Portraying people is one of our favourite photographic activities. Whether photographing people at leisure, at work, formally or informally I believe that this is one area of photography where every picture should tell a story. For example the picture below shows a family group on a beach at the water's edge. It's a grey day and not really beach weather but they're trying to make the most of it. One or two of them appear to have been in the water and are perhaps wondering whether to go back. The little girl on the right obviously thinks that a bit of physical persuasion is what is required. I have deliberately placed the figures at the bottom of the frame leaving an expanse of water above. This has the effect of heightening the mood of indecision.

To photograph people candidly it is best to use a telephoto lens so that they are not aware of what you are doing and therefore continue to act naturally. There is of course no law against this although I did read in one magazine that legislation against photographing people in public places is under consideration. How you go about photographing a public place without including people in the picture remains a mystery. However, when photographing children candidly you do require to have the parent's consent and preferably in writing.

This photo of two men in conversation with another partly seen person was taken by Debbie in a street in Truro and has a wonderful continental flavour about it by virtue of the flowers and the striped canopy. This is further enhanced by the old building which forms the backdrop. The third man appears to be walking away in disgust, perhaps in disagreement with something said.

I get a 'Last of the summer wine' feeling from it and half expect Nora Batty to appear in the frame at any moment

When photographing people at work I just let them get on with their job instead of posing them. In this area of photography posed photos look artificial and insincere. You may have to rig up a little lighting for effect and the subject will almost certainly be aware of what you are doing. If you take a couple of frames and then pretend to lose interest they will soon forget about you and act more naturally.

I took this photo in the early 1960s when I was working in a hospital as a radiographer. I wanted to portray the dedication this nurse working on night duty and also to inject the atmosphere of quiet that descends over a hospital ward at night.

Please click on the picture to see an enlargement and a brief description of how I went about it.