Street photography: With prior permission or candid?

Street photography: With prior permission or candid?

  • I always ask permission to photograph first. Candid shooting may be lawful but it is unethical

    Votes: 8 3.3%

  • I don't ask permission to photograph. Candid shooting is not unethical

    Votes: 111 46.1%

  • Candid street is not unethical - it is what you do with the image AFTER shooting that matters

    Votes: 75 31.1%

  • I try to capture the unguarded moment, the decisive moment as Bresson advocated

    Votes: 98 40.7%

  • It depends on the situation; sometimes I ask, sometimes I shoot candidly

    Votes: 107 44.4%

  • I never use flash on the street - the Gilden in your face flash method is obnoxious and arrogant

    Votes: 79 32.8%

  • I will use flash at a street festival, fair or public event at night (but not like Gilden)

    Votes: 28 11.6%

  • If people ask questions, I explain in an amicable and informative manner why I photographed them

    Votes: 116 48.1%

  • If asked to delete a photo, I will delete it (digital shooters)

    Votes: 53 22.0%

  • If asked to delete a photo, I will respectfully decline (digital shooters)

    Votes: 44 18.3%

  • If asked to hand over my roll of film, I would do so (film shooters)

    Votes: 2 0.8%

  • If asked to hand over my roll of film, I would respectfully decline (film shooters)

    Votes: 143 59.3%
  • Total voters
    241
Of course you have to believe that Moriyama Daido's work is any good. The more I see (including a huge exhibition at this year's Rencontres), the less convinced I am. Sure, that's just my opinion, but I wonder how much the internet inflates the reputations of some people. I'd be surprised if Moriyama Daido took himself quite as seriously as some of his fans.

Cheers,

R.
 
If you need to ask permission to take a photo then it's essential that that is communicated to any potential viewers.What is possibly more interesting is that often permission is sought and given unconsciously,you're very presence with a camera could ,if noticed,allow an acceptance to be photographed..should this 'permission' also be admitted to?.......Well no,of course not and it is difficult to see any real value where direct permission has been sought,......that sunny image of Eric Kim 'constructing' his photographs still turns my stomach I'm afraid.
 
Roger Hicks said:
Of course you have to believe that Moriyama Daido's work is any good. The more I see (including a huge exhibition at this year's Rencontres), the less convinced I am. Sure, that's just my opinion, but I wonder how much the internet inflates the reputations of some people. I'd be surprised if Moriyama Daido took himself quite as seriously as some of his fans.

Cheers,

R.
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Moriyama Daido became famous because of a documentary about him and lack of access to his books and photos in the west. once his books reached the west and the exhibitions of his work, people suddenly realized that his no good. in fact his work is even of lower quality than people who imitate him like Bruce Gilden and Trent Parke.
 
perhaps it is appropriate that me first post here is here

perhaps it is appropriate that me first post here is here

I rarely 'ask' permission because I don't want to be part of the moment I'm trying to capture.

I switched to a small inconspicuous camera system exactly for that reason.

Lew
 
L Collins said:
Asking permission isnt "street photography," its environmental portraiture.
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Spot on.

Street photography = 'no permission' and 'no access'. If you ask permission, it is portraiture, if you have access (to a community, group etc) it is documentary/reportage.
 
THe_traveler said:
I rarely 'ask' permission because I don't want to be part of the moment I'm trying to capture. I switched to a small inconspicuous camera system exactly for that reason. Lew
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Unsure how a photographer cannot be a part of a moment he or she is trying to capture. We can strive to be as much of a "fly on the wall" as possible but we will always be a part of a moment.

I don't ask permission but when shooting street one of my favorite moments is the split second when someone recognizes I am photographing them. The reaction can be anger, disgust, flattering etc but if I capture this reaction (which is undoubtedly due to "me") is it no longer street photography?
 
Sometimes I do, sometimes not. Depends on the context and individual moment.

Honestly, it's not that important to me. Making an image I like -- that's important. So I concentrate on that as what's relevant.
 
Margu said:
Moriyama Daido became famous because of a documentary about him and lack of access to his books and photos in the west. once his books reached the west and the exhibitions of his work, people suddenly realized that his no good. in fact his work is even of lower quality than people who imitate him like Bruce Gilden and Trent Parke.
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For someone who's 'no good' he's done rather well; not everyone gets to share Tate Modern exhibition space with William Klein but clearly the Tate curators were behind the curve on this. Personally I like his photographs and the quality of the prints at that exhibition -- about a year ago now -- was superb.
 
Agreed, Lawrence. I don't 'get' all of Moriyama's work but even someone of my modest capabilities sees there's an artist there. Not for nothing was he paired with Klein in that show (rather envious you saw that, as it seemed like a real blockbuster to me).

There's some interesting work from a certain genre of Japanese photographers, and I love that community's adherence to film, too. On a side note, I really admire what this guy is doing:
http://arimotoshinya.com/
 
To explain a little more: I consider taking someone's picture akin to having a conversation with them; sometimes I talk to a person on the street, if it feels like the right thing to do and it's part of the photography that's to be made at that moment.

Sometimes not...depends on the specific situation.
 
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