W/NW Strangers, after asking permission

[rxmd]

When you take pictures of strangers in the street, do you ask for permission?
Do you pose them, or do they pose themselves?
Do they look posed?
Does it matter?

[jippiejee]

I asked this guy to pose for me... for the time warp of it


street-1 by aad_b, on Flickr

[Peter Wijninga]

No permission asked

[Peter Wijninga]

No permission asked

[ampguy]

Let them pose themselves:

[damonsong]

92120022 by damonsong, on Flickr

[DanT]

[Todd.Hanz]

I don't always ask, but when I do...













Todd

[Steve M.]

If I want a portrait shot, I ask. Otherwise, anyone and anything in public spaces (in the US anyway) is fair game, so I just shoot. Actually, the portrait situation is unique because you're physically so close. This all never came up when I used Nikon zooms because I could get a great head shot from afar, but carrying that F4s w/ an 80 200 2.8 ED zoom got old really quick.

Those are nice shots Todd.

I took these in Tucson w/ a Nikon 70 210 4 5.6 zoom, which is a much smaller lens than the 80 200 2.8. The guy in the second shot was fine w/ the 70 210, but when I came back later w/ the 80 200 he seemed a little freaked when I pointed it at him. So definitely, ask or no ask, the gear you use will determine how a victim reacts in your photo.

[robklurfield]

[jonmanjiro]

Ex-soldiers picketing parliament house in Sarajevo for social benefits (health care, pension etc.). There's about 30 of them in total and they live in tents lined up along the footpath.

[gshybrid]

[keytarjunkie]

construction worker somewhere around 53rd street, new york city

[Peter Wijninga]

[SimonSawSunlight]

I just realised I don't have that many.

[Bob Michaels]

Originally Posted by rxmd

When you take pictures of strangers in the street, do you ask for permission?
Do you pose them, or do they pose themselves?
Do they look posed?
Does it matter?

An interesting question is what constitutes permission? It seems to vary for many of us. Some view "permission" as a verbal positive acknowledgement. Others view it as a lack of negative response.

Personally, I am in the group that believes it is OK if the subject does not say no. I never pose anyone but that is a matter of personal style. I frequently will end up with several frames with a capture before the subject has time to react to the camera and others after.

scene requiring no subject reaction



scene that was much better including subject reaction to being photographed

[Peter Wijninga]

True, and also if and when in a country of which the language you don't speak non-verbal communication is often enough -like making eye contact.

[nekrataal]

Nikon F3hp, 50mm f1.8 AF /w Tri-x

Englischer Garten, Munich, Germany

[raytoei@gmail.com]

[Peter Wijninga]

[Peter_wrote:]

Originally Posted by Peter Wijninga

i like this photograph, peter. where and when was it made? it looks so old-fashioned...

[f16sunshine]

Stranger but, with my dog

[Bill58]

Permission asked at Namsan Tower in Seoul:


Seoul Color Scan 2008-4 by wrs111445, on Flickr

[Sparrow]