How to Take a Photograph

As with all things, the trick is to be patient and wait for the moment to come. When it does, you make eye contact and gesture toward your camera in a way that isn’t too obvious. You’re silently asking permission. When you do it right, it’s cool. You usually get a smile or a nod. Then you can get to work.

I first saw the pickle drum player pictured below earlier this week when I was on my way into the gym, and I’ve seen him a couple of times since. He always draws a crowd, and the pickle bucket in front of his drum kit is always full of dollar bills. He’s good. I put a dollar in his bucket, then a minute or so later I caught his eye and held up my Blackberry. He nodded and smiled. It took me four frames to get the shot.