Abuse during street photography

James306

James306

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Have any of you guys ever suffered abuse while out trying to capture those fantastic shots of people 'acting natural' when they realise they're being photographed?
It is one of the fields of photography that interests me, but I can't help but think when certain people realise there is a camera pointed at them they might become aggresive or start thinking you're some sort of pervert etc.

Any horror stories?
 
I was taking some shots in Cat Street market in Hong Kong last weekend, there was a guy in the main alleyway sat at a table repairing an old clock. I was about 10feet away and fired off a couple of shots. He must have heard the shutter, stood up and yelled "No Photo No Photo" and looked quite angry. I held my hand up, apologised, smiled and walked past. Some of the shops/stalls there have "no photograph" signs hanging up, although his didn't - I checked before shooting. Such a shame, as it's a great place to photograph.
 
James
I always ask before I photograph people, when possible, saves all types of mis-understandings.....
 
justinitus said:
I was taking some shots in Cat Street market in Hong Kong last weekend, there was a guy in the main alleyway sat at a table repairing an old clock. I was about 10feet away and fired off a couple of shots. He must have heard the shutter, stood up and yelled "No Photo No Photo" and looked quite angry. I held my hand up, apologised, smiled and walked past. Some of the shops/stalls there have "no photograph" signs hanging up, although his didn't - I checked before shooting. Such a shame, as it's a great place to photograph.
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I'd definitely have asked first.
 
I've only recently started taking street photographs of people. If I'm close enough I ask their permission and havent been turned down yet. I took a picture of a police lady in her car today and she happily gave permission. I never take pictures of children, except family and friends ( and I dont post them online)
 
I just imagine that asking there permission and making them aware of you will lose the natural look people have. I havn't done any street photography really. This was really ispired by the capture a stranger thread. There are some cracking shots of people just deep in thought and the photo just says so much about whats going on.
 
James306 said:
I just imagine that asking there permission and making them aware of you will lose the natural look people have. I havn't done any street photography really. This was really ispired by the capture a stranger thread. There are some cracking shots of people just deep in thought and the photo just says so much about whats going on.
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Agree 100%! Once they know they are being photographed, they start acting. I use a longer lens and take from a distance. If anyone does object, I explain what I am doing, show them the image, then if asked, delete!
 
The art of street photography is to not let people know that you are photographing them. One technique when photographing passers by is to keep the camera to your eye after taking the shot. That way, if they spot you, they generally think you are shooting someone/something behind them. If you ask permission then it's not really street photography, it's just portraiture that happens to be out in the streets. The genre is really people doing their thing in a natural environment.

All MHO of vourse. ;)
 
Some of the older Asian cultures still believe that if a photo is taken of them your stealing their soul, it's becoming rarer but it still happens :thumbs:

Spent 7 years in HK without a camera but would love to go back :D
 
Just gave this a go for the first time today in Edinburgh train station. Was mostly shooting from the hip with the GF1 - it's pretty subtle apart from the shutter noise.

I agree it's not really the same thing if you ask permission as it won't be natural. Did feel a bit weird doing it but I really like the 'slice of life' aspect to some of the shots.
 
fabs said:
The art of street photography is to not let people know that you are photographing them. One technique when photographing passers by is to keep the camera to your eye after taking the shot. That way, if they spot you, they generally think you are shooting someone/something behind them. If you ask permission then it's not really street photography, it's just portraiture that happens to be out in the streets. The genre is really people doing their thing in a natural environment.

All MHO of vourse. ;)
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I never thought of it that way fabs, well explained.
 
fabs said:
The art of street photography is to not let people know that you are photographing them. One technique when photographing passers by is to keep the camera to your eye after taking the shot. That way, if they spot you, they generally think you are shooting someone/something behind them. If you ask permission then it's not really street photography, it's just portraiture that happens to be out in the streets. The genre is really people doing their thing in a natural environment.

All MHO of vourse. ;)
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AGREE - or if you do take the camera from your eye - look beyond them and smile - they'll asume you're shooting someone else. It really does work.
 
Smile, make eye contact, be polite, be talkative, explain what you're doing and why. If quizzed show someone the photograph and offer to delete it if they're not happy with the idea.

Seriously, watching some people work they look dodgy as hell... Edgy, secrative, nervous. Can't blame some people for being suspicious.
 
I suspect the 'hiding your face behind an SLR' photographer would have more of a problem than someone who knows how to use a 'compact' camera....

photographer.jpg
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...simply because they look less 'human'.

Also ask yourself what you are photographing and why. I'm sure grum was trying to get a shot of some out-of-focus people and a sharp seat but have no idea what it is meant to be telling us. If you have a reason to take pictures if you are confronted you can stop, have a chat and potentially defuse the situation.... Mind you if I were in Hong Kong I might try to shoot a series about the shops saying 'No Pictures' :D
 
well anyone shooting olympus looks less human ;)

I think most people will just ignore you.

Your bound to get someone who doesn't like what you're doing but all you can do is explain what you're doing apologise if you've upset them - I know you don't legally have to, but it's the polite thing to do....you know..be nice-(if they're not acting an ass) and then keep doing what you're doing.
 
Voyager said:
Also ask yourself what you are photographing and why. I'm sure grum was trying to get a shot of some out-of-focus people and a sharp seat but have no idea what it is meant to be telling us. If you have a reason to take pictures if you are confronted you can stop, have a chat and potentially defuse the situation....
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Oh good you're having a go at me again. I never claimed it was an amazing picture, and I said I was trying out something I had never done before.

Who has to have a reason to take pictures? You mean you have to have some pretentious justification ready and that makes it ok?
 
Ive never had a problem... Ive been from crowded market stalls, to a lzy sunday afternoon walk doing street stuff.. some people quite like being on camera.
Ithink presentation has a effect too.. a know of a 'person with no fixed abode', not the best presented and he got told to put his camera away in a tourist hot spot in sheffield. I have never had the problem shooting there and the city centre ambassadors that kicked him out have even talked to me about the camera and commented on it.
 
fabs said:
The art of street photography is to not let people know that you are photographing them. One technique when photographing passers by is to keep the camera to your eye after taking the shot. That way, if they spot you, they generally think you are shooting someone/something behind them. If you ask permission then it's not really street photography, it's just portraiture that happens to be out in the streets. The genre is really people doing their thing in a natural environment.

All MHO of vourse. ;)
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Used to be referred to as "Candid" photography.
Tried it in Glasgow a while back. Taking pics of the winos and dossers. No point in asking them first because they'd flare up at the first contact.
 
grum said:
Oh good you're having a go at me again. I never claimed it was an amazing picture, and I said I was trying out something I had never done before.
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I'm not 'having a go at you' at all. Unless you accidentally brushed shutter as you walked passed, you took (and published) that picture for a reason. What do you think it was?
grum said:
Who has to have a reason to take pictures? You mean you have to have some pretentious justification ready and that makes it ok?
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You haven't? What did you spend your heard earned on a camera for?

Unless you want a series of pointless pixels on a screen (you don't print this stuff do you?) it might be a good idea to have thought about what you are doing this for and why.
 
I really don't have to justify myself to you - how about you post some of your pictures?

I take pictures for my own enjoyment - if other people like them too, that's great (people have bought prints of my landscape pics). If they don't, never mind.

I am genuinely happy to receive criticism if it's offered in a friendly constructive way.
 
Shoot first, ask questions later. I've done street photography maybe half a dozen to a dozen times, only had one canoeist have a go at me. You'd be amazed at the amount of people that are fine with you taking photographs. You'd be even more amazed at how few actually notice you photographing them.
 
fabs said:
Can we calm it down please.

Voyager, you could try and be a little more polite when giving critique.
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you're way too polite fabs ;)
 
karmagarda said:
You'd be even more amazed at how few actually notice you photographing them.
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That's certainly true. I've had a couple of people have a go at me by the way but on on the first occasion they were completely leathered and on the second trying to impress a girl they were with. Somebody got offended on the tube once and that's the only time I've thought they had a point as I was being both unsubtle and obnoxious.

I'd also suggest that away from busier places where a photographer is almost to be expected that using a cameraphone is a good way of getting street pics - just make it look like you're texting or something. My zero-cost Samsung has no shutter noise and produces more than decent quality pics (in dull terms of pixels etc, can't vouch for the quality of the result).
 
I guess a lot depends on the kind of kit you're using. A D3s with a huge lens bolted on the front of it will attract plenty of attention. A decent P&S camera would work better for candid street shots.
 
grum said:
I really don't have to justify myself to you - how about you post some of your pictures?
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You don't have to 'justify' yourself if you don't want to.

I only used your picture to illustrate the fact that I had no idea what story your picture was supposed to be telling. The point being that if someone takes umbridge at having their picture taken you can have a chat about the human condition, the state of Britain today or whatever it was that you are trying to achieve.
grum said:
I take pictures for my own enjoyment - if other people like them too, that's great. If they don't, never mind.
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If you are not bothered what other people think why have you removed it?
grum said:
I am genuinely happy to receive criticism if it's offered in a friendly constructive way.
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There was no 'criticism' implied or intended at all - I simply wrote that I didn't know what 'out-of-focus people and a sharp seat.. is meant to be telling us' - although I did presume you would have an idea.
 
Voyager said:
There was no 'criticism' implied or intended at all - I simply wrote that I didn't know what 'out-of-focus people and a sharp seat.. is meant to be telling us' - although I did presume you would have an idea.
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And that is exacty what I was talking about. A very thinly veiled critical comment about someone's photo. Pack it in!
 
Woooah! Looks like there is more abuse going on in here than on the street. C'mon now, put the handbags away and lets get back to the topic!
 
I can't recall a time where I've ever been abused (dslr or compact)

Sometimes you see something that you want to shoot, bt you know instinctively that it's going to cause some beef...so you just have to let it go.

On the occasion a person has seen me take a shot, I just act like I'm doing something else, hold your ground a little (but not if thy come running with a sledgehammer)

Where you want to take a shot, and you feel you should ask permission, I just use quick hand signals and try and get it done asap..point to camera, them, wait a second or two, if no reaction then shoot. If they don't want to be shot then they will look away and shake their hands...in which case, I gve them the thumbs up and leave them.
 
to add to comments: even as a v amateur photographer, I would be mortified to come across my photo on a website, just because I had my camera with me.. I feel awkward enough with it anyway, as I always look like I dont know what I am doing:) so I can see both sides.
 
Smithy11 said:
to add to comments: even as a v amateur photographer, I would be mortified to come across my photo on a website, just because I had my camera with me.. I feel awkward enough with it anyway, as I always look like I dont know what I am doing:) so I can see both sides.
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don,t know what you,re problem is :shrug: if you were in town today there,s probably thousands of pics of you on cctv :eek: (just to make you feel paranoid):lol:
 
I'd love to give street photography a go but I would be afraid of getting caught and someone coming up and smashing myself or the camera in for taking a photo.

Although after reading this thread it seems like that isn't really gonna happen, so I may give it a bash sometime.

dinorock said:
if you were in town today there,s probably thousands of pics of you on cctv :eek: (just to make you feel paranoid):lol:
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That is actually a really good point. Britain has more CCTV cameras watching us than any other country.
 
Can I just give people my little street-shooting tip; every so often, just lower the camera, and look a few centimetres above peoples' heads, possibly looking at a building in the distance or something like that.

If they're staring at you, and intend on making a scene, the fact that you don't establish eye contact with them when moving your camera down seems to make them think that "Oh, they weren't taking pictures of me after all."
 
My theory is "there's more pics of you on CCTV, so why should you be bothered if someone takes your pic, so long as you're not upto no good?"

However, I'm not comfortable enough to take pictures of random people in public very often and when I do, I'm instantly aware of how vulnerable I am.
 
MagicMynx said:
My theory is "there's more pics of you on CCTV, so why should you be bothered if someone takes your pic, so long as you're not upto no good?"

However, I'm not comfortable enough to take pictures of random people in public very often and when I do, I'm instantly aware of how vulnerable I am.
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I guess that if the local councils took the CCTV cameras off of those 30ft high poles and started carrying them around the streets, pointing in individual people's faces, the public's attitude to CCTV would change pretty rapidly :lol:!

'Street' photography definitely gives the photographer a 'buzz', much like shoplifting (try it some time :D) - but it doesn't always sit well with the subjects/victims. I grew up in a town where just looking at someone in the street was enough to get you into a fight, so I'm always cautious about keeping my 'candid' shots, well ... candid :shrug:.

Whatever logical and legal arguements we put forward on these forums, the question remains ... what would you do if I a total stranger came up to you in the street and started shooting off his DSLR in your face :shrug:?

I have to admit, if I'd had an especially bad day, I might just punch him in the face, if I didn't like his attitude and feel no remorse for it! It's a big, bad world out there - we should never forget that :|.
 
Naboo32 said:
Whatever logical and legal arguements we put forward on these forums, the question remains ... what would you do if I a total stranger came up to you in the street and started shooting off his DSLR in your face :shrug:?

.
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Depends if they're agressive about it. If they are, I'd whinge. If not, I'd do the same as I've done many times before and just carry on about my business.
 
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