Do you ask permission?

[rool]

Keep shooting!

 

[BrianShaw]

Keep shooting!

Whoa... you shot him? I've seen this guy... near MacArthur Park, no? I've heard about him... he's got friends -- family, in fact. "FAMILY", know what I mean? One more bad move and you might disappear... a Jimmy Hoffa kind of thing... never to be seen again. You're brave, my friend... very brave! 😉

 

[ARS]

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

I think this has nothing to do with decisive moment. There could be a decisive moment in a portrait. You just wait for a RIGHT face expression instead of RIGHT placement of objects in certain time.

I've never asked permission before and recently I noticed that I actually don't have many good candid portraits. This week I decided to change my style and to make a "street portraits" series with 50mm lens. So, I ALWAYS ask now and I'm trying to get more portrait look than a street shoot one for my pictures. I'm self-confident and usually friendly with people(smile, talks e.t.c.) but today for example I was not allowed to take pictures of 4 people out of 10. I will try to post the results a soon as I develope a film. And I would like to see other works posted here...

Here are some UNASKED shoots:

 

[rool]

You're brave, my friend... very brave! 😉

I whish that was true!

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

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.

Very true. Which is why it's harder to find subjects depending on where you are. Generalizations from people on this subject usually tell me more about the population in his/her area than the photographer; generally. 😉

I still disagree with that "telephotos are for cowards" rubbish. I'm not a fan of telephotos, but those sort of statements are... well, one person's cigar is another's envy.

 

[canonetc]

I sometimes follow the "Shoot first, then ask" school. Take your candid, then approach the subject. If they say Yes, you get a nice portrait to add to the previous "real" shot. If they say "No", you've still got the candid shot.

Cheers,

Chris
canonetc

 

[kvanderlaag]

I'm with Chris on that one. Make one first, then ask, and if they're cool with it, make a portrait to go with it! You never know which you'll like better, when you get the film back.

More or less, I have a hard time approaching people for things like this, so I won't generally ask unless the photo itself seems to merit it, and when I do, it'll usually be after. I have this weird fixation with photographing the world as it is, as if there wasn't an annoying photographer there with a camera.

But first and foremost, respect for your subjects is necessary. Just try not to make bad photographs of people, and there shouldn't be a problem! If it looks like they're doing something, or thinking something, that no one else needs to see, don't trip the shutter. That's just sort of how I look at it -- even though they're in public, what right do we have to invade their privacy?

I just have a different definition of 'privacy' than non-photogs (and some photographers!)