kdemas
Enjoy Life.
chanyung said:
Ha! Not a bad idea!!
street photography + harassment...
- Thread starter MVCG
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Ha! Not a bad idea!!
Jack Conrad
Well-known
Lol... I can imagine a skit where the musician says, "no no no, not until you pay," and the photographer says, " No, you sing song, maybe I pay you. Photo not free. You pay me for photo. You pay for photo now." 😀
paradoxbox
Well-known
the foreigner bit does work, i live in tokyo and while i'm fluent in japanese most people assume i can't speak japanese.
if they want to scold me for photographing them i just play dumb and use broken japanese to get them off my back. works great. have even been bothered by police a few times and used this to good effect. people just leave you alone when they think you're a harmless tourist.
to the OP sounds like you handled it OK. you might want to work on your discreet shooting technique though. adjust your camera when the person you're intending to photograph isn't looking and hold it in a way that doesn't allow someone to see you're pressing the shutter. maybe he saw you move your finger from the side of the camera to the top of the shutter button, that kind of thing.
if they want to scold me for photographing them i just play dumb and use broken japanese to get them off my back. works great. have even been bothered by police a few times and used this to good effect. people just leave you alone when they think you're a harmless tourist.
to the OP sounds like you handled it OK. you might want to work on your discreet shooting technique though. adjust your camera when the person you're intending to photograph isn't looking and hold it in a way that doesn't allow someone to see you're pressing the shutter. maybe he saw you move your finger from the side of the camera to the top of the shutter button, that kind of thing.
candidcameraman
Member
"...against some rules..." Oh c'mon ... :bang:
cee
Member
JayM
Well-known
Calling bull**** on this. I live and photograph in all the southwest areas you mentioned. Give people respect and look them in the eye. Look as long as they look, smile, say hello as you pass. Just nod, whatever. You belong there just as much as anyone else does. Playing submissive is only asking for trouble in one of the only ways you're going to find it most of the time.
I get sick of hearing people talk about how "you couldn't photograph like that where I live" like they live in a ****ing camp full of Nigerian warlords.
davidtan
Established
I've never had a problem shooting anyone. Must be because I look like some Asian tourist. Another reason would be because most people can clearly see that the cameras I use are old film cameras. In fact, I've had a handful of encounters in which people would approach me to have their photo shot by my old cameras.
peterm1
Veteran
Its perfectly within peoples' rights to politely say that they would prefer if you did not take their photo - even in a public space. If people say this to me I always respect it even though strictly speaking I may be "within my rights". We dont know why people do not want their picture made but we should be inclined to respect a politely made request.
I recall vividly one such case where I was in a park / playing field taking a photo of the nearby CBD of the city. The image would have captured in the foreground, a man and a woman who were close by and if not intimate were obviously involved in very close and private conversation. The lady in question asked me to not take their picture. My impression is that they may have been secret lovers. Who would not respect someone's request in such as situation?
On the other hand if some fruitcake starts ranting about terrorism and photography being against the law and so forth I am much more inclined to call them on it.
Your case sounds to me like the former - not that latter and I would not characterise it as harrassment of a photographer.
I recall vividly one such case where I was in a park / playing field taking a photo of the nearby CBD of the city. The image would have captured in the foreground, a man and a woman who were close by and if not intimate were obviously involved in very close and private conversation. The lady in question asked me to not take their picture. My impression is that they may have been secret lovers. Who would not respect someone's request in such as situation?
On the other hand if some fruitcake starts ranting about terrorism and photography being against the law and so forth I am much more inclined to call them on it.
Your case sounds to me like the former - not that latter and I would not characterise it as harrassment of a photographer.
paulfish4570
Veteran
i ALWAYS look people in the eye, and if a glance is returned, i nod. i have never had any issues because of that. i am not well-traveled, but have not found this to be an issue in mexico, guatemala, NYC, or anywhere in the southern or western USA, no matter the color or circumstances of anyone with whom i have made eye contact. and i am not a friendly looking fellow, but perhaps not belligerent looking, either.
santela
Established
I've been confronted twice, once in China by an old monk. I took three or four pictures of him and was not even trying to be discreet... he called me on it and I quickly walked away.
The other time was in Turkey, saw this couple making out by a river and I thought the lighting had made the scene perfect. Before I could focus my camera they spotted me and came over asked me something in Turkish, which I obviously didn't understand. They were very friendly but did not speak English, and when they found out I had a film camera with me they walk away.
Most of the time when my subject catch me photographing them I just simply smile and nod, and more often than not I will get a smile in return. I think being Asian helps, an Asian dude with a camera around his neck just screams "tourist".
The other time was in Turkey, saw this couple making out by a river and I thought the lighting had made the scene perfect. Before I could focus my camera they spotted me and came over asked me something in Turkish, which I obviously didn't understand. They were very friendly but did not speak English, and when they found out I had a film camera with me they walk away.
Most of the time when my subject catch me photographing them I just simply smile and nod, and more often than not I will get a smile in return. I think being Asian helps, an Asian dude with a camera around his neck just screams "tourist".
Tomas M
Member
Last weekend I was shooting in Brisbane with a flash. I walked down the street, shot the odd photo or two, and had just shot a photo of a lady wearing a big, floral hat, when a man came right up to my face and say "If you take my photo, I'll break your camera". Easiest way I've been able to diffuse a situation like this is to just keep it short and simple, don't kiss their behind, but don't go on about your rights. I just say "Fair enough" or "Alright" and walk off. Most stories I've heard that are similar to this, the photographer over-explains themselves and gets themselve into a mess.
paulfish4570
Veteran
nice little spyderco ...
Disaster_Area
Gadget Monger
I hate the fact that public photography has become anathema as "hurting other peoples feelings" and yet so much else gets to slide. Just because other people don't like it or don't get it doesn't mean they have the right to stop you from doing it. That's what living in a society MEANS, we make up a set of rules that we all follow, and you don't get the right to bitch about people living their lives within those rules. I don't like crying babies on the bus, dogs that bark all day, people that walk and text not watching where they're going, people that use their iphones speakers in public instead of headphones and a million other things people do every day, and I'm sure I do a bunch that annoys other people as well. But the point is none of those things are against the law, so I wouldn't dream of telling anyone doing them to stop... if I find it annoying I remove myself.
If none of us could do anything that annoyed anyone, we'd never be able to go out in public and the world would be a pretty boring place. You can't please all the people all the time, but what we can do is learn some tolerance of others. Don't get me wrong, it goes both ways... if confronted a photographer should be tolerant of the other persons annoyance and do his best to calmly, rationally and politely diffuse the situation without resorting to "I have the right, so #@$@$# off". I'm just sick of people arguing that public photography is some kind of deviant criminal activity.
gb hill
Veteran
...and I thought all this time Leica's were suposed to be the stealth camera of the ages. You got busted shooting from the hip with a Leica...too funny!!😀
BTW just put the camera up to your eye, compose, shoot, & tell them your an artist & to bug off. Keep on shooting brother!🙂
BTW just put the camera up to your eye, compose, shoot, & tell them your an artist & to bug off. Keep on shooting brother!🙂
gb hill
Veteran
I just remembered the last time i was out shooting trains (with a camera) some guy came up & asked me if I was with google earth. I said no, just a train nut! What about these "Google Earth cars" that photograph your house & put it on the internet? Why don't people get upset over that crap? I'd like to see a reality show where people run out of their houses throwing stuff at google earth cars as they pass by.
So perhaps the next time some one ask what you are doing tell them your with google earth.
So perhaps the next time some one ask what you are doing tell them your with google earth.
Jack Conrad
Well-known
Well said. Exactly. And I would only add that it's especially sickening, or saddening to see other photographers on a
photography site arguing that public photography is some kind of deviant criminal activity.
Disaster_Area
Gadget Monger
Agreed... especially when it comes to shooting from the hip. If you don't like doing it or don't feel comfortable practising it, great, fine... don't do it. But don't take on the role of camera police. And I hate that people focus on the "stealth" aspect of it, there's many reasons to shoot from the hip. When shooting with wide angle lenses, shooting from the hip allows you to keep the camera level and fill the frame with a subject.
If I raise the camera to my eye, to keep the camera level I have to aim at the subjects eye, leaving the whole top half of the frame empty. Shooting from the hip allows me to fill the frame, half the person on top, half on bottom and all my lines are level. Also, I'm 6'2", if I point the camera down to fill the frame, I end up shooting down the tops of most girls. Shooting from the hip guarantees I'm not shooting down any tops or up any skirts... people may not realize this, but it's actually my way of trying to be respectful.
You can shoot from the hip without being sneaky or stealthy. I walk around with the camera around my neck, I don't try to hide what I'm doing, I just don't advertise it. I don't stalk of follow people and I'm not getting in anyones face... and I've had to deal with VERY few confrontations. I think a big part of the problem is that when shooting from the hip, people feel guilty and their body reflects this, drawing more attention than if you raised the camera to your eye. Just shoot like no one is watching, smile and be polite and you'd be surprised how few people will actually stop you.
Teuthida
Well-known
In addition to being a documentarian photog and filmmaker, I'm an attorney to pay the rent.
Yesterday, while waiting outside of court, some poor woman fell out and had to have the EMS attend her. I pulled out my iPhone to take a few picks and was rudely approached by a court deputy telling me to put my camera away (I'm standing there with my legal briefcase, wearing an Armani suit). I told him to mind his own business and get a police officer if he thought I was doing something wrong...but if he put his hands on me he'd soon be testifying in a civil suit. He walked off in a huff to get a cop. He never came back.
Moral of story: stand up to bullies.
Yesterday, while waiting outside of court, some poor woman fell out and had to have the EMS attend her. I pulled out my iPhone to take a few picks and was rudely approached by a court deputy telling me to put my camera away (I'm standing there with my legal briefcase, wearing an Armani suit). I told him to mind his own business and get a police officer if he thought I was doing something wrong...but if he put his hands on me he'd soon be testifying in a civil suit. He walked off in a huff to get a cop. He never came back.
Moral of story: stand up to bullies.
ampguy
Veteran
umcelinho
Marcelo
I live in São Paulo, Brazil, and I've been shooting street since 2009. Never faced a direct confrontation from someone that I had taken a photo of, or from someone that thought I had done so.
But while shooting in downtown i've sometimes got told something in the lines of "not photographing me, buddy" from homeless people only. Personally, I don't shoot homeless people photos unless they are either in a happy moment or aren't recognisable. I try to put myself in other people's shoes too.
One of my favourite photos from last year was from a homeless man kissing one of his pet dogs in the cheek, it was a really sweet scene. But I see many people that will shoot homeless people downtown just as an accessory to the scene, it's something I don't fancy at all. So I understand that they think I might be shooting them when I was actually shooting a different scene and may have not even noticed them - once at night I got pretty surprised when I heard a gritty female voice coming from an absolute pitch black point that I couldn't take photos of her.. while I was just framing the (barely) neon lit pedestrian streets.
But while shooting in downtown i've sometimes got told something in the lines of "not photographing me, buddy" from homeless people only. Personally, I don't shoot homeless people photos unless they are either in a happy moment or aren't recognisable. I try to put myself in other people's shoes too.
One of my favourite photos from last year was from a homeless man kissing one of his pet dogs in the cheek, it was a really sweet scene. But I see many people that will shoot homeless people downtown just as an accessory to the scene, it's something I don't fancy at all. So I understand that they think I might be shooting them when I was actually shooting a different scene and may have not even noticed them - once at night I got pretty surprised when I heard a gritty female voice coming from an absolute pitch black point that I couldn't take photos of her.. while I was just framing the (barely) neon lit pedestrian streets.
