The Conspicuous Photographer

[robbins.photo]

Spam^^^

It's been reported.

 

[smoke665]

IMO the best thing to do is just get the shot you're looking for by any means necessary. Whether it's a telephoto lens or asking permission. At least in most cases you won't go home disappointed. After you get the shot then go up to that person or people and show them your photo and then offer to send it to them. The worst thing that can happen is they make you delete it.

They can ABSOLUTELY not make you delete the image. In public there is no expectation of privacy, and you own that photo once you press the shutter release.

They can refuse to sign a release, meaning you can't use the photo for certain commercial uses. But it can still be used in an editorial capacity even without ever attempting to get their consent.

NOBODY can make you delete an image. Not the police. Not the governement. Not a judge. NOBODY.

This was covered recently in another post. "In public there is no expectation of privacy" not entirely correct in most states there are certain privacy rights that carry over to public places, such as - there is a presumed amount of privacy (public restroom, or a backyard, that might be partially visible from a public location) or a photograph that would disclose otherwise private facts (photos of people going into or out of an abortion clinic, or bankruptcy court, psychiatric clinic, etc). The specific regulations vary from state to state, but in general they are not limited to just commercial use, and the person doesn't even need to be recognizable. While there are no regulations preventing you from "taking" the picture in a public location, there are still things you need to be aware of as to what happens with it after you snap the picture.

 

[Advanced Photo]

I agree with Garry Winogrand when he says that street photography is an odd name. When I'm out and about hoping to get a few shots of life in all its banal splendor, I like using a small wide-angled camera. Being intrusive is something I try to avoid and once a subject or scene comes up I take the shot, where possible, according to how the situation allows. Feeling awkward is normal, I think, and fumbling with the camera as Winogrand does is something I also find helpful.

Whilst the subjects are elements of the intended photo, I try not to take photos which might be considered offensive or that could cause distress. Respect and common sense are very important.

I don't worry about the ones that got away.

If life happens and there is no photographer to capture it, is there a picture missed, or was there never a picture to begin with?
There are NO pictures in the world, just things happening and ... life.

 

[Fred von den Berg]

I agree with Garry Winogrand when he says that street photography is an odd name. When I'm out and about hoping to get a few shots of life in all its banal splendor, I like using a small wide-angled camera. Being intrusive is something I try to avoid and once a subject or scene comes up I take the shot, where possible, according to how the situation allows. Feeling awkward is normal, I think, and fumbling with the camera as Winogrand does is something I also find helpful.

Whilst the subjects are elements of the intended photo, I try not to take photos which might be considered offensive or that could cause distress. Respect and common sense are very important.

I don't worry about the ones that got away.

If life happens and there is no photographer to capture it, is there a picture missed, or was there never a picture to begin with?
There are NO pictures in the world, just things happening and ... life.

Just as the past and history are disparate notions, life and the photos that capture it are not the same thing.

 

[The_Traveler]

More luck today in DC

With Oly OMD 5 - 35-100 Panasonic

Halls of Power, Washington, DC

Oly Ep 3 Lumix 18 mm

Passersby Passing

 

[jcdeboever]

IMO the best thing to do is just get the shot you're looking for by any means necessary. Whether it's a telephoto lens or asking permission. At least in most cases you won't go home disappointed. After you get the shot then go up to that person or people and show them your photo and then offer to send it to them. The worst thing that can happen is they make you delete it.

They can ABSOLUTELY not make you delete the image. In public there is no expectation of privacy, and you own that photo once you press the shutter release.

They can refuse to sign a release, meaning you can't use the photo for certain commercial uses. But it can still be used in an editorial capacity even without ever attempting to get their consent.

NOBODY can make you delete an image. Not the police. Not the governement. Not a judge. NOBODY.

You are incorrect.

 

[Gary A.]

I've been shooting Street since the 1970's ... typically with two cameras and a camera bag. I am very conspicuous when I shoot, I do not attempt to hide and I rarely if ever ask permission. I dress and act as a profession doing his job, similarly to the people on the street are doing their job. I am very respectful of the people I shoot sand 99% of the time they are respectful back. Over the years I have developed a sixth sense, street smarts of when and who I can capture and when/who I should avoid. I also have developed a mental attitude of blending into the street ... fading into the background ... at times, even armed with two cameras and a bag, I feel as if I am transparent if not invisible. I become not a tourist with an expensive camera shooting to exploit the street people ... capturing images to show my suburban neighbors images to mock the lives of the street people ... but one of them, just another working stiff doing his job. Times have changed since I first started shooting Street, people are harder to convince that you are not shooting to exploit then in years past. While it is a much different and much more hostile shooting environment than long ago, but I feel that my skills from decades ago still work for me.

 

[flashback1]

You might be surprised the number of times I've walked around NYC and come back with nothing. On the other hand, I used to be an avid fisherman (small streams for brookies) and bird hunter (grouse) and honed my tolerance of coming back with nothing in the bag. For me it's about mood. I have no doubt I've passed up some pretty good shot simply because in my mind's eye I was after something else. For me it's actually less about taking shots and more about seeing. If I'm lucky the two merge and I take a shot. Even rarer, it's a good shot.

As for technique, mostly I walk around with an 80lb, long blonde hair, muppety looking dog which seems to draw the attention away from me. I've never had any issues while taking shots (but I do have a few where I was clearly spotted and their disapproving look was obvious). But, while I'm not a tall guy, I do believe there is a look about me that for the most part, gives me a generous portion of immunity.

I have never asked anyone permission nor have I ever subsequently approached them to show them the image. I'm out doing my thing, no harm no foul. I use a d7k with a 35mm lens and I zone focus, often with the camera around my neck and holding it chest height. I miss a lot but I get a enough good ones to keep me happy.

On the job I'll take most (many, some) things seriously but walking around with a camera...too many times I actually regret bringing it along because it gets in the way of me just enjoying the walk, so for me it's just about fun. Very much like grouse hunting, humping the woods all day, kick up a few birds and go home with pretty much everything I started out with. I do these things for fun, not to survive.

 

[The_Traveler]

You might be surprised the number of times I've walked around NYC and come back with nothing. On the other hand, I used to be an avid fisherman (small streams for brookies) and bird hunter (grouse) and honed my tolerance of coming back with nothing in the bag.

I don't mind if I actually see shots available but choose not to take them; to me that is much less frustrating than being in a photograph-barren place like the suburbs where no one ever walks or mingles and everything is new. Yes, yes I know that it's up to me to find the shot but I like finding the shot where people intereact.

Post more street shots.

 

[Kenneth Walker]

Sometimes, promising shots may be acquired....it's a little like fishing, IMO. There's always a great shot that gets away....I'm still trying to get a decent shot...this almost qualifies. A group of chinese tourists...one of them bored (it is Reading after all!)

 

[The_Traveler]

IMO, this would be a much nicer shot, in fact a very fine shot, converted into BW with the luminance of yellow and red lowered and a bit of selective burning.

 

[Kenneth Walker]

Thanks...haven't done much with it to be honest...my first effort, almost, at street photography. I was using a panasonic GMC5, with a big lens on (100-300mm). I like the next one, when the young lady clocked me....what a pity the focus wasn't sorted!

 

[Frank F.]

I ask permission sometimes in words and then wait for them to forget me which can last a while but I am very patient. Or I make eye contact. Or I just talk to people and take the picture with 50mm or 35mm.

A street scene (like the kids with the Hoola Hoops) is another category for me than a street portrait (someone recognizable doing something).

Sometimes the Tele is an option, with the Nikkor 300PF being very small and unintrusive as recommended tool, esp on a D500.

 

[Frank F.]

I feel this is a stolen shot. Yet I still like it.

 

[Frank F.]

These girls were taking photos of a friend, but also posing for me, as they saw me (street scene, no permission asked):

This girl was the model of the other girls (portrait, just did it):

This girl was aware that I took the picture, yet the architectural part is dominant: