Heyman, Ken. Hipshot. One-Handed, Auto-Focus Photographs by a Master Photographer. By Ken Heyman.

Aperture, 1988. Introduction by Deborah Eisenberg. Foreword by Pete Hamill. Afterword by Heyman. First edition (unstated), fine hard cover in illustrated boards with fine protected dust jacket. Like new.  Candid street and beach photography in black-and-white by Heyman taken in New York City in 1984–1985. Summary:

Hipshot: One-Handed, Auto-Focus Photographs by a Master Photographer (1988) by Ken Heyman is a groundbreaking study in candid street photography. It chronicles Heyman’s experimental departure from traditional viewfinder composition, utilizing the then-emerging technology of high-speed auto-focus cameras to capture "un-staged" life from the hip—literally and figuratively.

Core Themes and Methodology

• The "Invisible" Photographer: Heyman, a former student of anthropologist Margaret Mead, sought to eliminate the "observer effect." By shooting with one hand at waist level (a "hipshot") without looking through the lens, he captured subjects who were unaware they were being photographed, resulting in a raw, un-posed realism.

• Embracing Technological "Accident": The book celebrates the early 1980s auto-focus revolution. Heyman leaned into the "choices" made by the camera’s internal logic, finding beauty in unusual crops, blurred movement, and the democratic chaos of the urban street.

• The Anthropological Eye: The images are less about individual portraits and more about the "flow" of human interaction—the way people lean, walk, and occupy space in cities like New York, Tokyo, and Paris.

Visual and Technical Style

• Dynamic Perspective: Because the camera is held at hip level, the perspective is lower than eye-level, giving the subjects a monumental, almost heroic physical presence.

• The "Raw" Finish: Unlike the meticulous "Fine Print" of photographers like Ansel Adams, Heyman’s images often feature "rough" edges—motion blur, tilted horizons, and overlapping figures. This creates a high-energy, cinematic "finish" that feels immediate and modern.