Street Photography: Taking Pictures of Random People

Taking pictures of random people is something I'm not comfortable with.

I've been trying to step out of my comfort zone and take pictures of strangers. In the two weeks of my street photography stint, there were only two instances where my subject reacted adversely when I took their pictures.

The first one was a castañas vendor. I pass by his cart on my way to the train station. One day, while I was standing near his cart, I tried to take a picture of him while cooking some castañas. I lifted the camera to my eyes and as I was composing my shot, his friend noticed me and they both looked in my direction.

I nearly froze. Trouble is the last thing I want to happen to me in a foreign land. My heart was racing, and I had to do something. As a damage control measure, I smiled and approached the two. I explained what I was doing and asked for their permission to take a picture. They agreed and I did my thing, showing them the picture afterwards.

The other instance was when I was taking pictures of people in the outdoor hawker area in Lau Pa Sat. An older man approached me and told me to stop taking pictures. I thought he's one of the waiters in the area, I just told him that this is for a school project. Later, I found out that he's not a waiter but a customer having his dinner with a younger woman. Funny thing is, the couple were not anywhere in my shots. Maybe they just value their privacy that much.

Asking for permission for taking photographs of other people may not be necessary, except for some instances. One example is when taking pictures of kids, it is much better to ask for permission from a guardian. Less hassle as compared to explaining to the police.

Kid on motorbike

I also noticed that people on crowded streets don't usually mind if you take their pictures, or maybe they just don't notice. Perhaps they're too busy minding their own business that they don't really care at all. Business stall owners are also accommodating; but of course, asking for permission is necessary. When in doubt, ask for permission, even if you're taking a picture of a pet.

The owner instructed the dog to stop barking and pose. Good dog.

Still, it all boils down on how you project yourself. I would smile and act friendly when I take pictures of random people, and they would do the same. This is common in areas frequented by tourists, people seem to be generally happy and friendly.  

There are several articles around the web discussing street photography, and here are the three that I found to be good starting points.

http://photographylife.com/street-photography-tips-for-beginners
http://digital-photography-school.com/life-with-a-rangefinder-plus-street-photography-tips
http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2010/03/26/21-street-photography-tips-from-the-professionals/