The secret to taking pictures of people in a foreign country - for me at least

[Alex_B]

Well said!

 

[The_Traveler]

Thank you _David_ and Alex_B for looking and commenting

So you're saying that looking like a creeper is a bad thing? lol. Great points Traveler. I've never had an issues taking candids and then acknowledging the people I photographed.

I think the order in which I meet people and take pictures is crucial, particularly in a country where I am a guest and where the formality of interaction is an important part of the culture. (In Myanmar, one calls another man by the honorific of 'U' which is essentially 'Sir'. When you become friends, he will invite you to call him 'Ko', essentially Brother.

An analogy might be that it is OK to meet someone of the opposite gender, get to know them and then proceed to have sex; the reverse order would be inappropriate.

 

[nanhi]

Just a little caution! Many white folks are looked at suspiciously when shooting children in west asia, east asia or the far east. This is because people have been caught for child pornography. Often these offenders are old farts with sexual sickness. Local folks take your actions, gestures, talk or gifting chocolates to kids as "baiting" the child. Many people even missionaries who run orphanages in these parts have been caught for lewd acts with children.
So beware.
Regards. Bipin - from that far away enchanting land.

 

[The_Traveler]

I don't mind being looked at suspiciously because my actions never go beyond what is proper and so any suspicions get diffused.

 

[jaguaraz]

Thank you Lew for posting those tips. I've admired your work since I've been on this forum and love people photography so these tips are especially relevant to me.

 

[nmoody]

Some really great nuggets of advice here, thank you very much fort sharing.

I have not felt comfortable enough to do street photography yet, but am almost ready to give it a shot. This has calmed my fears a little. Treat others as you like to be treated and try to respect any boundaries they may have.

 

[The_Traveler]

For those who are interested in street photography there is a perhaps good opportunity tomorrow and Wednesday morning in front of Supreme Court in Washington DC.
The Court is taking oral arguments on the Defense of Marriage Act and a state abortion law.
There are going to be demonstrations by both sides and some good photo ops perhaps.

If any of you are going to be there, look for me and we can have coffee afterwards.
Oldish guy, mustache, black jacket, hat, Nikon shooter.

 

[monoloco]

I totally agree with the OP, I've tried it both ways and have found that I get the most rewarding images when I engage the subject.

 

[gsgary]

don't get me me wrong, I often shoot where people are unaware but in situations where the photographer is seen and noticed, imo, a forthright, open approach produces better shots than just sticking a lens in someone's face.

The only time people know im taking a photo is when it is at my eye for a split second, like you my camera is by my side hyper focused so there is no need to focus i use a rangefinder so it fits in my hand and people dont see it

 

[molested_cow]

Foreign or not, I personally don't think that's the key factor.

To me, the first thing that needs to be present is the subject's perception of what your intention is. For example, once I was walking around in a night market with my camera and the vendors got nervous because they thought I was a journalist trying to snoop negative stories to write about. This was right beside where my grandparents live and I wasn't a stranger to the night market, let alone being a "foreigner".

Then there are situations were I made my presence known, dress like an obvious tourist in a place where tourists are do appear from time to time. Even in tiny villages or tribe in the mountains where you don't really see outsiders linger around the only street of the village, people smile at me and they generally go on their natural ways without feeling uneasy as I snap pictures. They even pose for me.

I do agree with Lew on many points. I think it just depends on the local culture. Therefore, trying to understand them first will be a good thing to do to know how you should present yourself as a photographer.

 

[Derrel]

An excellent reminder to be sensitive to the people you're interacting with, and to be respectful. Thank you, Lew, for that little writeup.

Here's a sensitve street photographer. This guy's a peach, and is the kind of shooter I hope to be someday, when I grow up to be a curmudgeon.

 

[gsgary]

Here's a sensitve street photographer. This guy's a peach, and is the kind of shooter I hope to be someday, when I grow up to be a curmudgeon.

YouTube Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRBARi09je8&feature=player_detailpage

He is my hero i met him in Derby UK 2 years ago while he was shooting a project for thr Format Festival

 

[slow231]

What I am after are pictures where the real personality of the subject comes through and not the frozen face of someone taken by surprise or reacting to the camera.

i think this is big, and one of the reasons why a lot of "street photography" turns me off. it seems like a lot of people define "street photography" as just capturing people's reactions to a camera suddenly shoved in their face. yes, you can get some expressive looks, but i'm rather dubious about this representing anything about the person at all. yes the reaction is candid, but there's a lot more to personality and life then someone's surprised face. i think that type of "street photography" is simple, gimmicky, and pretty lacking of substance. you really need to talk/interact with someone before they truly feel comfortable expressing their persona (for you to capture!).

 

[Derrel]

What I am after are pictures where the real personality of the subject comes through and not the frozen face of someone taken by surprise or reacting to the camera.

One of the reasons I linked to the Bruce Gilden street shooting link...showing exactly how to come off as an utter tool; using a Leica first; second, using a Leica with its pathetic 1/50 second top flash synch speed in daylight; BLASTING innocent people with a 21mm lens and full-power flash from two to five feet away; acting like a bull in a china shop; and in general, making peole look weird; focusing-in on the poor, poorly-dressed, the unkempt, the obese, and culturally-unacceptable people, as a way to show the Freak Show aspect of the people who live in large cities. Yeah, an utter hero. The absolute antithesis of what The_Traveler is trying to discuss.

 

[manaheim]

That's why I try to take pictures before people are aware of me, and ideally they never know.