is it possible these days to take a street photo where someone isn't on a cell phone?

its a strange question. I thought street photography was about documenting street life. So either I'm mistaken or you want to portray some idealised view that doesn't exist in the environment you're photographing in.
 
I have two rules/philosophies regarding devices:

1. I bought and paid for this thing for my own convenience and no one elses. That means it's switched off except when I want to use it.

2. Always check to be sure that it is me operating the device and not the device operating me.
 
I walked into a public toilet the other day and three guys were lined up at the urinals all talking on the phone.... just about died laughing.

My second though was that it would make a great photo... but I wasn't about to go there...

Casey
 
I walked into a public toilet the other day and three guys were lined up at the urinals all talking on the phone.... just about died laughing.

My second though was that it would make a great photo... but I wasn't about to go there...

Casey

You should have. That would have been one valuable picture.
 
its a strange question. I thought street photography was about documenting street life. So either I'm mistaken or you want to portray some idealised view that doesn't exist in the environment you're photographing in.

you're right. it was wrong to bring street photography into this.

I'm just sick of phones/ipads/whatever.....
 
The cellphone problem has plagued me for a long time.

cellphonesoldier.jpg
A serious grade re-enactor no-no according to my sources
 
More than cell phones, the biggest problem is the sunglasses, people going around looking like feeling-lees zombies with sunglasses...
 
I think it is possible to take photographs on the street where it looks like no one is on a cellphone, but at least one person will have a bluetooth earpiece in the other ear.
 
The current level of unecessary communication via the cell and the obsession with social networking both leave me a little cold sorry. I don't use a mobile phone at all ... I have one in the cupboard or somewhere that I last used about five years ago before I decided they were an intrusion if not needed for legitimate business reasons.

Having someone in a photo using a mobile phone doesn't bother me though ... it's their addiction not mine!
 
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Yes, it is technically possible. Just hire a couple of pickpockets and they will remove all problematic cell phones before you expose your photograph. The only problem is you may have quite long periods of living on state expenses between the photo sessions.
 
Just hire a couple of pickpockets and they will remove all problematic cell phones before you expose your photograph. The only problem is you may have quite long periods of living on state expenses between the photo sessions.


Or not...



Lumix GF1 + 20mm f/1.7




Lumix GF1 + 20mm f/1.7




Lumix GF1 + 20mm f/1.7




Leica M8 + 50mm f/2 Summicron "tabbed"
 
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