The Scary Side of Street Photography

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Flattering your subject, as you suggested, is always a good idea. I am a candid street photographer. I seldom ask for permission. I snap and walk away. I don’t chimp. I strive for stealth. Having a photo book with you, as you suggested, is a good strategy. Rather than explain what you do or reference to your website is less effective. Having a little printer, like the one Fuji offer is a good idea. Rather than sending the image to your subject give them a hard copy. I would LOVE to be able to play the fool. I don’t pretend to be a fool. I embrace being a fool. I am what I am. Mask On Nurse Marty ((Ret)

I always wonder why people are afraid of cameras but not phones, they are intimidated by the lens I guess, or they think we look creepy with a dedicated camera in our hands and looking through the viewfinder.

Thanks for this video. It’s very reassuring. I am an America street photographer who lives and works in Vietnam. Vietnamese people are usually very friendly. There is a language barrier, but I’ve mostly overcome that and if I’m caught taking candid shots a few compliments can usually preemptively diffuse any issue. Interestingly enough, I was confronted for the first time two days ago. And the person who confronted me was a Viet Kieu (term for Vietnamese who don’t live here: i.e. “overseas Vietnamese”) nun and her companions. She spoke in perfect condescending English. And afterwards, I felt like crap and lost all confidence. I sort of just wanted to disappear. And I left. Then I became angry. All of the things I wished I would have told her kept racing through my head. She had accused me of breaking the law. The law here is very clear. No photos of police or army. She is neither. If you are in a market, vendors might give you the side eye if you don’t buy anything. So I always make sure to mix my shopping with my photography in a market. No problem. The woman wasn’t even a big part of the composition. And there she was demanding I delete photos and lecturing me while someone I assume was from her church group looked over my shoulder. It was very uncomfortable. But I did delete the photos. I wished them a good day, and sulked off. I am visiting family in the US this summer and am a little concerned that her attitude will be the norm.

In my city, I have the opposite problem. People get close and ask for a photoshoot because of those Tiktok "street photographers". It totally puts me off and I just pretend that I'm listening to some music and can't hear them. It sucks though because people here are now too sensitive to people with cameras that it's getting hard to take photos of natural scenes and moments.

I had someone chase me down the street because my local area is a small town. Saw them a few weeks later and still had something to say. I figured that I’ll be a street photographer when traveling, and urban landscape photography locally. Some local cultures are just not conducive to taking photos of people you don’t know.

One of the best street photography explanation videos I’ve seen. Instant subscribe. 👍🏼👍🏼

You convey this problem of street photography in a very humorous and entertaining way, but also seriously and absolutely understandably with lots of informative tips. However, I personally still shy away from asking people to be photographed. That's why I often try to photograph them, usually in an unrecognizable pose - unless they're people from my personal circle. Thanks for this video! Greetings from germany.

Really helpful suggestions, as usual. Thanks! 🙋🏻‍♂️📸

Street photography and street portraiture are different disciplines. One is consensual, the other isn't. The resistance to candid photography depends on environment and context. Public events have less push back than a week day in a working town. Situations where alcohol is involved can turn nasty very quickly. It depends how much you want the shot, and how committed you are to your business. Even Bruce Gilden had a minder when he shot in the UK!

being a "beginner" and living in Japan plus being an introvert myself street photography is a difficult style to practice… but it has its own beauty I guess..? Your work really inspire so much Thanks again for another great video 🙏

Great and useful video mate!

📸 Amazing video as always 🙌

If someone comes up to me agressivly i just say "Get fucked", If someone is friendly I will be friendly. My intentions are good. You don't owe anybody an explenation.

First useful video on the argument I've seen. Usually it's just "smile", "offer to delete it" and that's it

🎥📷📹📸 Great information on your thought process, thank you

Great video! Very helpful tips. I’m a beginner in photography. Always trying to really see subjects and compositions, but not so fast in the making. 👌👍🔝📸

A well considered and polite approach 👏 thanks for sharing

Your videos are the best!

Great suggestions and discussion George. BTW, Garry Winogrand's fumbling method looked waaaaay creepy, to me.