Permission to snap public performers?

[waileong]

I have learned my lesson, next time when faced with a similar situation I'll be sure to seek for permission first. But I swear, this dude will never get a cent out of me! :angry::angry:

That's not the right lesson to learn.

 

[yqt]

No issues, just go ahead and take. If he want to call the police, tell him to do so and lets wait for the police together. Good time to check whether he has a legal license to perform as well.

Agreed. He can't do anything to you but you can report him to the police.
Don't have to confront him, just walk away and than call the police when you're out of sight.

 

[theveed]

I passed there once during my first visit in SIN, but I ran out of battery at that time, I was able to chat with him for a little while, I'm sure he wouldn't have minded if I took some photos... Usually when I travel and want to shoot "street dwellers" I try to find a way to chat with them (let's say just pretend to listen/watch their performance, drop a coin then start a chit-chat) before asking them for photos, works pretty well no matter where I go... These guys don't really have any qualms against you taking photos, but making people feel like a freakshow and tourist subject is very annoying, especially if you face the same thing day-in and day-out.

Try to see the other side of the coin as well.

 

[foxcorn]

like above idea...this guy is rude. you are taking photo 10m away. I can tell him I am taking the photo of this tunnel - a public space. he should move if don't want to be included. :thumbsup:

 

[sprintist]

Go and take picture of the blind man at orchard mrt tunnel lar. that one cfm won't see you.

me and my friend tried before, then one aunty go over and tell him LOUDLY that we are taking photos of him repeatedly, so we stopped and she was like giving commentation, they not taking now, they standing there blah blah..wah lao..should have shot her too..lol

 

[Canonised]

u meant Illegal busker photoshoot outing? :bsmilie::bsmilie:

make sure you invite our own sgvideoman along .....:bsmilie::sweat:

next time if he threaten you, take out yr mobile and do a video, then u threaten him to call the police ....:think:

 

[Override2Zion]

No issues, just go ahead and take. If he want to call the police, tell him to do so and lets wait for the police together. Good time to check whether he has a legal license to perform as well.

Agree with bro vince too. There are no clearly defined regulations and laws governing photography in public however the buskers can get into trouble if they don't own proper papers that allows them to perform in public.

TS could be partially at fault since no permission was sought but i think the busker over-reacted by yelling at him :thumbsd:.

Actually its kinda hard to implement strict rules on photographing in public. Imagine mounting a super duper ultra wide angle lens on a tripod and grabbing a shot of the beautiful riverside scene of boat quay, many unwilling subjects would end up in the shot.

Maybe in future there would be a "license to shoot" issued to photographers by relevant authorities. lol

 

[JohnnyM]

Let's ambush this guy one day. Like 20 of us, suddenly flash out the tuo leng kong with multiple strobes and start flashing away. I bet he will run away!!

I hear FLASH MOB!

 

[Yatlapball]

What a pr**k. You should stomp him.

 

[Yatlapball]

It's really odd see. If you're just a passerby, a stall owner or something then fine. I feel that they have a right to object.

But this guy is a... Performer. Being photographed and videographed is part of being a performer. He needs to get used to it.

 

[GenkiGenki]

It's really odd see. If you're just a passerby, a stall owner or something then fine. I feel that they have a right to object.

But this guy is a... Performer. Being photographed and videographed is part of being a performer. He needs to get used to it.

I thought so too, that's why I didn't ask. Actually I had planned to walked over to him after taking the pic, and give him some spare coins for being a good sport.

Next time when I want to snap a street performer I'll be sure to let him know my intention to shoot, and get his nod first.

 

[Yatlapball]

You won't be able to get a nod from the street performer who paints himself gold and acts as a statue :bsmilie: Great act though :thumbsup:

 

[gryphon]

I think must make a sign board. When I am going to shoot, deploy it on the floor.
It reads "Photography in progress, unwilling subjects please kindly move away"

 

[Dream Merchant]

You won't be able to get a nod from the street performer who paints himself gold and acts as a statue :bsmilie: Great act though :thumbsup:

Yes you can, but it depends on how you approach everything.

Stay awhile, and 'watch' his performance.

Give him some money for his efforts, and when he's done with one set, chat him up. I remember doing a few artistic/experimental shoots a few years ago when he was still juggling. He even introduced me to lots of other performers and artists which resulted in some very interesting photo-shoots. However, he can be a bit eccentric sometimes, or views very different opinions that you might not like. His Mom's a lovely lady though.


Having hung out with many buskers ions ago, I know the sheer disgust they feel at the typical 'stand, gawk and stare like you're some freak show, whip out camera, take photo, just walk away' crowd.

No smile, no hello, no interest in your performance - just treat you like a bloody circus animal. When I looked at how many of the typical locals just stare and gawk, I too felt their desolation and disgust.

Now imagine these days where almost everyone has some sort of camera, if day in day out some 'photographer' walks by, stares, whip out cam, take photo, turn away to check LCD, take some more photo, check LCD again and walk away. Never once interested in the actual performance or the performer!

Many of them are performers in their own right, and are making a living while being dedicated to their art. They are also human, in case no one noticed.

Having said that, there's no law against taking photos of people in public, regardless of their occupation, unless you're taking the photo in a manner that can be deemed 'obscene' or detrimental to that person's reputation, or use the photos in a manner obscene or degrading/slandering.

Gryphon, at some shoots or productions, there are actually people tasked to keep the general gawkers and public intrusion away. Works much better than a sign-board, unless you barricade the area up.

CHEERS!

 

[theveed]

Yes you can, but it depends on how you approach everything.

Stay awhile, and 'watch' his performance.

Give him some money for his efforts, and when he's done with one set, chat him up. I remember doing a few artistic/experimental shoots a few years ago when he was still juggling. He even introduced me to lots of other performers and artists which resulted in some very interesting photo-shoots. However, he can be a bit eccentric sometimes, or views very different opinions that you might not like. His Mom's a lovely lady though.


Having hung out with many buskers ions ago, I know the sheer disgust they feel at the typical 'stand, gawk and stare like you're some freak show, whip out camera, take photo, just walk away' crowd.

No smile, no hello, no interest in your performance - just treat you like a bloody circus animal. When I looked at how many of the typical locals just stare and gawk, I too felt their desolation and disgust.

Now imagine these days where almost everyone has some sort of camera, if day in day out some 'photographer' walks by, stares, whip out cam, take photo, turn away to check LCD, take some more photo, check LCD again and walk away. Never once interested in the actual performance or the performer!

Many of them are performers in their own right, and are making a living while being dedicated to their art. They are also human, in case no one noticed.

Having said that, there's no law against taking photos of people in public, regardless of their occupation, unless you're taking the photo in a manner that can be deemed 'obscene' or detrimental to that person's reputation, or use the photos in a manner obscene or degrading/slandering.

Gryphon, at some shoots or productions, there are actually people tasked to keep the general gawkers and public intrusion away. Works much better than a sign-board, unless you barricade the area up.

CHEERS!

My exact sentiments... Understand that they're people too, just because you have the means to take a photo, doesn't mean you should. If you're having a cup of coffee and several people walks past you and takes a photo of you, will you be uneasy about it? Now multiply that by scenario 10hrs a day, 7 days a week while not having enough money to begin with.

 

[billone]

What on earth??? In a public place, is there any legislation that covers taking pictures of objects or people? I know that in some cases the Police and military personnel have laws that protect them from being photographed. However, unless there is applicable legislation, we should be free to take pictures. Otherwise, we will end up being confined to taking photographs in the privacy of our own home.

Surely, professional photographers are aquainted with the more relevant rules and regulations.

This reminds me of a thread where a bride questioned who had taken "unauthorised" pictures of her wedding, which took place in a public venue.

 

[Bosty]

Honestly, the busker over reacted lar. he could just turn away in disapproval, it's good enough to signal "no, i dun wanna be photographed"

aiyah, but in street photography, that's the thrill! catching ppl when they r unknowing of ur presence, more candid more natural. i usually focus at something else den move the camera in a split second to catch people in action

 

[Six-GHz]

Agree with bro vince too. There are no clearly defined regulations and laws governing photography in public

Yeah, I learnt that too... especially you're carrying a camera bigger than a P&S!

Just the other day I was taking some construction at my place. My aim is to keep a momento of "before" and "after". The next moment a guy came up to me and asked why am I taking photos. I told him about my intention and cleared the air.

Another time I was taking a passing shot of my kid's school, which was under construction too. Immediately the sentry uncle came and told me I can't take pics due to security issue.

The latest was taking a photos of a coffee shop near my place, also under construction. The boss came over and asked me if I was putting up articles in the papers.

Can't I just take candid shots? Or do I need to ask permission everytime for such photos? I believe general public are wary about pics put on Stomp. So has technology stifled budding photography interests?

 

[zoossh]

Imagine how you would feel if everyday, people try to take a photo of you, after a while you're bound to say no. i've seen the guy tell off a whole bunch of photogs on an outing, who were about to snap him like an animal, so it's not just you.

actually not true. it depends on individual character and personality. not everyone would mind being taken photography frequently or even daily - some do, some don't, some felt intrusive while some others have a naturally more open personality and feels more at ease with many things.

and also not everyone felt like being snapped at is to feel like being an animal, it all depends on where you are standing at that point of time and what you are doing.

 

[zoossh]

my experience was even funnier. i walked around carrying the dslr around my neck sometimes around the chinatown area. the shopkeeper immediately shouted "no photos" even when I have not even enter the shop yet.... just passing by...? :what:

funnier leh. like that also can??? :what:

some people have some anti-social behaviours and are interested in nothing except for doing business - and they are of cos also the people more likely to show a bad business attitude.

i saw a no asking for direction and toilets signboard put up at outram mrt station newspaper stand. and no, there is not a situation that asking for directions and toilets is making them not able to deal with customers buying things from them. if they have a queue and a crowd, i would understand, but no, that is not the case.