Is street photography creepy?

[mangtarn]

my editor told me editorial (newspaper) photos do not require consent. so i'll just be on a permanent assignment from now on.

 

[2WheelPhoto]

Be cautious of psycho cops in rest areas in the USA: http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/...yi-rest-areas-careful-what-you-take-pics.html

 

[nickzou]

If you feel creepy, you probably look creepy. Just the way you feel influences other people's perception and whether you are doing it openly and with confidence or like some creep with a camera.

My guess is, most 'street' photographers are young boys trying to take pictures of women and old men trying to take pictures of women. That probably accounts for about 70% of 'street' photographers. The remainder is mostly journalists covering protests, living conditions, etc or tourists.

IMO, going out to take pictures of people you don't know is a bit creepy. Sure, it can be done well...just most of the time it's not. Just my .02

That really sucks because I love watching DigitalRev reviews of camera and camera equipment and they just go out there with their gear and snap shots, and a lot of them are just stunning (especially the Leica M9 video ). It's a real shame because it is one of the types of photography I enjoy the most. Setting up lights and reflectors is fun but sometimes I just like taking a camera out with me and taking pictures. I've also recently found out that a TON of people I know people-watch as a hobby. I did it and thought it was kinda creepy (but no one ever noticed and confronted me about it) but apparently it is a widespread a popular hobby. And I mean... to me all photography is voyeuristic, you are stealing a scene, a moment, an emotion, an expression, all the time. It doesn't matter if you are in a studio or on the street, your photographing a flower with a macro lens, or wildlife, you are taking something from them and keeping it. I've gotten tired of this "photography is creepy" business, yeah it is creepy. If you don't want to be creepy, learn to paint.

 

[Kerbouchard]

If you feel creepy, you probably look creepy. Just the way you feel influences other people's perception and whether you are doing it openly and with confidence or like some creep with a camera.

My guess is, most 'street' photographers are young boys trying to take pictures of women and old men trying to take pictures of women. That probably accounts for about 70% of 'street' photographers. The remainder is mostly journalists covering protests, living conditions, etc or tourists.

IMO, going out to take pictures of people you don't know is a bit creepy. Sure, it can be done well...just most of the time it's not. Just my .02

That really sucks because I love watching DigitalRev reviews of camera and camera equipment and they just go out there with their gear and snap shots, and a lot of them are just stunning (especially the Leica M9 video ). It's a real shame because it is one of the types of photography I enjoy the most. Setting up lights and reflectors is fun but sometimes I just like taking a camera out with me and taking pictures. I've also recently found out that a TON of people I know people-watch as a hobby. I did it and thought it was kinda creepy (but no one ever noticed and confronted me about it) but apparently it is a widespread a popular hobby. And I mean... to me all photography is voyeuristic, you are stealing a scene, a moment, an emotion, an expression, all the time. It doesn't matter if you are in a studio or on the street, your photographing a flower with a macro lens, or wildlife, you are taking something from them and keeping it. I've gotten tired of this "photography is creepy" business, yeah it is creepy. If you don't want to be creepy, learn to paint.

...says the young boy.

 

[Fender5388]

you have to be smart about it, you can tell by someones look if they don't want to be photographed. don't make yourself suspicious either. be open and friendly, smile, make eye contact, be confident. you don't have to speak to everyone. but i find if i ask most people although maybe embarrassed they don't mind having their picture taken. Street photography is in no way creepy. You're a curious individual documenting the world around you. capturing moments the way you see them. ignore the weird looks from people, I'm sure they don't care about you half as much as you think they do.

 

[Tony S]

It's only creepy if you act like a creep.

 

[Kerbouchard]

It's only creepy if you act like a creep.

Now, that, I will agree with.

 

[danielsmith4213]

It's only creepy if you act like a creep.

Now, that, I will agree with.

Agreed

 

[mangtarn]

this whole idea of it's only creepy if you act like a creep is so vague i can't even comprehend it.
can somebody explain to me just exactly what the signs of 'acting creepy' is? if people generalize creeps to be men taking photos of people on the street, then i don't see a solution to this problem, either way you are going to be a creep because you are a man with a camera on the street.
im sure nobody, even creeps, do not want to act creepy when they are creeping, so how do you forcefully instruct yourself to not act creepy when you are unaware that you are being creepy? wouldn't that just make things worse?

 

[Derrel]

I hope you told him to piss off and mind his own buisiness because he was talking bull**** most of the best photographers shot on the streets CHB,Brant the list is endless
This should help

A-holes like Bruce Gilden are what give street photography a bad name.This guy is reprehensible. He is the absolute antithesis of good taste. I have seen this video multiple times.This guy is the kind of shooter who earns the name "juicebag".

 

[nickzou]

If you feel creepy, you probably look creepy. Just the way you feel influences other people's perception and whether you are doing it openly and with confidence or like some creep with a camera.

My guess is, most 'street' photographers are young boys trying to take pictures of women and old men trying to take pictures of women. That probably accounts for about 70% of 'street' photographers. The remainder is mostly journalists covering protests, living conditions, etc or tourists.

IMO, going out to take pictures of people you don't know is a bit creepy. Sure, it can be done well...just most of the time it's not. Just my .02

That really sucks because I love watching DigitalRev reviews of camera and camera equipment and they just go out there with their gear and snap shots, and a lot of them are just stunning (especially the Leica M9 video ). It's a real shame because it is one of the types of photography I enjoy the most. Setting up lights and reflectors is fun but sometimes I just like taking a camera out with me and taking pictures. I've also recently found out that a TON of people I know people-watch as a hobby. I did it and thought it was kinda creepy (but no one ever noticed and confronted me about it) but apparently it is a widespread a popular hobby. And I mean... to me all photography is voyeuristic, you are stealing a scene, a moment, an emotion, an expression, all the time. It doesn't matter if you are in a studio or on the street, your photographing a flower with a macro lens, or wildlife, you are taking something from them and keeping it. I've gotten tired of this "photography is creepy" business, yeah it is creepy. If you don't want to be creepy, learn to paint.

...says the young boy.

When I do street photography, I only bring along a 24mm and a 35mm, if that at all offsets my default creepiness apparently branded upon me by my age.



Oh and I've picked up a couple of tricks I've learned to get people to ignore you on the streets. First, if you can help it, don't use a DSLR. People seem to be afraid of giant black cameras. Make your camera as small as possible. Which means take off the ridiculous battery grip. Whenever possible, compose with the live view, I find that people are more at ease with some idiot holding his or her camera out a few inches away from their face instead of intently looking through the viewfinder. The best thing to do is just use a mirrorless camera and look like some hipster who likes to take arty farty pics with their Holgas.

 

[c.cloudwalker]

In the U.S., the police officer would be wrong, but it's still creepy.

Is it really that bad to take photos of strangers if you do it tastefully?

If you feel creepy, you probably look creepy. Just the way you feel influences other people's perception and whether you are doing it openly and with confidence or like some creep with a camera.

My guess is, most 'street' photographers are young boys trying to take pictures of women and old men trying to take pictures of women. That probably accounts for about 70% of 'street' photographers. The remainder is mostly journalists covering protests, living conditions, etc or tourists.

IMO, going out to take pictures of people you don't know is a bit creepy. Sure, it can be done well...just most of the time it's not. Just my .02

YOU creep me out. Get your mind out of the gutter and onto a higher plane and you might actually get the beauty of street photography instead of making innocent photogs feel like they have anything to explain to YOU, a pervert.

I don't think Brassai knew all the hos and other night creatures he shot... I don't think Diane Arbus knew her subjects either... and somehow, they seem to fit in your 70% of creeeeeeeeeps. LOL.

YOU are the creep here!

 

[Mike_E]

That really sucks because I love watching DigitalRev reviews of camera and camera equipment and they just go out there with their gear and snap shots, and a lot of them are just stunning (especially the Leica M9 video ). It's a real shame because it is one of the types of photography I enjoy the most. Setting up lights and reflectors is fun but sometimes I just like taking a camera out with me and taking pictures. I've also recently found out that a TON of people I know people-watch as a hobby. I did it and thought it was kinda creepy (but no one ever noticed and confronted me about it) but apparently it is a widespread a popular hobby. And I mean... to me all photography is voyeuristic, you are stealing a scene, a moment, an emotion, an expression, all the time. It doesn't matter if you are in a studio or on the street, your photographing a flower with a macro lens, or wildlife, you are taking something from them and keeping it. I've gotten tired of this "photography is creepy" business, yeah it is creepy. If you don't want to be creepy, learn to paint.

...says the young boy.

When I do street photography, I only bring along a 24mm and a 35mm, if that at all offsets my default creepiness apparently branded upon me by my age.



Oh and I've picked up a couple of tricks I've learned to get people to ignore you on the streets. First, if you can help it, don't use a DSLR. People seem to be afraid of giant black cameras. Make your camera as small as possible. Which means take off the ridiculous battery grip. Whenever possible, compose with the live view, I find that people are more at ease with some idiot holding his or her camera out a few inches away from their face instead of intently looking through the viewfinder. The best thing to do is just use a mirrorless camera and look like some hipster who likes to take arty farty pics with their Holgas.

Try one of these, you can even focus with your body turned 90 degrees away.. Rolleiflex - Camerapedia

Be warned, you'd be stepping off into a whole other world of photography.

 

[ann]

Then again, find yourself a right angle finder.

 

[Sammie_Lou]