EOS-1D Mark II n, EF 300mm f/2.8 @ f/2.8 1/2000sec, ISO100 (Photo: Brian Poulsen).Canon EOS-1D Mark II n, EF 300mm f/2.8 with 1.4x TC, 420mm @ f/4 1/2500sec ISO200 (Photo: Brian Poulsen).Canon EOS-1D Mark II n, EF 300mm f/2.8 with 1.4x TC, 420mm @ f/4 1/2500sec ISO200 (Photo: Brian Poulsen).