Beginner Taking photographs in public.

I can understand that, don't understand why using a purpose built camera is not considered "normal"
 
d00d said:
I've got a gigantic Westfield shopping "mall" not far from me, a good place for photos especially if it's raining. I must have been warned a dozen times: "no photography allowed", anywhere near the place!


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westfield w12 · Sep 28, 2014âââMar 6, 2025 ð¸

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with shopping malls they are private places that the public is invited to be inside. However if you are asked to leave then that invitation is recinded and there on you are effectivley trespassing. Also many shopping centres do have photography policies on their websites.

As for rules there arent any really as long as its with in the law.

Suffice to say just because you can't doesn't always mean you should. People might get upset if you are intruding on their personal space and whilst you might have the law on your side doesn't mean you may come off worst.

but like everything there is a form of street photography "intrusive Street photography" - google it. However for this art those that indulge in it might have their fair share of "comeuppances"

generally a bit of common sense and applied morals if you don't want to be on the wrong end of angry people in public.
 
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One accessory that seems to work is a high visibility jacket.

I've done it a few times and I can only think that the reasoning is someone wearing such a jacket, while using a camera, is "official" and therefor just gets ignored.

Of course, if your subject is also wearing a high vis, it may not work so well...

Older man yellow Jacket on motor bike 10D CAN_5619.jpg
 
jamesev said:
with shopping malls they are private places that the public is invited to be inside. However if you are asked to leave then that invitation is recinded and there on you are effectivley trespassing. Also many shopping centres do have photography policies on their websites.

As for rules there arent any really as long as its with in the law.

Suffice to say just because you can't doesn't always mean you should. People might get upset if you are intruding on their personal space and whilst you might have the law on your side doesn't mean you may come off worst.

but like everything there is a form of street photography "intrusive Street photography" - google it. However for this art those that indulge in it might have their fair share of "comeuppances"

generally a bit of common sense and applied morals if you don't want to be on the wrong end of angry people in public.
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I've never been asked to leave! And I'm always ready to delete photos before being asked (they never do ask). The lovely security guards always use the same line: you must apply for a press pass. OK.

My philosophy is: enjoy your photography, keep smiling, if in doubt don't do it.
 
Dave Goodier said:
I'm following that with interest as, on face value, it was perfectly legal

If picking on drunk women showing themselves not at their best is somewhat distasteful

I did read that he was being charged with 'stalking' and 'harassment', and that he did some 'upskirting' too, so its probably not about the photography per se
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Yes it looks to be more than photography in public.

Quote from GMP

As well as the widely viewed videos posted publicly, through further investigation, we found more content locked under paywalled accounts which included footage of suspected non-consensual nudity and upskirting.
 
AndrewFlannigan said:
One accessory that seems to work is a high visibility jacket.

I've done it a few times and I can only think that the reasoning is someone wearing such a jacket, while using a camera, is "official" and therefor just gets ignored.

Of course, if your subject is also wearing a high vis, it may not work so well...

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I went to an event with my hi-vis jacket, and a big white Minolta 200mm lens. Two separate people asked me to take photos of them - presumably thinking I was the event's official photographer or from the local paper or something!
 
Sky said:
Take your pick ...
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I wouldn't wear that sort of thing - might be a red rag to certain types of "security guard" :naughty:

Keep it plain and make no claim!
 
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Sky said:
Indeed. An air of confidence and 'I'm in control' body language is all that's needed. Let others make the connection . . .
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I agree.

Above all, don't do "the photographer's dance". When you see the picture you want, move to the best spot, casually raise the camera and press the button, then put the camera down again. Most people won't even notice you and the few who do won't think much about it, in my experience.

With any luck, there'll even be someone like this around to attract the lightning in your place...

Photographer male model Thames West London Pentacon FM.jpg
 
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I can get away with anything now Andrew - being in a wheelchair makes me completely invisible to most people anyway. :rolleyes:

I'd never be able to balance on the wall though . . . :ROFLMAO:
 
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AndrewFlannigan said:
One accessory that seems to work is a high visibility jacket.

I've done it a few times and I can only think that the reasoning is someone wearing such a jacket, while using a camera, is "official" and therefor just gets ignored.

Of course, if your subject is also wearing a high vis, it may not work so well...
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I guess it also comes down to the philosophy you choose with street photography, in that if you want to capture the surrounding and how people are interacting with them ie visually reporting the social aspect of daily life then as soon as they see you they often tend to act differently so you might not want to draw attention to yourself.

Then again if you do want to photograph surreptitiously there is the stigma associated with do so with a camera in a public place and peoples perception of invasion of privacy (which of course legally is all covered under right to privacy laws).

Essentially its a fine line and one that each photographer needs to discover works for them and their ideas of what they want to capture under the category of "Street Photography".

I've found one of the biggest aides is the ability of mirrorless to have no mechanical shutter click and that limits attention. As an aside I was taking a team photo at one point with a mirrorless, took the photo and said all done. One response I got back was I didn't hear you take the photo. So it seems there are many who still expect all "big cameras" to click
 
jamesev said:
...so you might not want to draw attention to yourself.
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That is the theory and, I have found, the practice of "Hi Vis Camouflage". Anyone in such clothing is "obviously" working and no one appears to notice the camera in your hand.
jamesev said:
Then again if you do want to photograph surreptitiously there is the stigma associated with do so with a camera in a public place and peoples perception of invasion of privacy (which of course legally is all covered under right to privacy laws).
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Just to clarify, the law in the UK is, effectively, "in public, your face is public". This page, published by the Metropolitan Police, provides the rules from their perspective...


jamesev said:
Essentially its a fine line and one that each photographer needs to discover works for them and their ideas of what they want to capture under the category of "Street Photography".
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I don't do "street photography" on the basis that it seems to involve harassing other people. The point of my half serious advice on Hi Vis is that it's camouflage, one more tool that allows me to record interesting people and their behaviour unnoticed and therefor, without disturbing them.
jamesev said:
I've found one of the biggest aides is the ability of mirrorless to have no mechanical shutter click and that limits attention.
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I agree.

Then again, digital cameras in general are generally as quiet as a Leica M3, at one time famous for its near silent shutter.

Overall, my intention is to be ignored, as happened with this couple, although I was standing directly in their line of sight...

Couple with dog Bridlington Harbour 10d_6473.jpg
 
If you don't want to be seen, you can carry the camera in one hand by your side with a wide angle lens and press the shutter at about the right time. It is a bit hit and miss but you get better with practice. You do not necessarily have to be a professional or press to get permission. I have requested permission at several attractive places and was just asked to sign a form that the pictures were for personal use only which is the case. I also use my FIAP identity card which states that I am an amateur in English and French. Sometimes I go round the streets with other photographers; you are far less likely to be harassed by the public when they see several of you. In fact we have found this often attracts people to offer themselves as subjects but this rarely works unless they are prepared to pose how you want and with the right background. if you have a camera with an articulating screen, you can sit on a bench and be looking down at your camera with finger on the shutter and with a long lens; no one can hear the shutter in a street. I have found very few people have objected to me taking a photograph and I will stop immediately, if asked.

Dave
 
Recording the world warts and all, good times and bad can only be a worthwhile activity.
People are just part of that.
Such images become more and more interesting the further back we look.

As it stands to day, the start of the 21st Century will be noted for the sudden collapse of the number of children seen in public.
 
LeeRatters said:
Hi Viz vest might work if an event is going on but walking around somewhere like Bath or even Bristol I wouldn't.....

Just dress normal, blend in and get in amongst it all!
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When I spent far too much time in Bath, I found that "normal" for that city was rather different from other places...

Lady with monster in Bath A09000CNV00014.jpg
 
Street photography is very touchy subject here in Germany. People take their right to privacy very seriously.

I personally feel like I'm intruding when taking photos of random people going about their business so I don't do it. Not my thing. Other photographers I know that do street/public photography do get confronted by people and end up having to delete certain photos. The general rule here is to ask for permission, which ruins the candidness of the shot. Taking a photo of a building that happens to have people in front of it should be a non-issue but you never know.
 
foto-sf said:
Street photography is very touchy subject here in Germany. People take their right to privacy very seriously.
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Is that because it used to be illegal? I remember people being very wary of a camera pointed when I visited Berlin, except in the top tourist spots.
 
I have taken a few in a shopping mall, but nothing worth putting on here, might get out tomorrow for a mornings trial and error.
 
Pound Coin said:
Is that because it used to be illegal? I remember people being very wary of a camera pointed when I visited Berlin, except in the top tourist spots.
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Don't know if it's illegal. But invasion of privacy is, as is divulging anything about other people without their consent. Street photography finds itself in that undefined grey area between privacy rights and art. I'm not a legal expert in these matters though.
 
foto-sf said:
Don't know if it's illegal. But invasion of privacy is, as is divulging anything about other people without their consent. Street photography finds itself in that undefined grey area between privacy rights and art. I'm not a legal expert in these matters though.
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I think Street used to be illegal, but isn't now, having changed in the last few years?
 
German street photographer ‘Samuel Streetlife’ (YouTube), regularly does ‘street’ photography and runs ‘street’ workshops in Germany. :)
 
There's a page here that seems to cover the law on public photography in Germany...

allaboutberlin.com

Photography laws in Germany

If you take or share photos of other people in Germany, you need to follow certain rules.
allaboutberlin.com allaboutberlin.com
 
I have noticed that while I am out in public, many people are so absorbed with their own phones that they do not notice much of what is going on around them.
Street 1.1.jpg

Street 2.jpg
 
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