Yeah, back in the day I was skateboarding at a spot that we always got kicked out of. The cops rolled in while I was doing a wall ride (yeah, a bit old school) and I gave them attitude before they even said anything. They actually thought the trick I did was cool and asked me how it was possible... hahaha, and then left me alone. Sometimes cops are cool. The cops have never harrassed me while photographing.
btgc
Veteran
I've been followed by a woman asking who am I and requiring to "delete photos". I took picture of her in her car, about half of metre from it. She took pictures of me with a mobile and probably later her friend/husband told "no, this is not detective I hired to chase you" 
kully
Happy Snapper
Why is he automatically an idiot? The morning after my grandfather died, I would have had an argument with anyone about anything, just because I was in that frame of mind...
By carrying your camera about, taking snaps, you are creating these interactions, you can't know what history the people who are nearby have - whether you do or do not actually include them in the frame. The onus is on you to defuse them.
Or is empathy something we don't do?
By carrying your camera about, taking snaps, you are creating these interactions, you can't know what history the people who are nearby have - whether you do or do not actually include them in the frame. The onus is on you to defuse them.
Or is empathy something we don't do?
_larky
Well-known
This is the guy who Photoshops everything after a 2-3 day set up right? Nuts.
Andy Kibber
Well-known
If you take photographs of stangers on the street, sooner or later someone will confront you about it. You can explain what you're doing or apologize, say you've deleted the picture and walk away.
Don't act like a victim and get the law involved. Most cops won't have a clue about what your rights are as a photographer.
Best of luck in the future.
Don't act like a victim and get the law involved. Most cops won't have a clue about what your rights are as a photographer.
Best of luck in the future.
TaoPhoto
Documentary Photographer
I guess that depends on where you are. Some PD's are probably better than others. However in many places, once you formally accuse a person of assault in the presence of a police officer, they have little recourse but to follow up on it. They may try to talk you out of it, but at least the conversation is no longer about who took a picture of what.
JayM
Well-known
The first time someone gave me **** about photographing people in the street it was an angry couple who I'd seen earlier in the day.
They said they could call the police and that the police would make me stop and take away my camera. I didn't say anything as I wasn't really sure how to respond and doubted they'd listen. Then a homeless guy told them I could photograph whatever I wanted to in a public place.
I gave him a couple dollars
They said they could call the police and that the police would make me stop and take away my camera. I didn't say anything as I wasn't really sure how to respond and doubted they'd listen. Then a homeless guy told them I could photograph whatever I wanted to in a public place.
I gave him a couple dollars
OurManInTangier
An Undesirable
100% behind these sentiments.
It's a little annoying when you're confronted by someone, especially if you didn't photograph them, but the world is indeed a kooky place with kooky people (probably why so many of us enjoy photographing both 'it' and 'them.') It's very much down to us to diffuse any situation. We go out fully prepared to photograph strangers, we know where we're going, perhaps even what we're looking for whereas those folks that are being photographed are probably blissfully ignorant that there are people out there that want to photograph them going about their daily business...despite not knowing them from Adam.
I've wondered often enough what I would think or do if someone shoved a camera up my nose as I strolled along. My hope is that I'd understand and wish that the result was at least halfway decent, however I'm well aware that I can be a grumpy git when I feel as if the world has conspired against me, let alone when something truly upsetting or unpleasant has happened in my life. As photographers dealing with people we are left with no choice but to be the 'bigger' person. Moan about it later to understanding friends and/or forum users but find a coping strategy or two and employ them when needed.
I find that a smile works wonders, yet so can looking like you're as ready to kick off as they are...somewhere in that spectrum is something that will work no matter what the situation is
Fedia
-
It doesn't matter what the official law is, taking pictures of strangers on the street is indeed in one or another way an invasion of their privacy. People have the right to be unhappy about that and even angry if the picture taker doesn't care about their concerns... some would say what about security cameras? - no no, security cameras don't take picture of you, they take videos of the whole area, and the intention of it is very different.. and even if you wanted to print from them your portrait the quality would be horrible, unrecognizable.. while the picture taken by someone with their own camera for unknown reason is very suspicious and personal... I take pictures, but I don't really want someone to take picture of me and then publish it as their "art" or to do with my image whatever he wants... What is the solution for a guy who still wants to take pictures on the street? - respect people on the street, be polite, don't hide what you are doing, if not smile then at least show them your positive attitude towards them, when stopped be polite, apologize, explain, then apologize one more time, be ready to tell them a compliment... look confident, and keep taking pictures... One time I was stopped on the street by drunk, quite tough looking, guys for taking their picture, after short explanations why, for what purpose etc... I was given an email address and ended up taking about ten frames of them with a promise to send them pictures. Don't tell anyone about the law you know because there is always another active low... and the guys in the evening have their own law which they would be more than happy to force if needed... but don't start targeting as a subject of your photos only children, women or elderly people from the back either)...
)...pufy
Established
Do you guys ever stop and think why people hate photographers so much lately? Might it have something to do with this kind of behavior ? Just because the law says you can/can't do something doesn't necessarily make it right.
What about empathy, decency or common sense?
What about empathy, decency or common sense?
haempe
Well-known
Thank you OurManInTagier and Fedia.
You give this thread a positive turn.
You give this thread a positive turn.
PCStudio
Established
On the streets on very close distance I'm shooting "hands-free"
**
Friend of mine had a Hole in his Jacket and 3' long release cable from camera to the pocket
worked fine with Russar
*********
btw - if crazy photographer trying to take a picture of me from 2-3 yards at front of my face
***
you gotta be nice with people - be respectful , - that's a main point .
Street is a Public Space
**
Friend of mine had a Hole in his Jacket and 3' long release cable from camera to the pocket
worked fine with Russar
*********
btw - if crazy photographer trying to take a picture of me from 2-3 yards at front of my face
***
you gotta be nice with people - be respectful , - that's a main point .
Street is a Public Space
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starless
Well-known
In general, no one can demand that you delete or destroy film without a court order.
PCStudio
Established
Re: starless
it is not about a court - it is about to be Professional Photographer in all means
street photography has shooting technique - just follow it
it is not about a court - it is about to be Professional Photographer in all means
street photography has shooting technique - just follow it
starless
Well-known
I am only saying that no one can demand you destroy your own property.
As for shooting technique and ethics, it's very personal. Some photographers' approach is to be outright rude (see Gilden). Who are we to say what is right? And what is more important - annoying people or getting a great photograph. There is no clear answer to that.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Perhaps I should have added that one of the times in France that the discussion turned heated, I hadn't taken her picture. In fact she wasn't even visible. She was worried that I might have taken a picture of the corner of her caravan, which she was inside when I took the picture.
At this point, I tend to subscribe to the 'nutjob' theory. Most people who complain are entirely open to discussion and explanation. It's only the loonies who aren't. Sane people (even, or perhaps especially, drunks) may explain why they're not happy, but still accept your right to tale pictures, and even come over to your side when you've talked to them as fellow human beings.
Then there are those who call the police... Again, it's happened twice in the UK. Once, the policewoman (Essex constabulary) was entirely sympathetic. The other time, she (a different she, Kent constabulary) wasn't, but she accepted that what I was doing was entirely legal.
Cheers,
R.
At this point, I tend to subscribe to the 'nutjob' theory. Most people who complain are entirely open to discussion and explanation. It's only the loonies who aren't. Sane people (even, or perhaps especially, drunks) may explain why they're not happy, but still accept your right to tale pictures, and even come over to your side when you've talked to them as fellow human beings.
Then there are those who call the police... Again, it's happened twice in the UK. Once, the policewoman (Essex constabulary) was entirely sympathetic. The other time, she (a different she, Kent constabulary) wasn't, but she accepted that what I was doing was entirely legal.
Cheers,
R.
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PCStudio
Established
always on the edge
PCStudio
Established
---
Photography became a Mass Paranoia of our Century .
Everybody taking pictures and uploading on the web
Flickr is a World Photo Dumpster
***
9,999 out of 10,000 photographers I've met - had less than 2-3 years of photo experience
*********
I believe this is a main issue
Photography became a Mass Paranoia of our Century .
Everybody taking pictures and uploading on the web
Flickr is a World Photo Dumpster
***
9,999 out of 10,000 photographers I've met - had less than 2-3 years of photo experience
*********
I believe this is a main issue
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Fedia
-
Hey, B. Gilden isn't that rude and without any respect to people as one could get an impression from that one "famous" promotion clip on youtube... We - guys with cameras are responsible to form people's opinion about photographers. Being rude with a camera on the street won't take you very far, unless maybe if you are rude with elderly people or women only, very soon you will meet the same rude guys just without cameras but in a bad mood... I know quite a few examples when ignorance and thinking only about getting a good picture to your archive didn't work out, and then I have seen damaged cameras and "photographers'" faces... this is physics, Newton theory...
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