Beginner Taking photographs in public.

Oldbones

Oldbones

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What is the dos and don'ts in street photography.
I was in Aberdeen today, it was not to bright a sun but the shadows were really good or so I thought
I did take a compact with me and got a few photographs.
At one point I was in a grave yard with headstones casting great shadows on the very green grass.
There was a bloke sitting on a bench flipping his way through a book, now I though that could be a good shot to take, but I did not.
Although its a public place and a very old cemetery the stones I saw were from the early 1800s, I stopped myself because I don't know if its ok to take shots such as I am talking about.
Can any one help me with this.
Thanks in advance.
 
LeeRatters said:
I always try to steer clear of scantly clad females, the homeless, children and things such as injured people etc.

Unless it makes for a very special or unique image.
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So if I was to use common sense in a public place I should be ok?
 
I have often photographed in graveyards, including people, though I wouldn't invade private grief with my camera.
For the record, a graveyard is unlikely to be a 'public place', it is a place to which the public have access, but may have conditions of access/use and the owner(s) could impose restrictions or ask you to leave (unlikely in a graveyard as long as you are behaving but other places to which the public have access could apply).
 
If you want to take a photo with someone in it, could you ask that person for permission? Perhaps that may spoil the mood but you never know.
 
I see loads of photographs with several members of the public on this web site, and I do understand the things that are being said.
I did take one inside a shopping mall today of a set of escalators, with about 10 people on it.
Most had their back turned to my camera.
 
If you have the patience, you could always spend a few hours trawling through the Cemeteries Clauses Act 1847, which appears to still be the main legislation on the matter...

Cemeteries Clauses Act 1847

www.legislation.gov.uk www.legislation.gov.uk

So far as I can tell, clause LIX (59) is the main point on the matter...

LIX Penalty on Persons committing Nuisances in the Cemetery.

Every Person who shall play at any Game or Sport, or discharge Fire-arms, save at a Military Funeral, in the Cemetery, or who shall wilfully and unlawfully disturb any Persons assembled in the Cemetery for the Purpose of burying any Body therein, or who shall commit any Nuisance within the Cemetery, shall forfeit to the Company for every such Offence a Sum not exceeding Five Pounds.
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Oldbones said:
I see loads of photographs with several members of the public on this web site, and I do understand the things that are being said.
I did take one inside a shopping mall today of a set of escalators, with about 10 people on it.
Most had their back turned to my camera.
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It's pretty much a matter of confidence and seeing moments.

I don't know where you live, but just find somewhere fairly busy like the town/city centre, seafront, an event, Christmas market, etc and just walk around looking. It's pretty much eyes everywhere constantly scanning around. Looking for interactions, gestures, contrasting colours, matching colours, light, hats, posture, dogs, people carrying big boxes, etc etc You can keep your camera in your bag or pocket. Just train your eyes & your brain. Then when you start shooting it's just building up that confidence.

A lot of people look for light and shadows. Shoot silhouettes there. Find a big scene & wait for people to walk into it, etc

I don't really do that. Doesn't really interest me. I prefer to actually photograph people tbh but I guess it's one of those things where there isn't actually a right & a wrong as such.
 
Think it's one of those grey areas with nuance, I suspect cementaries are typically on the churches or council private land, so I think you'd need their permission to photograph. Suspect the same for a shopping centre, if the land is private.

If it's public land, then you can take photos and don't need permission.

I was on the beach a while back and a woman and her child went in front of the camera unwittingly as I was taking photos of the lighthouse in the distance getting hit by waves. Noticed when I reviewed the photos after taking some shots and offered to email her an edited version.
 
rd6743 said:
Think it's one of those grey areas with nuance, I suspect cementaries are typically on the churches or council private land, so I think you'd need their permission to photograph. Suspect the same for a shopping centre, if the land is private.

If it's public land, then you can take photos and don't need permission.

I was on the beach a while back and a woman and her child went in front of the camera unwittingly as I was taking photos of the lighthouse in the distance getting hit by waves. Noticed when I reviewed the photos after taking some shots and offered to email her an edited version.
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How did you have her email address?

Sorry - just realised you reviewed them there and then and spoke to her. - DOHH!
 
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Oldbones said:
What is the dos and don'ts in street photography.
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There aren't really any dos or don'ts in street photography. There's the law, which permits photography of strangers in public - there are some exceptions. But the rest is down your personal red lines. Just because something is legal doesn't make it ok though imo - but what I think isn't ok might be acceptable to someone else and vice vesa

I don't know what the law is for cemeteries - of if their classed is as public or private. I wouldn't have an issue with photographing in one, but I wouldn't take a picture of mourners - it just seems a very private moment to me
 
rd6743 said:
Think it's one of those grey areas with nuance, I suspect cementaries are typically on the churches or council private land, so I think you'd need their permission to photograph. Suspect the same for a shopping centre, if the land is private.

If it's public land, then you can take photos and don't need permission.

I was on the beach a while back and a woman and her child went in front of the camera unwittingly as I was taking photos of the lighthouse in the distance getting hit by waves. Noticed when I reviewed the photos after taking some shots and offered to email her an edited version.
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As I understand it, where private land has general public access (such as cemeteries, many shopping centres, etc) the case is not that you need specific permission, but that you need to comply with any rules of entry, which MAY include restrictions on photography - IE The default is that photography is permitted.
 
From a legal point of view theres no issue taking photos in a public place. That said it's not always easy to be sure a place is public, many areas you'd think were are private property.
Safest bet is to go to a popular tourist area where lots of people are taking pictures, you'll blend in with the crowd, also dont look guilty if spotted.
 
gramps said:
For the record, a graveyard is unlikely to be a 'public place', it is a place to which the public have access, but may have conditions of access/use and the owner(s) could impose restrictions or ask you to leave (unlikely in a graveyard as long as you are behaving but other places to which the public have access could apply).
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I was once told I could only take photos for personal use in a local graveyard (which is fair enough), including not putting them online (which I thought was OTT). I got home and searched Flickr for pictures of the church and it was full of them. Many shared with the diocese. :rolleyes:
 
Ed Sutton said:
I was once told I could only take photos for personal use in a local graveyard (which is fair enough), including not putting them online (which I thought was OTT). I got home and searched Flickr for pictures of the church and it was full of them. Many shared with the diocese. :rolleyes:
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I had a similar experience at a local business complex alongside a towpath running through the city.
I was approached by a uniformed security guard who 'shadowed' me and shortly after by a 'senior' supervisor, who informed me that one of the tenants didn't like their building being photographed. I explained that the photos were for personal use and that the building was displayed multiple times on the Internet - as he didn't remove me or tell me to leave I continued my photography whilst talking to him.
I've been back many times since and never been bothered again.
 
There's the occassional vicar or verger who gets a bit formal when they see a camera but my experience is that most of them just leave photographers to get on with it, provide they're not disruptive...

Holy Trinity Church sign Exmouth E-PL1 P1011532.JPG
 
I don't really tend to worry about the 'where' when taking photos. As said, it's hard to tell sometimes what is actually fully public, private with public access etc etc.... If there is some silly rule about photography someone will soon come along and let you know about it :)

"Sorry, I didn't realise" :) Hopefully by then you've got the shot anyway.
 
I agree with lee, by the time they come along to annoy you, the shot you want is probably in the camera!

Escalator Innsbruck shopping mall Olympus E-P1 290587.JPG
 
I took this that day I was in town.
IMG_4117.JPG
 
The public p*** me off. It's OK that they take thousands of photos with their phones but as soon as someone pulls out a proper camera, all hell lets loose. I blame governments and photographers that don't challenge the fact and abide by society's stupidity.
 
dcash29 said:
Probably the man filming those women on the streets of Manchester at night might have thought it was legal?
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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
 
dcash29 said:
The public p*** me off. It's OK that they take thousands of photos with their phones but as soon as someone pulls out a proper camera, all hell lets loose. I blame governments and photographers that don't challenge the fact and abide by society's stupidity.
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There's nothing new in that. Friedrich Schiller pointed out a long time ago that "Against stupidity the very gods themselves contend in vain".

On the other hand, it's important to remember that we are all members of "the public", so you are annoying yourself, as well as others. ;)
 
dcash29 said:
Probably the man filming those women on the streets of Manchester at night might have thought it was legal?
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Following someone is a different thing, it might be seen as stalking or harresment.
 
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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Up skirt and stalking is another matter and not acceptable, but I had'nt seen that. However if one gets plastered and goes out partly dressed, what do they think they'll attract, seriously.
 
dcash29 said:
Up skirt and stalking is another matter and not acceptable, but I had'nt seen that. However if one gets plastered and goes out partly dressed, what do they think they'll attract, seriously.
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...yeah, asking for it...
 
dcash29 said:
The public p*** me off. It's OK that they take thousands of photos with their phones but as soon as someone pulls out a proper camera, all hell lets loose. I blame governments and photographers that don't challenge the fact and abide by society's stupidity.
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Yes - I find this a fascinating contrast. I once took a photo of someone taking a photo with their phone. They were upset with me taking their photo, even as I pointed out to them that they had just taken a photo with people in it. Their response was 'yes - but you've used a camera'.
 
dcash29 said:
However if one gets plastered and goes out partly dressed, what do they think they'll attract, seriously.
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It's always a shame that a consistent response to this kind of incident is not to condemn the person looking for vulnerable women to take advantage of but to blame it on the women who are perfectly entitled to go out and have a good time wearing whatever the hell they like without having harassment and sexual criminality imposed upon them.

I can teach a dog to ignore its base urges and instincts and sit respectfully regardless of the stimulation. Mad how it's so difficult for a lot of blokes.
 
I shoot in cemeteries and graveyards quite regularly and don't see a problem. I have my own set of rules and guidelines to follow and it is mainly about being respectful.

I don't shoot mourners or recent floral tribute messages.
I prefer to shoot older memorials (they are often more impressive and family grief will have passed). The only newish memorial I have shot recently was that of Hilton Valentine, the Animals guitarist who wrote the most widely recognised arpeggios in rock guitar.
I don't litter and if I see any I will pick it up and put it in the nearest bin.
I don't move any vegetation or tributes.

Shooting in public places is about common sense. You are allowed to shoot people in public places but it is better to be discrete and non-confrontational. Privately owned "public" places like shopping centres can have rules set by the owners. Rules like this aren't the law but they do have the right to refuse you admission.

Certain public places have bylaws that restrict "commercial use" photography and Trafalgar Square is such a place.

The one thing that does get my dander up is stupid attempts by security staff to restrict my rights to take photos in a public place, such as on my trip to Edinburgh last week where I was approached by security as I entered Prices Street Gardens Christmas Fun Fair and was told that I couldn't use my visible Maxxum 7000 "because the place was full of children". I told him that I had planned one shot before making the journey and that there wouldn't be any people in the shot. He said, "OK - do it when I'm not looking!" So I pushed my way through all the people shooting with their phones and got the shot I wanted.
 
Really like the last post thank you The Oldun, made a lot sense to me and will help me with decisions to shoot in public places.
There are some very old monuments and cemeteries around these parts, in the city and the countryside.
As for public places that are busy I am not too keen on that but old streets and buildings I am very interested in.
Like cobbled streets, old and classic pubs and the activity around them. And eventually they will be knocked down and modernized.
I always think I will be able to get some very character filled shots in these places.
And why do people think that shooting with a phone is not the same as a purpose built camera.
I guess sections of society like to cherry pick what's what in their own views. And every one else is wrong no matter what.
I digress, their are loads of lost communities that are uninhabited now, which will eventually be lost to mother nature.
They will make good projects for me as spring and summer gets here.
 
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Oldbones said:
And why do people think that shooting with a phone is not the same as a purpose built camera.
I guess sections of society like to cherry pick what's what in their own views. And every one else is wrong no matter what.
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Most people have phones, but not cameras. Therefore taking pics with a phone is normal...
 
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