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Rural Asia.
Posted 16 months ago.
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I don't think there is a "best" Country for this. Each Country will produce different pictures and different attitudes to picture taking.
It''s all down to the individual person really not society as a whole in a country.
Posted 16 months ago.
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I agree with @gordypix. Frankly, I cringe at any "what the best so-and-so" because you can find an amazing photo op anywhere you travel. You only need to look beyond the ordinary.
Posted 16 months ago.
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It's all about your personality and what works. More aggressive types can go to New York and get awesome stuff.
For me, Asia works best. (I've lived there on and off for 20 yrs). I know others who like Africa.
Southeast Asia
www.flickr.com/photos/koknia/sets/915672/
South Asia
www.flickr.com/photos/koknia/sets/72157617290351544/
Posted 16 months ago.
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7055 [deleted] says:
No where is 'best' but I've found that in China, people seem pretty unconcerned about photographers since it is almost a national pastime there, so no hostility. I can tell you for certain that the UK is just about the worst country to walk around with a camera.
Posted 16 months ago.
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I visited Panama a few years back, and found people in the more rural parts quite hospitable and open, which made for some nice, sincere images.
Originally posted 16 months ago.
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Camera Famosa edited this topic 16 months ago.
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Please don't take the "anywhere except where I live" approach to street photography. You can walk outside your door and just try to see your local environment as if you just arrived there. It's very rewarding to act like a tourist in your home town. You get to see so many things that you always walk past on a daily basis and pay little attention to. However, if you really need to get away, New York is fantastic for street photography.
Originally posted 16 months ago.
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Yanaki edited this topic 16 months ago.
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+1 for Yanaki
Posted 16 months ago.
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People anywhere are open to being photographed if you approach them the right way and get them interested in what you're doing. Of course you need to be sensitive to cultural differences.
Some years ago, before the Taliban, I took a number of street/people shots in Afghanistan, which you would think would be a difficult country. Men and children were very willing to pose, but of course photographing women was pretty taboo.
While I agree with Yanaki that you should also do street photography where you live, it's often easier in places where people just assume that every foreigner takes lots of pictures. In places like the US or UK, people are more likely to suspect your motives.
Posted 16 months ago.
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I recently went to Taipei and there was this person in MRT. I aimed my camera towards him and he seemed so unconerned about it.
Posted 16 months ago.
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Rural Thailand you get a taste of how it was. Kids riding on the back of water buffalo plowing fields etc. Rural Asia in general is good. Hong Kong is a good place for street photos.
Posted 16 months ago.
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a few Asiaphiles in this thread, myself included. :-)
Posted 16 months ago.
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Indonesia.. people like to be taken pictures. You just smile and they pose for you. They might even want to take pictures WITH you..
China.. they get angry if they know you try to take their pictures. I almost got hit by a stone when I tried to snap candid. Eventhough later on I asked for permission, old lady was yelling at me in chinese.
Japan.. So far, if you request, they will smile back and let you take their pictures taken. Esp. they are very proud of their dogs! :) hahahah.
Posted 16 months ago.
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Yanaki has said please dont make this an anywhere but where you live thread but actually I've found that is the case.
By that I mean that is you appear foreign in most places you will be written off as a silly tourist and the response will vary somewhere between outright welcome moving through mild amusement and end up with vague annoyance. OTOH if people think you are a local then suddenly that photo of a charming doorway or delightful little laneway or young couple is seen as a little creepy and you can get outright hostility.
I've found when shooting people overseas with an australian flag on my pack I get a much better reception than when I leave it in to the hotel/hostel/car. Now I'm home for a while I'm thinking of replacing it with a canadian flag.
Posted 16 months ago.
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@ PMac Imagery: I agree completely, and that was the point I was trying to make. People need to know why you're taking pictures, but they easily can accept that you're a silly tourist who is always taking pictures of everything.
Good luck with using a Canadian flag. You'll give yourself away the first moment you open your mouth. ;-)
Posted 16 months ago.
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Let me step back a minute to what the OP is defining as street photography. Street photography purists will claim that they don't care if people mind if they are being photographed, they just do it anyway. Street photography is not just a photo that happens to be taken on a public thoroughfare. If you're taking a photo "on the street" of a person who you asked to take a photo, that's an informal portrait, like this of a boy in Egypt:
Whereas this is street photography in Hanoi:
But these examples shouldn't prove that Asia is more susceptible to street photography. I've done street photography everywhere I go: NYC (where I live), San Fran, Cambodia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Peru, Egypt, etc. And everywhere offers something different and unique.
Originally posted 16 months ago.
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calvinboy24 edited this topic 16 months ago.
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Off the beaten track in SE Asia.. is the best for me..
Posted 16 months ago.
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The best place is where you have just arrived: after you have lived there for a while, you stop noticing people and things that struck you when you just arrived — unless, of course, you make an extra effort, as Yanaki and others pointed out.
Posted 16 months ago.
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I've had no problems taking photos in most of the cities of Mexico or London or Paris.
Posted 16 months ago.
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Had my best experience in South East Asia and India regarding the willingness of people.
Posted 16 months ago.
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7055 [deleted] says:
Indians love to be photographed, in fact the kids will literally fight to get in front of the camera. So much so it actually works out quite counterproductive composition wise!
Posted 16 months ago.
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I agree with many suggestions -
It all depends on your experience level, understanding of the cultures you shoot and your confidence/ approach. I've photographed all over the world and had few problems.
If you are just getting started or are not confident about approaching strangers (please always ask before taking someones photo) I would suggest -
Kathmandu - a visual feast with over 10,000 temples and interesting, friendly people.
Fez + Marakesh - the souks and markets have great lighting and are very visual - do ask here!
India - life is all on display on the streets - friendly people.
Hope this helps - look at some of my street scenes to get a feel for the places - 2DAYDREAM photography
Posted 16 months ago.
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I'm a novice photographer, but from my experiences so far, I would say India (my home country) is a great place for street photography - as many have already said the streets are teeming with life and a majority of the people like to be photographed, especially kids!
Posted 16 months ago.
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It's absolutely all about manners. Asking and being polite can get you very far in any country, even your own! I live in the UK and never have a problem.
And carry a very long lens. ;)
Originally posted 16 months ago.
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Shigatsuhana edited this topic 16 months ago.
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I agree with Richard McGuire. Lately I have been taking a lot of photos in Colombia. People are generally friendly and don't mind me taking photos of them. I believe it's all in your approach. I smile if they look at me and I say hi. I always make it a point to speak to them and get to know a little about them. I also ask what they are doing.
Posted 16 months ago.
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Chittagong in Bangladesh isnt a bad place for that but I still think for any street photographer the best place to shoot in is his/her own hometown,
Posted 16 months ago.
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I agree New York is a good place, so diversed and yet so close to everything and every ethnic group. Besides, where else can you photograph from a street a carrier full of warplanes hanging out from the decks? And photograph sailors smiling at you in their crisp white uniforms?
Posted 16 months ago.
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I agree with gordypix. There are great photo opportunities all around us - wherever we are. We just have to keep our eyes open.
Posted 16 months ago.
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I just wanted to say, this is a great topic with some good tips and suggestions :)
However, I'm a little unclear on one thing. The people saying to always talk to the stranger - is this before or after the photo?
And to those saying to always ask permission - doesn't this spoil many opportunities due to making them aware of you which could make them leave the area if they're timid, or otherwise self conscious of the camera?
Posted 16 months ago.
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The permission thing is tricky. Often, if you ask beforehand, people pose rigidly, and it's difficult to get a natural looking shot. On the other hand, just walking up and snapping a photo of someone can be very rude, and can get you in trouble.
I vary my strategy depending on the culture and situation. If people are engaged in an activity, and if I speak the language, I may ask permission, but tell them to continue doing what they're doing. They act stiff at first, but I keep shooting, and after a while they ignore me. That's the strategy I used for this shot of men playing checkers on a street in Havana, Cuba:
If people are in a public place doing what they are normally doing, I sometimes don't ask permission, but make my presence known, and refrain from shooting if anyone clearly objects. That's what I did for this shot in Havana of men in a park arguing about baseball. I wasn't about to interrupt their heated argument to ask permission, but I didn't hide the fact that I was taking pictures.
If people are at a bit of a distance and not clearly recognizable, I have no problem sneaking a picture with a long lens as in this shot of construction workers in Havana:
If people are engaged in a fun event like a festival, I have no problem shooting fairly close shots with a long lens and not asking permission, as in this shot at Toronto's Caribana festival:
Sometimes I'll simply ask people to pose and tell them what to do. If they're engaged in an activity, and not just standing rigidly, it can work, as in this shot of a grape seller in Guatemala:
If you don't speak the language, or if you're at a bit of a distance and there's noise, "permission" can simply be raising your camera part way, pointing to it, and smiling at the person. If you get a nod, or at least the person doesn't raise their hand to object, you have permission. That's how I got this picture of a holy man in India a number of years ago:
I was shooting film then, but today you have an advantage. Showing off the picture to your subject on the LCD screen can often invite further pictures, and even shots of others around who see it!
Originally posted 16 months ago.
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Richard McGuire edited this topic 16 months ago.
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good advice and good plug ;) thank you.
Posted 15 months ago.
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Wow. Nicely said Richard.
Posted 15 months ago.
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Russia is good too - people are cheerful even at work...
[  ]
Posted 15 months ago.
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Japan (especially Tokyo) is a dream for street photographers. The fact that many parts of Japan are densely populated and that there is a culture of excessive politeness makes a great environment for non threatening street photography.
Also, there is just so much going on in Tokyo that it is impossible not to be inspired.
Posted 15 months ago.
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I'd say: Philippines
Posted 15 months ago.
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We overlooked Canada, the International Melting Pod where smiles are as bright as sunshine...
[ www.flickr.com/photos/bing10/5508887018/ ]
Originally posted 14 months ago.
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wbyoungphotos edited this topic 14 months ago.
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Best places in Asia - Vietnam, Thai. There is life on streets, very interesting and veri nice people.
Russia in very difficult place for street photo.
Posted 14 months ago.
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As already said above Asia is a great place for people/street photography.
I found it harder in Europe or US but it's ok most of the time. And asking people is sometime a good way to get nice shot :)
Posted 13 months ago.
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I agree Asia is a great place for people/street photography. Indonesia is really good place as people are happy pose or have their picture taken
As someone else commented it's great being able to show them the pictures you have taken on the display screen.
Originally posted 13 months ago.
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Travellingchez edited this topic 13 months ago.
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