I'd just like to ask you all, but especially those of you who have posted or taken pictures of this nature; If you see someone in the street who is, shall we say, interesting, (a musician or pavement artist, or big guy with really mean dog etc), how do you go about getting a photo of them? do you usually: a) snap and say nothing / run when they shout at you? b) ask first and lose the spontenaity? c) snap then ask them if it was ok to do so? d) snap and then offer them money? (not an option for me!) I really feel intimidated by this, and have missed several good opportunities - one especially was an old homeless guy on the street who had SUCH character to him. I mean, being a total amateur I look nothing like a photographer (no big camera / bag over shoulder etc) and my digital camera (even though it cost some) looks like a normal cheap auto-focus 35mm to most people. This really is becoming an issue for me, so please help?!?

I have actually wondered about the same thing. I had this brilliant photo opportunity..a hairdresser-lady-person was sitting on a bench, with one of them fake plastic heads with long hair sitting next to her, she was looking away, the plastic head was looking straight at me. The whole scene was so absurd and so hilarious, I really wanted to get a photo, but if I'd asked I would have lost the moment, and I didn't really want to just take a photo without her knowing. I read about this in a photography book I was borrowing - apparently it is legally and professionally perfectly OK to just take photos of people without asking first, or without them knowing, but I don't know if it's ethically right. I would have real trouble doing it.

Hmm. I think I have heard pretty much the same thing. Basically as I recal it is alright to take the picture IF you are not going to take any financial gain. If you feel ethically bothered you can always take the picture then ask. Most of the time time they don't mind. Particurly if you promise to send them the resulting picture. If they do. Say OK. Then remember to trash it later. That has been my experience with the subject. Bsteph

Thanks people. I think that shooting first then speaking to them was the direction I was heading. I guess it's my own hang-up of having them think I'm a prat which I have to get over! I just don't want to cause offence to someone by saying "I thought you were interesting" and them interpreting it as "ugly / wrinkly / what the hell do you mean interesting?" I've got to admit, if someone did it to me (not exactly attractive at the best of times) and told me I was interesting, I really would think they were taking the mick and spend the rest of the day feeling quietly offended. Sorry, Bsteph, this may be just the way I'm reading it, but when you say "Say ok then remember to trash it later" I hope you mean you send them the photo then remove it from your archives? I personally would HAVE to send it to them if they've been kind enough to allow me their permission, and it helps maintain their image of photographers as basically honest artisans.....(?!) Once again, Thanx all for your help!

Funny thing is, one of my all time favourite photos (well of my own anyway) was a candid shot. Peace of Mind in my gallery was taken without asking for permission, I know if I had I would have totally ruined the moment, whether it had been before or after taking the photo. Besides they're silhouettes anyway so it's impossible to tell who they really are :P And I do regret not taking the woman and the head photo. But thinking back, I probably wouldn't have got it anyway, as it was rather dark and I hadn't brought a flash. That's my consolation. :) I agree with Alpha that if you are participating in a public event there's really nothing wrong with not asking people for their permission - and with public performers etc, they're there to be seen. Even though I got seriously hassled when I was in London once, and took a picture of a man juggling with sticks on fire. I must have broken some unwritten rule or something...3 rather large angry-looking men came after me and asked me what I thought I was doing. As far as I'm concerned I didn't do anything wrong, he was performing, in public, for everyone to see. I wasn't using a flash so I wasn't disturbing him in any way. I guess that event sort of put me off street photography..I've avoided it ever since, really. But I think I'm getting my confidence back now.

Three bit guy wanted to rough you up. Geez. He's go body guards. I think they were concearned that you were going to make a profit from him withough him getting a "peice of the action". But now I can understand your trepidation. Bsteph

Well..with the camera I was using it should have been pretty obvious that I was only a tourist. Besides I wasn't more than 14-15 years old :P

Psychotic jerks. I don't get this scaring people stuff. If you are that afraid of overexposure and you are a street performer, I don't think you should perform. But that's me. Again another fine picture Alpha. Bsteph