Anyone Else Feel Weird Shooting In Public?

[gsgary]

And just how many of the people do you see on the street and think THEY are weirdos because of their clothes, hairstyle, funny-looking car, etc?

My basic thoughts while doing candid photography in and from public places is "let 'em think whatever they want, I'm getting my picture!" For what it's worth, I'm headed to downtown Chicago next week, basically repeating a trip there a year ago. Hopefully, it will be a bit cooler, and I can get some more great shots of things I didn't have time for last year. Fortunately, it's downtown, business day, and quite crowded. So personal safety issues are minimal, as I am travelling alone. Somehow, I never feel 'safe' in New York City, which is only a 2.5 hr drive from my home in MA. Philly...so so. Washington DC...no problem! Everyone's a tourist there! Needless to say, I only go where the crowds are...not walking alone with "valuable" camera gear.

When shooting street photography i only have a Billingham Hadley Pro bag nice and small with minimum gear 2 lenses and 1 M4, but by the sound of it we are not talking street photography, when im shooting street i have a 28mm and 40mm so you have to get close very close because im shooting people going about there daily lives

 

[imagemaker46]

It's natural to feel weird shooting in public, especially if you don't do it very often. You are playing voyeur every time you take pictures of someone. There is a fear of people reacting in a negative manner that sits in your head. Many people feel a privacy invasion when a camera is pointed at them, some people like it. I see people sneaking around shooting that look creepy, this is what other people may see as well. Getting past the feeling weird takes time.

 

[ann]

Never, but then I have been doing this for almost 64 years. I do pay attention to the environment and especially if there are few people about as I don't want to be surprised by a stranger moving to my blind side.

However, perhaps being a little old lady helps as they think i am just some crazy tourist.

 

[Boney]

I'd say go ahead and shoot away. The way anti-photographing laws are growing, you may not have too much more time to take them. Los Angeles police have been coached to stop and question photographers as potential terrorists. Then there is the potential copyright violations when shooting architecture, even in and from public locations. These types of laws should be of concern to all of us. I can see the future coming where cameras will have to be registered like firearms and permits required to use them in public. Note all the prohibitions at the Olympics. No interchangeable lens cameras allowed into the events.

 

[gsgary]

I'd say go ahead and shoot away. The way anti-photographing laws are growing, you may not have too much more time to take them. Los Angeles police have been coached to stop and question photographers as potential terrorists. Then there is the potential copyright violations when shooting architecture, even in and from public locations. These types of laws should be of concern to all of us. I can see the future coming where cameras will have to be registered like firearms and permits required to use them in public. Note all the prohibitions at the Olympics. No interchangeable lens cameras allowed into the events.

I love positive posts

 

[luisegonzalez]

This is inevitable, the fact that you are capturing images of perfect strangers, often without asking for permission, makes you feel like you are intruding. One techniques that I sues is to pre- focus on a section of the scene and snap shots as interesting subjects come close. If asked I share my ideas and reasons and this usually gets people to interact with you and happy that you took their images. It is worth noting that sometimes you will be asked for copies and a simple interchanging of email does the trick.
Luis E Gonzalez

 

[bhop]

You'll get used to it over time. Personally I don't care what people think about me, it's not like some strangers views of me has any impact on my life in any way, so why should I? There are some exceptions I suppose.. some people just get angry for no reason so I'm still a little skittish with 'in your face' kinda shots, which is unfortunate because those are often the most interesting kind of street shots. Using a small camera and purposely looking like a tourist helps. I use rangefinders, or my x100 usually.

 

[DiskoJoe]

I really want to get downtown and capture some urban shots but I always feel weird when shooting in public. Sorta like I can hear them say to themselves "What's this guy taking a picture of?" or "What's this weirdo doing?"

Its especially tough to shoot in a busy city and not feel like you're not respecting people's privacy by including them in your shot. However, its not like I can walk around the entire city handing out waivers to everyone.

I dunno... maybe I'm the only one. Sadly, this kinda deters me from going out. Thoughts?

You have to change your attitude or it will be weird.

If you want to take someones picture then just take it and do not hide it. I use a 70-200mm f2.8 that is a humongous and extremely noticeable lens when shooting in town. I also smile and wave at people. if they seem friendly I might stop them and show them the pic or ask them to pose.

Asking people to pose is a good way to start. Then its not weird since they have to agree to let you take the pic.

100 Strangers - a set on Flickr

 

[DiskoJoe]

You'll get used to it over time. Personally I don't care what people think about me, it's not like some strangers views of me has any impact on my life in any way, so why should I? There are some exceptions I suppose.. some people just get angry for no reason so I'm still a little skittish with 'in your face' kinda shots, which is unfortunate because those are often the most interesting kind of street shots. Using a small camera and purposely looking like a tourist helps. I use rangefinders, or my x100 usually.

Good point. The closer, the better. Always.

 

[charlie76]

I recall feeling that way when I first started, sure! Sometimes I would miss a shot because I was too shy to approach something, etc....but I try it to do that anymore. A missed photo op EATS AWAY AT MY SOUL all day!!!!! So I try no to be shy in public

 

[sometimes]

I think it's a beginner thing mostly, because as someone already pointed out: most photographers probably end up getting used to it.

I am situationally weird about it.

At times, I feel very confident and most people don't know the difference between cameras, so if your camera looks "professional" they'll assume you know what you're doing. Meanwhile, in my head, i'm thinking "I have no idea what the heck i'm doing right now, but i'm going to try this and see if it works."

Other times I just feel like a creep, but I try to work through that and just take the pictures.

It's not necessarily that I care what people think of me.. it's more like i'm not confident enough in my abilities, so i'm shy about it.

 

[joe11]

When I Take Street Images I Have my Camera Round my one hand with the 50mm 1.4G on and Just raise it and take a Shot and gsgary you Have no Problems I Bet Because people think its a Compact but its a Brill Camera ​

 

[globeglimpser]

well if the alternative is wear a hood, sunglasses (not when taking the shot) and a cap and look creepy, I may just prefer to look "weird"

no but seriously, photography is extremely popular now and people seem used to it.
This is good because I don't feel weird
But it's bad because no one seems to care about whether they are walking through your shot :/

 

[pixmedic]

there are a lot of things i felt weird about doing in public the first few times...you get over it.

 

[PhotoWrangler]

Somewhere... on a forum I've probably been banned from.... I once started a thread asking the exact same thing. And all these years later, I still feel that way.