Street Photography Do's and Don't's

[cp_ste.croix]

i've had people scowl, but that's about it. I may not be 6'8" and 280, but I'm a pretty big guy who spends a lot of time in the gym. I think Toby had it right on that people who are going to hit you tend not to announce it.

I have yet to swing a fist in anger (though I have swung a few in sport) and intend to keep it that way...

 

[furcafe]

And it's often the little guy (not me) who really who knows how to fight.

From my experience it's the little guy you have to look out for -they've got something to prove

 

[Uncle Bill]

I had one case at Church and Queen near the Henrys clearance centre a rather pint sized butch lesbian was rather upset I took pictures of her ten year old Camry, actually I was taking pictures of the park across the street. Now at 5'10 and I can bench 220lbs max I could inflict some serious damage but like others I am a lover not a fighter. I replied in a monotone matter I was not interested in her heap of a car and leave me alone. Witnesses to this exchange shook their heads at her behavior. I pulled a jedi mind trick on her. She wanted confrontation, I refused to give it to her.

Bill

 

[Stephanie Brim]

Strong in the Force is this one. A good Jedi he will make.

I've learned a lot by going with a 'just take the photo' philosophy. If I see a photo, I take it. If someone notices and complains, I state the whole public place thing. If they're still upset, I just tell them that I'll destroy that photo once the roll is developed...and sometimes I do.

 

[TPPhotog]

Two things people always forget to mention with street shooting is a place to get a decent drink and use a clean toilet. Very important on a day out street shooting.

 

[Kat]

I wonder if it's an advantage or disadvantage to be a female street shooter. I'm thinking maybe people would be less inclined to do violence? Or at least less suspicious of her?

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Other important Do-s and Don't-s of street photography:

Do: remove your lens cap.
Don't: leave your lens cap.

 

[Kin Lau]

I wonder if it's an advantage or disadvantage to be a female street shooter. I'm thinking maybe people would be less inclined to do violence? Or at least less suspicious of her?

My wife gets away with a lot more than I do. I've never seen anyone give her a dirty look or say "no pictures".

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

I wonder if it's an advantage or disadvantage to be a female street shooter. I'm thinking maybe people would be less inclined to do violence? Or at least less suspicious of her?

When I see my girlfriend take pictures, people go up to her and ask her about what she's shooting; people smile at her. With me, people try to ignore that I'm there, or pretend to ignore that I'm there, and also their body language shows they're threatened. With children it is the opposite.

Many of my female friends tell me of stories of how they hitchhiked abroad, people always helping them out when they didn't have a clue where they were and when they didn't have any money, even giving them food, couples giving them company, other women "buddying" up together and, at least temporarily become buddies in the train or on the bus or on the plane...

As a guy, you do that and if you're not "of a special lifestyle" they'll run away thinking that you are. Only friends I made on my travels were indeed women, only once it was a guy, ever, in London.

It depends on your point of view, what your social and shooting priorities are. I guess I see being my gender as a disadvantage, being a photographer...

Or I guess I have to wait until I turn "senior"?

 

[ray_g]

I wonder if it's an advantage or disadvantage to be a female street shooter. I'm thinking maybe people would be less inclined to do violence? Or at least less suspicious of her?

I would not be afraid to take street photos in the Philippines, Kat. If any, you have to be discreet and take the shot before your subject strikes a pose 🙂

 

[richiedcruz]

The other day I was running my first roll of film through my Agfa Clack. I had just taken a picture of a neon sign and was preparing to take another picture of it when some guy with a cell phone stuck in his ear said, "excuse me, did you just take my picture?" I looked down from the viewfinder, which I kept pointed at the sign mounted up near the top of a building, and told him that I did not. After that he walked on.

I have found that there are just some people who are paranoid, and afraid to be within the vicinity of a person with a camera, period. Whether you have in your hand or it is hanging from your neck.

My personal rules for street photography are:

1. The best places to take pictures are events where people expect cameras. You're usually more relaxed, and so are the people there.

2. Try to take pics of people who are so busy that they either do not notice you or are too busy to care. Cities at rush hour and colleges between classes are really easy places to take pics.

3. I find that there is nothing wrong with taking pics through a store or bus window, and it is safer.

4. Pepper spray clipped to the pocket of your shirt or the shoulder strap of a backpack is usually more than enough to keep anyone at bay. 😉

5. I never hide my camera and if a person even looks the slightest bit concerned to have a camera pointed at them I do not bother. I much prefer pictures of happy looking people anyway. 🙂

Not exactly things that have not been mentioned here before, but they work for me.

Richie

 

[richard_l]

Be careful if taking pictures of kids playing if the parents are around. The kids love it, and if they notice you, they may even stop what they're doing and pose, but the parents may think you're a pervert.

Richard

 

[ywenz]

I could never take pictuers of other people's kids.. it just feels damned weird.. at least in the U.S. that is..

 

[Stephanie Brim]

Other important Do-s and Don't-s of street photography:

Do: remove your lens cap.
Don't: leave your lens cap.

When I still had the Nikon, I had two (!) original Nikon front caps. Somehow or other I lost both of them when I was out street shooting. My sister also lost a roll of film that I had given her to have developed that had an awesome photo on it...and we never found it. So yeah...don't leave your lens caps anywhere. With the SLR, I didn't have the problem of leaving it on so much. 😉

 

[ray_g]

I could never take pictuers of other people's kids.. it just feels damned weird.. at least in the U.S. that is..

It helps when you have your own kids with you. I don't usually go to kids' "hangouts" without them, anyway.

 

[bmattock]

I try not to deliberately use my size as an intimidating factor when faced with circumstances like that. After all, I'm a lover, not a figher 😎 6'8" and 280lbs kind of speaks for itself sometimes 😉 It's tough to simply blend in while street shooting though!

I'm 5-10 and 280. Low center of gravity. People tend to leave me alone.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[bmattock]

I wonder if it's an advantage or disadvantage to be a female street shooter. I'm thinking maybe people would be less inclined to do violence? Or at least less suspicious of her?

I could try wearing a dress when I go out street shooting. That might get me left alone. Hehehehe.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[Stephanie Brim]

Okay, I'm female, but I haven't done as much street shooting as I'd like. Small town and all that. Kinda sucks.

Anyway, I find that, probably because I *do* live in a small town, people know me and question why I'm taking pictures more often. Half the cops in this town know who I am, half the citizens know me, and the rest have, I'm pretty sure, at least seen mme around. They usually just ask the harmless questions: what are you shooting, why are you shooting, what are you doing with the photos, etc. I have had just a couple people give me a dirty look.

When I go out of town and take the camera, I don't really have that same problem with recognition. I can go out and take photos anonymously. I do see that most people leave me alone in this instance. People see my face in certain places a lot, but they don't often question what I'm doing. There's no police coming up to me and asking what I'm doing or why I'm doing it...I think that's because it's Iowa and none of us here are scared s!@#less about terrorism even though it could happen here as well.

I think it depends more on the area you're shooting in than your sex as to whether or not you get trouble. Now, if I was shooting in a park, maybe...but I hardly ever do that.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

LOL

Bill, you in a dress with that moustache?

You'd be the subject of LOTS of photos yourself! 😀

Sorry... I just couldn't help it. 😉

 

[Kat]

I would not be afraid to take street photos in the Philippines, Kat. If any, you have to be discreet and take the shot before your subject strikes a pose 🙂

OMG, those are hilarious! I'm just a little shy when it comes to shooting people, but I hope I get subjects as willing as those! I've been giving it a try in a "park", but still don't have the guts to come closer.

I could try wearing a dress when I go out street shooting. That might get me left alone. Hehehehe.

LOL! 😀