Street Photography

An interesting subject came to light during a discussion involving some of my candid portraits, street photography. One of the more fascinating video courses I've taken was a Scott Kelby lesson entitled "A day with Jay Maisel". The location was New York city an Jay & Scott wandered around the street, each carrying one camera & one lens. Jay discussed candid shooting that involved total strangers. He explained the legal aspects as well as the social ramifications of pointing a camera and photographing people around them.

He pointed out that you need to "read" your subject's comfort level and back off or take a different tack if you detect leary behavior. Sometimes just a small amount of friendly conversation will put them in a better frame of mind, open to being photographed.

The subject of a legal "photo release" came up and Jay pointed out to Scott that if the end photo was not to be published commercially for profit or news that no release is required. Confrontational subjects are another topic all together. Each case is unique and must be treated as such. Don't present yourself as someone sneaking photos for deviant use and it will go along way toward putting folks at ease with what you're doing. As a rule I always carry business cards with my contact information. I'll present these to people I photograph and offer to send them copies of what I shoot.

As far as the intinidation factor I was a member of the CMA (Christian Motorcycle Association). As an elected officer and editor/publisher of our chapter's newsletter I would take my camera gear to motorcycle rallies involving Hell's Angels, Outlaws & Devil's Deciples. I interviewed them, photographed them and even oversaw their pool tournaments as well as ran their Poker Runs. They trusted us with their money.

With this experience in hand I doubt I'll be intimidated by the "McDonald's Crowd" LOL

Good sound advice there, Bob.

An interesting read Bob.

I've done little to no 'street' photography which is strange as I always really like looking at other people's work. I'm not sure why it's something I've never really tried as I'm not particularly shy of people, easily intimidated or even self conscious about public photography - I think I just prefer being on my own away from the hustle and bustle of the towns.

I bet the motorcycle gang work produced some interesting shots.

Some good tips there Bob, esp re people's comfort level.

I remember we had quite a big thread on this when we first started up - if the topic interests you it's worth trying to dig it out

It's a difficult subject, of what is allowed by law, and what you feel morally is okay. Personally, I'd never do street photography of kids, just no way, would not like it if someone singled out one of my kids, so wouldn't do it to anybody else.
Have been on the receiving end of a street photographer, and didn't like it, got told afterwards he thought I looked lovely sitting there drinking my coffee, reading a book I hated it, I hated that I had no control over it. It felt like an invasion of privacy, when I was having a quiet moment.

It is a grey area, even wedding photography can have legal issues, you should be careful of how you use the images on the internet for example, if it is for commercial use, and you put a guest on the web without their permission, it can lead to legal problems, and they have the right to ask you to remove it. Bride and grooms tend to sign, or should sign a model release form, but it's not practical to have every guest do so. It all depends on the wording, in the contract they sign with the photographer.

Azz- maybe best to leave that particular thread in the archives, if I remember rightly it got nasty, and there has been enough aggro on here lately

If you take away the random photograph of children in public you'd stop photos like the one I posted to win the Photograph of the month competition last month.

"When governments fear the people there is liberty. When the people fear the government there is tyranny." - Thomas Jefferson.

accident and fire scenes
children
celebrities
bridges and other infrastructure
residential and commercial buildings
industrial facilities and public utilities

criminal activities

law enforcement officers

published by:
Bert P. Krages II
Attorney at Law
6665 S.W. Hampton Street, Suite 200
Portland, Oregon 97223
www.krages.com

© 2003 Bert P. Krages II

Legally you are allowed to photograph pretty much anything in the street in the UK with the exception of certain buildings or defence establishments, law enforcement staff in certain circumstances etc. However, what you can legally do and what you would actually consider doing are different things. Few men in the UK would consider photographing other peoples kids as sadly there is a paranoia about paedophiles here, mad as it is. Here we are getting to a point also where an increasing number of magazines, websites, competitions etc. wont allow pictures of people without their permission. They are concerned about litigation.

Additionally, in the UK, shopping malls including some outside terraces etc., inside shops inc. McDonalds, theatres etc. would all be considered private property and photography only allowed with permission.

This country has a (partly justified) paranoia about paedophiles and also people here are much more suspicious about photographers motives. I think you perhaps enjoy a more relaxed atmosphere about it in the US Bob. Street photography is allowed and possible, but you do need to be 'aware' who you are pointing a camera at. I would NEVER do kids anywhere, and to be honest as Fogey says, in the UK, if you did there is every chance you would be challenged or even attacked. If you can enjoy it there in the US Bob carry on. It's probably how life should be and not as uptight as the way this country has become.

Okay, been thinking of this subject over night, and have just come back from lunch with a group of friends who are all American, and wondered if it was my "European" view, as some things I don't get over here, and view it from a European outlook.
So I quizzed them over lunch, how would they feel if someone started taking pictures of the kids that were present, ages 2-15, while we were sat there. All gave the same reply, ask the photographer to stop, one said call the manager over too and demand the pictures deleted. I then asked why and they said the same as me, they have no control of where that picture would end up, or used. It wasn't so much a paedophile issue, more a general privacy issue, and protecting a child's right to privacy as a parent.
All, also said they would be pissed if they came across their child/children image/s on the internet too, without their permission sought first. Maybe, it's an age issue, we are all in our mid thirties to mid forties, and not so much a cultural difference.


It's not a legal issue, as legally you can photograph most things in a public place, but whether it is wise or intrusive to do it.


There is also a point of , you the photographer have no idea of the child in questions background, a good friend of mine was abused by her partner, and basically went into hiding with her kids, what if someone snapped one of her kids and then posted it on a forum? Or kids that have been taken into care, etc.

Like I said earlier, I just see it as one subject matter, that is best left alone as far as street photography is concerned, maybe it's my parent head rather than my photography head leading , but at the end of the day, that is what is most important to me.