I didn't say *you* did Bob - I was just talking in general!

xx

Strikes me that people are much more relaxed about it in the US as I said in my original post. Would appear from Bobs posts that people generally aren't immedeatly concious of the darker side of human nature. Probably like here 30 or 40 years ago... Some of the first photography books I was reading had men photographing kids and animals in the park, the lido etc. and trying to sell them later! Now you would have the camera smashed in your face, pushed up your ass and the police take you away!

Here though, there is no way a McDonalds would allow a guy to be sitting there photographing customers be it adult or kids. It's their private property and doesn't consititute 'street' or public place. On the other hand maybe mums and dads take their kids to McDonalds if they are hoping for some candids?! You could start a small business!

The UK people are constantly bombared with being 'aware' of health and safety, terrorism, paedophiles, etc. and generally have developed a more cautious attitude and aggression to anyone they don't know who may be a threat. The country is not what it was.

On the other hand in the real public street, any adult who appears of sound mind is faior game to me. However I do pick and choose and generally you get a feel for who can be photographed or not. It's not a science, and I am aware of privacy laws and morals, but people generally are interesting subjects. Whilst some of you may think street photography is an invasion of privacy for some, to me it is a documentary of life now. We all like the gritty images in the ghetto, or the war torn street, the terraced streets of northern England etc. However you do need to be aware of who is in shot and why you want them in.

Very well said BC. In the photography training video put online by Scott Kelby, he and Jay Maisel, a Jewish photographer of considerable fame, wander the streets of New York City along with their filming crew. They are completely at ease, with no fear of being beat up or having their gear smashed in their faces. The legal issues concerning permits and regulations were discussed as they walked. The privacy issue boiled down to one on one confrontation and how Jay dealt with photographing folks of interest on the street.

I don't know the laws and social morals of countries other than the United States. As I've stated repeatedly since joining this forum I was a professional portrait photographer years ago. I used to volunteer as a nursery worker at a Nazerene church where I was a member for many years. I took literally thousands of photographs of 2-3 year old children, developed my own film and printed the photos myself in my own garkroom that I built from scratch. Never, in all the years that I've been doing this, have I been confronted by a concerned parent or anyone else.

I can't help but notice the general lack of portraits of people posted on this site. This week, since starting this thread, I've had a eye opening view as to why this is the norm. It's sad.

Yes Bob, it is very sad. In the UK, recently, we have had some very high profile cases of child abuse and the media has, quite rightly reported on those cases.

To say that the whole population is appalled is a massive understatement and we are now looking to the protection of our children as a matter of priority.

[quote=
I can't help but notice the general lack of portraits of people posted on this site. This week, since starting this thread, I've had a eye opening view as to why this is the norm. It's sad.[/QUOTE]

The reason I do not post portraits is not because of the situation this thread has become about, it is because I only ever get a couple of comments so I dont bother.

I log in every now and again and the threads hardly change from one day to the next.

Often there are only two or three people on line at any one time.

It is a great shame because two maybe three years ago this site buzzed.

What went wrong?

Who knows!

^^^^

What Jols said, who knows why it has become so quiet I do miss how it used to be, guess that's why I still pop in, the hope that it could be like that again.

We did have some laughs, and very random threads in the Chat section

Oh HOW i MISS THOSE RANDOM CHATS.

I think alot of people don't mind their picture taken, if they could be emailed one themselves. It is very important in this day and age, that the people being photographed know what is the intent of the final article.