Roger Hicks
Veteran
Sure, and I can only think of one tine I did it, about 35 years ago with somene selling the Socialist Worker on the streets of Bristol. He was so in-your-face that I couldn't resist returning the compliment. He was really pissed off. Tough.
Likewise, if someone complains afterwards, like the loony bat out of hell who descended from a caravan to ask in banshee tones if I was photographing 'her property', I point out that taking pictures in public is perfectly legal. In her case I also pointed out that I couldn't tell what was 'her property' anyway. Actually, the very corner of what may have been her car was in the corner of my pic (of the central facilities at a municipally-owned rural French caravan site, for a travel site -- her caravan certainly wasn't in shot) but we are not obliged to temper our lives to suit the mentally ill. I doubt it's happened ten times in ten years, and usually, I won't publish the picture.
I will however give more than a nod to ndnik's Yes sometimes that is how art is made. A lot of art is social commentary that is not flattering to many of its targets. Also think of political theater, cabaret, and comedy. Remember Spitting Image in the UK? The Daily Show in the US these days?
Cheers,
R.
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Tompas
Wannabe Künstler
Such people would not make interesting subjects anyway, would they?
kbg32
neo-romanticist
You have to be a bit of both.
Jamie Pillers
Skeptic
Nicely stated.
xxloverxx
Shoot.
If me being noticed ruins the photo, I stop. Otherwise, I carry on. Thinking too much distracts me.
GSNfan
Well-known
It is very simple, if you feel what you're doing is wrong, invasion of privacy, whatever you call it then don't do it because that doubt and hesitation will show in your face and body language, making people feel nervous and suspicious because they'll smell the lack of confidence and doubt in you from a mile away.
There is nothing ethically wrong with street photography as long as its done with "good will".
There is nothing ethically wrong with street photography as long as its done with "good will".
surfer dude
Well-known
Chris - best comeback to a ridiculous comment I've heard in a long time!
Shouldn't we first be asking ourselves why we are interested in doing street photography in the first place? If it is because we want to perve or make people uncomfortable, then we really should be questioning our motives and trying to be a better person.
However most people don't do it for that reason. Therefore, what is the reason? Jamie a few posts above said
Why would you be out shooting people in the street and have to make up a reason for doing so? Why not go out to shoot once you have a good reason to do so. Now the reason doesn't have to be for the benefit of humanity - perhaps you need some people shots to balance your portfolio or perhaps you really want to accomplish an aspect of photography that you find difficult. Whatever. My own basic ethical consideration would be that I am out there taking photographs for a reason and am prepared to be honest and forthright about that to people who may become my subjects. Why else would I be there?
The only other thing I'd add is that sometimes we all feel inertia about dealing with people, and if that happens to be the case it is perhaps best not to be out there doing street photography. Wait until the mojo is back.
Lax Jought
Well-known
28mm: street photographer
85-200mm zoom: voyeur
haha I like this philosophy.
sig
Well-known
Sometimes it is also useful to ask yourself 'If the person on the other side of the camera was my wife, mother, father, husband, kid, myself would I like that this photo was taken?'
Arjay
Time Traveller
I think some of you guys have very strange ideas of what street photography is about.
I never found it a worth while pursuit to photograph people in embarassing situations.
I never found it a worth while pursuit to photograph people in embarassing situations.
Sparrow
Veteran
Roger Hicks
Veteran
...and if not, what are they doing in public? And what is your objection?
We all look silly sometimes. The chances of being photographed are minimal, but if it happens, all you can do is shrug and smile. I literally cannot imagine saying "You can't take my picture {or that of any relative]", though perhaps if e.g. I had just had a motorcycle accident and was lying in a pool of blood I'd be a bit pissed off if someone tried to take my picure instead of helping. Or maybe I wouldn't: maybe their 'help' would be as deficient as their personality.
What does anyone lose by being photographed? This whole issue seems to me to smack of a juju box stealing your soul.
EDIT: And if the copper above couldn't laugh at that picture, he shouldn't be a coppper!
Cheers,
R.
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Arjay
Time Traveller
Hehe, that's a good one, Stewart! Funny, but IMO not really embarrassing.
Gabriel M.A.
My Red Dot Glows For You
<cheeky>
I think that everything should be made illegal, just to avoid the off-chance that anything might offend someone.
</cheeky>
I think that everything should be made illegal, just to avoid the off-chance that anything might offend someone.
</cheeky>
Sparrow
Veteran
Copper standing outside a sex-shop, is just asking for it I really ... and if folk are being embarrassing, well its hardly my fault
sig
Well-known
Roger, just my personal view.... I would not take a picture of a person drooling on the street because of a heart attack, because if that happened to me, my mother or in general everybody I would not like it to be photographed. You on the other hand feel differently, all the power to you.
Objective? None, it is just something I would not do. Feel free to call me crazy (Btw, what do all those crazy homeless people do in the public, they should not be there in the first place, why can they just not go home?).
Sparrow
Veteran
Photographing the homeless eh, always a tricky one
Gabriel M.A.
My Red Dot Glows For You
I've been asked by some homeless people to take their picture. I've never posted those photos, but some want to (have their photo taken). Most of them, of course, expect some sort of compensation, but there have been some who are apparently amused and do not even ask for anything.
Not everyone is the same. And not everyone should be treated the same way if that treatment is demeaning.
It is unfortunate that abuse of privileges lead to them being poster cases for banning them.
Not everyone is the same. And not everyone should be treated the same way if that treatment is demeaning.
It is unfortunate that abuse of privileges lead to them being poster cases for banning them.
sig
Well-known
I had no intention in changing this to a shooting the homeless tread, I believe that has been discussed a lot before.
All I wanted was to give my 2 cents about feeling comfortable about your street photography. And I feel comfortable when I can say to myself 'I would not mind it this photo was taken of me'....
All I wanted was to give my 2 cents about feeling comfortable about your street photography. And I feel comfortable when I can say to myself 'I would not mind it this photo was taken of me'....
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
I've never really been able to decide if shoving a camera in someone's face (figuratively speaking ) is a justifiable action ... whether it's the shooter's legal right or not. Because of this I have no real desire to indulge in street photography though I do appreciate it's merits when done with talent and a good eye ... which at least ninety percent of the time it isn't IMO.
) is a justifiable action ... whether it's the shooter's legal right or not. Because of this I have no real desire to indulge in street photography though I do appreciate it's merits when done with talent and a good eye ... which at least ninety percent of the time it isn't IMO.