Intrusive streetphotographer

[snowspeeder]

If that intrusive photographer continues his ways, one fine day/evening he may risk getting his camera lens smashed up. There are some members of public who are hyper sensitive about being photographed. Guess it all depends on the kid's luck and lack of skill.

 

[Kiv]

Personally, I feel it's about how you approach...
If everything about you screams "photographer" and yet the subject doesn't voice his/her displeasure, then I guess he/she has to live with it.

Photographers should respect their subjects when they say 'no'. However, if the approach is right, you'll find that most of the time, ppl won't have any objections about being photograph.

This is a skill that has to be acquired.

 

[tmc17479]

He was just being too much. If the subject has expressed anger or annoyance, then it would be the time to stop. His actions could be interpreted as harassment to your female friends as his actions were directly related to them. You should have suggested to him that he was being too intrusive to the subjects and tell him to get a longer lens. :bsmilie:

 

[Narcisx]

as said
there're no privacy laws in singapore at the instant a photographer takes your photo.

the privacy law only kicks in when you ask him to delete and he doesn't want, or try to confiscate the film and he doesn't want to give it to you.

then you can sue him.

as for females being captured - no there's no harrassment. coz there's no contact. but i don't usually take females so i don't know.. (no i'm not gay )

Please Refer to the Bold TEXT.

Enlighten me, that statement don't seem appropriate nor relevant. Not taking pictures of women makes you gay? Hilarious. Go Figure!

 

[sequitur]

Please Refer to the Bold TEXT.

Enlighten me, that statement don't seem appropriate nor relevant. Not taking pictures of women makes you gay? Hilarious. Go Figure!

uh so what's the point you're making ?

yeah i wasn't making any point. so ?

 

[Minoxman]

As much as I agree that that guy is too much even after being asked to stop, I must admire his persistence in finishing what he had started out for..i.e to shoot people close up.
Getting the picture you want without causing bodily harm is what I consider the limit of intrusion.
People may not approve your taking the pictures, but hey there are no laws against this behaviour unless it disrupts the public peace or actions amounting to assault or preventing subjects from free space of movement.

I can only partially agree with being "sensitive" to your subjects. In normal peace time, I can see no real reasons to track someone and close to harassing them for pictures. So the above case should not apply.

But tell that to the war-zone photographers or PJs covering sensitive events e.g confrontational demonstrations. They will never ask for permission and be sensitive. It's news and the more insensitive, the bigger the frontpage?

 

[Minoxman]

There are no laws saying "you cannot take a picture of so and so...in the streets, in a public place..."

Someone please show me otherwise.

 

[sequitur]

sensitivitiy - a PJ quoted something along these lines

"can you imagine the number of people who're suffering that i've captured ? gosh i have to live with that huge amount of guilt through my life"

 

[Jazer]

He was probably doing macro photography.

Keke , so lame ... hahah..

anyway , dude .. u were too soft. The guy was obviously pissing u and your girlfriends off, u should have told him off and teach him the way of the world. Or at least ask him what this is for ... His intentions seems a little dubious man

 

[Kiv]

Not here, but apparently, there is such a law in France...so be warned. hehe

 

[Minoxman]

sensitivitiy - a PJ quoted something along these lines

"can you imagine the number of people who're suffering that i've captured ? gosh i have to live with that huge amount of guilt through my life"

Capturing sufferings do not amount to being insensitive if that's what the Pj was infering. They are just capturing facts and presenting to viewers. Unless mis-used, I don't see how that is not doing what a PJ is supposed to do.
The PJ feeling guilty because of this should ought to change a profession.

 

[swingoutsister]

could it be, he was doing a photographic project on "reactions of people objecting to being photographed" ?? there don't seem to be any other plausible answers to his persistence. otherwise, what point is there taking picture of people looking annoyed?

 

[Kiv]

my view of street photography was always candid. the moment u have to ask the person if you can take a shot, somehow the "magic" is lost (as I'm sure many/all of you already know)

This was how I originally felt also, that if you asked, your pics would turn out posed and unnaturally.
Well, not true actually.
You just have to be patient. If you stay around long enough, soon your subject won't even remember you're still there. The conciousness will slowly wear off.
I believe many good photographs are made this way. You establish a rapport with your subject, it tells in your pictures.
Photographs shouldn't just look nice. They must communicate as well. When the viewer looks at it, it must speak and express what the photographer feels. That's how I define a successful shot.

Just sharing my opinion.

 

[ed9119]

I swear it wasnt me at the coffee shop shooting!

Its sad to see behavior like this. While I agree that its good to always ask permission.....there are different ways to do it ...subtly and without losing that 'moment' (Eg. same as dating a girl....its a fool who goes up to a girl and declares his undying love for her ....its a Casanova who tells a girl that he sees Gong Li in her)

Photographing people and situations in public IMO is more an exercise in social interaction and human study than actual photography itself.

 

[Kiv]

Its sad to see behavior like this. While I agree that its good to always ask permission.....there are different ways to do it ...subtly and without losing that 'moment' (Eg. same as dating a girl....its a fool who goes up to a girl and declares his undying love for her ....its a Casanova who tells a girl that he sees Gong Li in her)

Photographing people and situations in public IMO is more an exercise in social interaction and human study than actual photography itself.

I very much agree with you on this point.

 

[Minoxman]

I swear it wasnt me at the coffee shop shooting!

Its sad to see behavior like this. While I agree that its good to always ask permission.....there are different ways to do it ...subtly and without losing that 'moment' (Eg. same as dating a girl....its a fool who goes up to a girl and declares his undying love for her ....its a Casanova who tells a girl that he sees Gong Li in her)

Photographing people and situations in public IMO is more an exercise in social interaction and human study than actual photography itself.

True. In this case, the guy should have just chat his way with the group and then see if he could get some "party-like" shots. You know, those smiling happy shots?
I see nothing wrong with declaring undying love for someone you love/like.

 

[2100]

Hi,

In this case, you could have sued the street photog for "harrassment". With so many of you, there is a case. How much can you get from him in court really depends then.... :bsmilie: You must prove that he caused distress and annoyance in a persistent manner though. So people, do be more low profile and use something with more reach if you want to try.... :bsmilie:

 

[Witness]

normally.. i will juz ask.......
otherwise i try to be invisible...very invisible...

 

[pipefish]

FYI, Henri Cartier Bresson, street photography legend was sometimes chased by people who did not like him to take their photo. There is a classic picture by him of a French farmer with a pitchfork. Moments after the picture was taken, the farmer chased him with the pitchfork.

I take a lot of street photos - 3-4 rolls a week. I do not ask for permission to take people's photos on the street. Neither do I use super long lenses to spy on them and shoot - only with a 35 and 50mm. And I think it is an essential part of street photography to get over your fear of shooting strangers. But, I draw the line at causing discomfort to someone. My rule of thumb is to not take a picture if someone waves me away. I have always found though, that if I smile and not look creepy, people rarely take offence. Ironically, it is precisely the sneaky prowling around which people hate.

So to summarize: I don't think there's anything wrong with going up to someone and taking his photo (knowingly or not). Just don't be an idiot and persist or shoot if someone is clearly uncomfortable. Be a gentleman and move on.

 

[hwchoy]

do you snap first and ask for permission to keep the photo? or ask first then snap? in the latter case the "magic" moment would've gone right?