Shooting from the hip = morally questionable?

dreilly said:
Interesting question:

How often is hip-shooting really surreptitious? Given that's it often done at pretty close quarters, I wonder sometimes if people are more aware of the photographer than he/she may think. To take Lynn's example...doesn't appear to be a crowded beach. Was the girl aware of the photographer and camera? It could be. Some of the examples posted here certainly give the viewer the sense that the subject is at least aware of the photographer and camera's presence, if not necessarily the presence of "le click".

Complex stuff!
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Good question. With an RF or SLR? I'd guess almost never. Why would people with evil intent risk being caught, when they can use a camera no one would ever notice and still achieve acceptable IQ? Seems like a no brainer unless you have to protect artistic vanity like I do :D
 
tom.w.bn said:
I'm pretty sure that with every hip-shot I did, the person(s) on the photo noticed me and my camera, but not the click. So you don't change the situation just because people know they are being photographed.
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Indeed you get noticed when shooting from the hip. Especially with a odd looking camera such as a Leica.

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ampguy said:
How about using the Golden Rule as guidance? How do you feel about others sneakily photographing you and your friend/family, then posting the images on the internet?
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That would be easy. Then I'd shoot much more because I don't care for myself. Except if I had some style accidents like an open fly or a big coffee spot on the shirt :D
 
If someone likes to scratch ear with opposite hand I can't object but I'm better using hand of matching side.

As for moral, does it really matters how exactly we steal souls of innocent people? I believe once we do it it doesn't really matter which way. So we are going to discuss just esthetical side of process?
 
if

if

you zoom in on the woman's expression, she looks angry and pissed. Possibly because some stranger is 10 feet away trying to pretend he's not taking a photo while he is.

I wonder when there will be a SPETA for ethical street photographers - Street Photographers for the Ethical Treatment About their subjects ...

dreilly said:
Lynn, that photograph is just stunning. The color and texture of the ocean really takes my breath away.

Now, not so seriously: You should have broken that girl's contemplation to ask if it was okay to take the photograph. Then you could have gotten her forcing a smile and maybe making a V sign with her fingers. That would have been cool.
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Re: Chris101's photo ... I don't think she looks angry, just bewildered. She seems to be in the middle of a conversation with her friend and her brain is trying to figure out what's going on around her.

Regarding the morality of shooting from the hip, I don't think it's a big deal. Personally, I like it if the subject KNOWS that I'm taking a photo ... typically I never hide the fact that I'm carrying a camera around. I try to make it obvious.

I'll ask for permission if it's feasible or seems the better strategy -- but sometimes this is not always possible. Plus, asking permission can change the whole dynamic of the subject + scene, removing elements of spontaneity.

My answer to the street shooting morality 'question' is always the same -- people are photographed hundreds of times every day, at mundane places like the bank, the grocery store, the gas station, the ATM's, etc. etc. ... and those businesses never ask for 'permission' in the overt sense of the word. In fact, I think if most people thought about it, they would find it much more objectionable to have their image recorded daily by hidden CCTV's, than some bloke wandering around with a camera on the street.

If I'm carrying around a camera for my own private use, then according to notions of common law and public property, there is nothing legally wrong with taking photos from the hip or elbow or wherever.
 
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People who put hip shots of kids on the internet, aren't these worthy of a bash in the head?

Imagine searching the internet and the picture of your young daughter is posted in some photography forum by a middle aged guy? wouldn't that piss the most calm of individuals?

And yes, I'm having in mind a certain set of pictures posted in this very thread.
 
clarification

clarification

I was referring to Lynnb's photo of the woman on the beach, probably wanting some privacy.

Chris101's photo appears to be of a lady who was laughing or talking with her friend, then spotted Chris's camera, and her expression was just changing to a WTF/creep alert look.

bobby_novatron said:
Re: Chris101's photo ... I don't think she looks angry, just bewildered. She seems to be in the middle of a conversation with her friend and her brain is trying to figure out what's going on around her.

Regarding the morality of shooting from the hip, I don't think it's a big deal. Personally, I like it if the subject KNOWS that I'm taking a photo ... typically I never hide the fact that I'm carrying a camera around. I try to make it obvious.

I'll ask for permission if it's feasible or seems the better strategy -- but sometimes this is not always possible. Plus, asking permission can change the whole dynamic of the subject + scene, removing elements of spontaneity.

My answer to the street shooting morality 'question' is always the same -- people are photographed hundreds of times every day, at mundane places like the bank, the grocery store, the gas station, the ATM's, etc. etc. ... and those businesses never ask for 'permission' in the overt sense of the word. In fact, I think if most people thought about it, they would find it much more objectionable to have their image recorded daily by hidden CCTV's, than some bloke wandering around with a camera on the street.

If I'm carrying around a camera for my own private use, then according to notions of common law and public property, there is nothing legally wrong with taking photos from the hip or elbow or wherever.
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No offense but this is a bit of a ridiculous question...yet another "whither..?" that doesn't really mean anything or go anywhere.

We are surrounded by surreptitious CCTV cameras and surveillance almost every waking moment of our lives -- often under flimsy justification.

*That* is immoral.

Making art -- whether an amateur trying to educate themselves on street photography or an accomplished practitioner doing their thing -- is not immoral. I'll say it again: making art is not immoral.
 
claacct said:
People who put hip shots of kids on the internet, aren't these worthy of a bash in the head?

Imagine searching the internet and the picture of your young daughter is posted in some photography forum by a middle aged guy? wouldn't that piss the most calm of individuals?

And yes, I'm having in mind a certain set of pictures posted in this very thread.
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You really have some personal issues that you need to work out. Paranoia being the main one.

Your position is absurd and juvenile. A simple click that captures a moment that the photographer found interesting or inspiring. Most street photographers have no malice towards their subjects at all. In fact, most street photographers shoot in the streets because it is an ultimate expression of a pure joy of life. And candid shots of children, being, well, children, is one of the finest forms of street photography.

What do you actually think will happen if someone shoots a candid photo of your child, out in public? What harm will they come to? What is your logic behind this weird fixation of being against someone taking a photo of your child?
 
claacct said:
People who put hip shots of kids on the internet, aren't these worthy of a bash in the head?

Imagine searching the internet and the picture of your young daughter is posted in some photography forum by a middle aged guy? wouldn't that piss the most calm of individuals?

And yes, I'm having in mind a certain set of pictures posted in this very thread.
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Though this wasn't shot from the hip, and I can already anticipate your response anyway, I just can't resist this one.

R-D1 + ZM 50/1.5


You think this is some how tasteless or perverted? There is no artistic value here?
 
Cute kids Brian. This may seem a random thought, but some of the discussion here made me think of the old Coppertone sun tan lotion advertisement. I wonder if that would be considered "creepy" today? Sure, it was a drawing, but the artists used his own daughter for the model. Like I said, just a random thought. I think I'll go take some pics.
 
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