The biter bit: someone takes a picture of you on the street

Before I got into photography, I absolutely loathed to be photographed... but had to tolerate it. After 2001, I find it flattering.

My wife and I were at a restaurant on Valentine's Day. It was their first special dinner event and there was someone with a Canon Rebel documenting the ocasion. He raised his camera at us and I did something I never even thought about doing years before: I smiled and then continued my business as if nothing had happened. I heard the shutter and then nodded at the photographer. My wife was mildly amused.
 
While I don't like looking at photos of myself, I have no objection if some stranger frames their street photo with me in it, provided it is not invasive (lens up my nose), offensive, or defamatory.

Being photographed without your knowledge can have a positive side too. When I was at university/college in the 60s we used to while away time between lectures by playing cards in the cafeteria. Thirty years later my daughter went to the same university. By this time, unknown to me, the "Caf" had been replaced by a new bigger one. One day my daughter came home and said:
"Hey Dad, there are some historical photos of the old Caf on the wall in The Caf."
"Oh" I said, "didn't know there was a new Caf."
"And guess what, Dad, you're in one of them."

That gave me a bit of a buzz, to think that of all the thousands of students who had been through the place I am now an official part of its history, although anonymously.

Cheers, Peter.
 
Honestly I might possibly give them an odd look if im caught completely off guard. Otherwise I dont care. I'm in public space. I--just as they--have no expectation of privacy on the streets. :)

Chances are though fi they are taking photos of me, I'll be snapping one of them as well. My camera goes with me everywhere.
 
What, you mean some people actually want a picture of an old geezer using funny looking cameras...
 
i've seen myself being framed on the street, along with the many others in the crowd...by leica street shooters, but i haven't seen my visage show up anywhere yet. and years ago while riding the bus in paris, a young shooter was just so eager to shoot me in a pretty close situation...it was an amusing exhcange of eye contact with no frames taken...being 6'6'' i usually stand out in the crowd, and as a visually oriented person, i take notice of visual activity, whether i have my camera or not... of course i prefer to be the one behind the camera doing the shooting.
 
I don't generally do anything close to individuals....I'd rather include folks in an over-all shot of a place if interest....I think it adds perspective and life. Having said that, If I see a particularly interesting face, article of clothing, or anything else of a "personal" nature, I'll ask permission, and explain why I want to "collect" them. In some places (usually tourist sites), it's become customary to offer a small amount of money for the picture, and I happily comply.

Me? Shoot away! I don't think I'm an interesting subject, but, then, what do I know?

Happy New Year, Y'all!
Don
 
To clarify a bit, on a few occasions someone has taken my photo when I was part of a group. That's fine. If someone is trying to make me the sole subject of the photo, I'd rather be asked. Can't explain the difference.
 
I wouldn't mind if someone took my photo when I was on the street, would probably be flattered, or wondering what about me looked funny. I'd probably pull a face. That said I avoid photos at parties/gatherings/functions, I don't generally like photos of myself , and so usually I pull a face if I can't escape being shot.
 
I personally dont like having my photograph taken but that is due to how I feel I look in photos, not the act. I prefer to ask people before I take their photo but it does make them "pose" for the camera which is usually not what I wanted.

I actually had some "business" cards made...I put business in quotes because I dont have a business, but the cards have my email address, website, name, and 2 spots that have date and location with a little line to write next to the word.

What I do alot of the time is just take the photo; but then I ask, can I take your photo? I then give them a card and write the date and location I took the photo and tell them to check my website, if they see their photo to send me an email and I will mail them a small print, 4X6 or 5X7.

This tends to make most people very happy and they dont give off any negative vibes and any photos taken after that are usually very positive. If I take a photo of a "street person" (I prefer not to say bum or homeless) I usually give them a cigarette or a dollar if they have a cup out.


Just my methods and if I go to these lengths to insure a happy subject I dont feel I can really complain about a snapshot taken of me on the street.
 
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If someone notices me shooting them, I'll usually say something like "this scene makes a very cool photograph, do you mind if I shoot with you in it"? Much more often than not, they're happy to.
 
Why on earth would ANYONE mind being photographed in a public place?

Without being funny, this sounds very close to mental illness (either individual or collective) to me.

Cheers,

R.
 
If anyone photographs me, I ask him why he hates his camera so. :D

Usually I have a camera on my person, so I try to catch my admirer in the act. It can be a great way to break the ice.
 
People have rights to do many things in public, Roger, some of which will inevitably annoy other people, even when we acknowledge the right.

If I see someone pointing a camera at me from across the street, I'm likely to be amused and do nothing. But, if someone stands at arms length and points that camera at me while I'm eating dinner or engaged in a personal conversation, let's say, then I might get annoyed and vocalize the annoyance. All the guy needs to do is ask.
 
wgerrard said:
People have rights to do many things in public, Roger, some of which will inevitably annoy other people, even when we acknowledge the right.

If I see someone pointing a camera at me from across the street, I'm likely to be amused and do nothing. But, if someone stands at arms length and points that camera at me while I'm eating dinner or engaged in a personal conversation, let's say, then I might get annoyed and vocalize the annoyance. All the guy needs to do is ask.
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True: there's taking pictures, and there's being an arsehole, e.g. taking pics at a funeral or shoving your camera up someone's nose.

Cheers,

R.
 
Marc-A. said:
As a lot of members here, I make some street shots of people without asking permission to photograph them. I often wonder how I would react if I caught someone taking a picture of me on the street.
I think I would react badly; and the guy had better give me a good reason for taking my picture without asking my permission.

How would you react?
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It depends on my mood. And the attitude of the photographer.

If he's in my face, and I'm walking around with my girlfriend, I'd ask him to go away. If he wouldn't, then I'd turn like Charlton Heston looking for his gun taken from his warm moist hands.
 
wgerrard said:
Indeed.

For the uninitiated, we're talking about CCTV surveillance cameras, which are ubiquitous in the UK.
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Speak for yourself - I really am that handsome :D

Regards,

Bill
 
Unless one is a criminal on the run or having their "personal space" invaded, I can't understand why anyone would have a problem with their photo being taken.

People obviously do, and so strange to hear many of you all do?! Bizarre.

We can thank the Paparrazzi I feel, they have ruined it for everyone. Everonye is afraid of having the face on the internet it seems..and being disrespected to "get the shot".

It really is a shame and takes some learning and finesse to to deal with people to obtain photos on the street.

I could care less, but what I will not do and hate is someone to ask me to stop or pose, or "do it again"...I won't.

I am not a model, if I want to smile I will, if I want to do something I will. I will not pose for you. You get it or you don't.


When I realise someone has taken my photograph I think, "good idea"...or "how passe"
 
I'd walk right up to the photographer and say something outlandish like "I know my wife has hired you to tail me. I'd pay you double what that bitch is paying you. Call me." Then I'd walk away leaving him to wonder.
 
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