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How do you take photo's of strangers when you see them, characters on the street etc?
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I see people every day that would make great images and i woiuld love to be able to take their photo, but if you ask first, what I had seen would probably dissapear. I know that people all over the world take photo's like the one's i would like to. People like reporters etc, news and all those type of things..... How do they get away with taking people's photo's? Is it illegal? How do you go about capturing a great image of a great character then use it well WITH their consent?
Any tips whatsoever, no matter how small would be helpful.
Posted at 3:14PM, 28 April 2009 PDT
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Hi Paul,
I'm traveling a lot through Asia and what I'm doing is to just ask. Asking means many times not being able to actually talk to the person then rather show them my camera, being very polite and always smile.
What I also try to do most of the time is to "return a print". I have experienced that this is very much appreciated and will many times when returning end up in a second session which gives the better picture.
As yu can see in my shots, I also always carry lighting equipment with me around which is maybe a little bit unusual but also shows that it can be done when trying.
Posted 37 months ago.
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Hi Paul,
In a public place it shouldn't be a problem, though if someone does object, stop and even show them the shot has been deleted. Some carry a card with their details and Flickr account URL.
Posted 37 months ago.
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As clafra1972 says, just ask, if they refuse, then look around for your next.......victim. There will always be someone else.
Posted 32 months ago.
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Regarding legal/illegal it's pretty cut and dry. Anyone who is out in public has waived their right to "reasonable presumption of privacy". There are times and places where it is illegal - shopping malls are a good example, most have an explicit policy regarding no photography, but they are also private property which is a different scenario. I have gotten into altercations where people thought they had the right to demand I delete the photos, but invariably when I insist they call the police to explain the law to them, they back down (funny thing is, the person demanding I delete the files has NEVER been the person I was taking the photo of). If I think a shot will have any commercial value whatsoever, I will approach them AFTER, show them the photo and ask them to sign a release in exchange for a framed copy of the print. I haven't had very many people decline.
Clafra and Wade have given you good advice.
Posted 32 months ago.
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you can either use a telephoto lens, where you can sneak shots at them, or just shoot.
most of the time, if the person noticed me, i will smile at them, and walk over to show them the pictures i took of them. sometimes they will go like "oh, this doesn't look like me etc.." then you just laugh it off and ask them for their email, and send it to them.
of course there are times where you get shoo-ed away, or hostile fingers, but I don't think they will beat you up.
Sometimes, you just have to be quick, take a picture, and turn somewhere else pretend to be shooting at the scenery in general. avoid eye contact with them.
So it really depends on the situation you are in. Thicken your skin and just go shoot.
Posted 29 months ago.
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Michael J. Belanger [deleted] says:
Street photography can be a pain in the rear in to become comfortable with when ya start out. Obviously your goal is to get a well exposed picture of someone going about their everyday life without them becoming aware of the situation. There are a few tricks that street photographers use to increase the chances for a successful shot. One, mentioned a few posts above, is to find yourself a spot a ways away from your subject and use a telephoto lens to zoom into frame. The only problem with this technique is that you are limited with regards to your shooting angle and thus helpless in the event that someone or something moves in between and blocks your shot. Another technique that I use myself is to invest in a wide angle prime lens. The idea is to not point your camera directly at your intended subject, but close enough so that ya still get them in the shot. Obviously you will crop the image to your liking later on, but by not pointing the lens directly at your intended target, you should be able to take multiple shots without much suspicion. Additionally, you can close your aperture a bit to increase your chances of attaining proper focus. Hope this helps ya out a little. Good luck!!
Posted 29 months ago.
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Guerrilla warfare or legal warfare JETRIM says legality is pretty cut and dry. All other ideas are great: a copy of the picture is a novel idea.
I would like to hear from anyone who has been sued for invasion of privacy. I do not think invasion of privacy is a criminal offense, but I offer no opinion, only seeking info.
Posted 27 months ago.
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you could get all Jeff Mermelstein on em.
Posted 17 months ago.
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What I do is stand up in a corner of my city, and using the zoom I take the photos :D nobody tell me nothing about it (yet xD) but I try to don't be seeing. Someday I will ask to people if I could take them a photo, but for now I like this idea of "not be seeing", and I'm working on it as a project (if you see in my photostream, the album called "De incógnito" has those photos).
Posted 17 months ago.
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I don't see too many here trying to talk to people... Shooting from afar takes all the closeness away, but it's just me.
If you're not planning to get that picture on the cover of a book or a publicity campaign billboard you shouldn't worry about lawsuits and such.
You look at them, try to communicate and smile. Goes a long way...
Posted 16 months ago.
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I got some cards printed from vistaprint (about £12 for 100) and just approach people and tell them I'm a street photographer and that I think they look interesting. Most people are curious but happy enough to let me photograph them. The fact that I'm shooting on film always strikes up a conversation when thay realise they can't see the image straight away. The card I give them has my flickr and email address on the back and I tell them that if they email me I will sent them a jpeg version of the photo. You have nothing to lose. People are way too cautious these days about talking to complete strangers on the street. Its not illegal and you meet some very interesting people. Set yourself a '100 strangers' project. I think there is a site dedicated to it. It will build your confidence and you will have great fun.
Posted 16 months ago.
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Is it legal? Depends on the country, but in most of the cases (I'd say 99% in my experience) the answer is a sound yes when you shoot in a public place - the main difference is whether you can use the image for commercial purposes or not without a model release form. I always try to figure out the law before shooting in a new country.
And no, street photography in "general" is not done with telephoto if you want to make images that feel like they were taken in the middle of the action. You very rarely see a good street shot with something longer than 70mm (on full frame). Wanna get used to it? Put a 35mm on your camera and shoot only with it for a while.
About asking: shoot first, talk later. If you want an unposed picture at least.
How do they get away with that? I do it all the time, and the main secret is: a big smile when you are caught :) It works most of the times (here my street shots and here the times I've been intentionally caught).
Also, learn to pre-meter your camera before you bring it to the eye to shoot, get rid of your camera flashy strap and get a hand grip instead. And be nice to people, they (mostly) will be nice to you.
Originally posted 16 months ago.
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Chris JL edited this topic 16 months ago.
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Discovered for myself that it's much easier to ask people if you can take a picture when you're together with a friend or so.
It's more fun, less threathening (it seems) and you get nice conversations as well.
Check it out at
Posted 14 months ago.
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Here is a good article on the subject www.krages.com/ThePhotographersRight.pdf
It's called the Photographer's Rights. My instructor gave it to everyone in my Photojournalism class last year. I actually keep a copy of it in my wallet. The one time I had someone confront me I decided to show it and they were nice and backed off. It was written for the USA so I don't know how it applies to other countries.
Usually I shoot first and ask questions later. After all it's easier to ask for forgiveness then to ask for permission.
But it is nice to talk to the people I photograph because they usually have some interesting stories to tell.
Posted 10 months ago.
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I have found that in Japan people are way to shy to even acknowledge that you have taken their photo which means I could probably stand a couple of feet away and have my lens still pointed at them, of course I dont do this as I try to be polite, but its a great place to not have to worry about complaints
Posted 10 months ago.
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Some people have a very in-your-face approach that works for them.
www.flickr.com/photos/charlie_kirk/3864414613/
So, in other words, do it whichever way you want within the limits of your own comfort zone.
Posted 10 months ago.
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I think there is something here being overlooked.
And that is assuming that street photography is any different than any other kind of photography; hence, the nervousness and questioning of what to do with a subject, how to approach a subject, and, perhaps, what kind of equipment to use in order to remain invisible.
Street photography is simply a description, in my view, of the environment in which you are seeking your subjects, your moment.
And, this is exactly my point: all photography is about moment, whether it is a delicate flower amongst a field of flowers, a model in a formal studio situation, a car racing around a track, a landscape, or someone jumping across a puddle in Paris.
Don't pigeonhole the "kind" of photography you are doing and then chase that paradigm with certain equipment and techniques and approaches and preconceptions because if you do, you will be sorely disappointed in your results.
Forget about "street photography." Forget about the street and the people on it. Abandon the label and "kind" of photography it is.
It's all about moment.
Just be present to where you are, and it might just happen that you find yourself on a street with activity bursting all around you.
Feel the energy, relax and be open to the magic that is already happening. Open your heart and your eyes will follow.
And, don't worry about the lens you have, or don't have, or whether someone is noticing you with the camera, or not. Because none of that matters.
Do you think the Master of Master's, Henri Cartier Bresson stopped to worry about these things? Do you think he stopped and asked his subject to jump over a puddle in Paris so he could take the picture? Do you think he chased down his subject after he took the picture to ask him if it was okay? Do you think he obsessed or wondered or even considered what other people thought about the camera in his hand, that he was, in fact, photographing them?
What made Bresson such an inspiration for the rest of us was that he blended into his scene as a participant because he was fully present to what was happening: he became the moment.
And, because he did, he became invisible, an integral part of the energy of the moment, and this sublime accomplishment is ever present in his images: his subjects paid no, or little, attention because Bresson was not outside looking in, bringing notice to himself as a mere observer.
He was inside looking in.
Turn your head off.
Turn your heart on.
And just take the picture.
Wherever that may be.
Originally posted 9 months ago.
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WaterLightGallery.com edited this topic 9 months ago.
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I stand in an unobtrusive place with a 400mm lens and shoot away. No one has ever said anything to me. On the other hand, I am usually so busy looking through the lens, I am not sure I would hear them.
Posted 8 months ago.
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I make it a point to approach at least 10 people that catch my eye every time I go out and shoot. I get more no's than yes, but the ones you do get end up amazing. I don't ever lie to them and always offer a copy of the picture. I've met a lot of interesting people, most of them on the street just appreciate that you have asked.
Posted 8 months ago.
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For me, it totally depends on the situation. Usually, I rely on my intuition and the kind of picture I would like to take.
What I try to avoid is being very mysterious about it. I usually walk upfront/step out of the shadows, so people can see I'm very honest about me taking a picture.
Furthermore, when I encounter interesting people, I usually walk over and ask permission. However, for certain situations, shots, encounters, interactions, where it's the moment that counts, I just aim and shoot!
Posted 2 months ago.
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