# Photographing strangers out in public **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 25, 2014, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photographing-strangers-out-in-public/684564 "2014-03-25T23:45:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Melchior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Melchior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melchior)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2014, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photographing-strangers-out-in-public/684564/81 "2014-03-28T21:48:09Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > I agree that for portraits, a long lens is ideal. My 50mm on a crop body is really great for this (since it’s what, around 70-80mm full frame equivalent?). It helps avoid a lot of distortion that makes faces look weird w/ big noses and what not. > > I disagree that you wouldn’t have been able to get that shot of the little girl (or at least one like it) from close up though. Sometimes the best candids are taken w/o lifting the camera to your eye. Just learn how to frame blind and you can get all kinds of close-up of people without them noticing. Actually, I think it would have been better if you’d opened it up a bit wider so we could see what she was looking at and giving her a bit more room in the frame would help compositionally a lot. I know the technique you are talking about and have used it myself. I have been doing photography for 50 years now, since I was 14. I prefer the photo the way it is, but I do understand why you might prefer something else. Here is a page of photos taken by others at the same events. You can tell mine apart right away. A few of mine are mixed in here with other peoples’. [https://www.flickr.com/groups/1061847@N24/](https://www.flickr.com/groups/1061847@N24/) ---
**Author:** ![Melchior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Melchior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melchior)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2014, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photographing-strangers-out-in-public/684564/82 "2014-03-28T21:57:36Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > I agree that for portraits, a long lens is ideal. My 50mm on a crop body is really great for this (since it’s what, around 70-80mm full frame equivalent?). It helps avoid a lot of distortion that makes faces look weird w/ big noses and what not. > > I disagree that you wouldn’t have been able to get that shot of the little girl (or at least one like it) from close up though. Sometimes the best candids are taken w/o lifting the camera to your eye. Just learn how to frame blind and you can get all kinds of close-up of people without them noticing. Actually, I think it would have been better if you’d opened it up a bit wider so we could see what she was looking at and giving her a bit more room in the frame would help compositionally a lot. Actually, I didn’t want the viewer to know what she was looking at. That is revealed in the next photo! 🙂 My photography is ‘cinematic’, by which I mean it shows _one thing at a time_. Ready for my closeup, Mr. DeMille! I used to watch films from the 1930s when I was young, and they used to do a lot of close-ups back then. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photographing-strangers-out-in-public/684564/83 "2014-03-29T00:37:38Z")
> [@Antinor01](#): > > I don’t know. The legal question sounds like it’s been mostly answered. I was going with the polite thing to do angle. Like I said before, legal doesn’t make it a decent thing to do. This is what I was going to say. I’m not a fan on “street photography” focussing on specific individuals because while people might not have an expectation of privacy whilst out on the street, that doesn’t mean they also have an expectation they’ll get a camera stuck in their face and their (possibly unflattering in their eyes) pic ends up on an indie art gallery’s wall or worse, on the internet. ---
**Author:** ![Melchior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Melchior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melchior)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photographing-strangers-out-in-public/684564/84 "2014-03-29T00:53:21Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > This is what I was going to say. I’m not a fan on “street photography” focussing on specific individuals because while people might not have an expectation of privacy whilst out on the street, that doesn’t mean they also have an expectation they’ll get a camera stuck in their face and their (possibly unflattering in their eyes) pic ends up on an indie art gallery’s wall or worse, on the internet. Well, while there is the right to do that, as this asshole photographer does, these tactics rarely produce interesting photographs. If he did that to me, his Leica and his 24mm Elmarit would be smashed to bits. He’s a low-class ignorant piece of shit. He is the reason I do not call myself a photographer. I don’t want to be associated with scum like him. He thinks he’s being clever or creative. NOT!!! ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photographing-strangers-out-in-public/684564/85 "2014-03-29T01:10:48Z")
> [@Melchior](#): > > Well, while there is the right to do that, as this asshole photographer does, these tactics rarely produce interesting photographs. If he did that to me, his Leica and his 24mm Elmarit would be smashed to bits. He’s a low-class ignorant piece of shit. He is the reason I do not call myself a photographer. I don’t want to be associated with scum like him. He thinks he’s being clever or creative. NOT!!! I’m not familiar with the gentleman in question’s work, so my comments were directed at the genre as a whole - don’t photograph specific people in public going about their daily lives without either A) Their permission or B) Truly extenuating circumstances such as “you’re a newspaper photographer taking photos of a news event”. Art classes/looking for ways to pad out one’s portfolio/putting together an exhibition are not generally, IMHO, truly extenuating circumstances. ---
**Author:** ![Melchior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Melchior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melchior)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photographing-strangers-out-in-public/684564/86 "2014-03-29T01:14:13Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > I’m not familiar with the gentleman in question’s work, so my comments were directed at the genre as a whole - don’t photograph specific people in public going about their daily lives without either A) Their permission or B) Truly extenuating circumstances such as “you’re a newspaper photographer taking photos of a news event”. Art classes/looking for ways to pad out one’s portfolio/putting together an exhibition are not generally, IMHO, truly extenuating circumstances. Well that’s a bit strict, but there is a difference between what I do and what he does. I do sometimes ask permission even though I don’t have to, but I don’t shove my camera in peoples’ faces or use a flash. What an asshole this guy is! I work very discreetly. He has apparently been using the same tactics for decades. Where’s the growth and development? The photos are not impressive. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photographing-strangers-out-in-public/684564/87 "2014-03-29T01:22:22Z")
> [@Melchior](#): > > Well that’s a bit strict, but there is a difference between what I do and what he does. I do sometimes ask permission even though I don’t have to, but I don’t shove my camera in peoples’ faces or use a flash. What an asshole this guy is! I work very discreetly. He has apparently been using the same tactics for decades. Where’s the growth and development? The photos are not impressive. I think you’re missing the point. I don’t think people should be taking random photos of specific strangers in public - either overtly (by sticking a camera in their face) or discreetly, as you say you do - without their express permission or a _very_ good reason. In some ways, doing it covertly could be seen as _worse_ than overt street photography, too. ---
**Author:** ![Melchior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Melchior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melchior)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photographing-strangers-out-in-public/684564/88 "2014-03-29T01:25:42Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > I think you’re missing the point. I don’t think people should be taking random photos of specific strangers in public - either overtly (by sticking a camera in their face) or discreetly, as you say you do - without their express permission or a _very_ good reason. > > In some ways, doing it covertly could be seen as _worse_ than overt street photography, too. Well, it’s perfectly legal and quite proper. The laws are quite explicit. It’s not a matter of whether, but how. If you confront people you run the risk of being charged with being a nuisance, which is actually a petty crime. You can’t block peoples’ path for instance except for a moment. There is absolutely nothing wrong with photographing people in public. What matters is how you do it. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photographing-strangers-out-in-public/684564/89 "2014-03-29T01:29:10Z")
> [@Melchior](#): > > Well, it’s perfectly legal and quite proper. It’s not a matter of whether, but how. If you confront people you run the risk of being charged with being a nuisance, which is actually a petty crime. You can’t block peoples’ path for instance except for a moment. It’s legal but it’s certainly not proper - I think it’s a monumentally dickish thing to do, a view which several people have already expressed in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Melchior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Melchior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melchior)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photographing-strangers-out-in-public/684564/90 "2014-03-29T01:30:24Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > It’s legal but it’s certainly not proper - I think it’s a monumentally dickish thing to do, a view which several people have already expressed in this thread. It’s not ‘improper’ by any means. But as I have said, disturbing people is another thing altogether. What is wrong with this? [https://www.flickr.com/photos/ornello/6231857434/](https://www.flickr.com/photos/ornello/6231857434/)\ I was in full view of the child and her parents the whole while. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photographing-strangers-out-in-public/684564/91 "2014-03-29T01:32:42Z")
> [@Melchior](#): > > It’s not ‘improper’ by any means. But as I have said, disturbing people is another thing altogether. Have you considered the mere act of taking someone’s photograph is disturbing them? I consider it so. ---
**Author:** ![Melchior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Melchior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melchior)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photographing-strangers-out-in-public/684564/92 "2014-03-29T01:35:10Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > Have you considered the mere act of taking someone’s photograph is disturbing them? I consider it so. No, it isn’t. There has to be more than that. I am not defending this asshole’s tactics, but everyone has the right to take photographs of people in public. Photography tends to attract socially awkward men. This is why I do not socialize with photographers or call myself a photographer. Most of them are jerks. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photographing-strangers-out-in-public/684564/93 "2014-03-29T01:38:20Z")
> [@Melchior](#): > > No, it isn’t. There has to be more than that. I am not defending this asshole’s tactics, but everyone has the right to take photographs of people in public. Lots of people (myself included) do not like having their photographs taken, and would be disturbed by seeing a photographer with a camera clearly aimed at them in a public place where nothing newsworthy or unusual is taking place. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photographing-strangers-out-in-public/684564/94 "2014-03-29T01:39:44Z")
If you don’t appreciate street photography as an art form, you’re dismissing a large percentage of the greatest photographs of the last 150 years. ---
**Author:** ![Melchior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Melchior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melchior)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photographing-strangers-out-in-public/684564/95 "2014-03-29T01:40:01Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > Lots of people (myself included) do not like having their photographs taken, and would be disturbed by seeing a photographer with a camera clearly aimed at them in a public place where nothing newsworthy or unusual is taking place. You might be annoyed, but you really are not being disturbed. There is a difference. It is perfectly legal and proper… ---
**Author:** ![Melchior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Melchior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melchior)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photographing-strangers-out-in-public/684564/96 "2014-03-29T01:41:08Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > If you don’t appreciate street photography as an art form, you’re dismissing a large percentage of the greatest photographs of the last 150 years. To whom is this addressed? ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photographing-strangers-out-in-public/684564/97 "2014-03-29T01:42:01Z")
> [@Melchior](#): > > You might be annoyed, but you really are not being disturbed. There is a difference. It is perfectly legal and proper… No, I’d be disturbed _and_ annoyed. ---
**Author:** ![Melchior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Melchior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melchior)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photographing-strangers-out-in-public/684564/98 "2014-03-29T01:44:53Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > No, I’d be disturbed _and_ annoyed. Well, the law is clear on the point. What irritates me is assholes like this guy who are not even decent photographers. My work is 10,000x better than this guy’s, and I don’t even call myself a photographer. I discard stuff better than his crap. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photographing-strangers-out-in-public/684564/99 "2014-03-29T01:46:34Z")
> [@Melchior](#): > > Well, the law is clear on the point. What irritates me is assholes like this guy who are not even decent photographers. My work is 10,000x better than this guy’s, and I don’t even call myself a photographer. So you’re saying it’s OK to engage in dickish behaviour if it’s legal? ---
**Author:** ![Melchior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Melchior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melchior)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photographing-strangers-out-in-public/684564/100 "2014-03-29T01:48:39Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > So you’re saying it’s OK to engage in dickish behaviour if it’s legal? I said above his Leica and 24mm would be in pieces if he did that to me. Not because he was taking photos, but because he is an asshole blasting a flash in my eyes and obstructing my path. If he got in my way I would run him over! If he stood by a lamp-post and snapped unobtrusively, no problem. Do you understand the distinction? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photographing-strangers-out-in-public/684564.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photographing-strangers-out-in-public/684564.md?page=6)