Do you ask permission?

[Gabriel M.A.]

I do, as reasonable and necessary. Those two words can make many people's mind explode.

 

[aad]

Just a thought-I was at my nephew's graduation, had a 135 lens on, and I was scanning the audience for reaction.It had been a while since I used a long lens, and the scenes of emotion were fantastic-tears, intimate smiles-but I asked myself if I really wanted to document their private moment like that. I'm not a journalist or professional, and these shots would be only for my viewing, and somehow I couldn't do it.
Other times I see people within a composition, or they have seen me with the camera-that's fine. I took a shot of a sleeping person-never again.

 

[VictorM.]

Depends on what I'm trying to do-my latest project almost always requires me to ask permission-and I'm rarely refused. Another long-term project worked better without asking permission-but if the potential subject objected to being photographed I immediately stopped-but I would always try to get a good picture before they objected. I find photographing people difficult either way-with or without asking first.

 

[Ergo]

I never ask.
People do not have to be in public,i.e.,they can be sitting inside a resturant,but you should be.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=36717&cat=5805

 

[mike goldberg]

Hi... I'm quoting George Masters here.

I ask permission if they see me. Then, if they say "sure", they generally go back to doing what they were doing with very little if any noticeable change in nature. I've never had anyone say "no".
I don't ask permission otherwise. Why bother if they don't see you? The law is still on our side.

As a working Photojournalist for 15 years, this is pretty much what I did.
One's approach... your way of being and moving with the camera, say a lot, and a smile helps! Recently, I went to photograph a pyramid of shoes near a shop in the Tel Aviv central bus station. The owner objected [fear of the tax man!]; after a brief discussion, I walked away and he thanked me.

So then, it helps to be non-theatening & courteous.
Ciao,
Mike

 

[comp_wiz101]

I always ask... with only the exception of when the subjects are unrecognisable (ie. time for when they are not facing the Camera) and in the background.

 

[Ken F.]

Never, it ruins the shot. Although, I do crack a smile now and then!

Cheers,
kf

 

[jcee]

I never have the nerve to ask or point a camera in somebody's face, so most of my photos of strangers are the backs of their heads. That's one of the reasons I'm getting a TLR with a waist level finder. 😎

 

[Dougg]

I was reading a web page the other day where the guy described how he'd solved various problems in getting sharp photos with his medium format SLR with a very long tele lens mounted on a tripod, including that he had to add a special brace from the tripod leg to the camera body too, etc etc... It was apparently vital that the subjects of his portraits from some 30 meters away on the street be completely unaware of him. I was left wondering mildly why he went to so much expense and trouble to avoid personal interaction... As you might expect his photos were technically excellent but had a remoteness. I think I'm in the same camp with Jano and Shutterflower, where my subjects are aware of the photo but carrying on as before... or in some cases posing, and that has its own interesting aspects too. Each to his own taste; chacun à son goût! 🙂

 

[Zack]

never have asked, never will, it ruins the decisive moment.

 

[wintoid]

... very long tele lens mounted on a tripod...vital that the subjects of his portraits from some 30 meters away...his photos were technically excellent but had a remoteness

Your post reminded me of this article

http://www.prime-junta.net/pont/Pon..._Is_For_Wimps/a_Telephoto_Is_For_Cowards.html

 

[Dougg]

Yeah; Petteri pontificates well! 🙂

 

[Andy K]

When shooting and there are many people in the shot I do not ask. If there are less than five people in the shot I'll ask.

 

[stet]

Horses for courses. Lately I have been, but that's because I want to hang out with them and ask them stuff, learn more about their lives. I don't know if I could pull off a proper portrait otherwise.

But in between those shots, no. And I used to feel differently about it, kinda wavered and imagined gray areas, and said so here. I'm glad I did, because I got put right, and it's only helped me since.

 

[jrong]

I don't ask permission, if there is a reason for me to think I shouldn't be taking the photo, I won't take it anyway. Once, I got into serious trouble for shooting (not at anyone in particular) inside a crowded restaurant, and some guy got it in his head that I was photographing him. And was he rude! After I'd left the restaurant, he pursued me and very rudely and aggressively demanded to know what I was doing, taking HIS picture. I hadn't even noticed him in the restaurant nor did I know who he was! Anyway, after that experience, I am careful about photographing people whom I think might give me hassle... or I take photos surreptitiously. It is MUCH easier to do this with a friend, than when wandering about alone.

As a rule, I never photograph homeless people on the street. If I were homeless, I'd hate to be photographed like some sort of tourist attraction.

Jin

 

[Toby]

My first loyalty is to the final image. That is to say if the image is strong enough then very little would stop me taking the picture. On the other hand sometimes you need the cooperation of those around you, it's really a judgement call depending on the circumstances, and to be brutally honest my selfish motives at the time.

 

[Pherdinand]

People who mind to be photographed don't deserve to be photographed anyway. And they would look awful on the shot anyway.
No seriously. The best subjects never mind, moreover they are flattered and might end up having a good discussion.

\As to asking ot not: Depends on the situation, sometimes I prefer asking because the person is interesting on him/herself, like an interesting face or character; but sometimes i take the shot unnoticed, when e.g. the stuff the person is doing it the real subject of the photo. In the latter case, asking for mermission will probably interrupt the activity, destroying thus the true subject.

If you have problems with taking shots of unknown people, just start with street performers or other persons expecting to get attention and/or photographed.

 

[vladhed]

Do you ask permission before taking a street portrait or a "close up" shoot of an unknown person? I tryed to, as a result a lost a lot of good shoots. By the way 50% of folks I met were mind to be photographed.

Yes I almost always do...however by "permission" it is usually little more than a look, a nod, or a smile with the camera poised to take a photo. About 1 in 5 will immediately put their hands up and say don't take my picture. The rest will react in a number of different ways, from a quick nod with no other change to all-out clowning(?!)

Do anybody know how legal it is in Canada?

In public where there is no assumption of privacy you are free to photograph anyone for your own personal use. If you pester someone who doesn't want to be photographed you can be charged with harrassment.

 

[morgan]

I'm just getting in street photography since I picked up my Fed-5 (and a yashica gs soon) and I'm just an enthusiast, but I often feel very self-conscious when trying to photograph people. The conversation in my head is basically "what right do I have to take anybody's picture?", especially when I'm not a professional and there is no particular point to the shot other than that I think it would make a great photo. I'm trying to get over it, but it's tough. I was in Chinatown in philly over the weekend and I took a few shots from the outside into a fresh fish/fruit market and one of the guys working there started waving his arms saying no. I smiled apologetically, waved, and moved on. I took a bunch of other shots throughout the area, but it was hard to shake the tourist feeling, why were their lives were my photographic disneyworld. I'm sure these are all photo101 ethics issues, but I just wanted to say I've enjoyed reading this thread and the various approaches. It's very helpful.

 

[MelanieC]

I've said this before, but I'll say it again. I don't feel particularly comfortable taking photos of strangers -- I mean intimate photos with only one subject or that kind of thing, as opposed to say a crowd shot -- so I would prefer to ask. The reason is that when I've been the subject of street photography, I felt very uncomfortable. I realize that if I'm in a public place the photographer has a legal right to photograph me, but that doesn't mean I like it.

Part of the reason I had such bad experience with street photographers in the past is that I made it pretty clear through my body language that I did not want to be photographed and they persisted in trying to take the shot anyway. When that happened I was not particularly polite in my response. As a single woman I might have a different take on this than some of the rest of you. Being photographed by a stranger when I am alone, without anyone having asked permission or made any sort of personal overture, is creepy.

I think it depends an awful lot on context, and on who your subject is (young lone women, children, for example) but in many instances I think it is probably more appropriate to ask. You might get a different sort of photo than you'd originally intended but it doesn't mean it'll be a bad photo. You never know.

I know, street photography heresy.