I have been asked by security to leave, told I have to delete photos I've taken, told if I take any more pictures management will be called to speak to me etc.
Usually I believe these things are not legally enforceable, but try telling that to the police, so I oblige (except for the deleting my photos bit, I won't do that).
This has resulted in me feeling very shy about taking pictures- this is over the course of 7 years, and now I find myself just too embarrassed to put in the effort to 'get the shot' quite often. I see pictures I want- at a cafe the other day a woman waiting on her drink, the 'barista' (is that what they're called?) working the machine in the background, this open space in the counter, the arch above, and tilt the camera... but realistically, I know if I was one of them and noticed someone taking my photo I'd be uncomfortable with it.
Honestly, sometimes people may as well just approach saying, "I'm going to make this as uncomfortable for you as I can." I wish I handled it better : P
@echoia be less noticeable ;).
People can see a SLR easily, even more so if you've got a huge honkin lens on it and a flash that lights up Neptune.
I have a little P&S that I've put some black gaffer tape on. I'm instantly just someone of no importance when I use it. The black tapes makes a silver camera less noticable, plus it looks like something that's been dropped a dozen times (ok it has) and a "real photographer" would never do that (yes they would) to an expensive camera (even more reason to) so they can't be worth paying attention to. Can work very well in more public locations.
You can also work on shooting from the hip
Never back down, and always stand your ground. Most "security guards" or public have no idea of what you can photograph. If you want to get into street photography then you need to accept that confrontation will happen, each week I get everything from being glared at, told to f*ck off and a occasionally people getting right in my face.
My approach with those situations is to tell people why I was photographing them, why I found them interesting etc. and to also tell them about street photography. I also have some cards printed out with my email and flickr address on them to give to people so they can see the shots etc.
I'm not a fan of shooting from the hip, unless its a situation which would escalate in to something worse. A incident involving the police for example. But a nice little film compact or rangefinder is so fast and quiet people will often not notice.
I'm not sure what country you are in, so will not advise on where you can and cannot shoot but maybe you can look into that yourself.
For me a big part of street photography is the rush you get from knowing on each shot there maybe a confrontation, my heart is always racing when out and about hunting down people.
Just get out there and give it a go, you will find it is very addictive though :)
@jasehoad I love that you love it : P haha, and that the cards suggestion is really nice. I have many times had my web site to offer because that's my home base, but a card would be cool. I've also tried telling people that they are welcome to a copy, but I get that people are uncomfortable when they see some creep-o crouching and taking photos of them, and the thing is you don't WANT them to notice because it changes the shot.
I'm in the USA (UT), and know mostly what I -can- take, no questions asked, I just really don't like getting into confrontation- especially since I usually have at least one minor in tow.
Try a little slight of hand. Keep an old emplty flash card in your hand. When some security jerk gives you a hard time, relent, fake pening up your camera side and tell him "Okay, here's my card...Happy now?" and give him the decoy. I did this once when I was shooting a concert. Worked like a charm and I went home with GREAT shots!
I actually had a chat on Facebook about this recently with a high school classmate who is now a policewoman. I think you would find that the police are more understanding than you expect, as long as you know your rights. Here in Queensland they can be obliged to ask you for your name and address to "investigate whether a crime has been committed" which is meaningless, except that it's a crime not to give it to them :P
The police, unlike security guards etc should know that you are within your rights.
Says me, who is the world's most cowardly street photographer, hehe ;)
I was asked to delete photos in a McDonalds in Germany. I pretended that I couldn't understand the manager, then pretended to delete a pic or two. The menus are so exotic next to our boring always-the-same ones, so I needed those pix. ;-) This actually happened twice...the menus vary from restaurant to restaurant so maybe there is some kind of competition going on? Complete with McD espionage and stuff.
Be super sweet and apologetic to the person. Let them watch as you delete them off of your memory card, Apologize again and leave. Do not take any more pictures with that memory card. When you get home, download this free program and get all of those wonderful photos back: http://www.filehippo.com/download_recuva/
@danacarruthers Nope! I don't want "smiling at the camera" photos or "pucker up my lips and pop out my ass" photos. I want hair-in-the-face, peering-out-the-window, dangling-my-spoon-above-my-cup-of-coffee photos.
And if the photo I want isn't of people, I'm not too interested in hunting down someone who MAY know who to ask if I'm "allowed" to take a photo of the way the sunlight is sparkling off a line of silver hangers.
In college I was in a photojournalism class and decided to spend the semester shooting coffee shops. Didn't work. I was on the phone with Starbucks corporate for days battling it, some companies just have strict policies and it's our right to respect it. Smaller coffee shops were afraid it would scare away customers and the fact is theyre right. It's their business and they have the right to refuse it. Sucks but there's nothing you can do. The best bet is to talk to managers/owners. If they give you the go ahead then you are legally allowed to. If they say no they can legally arrest you. Generally speaking cops and security guard are allowed to interpret laws, if they claim you can't take pictures doesn't necessarily matter if they are right or wrong.
@ariananeala My nearest cafe is very private, but they also set up on nearby public property each day, so not a legal issue. It's actually rather annoying if you're not going there, winding your way through all of the tables, people, signs, cigaettes...! They are much bigger than SB, but I guess with only the one location they have spillover.
@everyone Not really asking for legal advice, since to give it without a license would be trouble, just how people shake off the intrusion. I mean, for goodness sake, I've gotten an ear full for taking photos of flowers from the sidewalk- not even, "I'm photographing and stealing landscaping ideas" but MACRO flowers, and security came out and told me I had to leave. And no I wasn't blocking people or there for hours. I know I can stay, he's doing his best to do his job, but I find it better to go. Police can still arrest you even if they are wrong.
I've also been yelled at at private functions because of not taking enough photos of this or that person. Or because people think they should have been in the frame and I cropped them out when they jump into it, because they do not understand a 50mm on a dx camera.
Show up to a private affair with an SLR and you are at the party throwers & goers disposal in their opinion. Everyone telling you to take this or that photo. I think sometimes invitations should say, "Echo's Camera & Kit." I generally refuse to take pictures on command. This tends to really upset people :(
Tweets ahoy!
Join the Group
Pin With Me
http://www.legalandrew.com/2007/10/11/photo-law-your-right-to-take-pictures-in-public/
People can see a SLR easily, even more so if you've got a huge honkin lens on it and a flash that lights up Neptune.
I have a little P&S that I've put some black gaffer tape on. I'm instantly just someone of no importance when I use it. The black tapes makes a silver camera less noticable, plus it looks like something that's been dropped a dozen times (ok it has) and a "real photographer" would never do that (yes they would) to an expensive camera (even more reason to) so they can't be worth paying attention to. Can work very well in more public locations.
You can also work on shooting from the hip
My approach with those situations is to tell people why I was photographing them, why I found them interesting etc. and to also tell them about street photography. I also have some cards printed out with my email and flickr address on them to give to people so they can see the shots etc.
I'm not a fan of shooting from the hip, unless its a situation which would escalate in to something worse. A incident involving the police for example. But a nice little film compact or rangefinder is so fast and quiet people will often not notice.
I'm not sure what country you are in, so will not advise on where you can and cannot shoot but maybe you can look into that yourself.
For me a big part of street photography is the rush you get from knowing on each shot there maybe a confrontation, my heart is always racing when out and about hunting down people.
Just get out there and give it a go, you will find it is very addictive though :)
I'm in the USA (UT), and know mostly what I -can- take, no questions asked, I just really don't like getting into confrontation- especially since I usually have at least one minor in tow.
The police, unlike security guards etc should know that you are within your rights.
Says me, who is the world's most cowardly street photographer, hehe ;)
Muahahahaha
And if the photo I want isn't of people, I'm not too interested in hunting down someone who MAY know who to ask if I'm "allowed" to take a photo of the way the sunlight is sparkling off a line of silver hangers.
@everyone Not really asking for legal advice, since to give it without a license would be trouble, just how people shake off the intrusion. I mean, for goodness sake, I've gotten an ear full for taking photos of flowers from the sidewalk- not even, "I'm photographing and stealing landscaping ideas" but MACRO flowers, and security came out and told me I had to leave. And no I wasn't blocking people or there for hours. I know I can stay, he's doing his best to do his job, but I find it better to go. Police can still arrest you even if they are wrong.
I've also been yelled at at private functions because of not taking enough photos of this or that person. Or because people think they should have been in the frame and I cropped them out when they jump into it, because they do not understand a 50mm on a dx camera.
Show up to a private affair with an SLR and you are at the party throwers & goers disposal in their opinion. Everyone telling you to take this or that photo. I think sometimes invitations should say, "Echo's Camera & Kit." I generally refuse to take pictures on command. This tends to really upset people :(