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ENBr4x4
Member
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# Posted: 31 Jan 07 22:50
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I feel guilty of taking photos of people.
Ask them before and they won't look natural.
Ask them after and them might say no or go ape (especially with children - and I'm a guy).
Don't ask them, and then you feel like you've violated them - and should they see the photo somewhere, they might go ape.
Also my concern is for those who believe photos remove a piece of their soul - what the heck do you do then?!
I appreciate it's not an easy question, and a bit of a moral debate, but I'm wondering what other photographers think.
Thanks
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Doina Logofatu
Member
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# Posted: 31 Jan 07 23:31
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Very hard question indeed, many times I would like to take a person-photo but I can't do it..
I feel also guilty of taking photos of people, personally wouldn't like to be photographed than I think that the others have the same nasty feeling... I suceeded only very few times, but with special occasions like world cup, carneval or Oktoberfest...
I'm also interested what other photographers say..
All the best to you,
Doina
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ENBr4x4
Member
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# Posted: 31 Jan 07 23:34
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I forgot to mention, I was out today taking photos, and saw a guy feeding birds, was a beautiful picture, I just felt so criminal taking the shots, just facing in another direction, and then come round and quickly take a shot - they all turned out pretty pathetic.
Oh well, another time.
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Dave Moore
Member
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# Posted: 31 Jan 07 23:39
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I think you'll find that they'll quite happily forego their soul for a bit of cold hard currency.
But personally I too feel guilty taking photos of people. Imagine someone coming up to you and taking a photo of you in your home country.
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leilani
Member
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# Posted: 1 Feb 07 02:13
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I can understand where youre coming from, feeling like violating someone.
But ask yourself, are you photographing the person? Or the moment.
Alot of times even thought the person and what theyre doing is what makes the photo that you're trying to capture a big part of it also just happens to be what the moment is about.
Like a photo of nuns eating ice cream. Its more about the rarity of the occassion or the global impression people have of religious people, that its outside of the norm.
And sometimes youre photographing someone just because you like their face, whether its old or young I think as long as theres no creepy underlying reason you shouldnt feel so bad.
This is one of the women who runs the laundromat I frequent. I was washing my clothes when I saw her bored face and slumped posture, i liked the light coming in and the reflection in the glass.
This picture was about the man. I wanted to capture the emotional moment he was in. What he was feeling was obviously something personal but also obviously universal.
When I observe people, when I talk to them, when I take their photos I always feel theres something inside everyone thats just trying to get out, something their hearts are trying to say. And if I have to capture it when theyre not looking, when no one is looking at them, when their guards are down I'll do it. Im content with my reasons.
Try not to think about it too much, go with what you instinctly feel. And if it doesnt feel right, then dont do it. But if its about being caught in the act that has you scared thats why most photojournalists carry rangefinders.
and just as an fyi:
The US Photographers Rights
The UK Photographers Rights
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Marcos
Moderator
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# Posted: 1 Feb 07 04:41
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Hi, in my collection I have many people photographs, here are some I like:
As you can see, in some of them the subject is sleeping or just looking some other direction. In this cases I actually get courage and take pictures to he/she more closer.
In the other ones, when people is just doing nomal things, not sleeping or searching something, I most commonly take the pictures form 10 meters or far away sometimes but as you can imagine the results are not as good as the closer ones.
About the questioning, I have never asked for a picture, in my opinion this destroys the natural feeling of the subject.
The best way to practice (in my opinion), family. :-) These pictures are from my family: (my brother actually)
Greetings,
Marcos !
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ENBr4x4
Member
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# Posted: 1 Feb 07 08:12
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re: leilani But ask yourself, are you photographing the person? Or the moment.
That's a great philosophy - thanks for sharing :)
re: marcos
Thanks for the tips!
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Oscar_
Moderator
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# Posted: 1 Feb 07 12:33
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Last weekend I was in a shopping mall taking some pictures of it. I also took some pictures of people but I just wanted to shot the situation.
For example this pic I add the person who selling the ice creams it watching all the time. I took several pics of this shop. The man who is selling knows that I took the pictures.
In my opinion if he had a problem with it than he can ask me if I want to delete these pictures from my camera. I will do this when somebody ask.
Some people just walk away quickly so I don't shot these people when I fell they don't want on the picture. Some people I saw in the shoppingmall just laughed to me so I took the shot. I think they just donb't bother.
So I think it is the situation that can makes the difference.
But I feel quilty just as you other members but I will keep on clicking. \
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ergoe
Member
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# Posted: 1 Feb 07 13:01
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This is a very good question, because I also feel uneasy when taking pictures of people in public places. I think it is an inhibition that takes time to overcome.
I enjoy very much daily life pictures showing people like those we see from a master in this kind of photography our member BOGERS.
Thank you very much @leilani for the link to UK’s photographer’s right PDF.
I am curious to hear how other members handle that.
Thanks @ENBr4x4 for your topic
here two of my rare people pictures that I made from to me unknown persons
 
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ENBr4x4
Member
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# Posted: 1 Feb 07 13:56
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Thanks @ENBr4x4 for your topic
No prob!
And thanks also from me to leilani about the PDFs!
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leilani
Member
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# Posted: 1 Feb 07 14:50
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youre welcome guys :)
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Bogers
Member
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# Posted: 1 Feb 07 16:11
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Thank you Ergoe!
I play the arrogant photographer and tell the people that they should be happy and proud that I take pictures of them.
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Akbar
Member
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# Posted: 1 Feb 07 16:15
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Bogers even makes pics of me without asking. My revenge: I take pics of him without asking. ;)))))
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Otorongo
Member
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# Posted: 1 Feb 07 18:48 - Edited by: Otorongo
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Leilani has it right, it is all about the moment. If you think about it, you only get the moment that you are tripping the shutter. Study how the street photographers of the past century did their work. The most famous was Henri Cartier Bresson who in fact published a book called The Decisive Moment. His approach to photography did not always permit him to interact with the subject before or after the moment of the photo. Imagine how much poorer our photographic history would be if these legends of the camera did not understand and apply this concept.
That being said, it is not always easy to do when you find yourself at the moment. Therefore have a plan thought out before the moment and practice it. It might go something like this: I am a photographer. I am here to catch the moment. I am not going to anounce to the whole street that I am here to take photos but I am not going to conceal my purpose either. If they notice, then we are already communicating and they understand what I am about. When I see the moment I want I will simply act upon it, I will take my photo. If there is objection after the moment has passed I will apologize and ask forgiveness, I will show respect in a sincere manner. Offer them a print later if you like.
Put your own spin on it but you get the idea.
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ENBr4x4
Member
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# Posted: 1 Feb 07 21:35
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@otorongo - amazing - thanks for the advice!
What a great place for advice :)
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Martin de Rijk
Member
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# Posted: 2 Feb 07 10:20
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Thanks for the pdf's Leilani, it shows what's proper and what's not . The part about harassment is pretty clear about this.
For myself, I try to work in the way Otorongo describes. Sometimes I just ask people if I can take a picture.
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