Troubles with people :s

Oddly enough this is where an SLR can be an advantage for street photography IMO. To photograph an individual at a fairly wide aperture with a rangefinder you will have the camera pointed directly at them albeit briefly, even if you don't intend placing them in the centre of the frame for the final image. It's very easy to focus an SLR on a particlar spot in the corner of the frame without really having the camera pointed in the direction of your final intention.

It's not always the case I realise but I have found it to be helpful if you're unsure of your subject's reaction.
 
Rob I think in U.S.A. could be a extremely the security for many themes we know, and you are right about use tele lens or walk away, but from many years I take shots with 40mm so too closer to my subjects and hipshot, I rarely look throw my viewfinder but this time I fail in technique haha.

Kdemas Im happy to do not like Soccer hahaha, well not much.... That article shows well the action in stadiums, Im lucky was urine :s .
You are right Keith, SLR are more easy to use with focus, but I just use it for work, all time on street I use rangefinder but most time prefocus without trouble, but this time... well you know.

Regards.
 
Homeless/troubled or not, that's no bloody excuse to assault someone. You can't tell me they're photographically exploited every second of every day- as if that were justification anyway.
 
Spleenrippa,

I think you have to cut people who live on the streets or have mental issues (or both) a bit of slack when it comes to what we think are appropriate reactions. Everyone knows there is a chance you will get accosted for taking photos of anyone. I'm sure one could make a "Danger Matrix" when it comes to street photography.

I mean, if you just went and shot photos of kids in front of a school, someone is liable to get angry at you, the right (or wrong) person might react abruptly and get physical. It doesn't really matter what YOUR intentions are in any situation - many people just perceive having their photos taken as an invasion of privacy.
 
Israel, I know your photos from the gallery and I had the impression that your intention was to capture honest 'candid' expressions. While I can understand that desire, your artistic inclinations may be in conflict with the views of the depicted people and even their rights to privacy.

Personally I do (mostly) abstain from taking photographs like these. Sure, there are interesting and beautiful scenes floating around in the street, but nowadays, I do not take them. Especially, if I have the feeling, that I am intruding a private space, or that my perspective may shed a light on people that they may not agree with. Publishing them without the consent of the photographed person is also an issue.

I have been confronted by people several times on the street, even when taking just a general scene without a central subject and some of the situations were quite 'hairy'. Personally I am at the point, that I avoid taking photos with one or several clearly indentifiable human subjects without their consent.

I think the relationship of a steet photographer to his/her 'sujet' is a very interesting topic and much more has to be said. Personally, I do not like looking at many of the so called 'candids', as they give me an uncomfortable feeling.

And there has also something to be said about leaving a 'messy trail' on the street, that may make taking picture harder for those, that follow.
 
Israel, where do you live in Mexico? I wonder about shooting on the street in areas where the drug war is readily apparent.
My brother-in-law and his family live in Puebla. They are missionarios. Puebla is a lovely city in a lovely state. My bride and I spent 10 days there in November ...
 
On the street when someone spies me taking their picture I act
annoyed and move around them pretending to take a shot of
whatever is behind them, as if they were in the way of my shot.
 
I live in Federal District Mexico, I Lived in Puebla too, its a wonderful city. I try to take photos in every places, but i must confess some places are really really dangerous.

Retro I will try it hahaha. Sonofdanang, its very interesting what you said. I like it.
 
Meeting with anger seems to be one of the unavoidable risks of doing street photography.

Over the many years that I have done street photography, I remember three assaults:

One was while I staid in Goa, India. I pointed my SLR at a young man who very quickly began to get agressive, even to the point that he suddenly had a knife in his hands. I presume I focused on some dropout drug addict or thug who didn't want his photo taken, or this person was mentally deranged. I resorted to run, and I was fast.

The next incident happened in my home town. I had just bought a rather largish wideangle zoom lens for my DSLR, and I wanted to test it on a very crowded square in downtown Munich. I hadn't even started to take a picture when a young man started to shout at me, warning everybody near me that they might be pictured. I guess he was just plain sick. I walked away without further consequences.

The third time was the scariest, as it apparently happened without any clear cause. I had my DSLR with a 200mm tele lens, and I was taking pictures of some old men playing chess on a public square, when I was suddenly surrounded, shouted at and bullied by a group of five or six young men and women. Quite clearly, they objected to my taking pictures, although I had never pointed my camera into their direction. Since I was near a street cafe with some 200 potential witnesses, I started to yell so that people would notice the threatening situation. Also, I was preparing to defend myself - my camera with that massive lens would have been heavy enough to seriously hurt someone if need be. Fortunately my yelling and determined, yet defensive behavior obviously raised the stakes too high for my attackers, and they let me go. But still, I don't know what motivated them to become so agressive.

Summary: Use a small, unobtrusive and non-threatening camera, be courteous and friendly as long as possible, but also be prepared to either flee or fight. I'm a rather big guy, so I don't get scared easily, and I know I can defend myself if need be (Up to now, it has never been necessary). So, I haven't lost the thrill of photographing on the streets.
 
hmm

hmm

Why was the 3rd time scarier than the 1st? Sounds like in the first incident you had a weapon brandished as a result of your actions.

Third scenario sounds like you are getting ready to use your camera as a weapon??

So you can take photos of them, but they can't speak to you??

Arjay said:
Meeting with anger seems to be one of the unavoidable risks of doing street photography.

Over the many years that I have done street photography, I remember three assaults:

One was while I staid in Goa, India. I pointed my SLR at a young man who very quickly began to get agressive, even to the point that he suddenly had a knife in his hands. I presume I focused on some dropout drug addict or thug who didn't want his photo taken, or this person was mentally deranged. I resorted to run, and I was fast.

The next incident happened in my home town. I had just bought a rather largish wideangle zoom lens for my DSLR, and I wanted to test it on a very crowded square in downtown Munich. I hadn't even started to take a picture when a young man started to shout at me, warning everybody near me that they might be pictured. I guess he was just plain sick. I walked away without further consequences.

The third time was the scariest, as it apparently happened without any clear cause. I had my DSLR with a 200mm tele lens, and I was taking pictures of some old men playing chess on a public square, when I was suddenly surrounded, shouted at and bullied by a group of five or six young men and women. Quite clearly, they objected to my taking pictures, although I had never pointed my camera into their direction. Since I was near a street cafe with some 200 potential witnesses, I started to yell so that people would notice the threatening situation. Also, I was preparing to defend myself - my camera with that massive lens would have been heavy enough to seriously hurt someone if need be. Fortunately my yelling and determined, yet defensive behavior obviously raised the stakes too high for my attackers, and they let me go. But still, I don't know what motivated them to become so agressive.

Summary: Use a small, unobtrusive and non-threatening camera, be courteous and friendly as long as possible, but also be prepared to either flee or fight. I'm a rather big guy, so I don't get scared easily, and I know I can defend myself if need be (Up to now, it has never been necessary). So, I haven't lost the thrill of photographing on the streets.
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Ampguy, I had the first situation under control because I was quick and could retreat in time. BTW, this incident happened even before I had actually taken a picture,

In the third situation, I was not in control, because I was cornered. There was no way to discuss - how would you react if you were surrounded by a gang of people who all shout at you (not caring to hear your response) and signal with their body language that they are going to physically assault you?

BTW, it's your assumption that I would refuse to talk to people when they object: I'm not hiding what I do, and if someone objects to having his picture taken, I refrain with a smile and some friendly words on my lips.

gho said:
Personally I do (mostly) abstain from taking photographs like these. Sure, there are interesting and beautiful scenes floating around in the street, but nowadays, I do not take them. Especially, if I have the feeling, that I am intruding a private space, or that my perspective may shed a light on people that they may not agree with. Publishing them without the consent of the photographed person is also an issue.
Click to expand...

Yes, that's one way to see it. I feel that for the photographer, there is certainly an ethical duty to not exploit the people he's taking a picture of. I am trying to shoot pictures that I would be able to show to the people depicted without shame or hesitiation. If I would have such feelings while shooting, I would rather refrain from taking that picture.

gho said:
I have been confronted by people several times on the street, even when taking just a general scene without a central subject and some of the situations were quite 'hairy'. Personally I am at the point, that I avoid taking photos with one or several clearly indentifiable human subjects without their consent.

I think the relationship of a steet photographer to his/her 'sujet' is a very interesting topic and much more has to be said. Personally, I do not like looking at many of the so called 'candids', as they give me an uncomfortable feeling.
Click to expand...

I agree with you - but bear in mind that the situation between a photographer and his subject is one of communication. What matters here isn't only how the subject behaves, but also what I as a photographer am adding to the scene. If I feel insecure, or if I act surreptitiously or threateningly, I am creating a situation of uneasiness, which makes the subject (and later the viewer) feel bad. On the other hand, I can also do the opposite by being charming, friendly, open and welcoming. I often find that if I'm amiable, so will my subjects be as well. I think it makes a big difference to pay attention to how I behave when I'm on the street. More often than not, I'm really astonished how far a smile can get me - or on the opposite, how many problems I run into simply by being grumpy.

As to the 'messy trail', you're right, and we all should take care not to spread bad feelings, when we can do the exact opposite by being courteous and friendly.
 
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well

well

I would probably realize that they were upset about something, and try not to antagonize them further, whatever it was that was upsetting them.

The only confrontation I've had that might be similar was when some folks, known to be drug dealers/illegal immigrants/wanted by all the major agencies for outstanding warrants/possibly in the wit - sec program, etc., were partying on a sidewalk and one said "Hey, you have to pay us to take our picture" and I replied, "No Habla Ingles" and of course didn't take any photos.

Respect.

Arjay said:
...how would you react if you were surrounded by a gang of people who all shout at you (not caring to hear your response) and signal with their body language that they are going to physically assault you?...
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I think that often the way we interpret things depends on how we are, if we have not any kind of criticism for others we might see things in a more healthy way, while those who have any type of prejudice against anyone else either racism and other things they alter the way you see things. Dont you think? Shame I read what I read.
 
Good point Rob

Good point Rob

A significant proportion of homeless people (one study of Japan showed 33%, one study of New York showed 40%), have mental disabilities. Maybe these numbers are higher now, or in certain areas.

Why aggravate them by pointing a big lens at them, that they may perceive as a weapon or someone spying on them?

Please, leave these folks alone. As was mentioned above, they likely have many more serious issues than you. Leave them be, or take them a hot meal or a cup of coffee.


robklurfield said:
I was chased once.

The owner of this falafel cart in NYC too umbrage at me shooting pix of his establishment.
...

I explained, as calmly as I could, that one of the great things about his adopted country is that the police wouldn't arrest me for taking pictures in public. As you can see, I didn't exactly make a portrait here. nor, to the best of my knowledge, did I steal any of his trade secrets.

Since 9/11, many normal, mentally well-balanced folks have become paranoid. Obviously, some of the paranoid schizophrenics have become more paranoid and more delusional. Moral of the story, I guess, is if your subject looks deranged and violent, either walk away or use a longer lens.
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great story

great story

thanks for sharing this. This is how street photography should be done, making friends on the street, and photographing them.

Not sneaking around like a friggin pusy-footed perv pretending you're not really taking photos, then getting ready to assault with your camera.

This is how it should be done, folks.


sonofdanang said:
645 in the morning, at the foot of the Willie B just east of the Bowery, I took a picture of a falafel guy. He asked me why. I stammered, "For... - me." And that wasn't good enough, somehow. So I said, "For art," and felt immediately foolish.
He said, "Okay. Art. That's good. As long a you aren't one of those magazine guys." Then he winked. "The muses, hey? Who's your favorite?"
I was nonplussed for a second. Longer. His face fell as he tried as politely as he could to hide his realization that he was trying to have an intelligent conversation with an illiterate.
I found my voice. "Euterpe, maybe. But Calliope for sure." I said. It wasn't quite seven in the morning and my heart was hammering in my chest. His smile returned. I seized the moment and bought coffee and a roll. He told me about university in Lebanon. He told me about his favorite poet - Rumi. His favorite American writer - Faulkner. His daughter - in university - "...she will be a good lawyer, I think. She has passion."
We made our good byes and good wishes and I turned to walk north a few doors to my friend's studio. Looking back after a few steps I watched him serving coffee and food. Smiling. He saw me looking and waved. I looked up a the buildings around me and saw the canyons suffused with the golden light of an early November morning that for a moment penetrated the stone and steel and glass filling everybody's heart and guiding their actions whether they knew it or not.

I've had cameras broken by rifle butts and I've been treated less than civilly presumably because I've had a camera where someone else didn't want one to be. But on the whole I've found that honesty, and gentleness-with-persistence, has always worked for me. And I am continually rewarded by the enduring interconnected family that we all are.
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