Ah, yes - this is one subject that never fails to pop up every couple of months, and it's one of those fun ones!! Permission or not? hmmm - depends where you are, as any Frenchman would attest....tee hee I've started working on it in my own way - it's the eyes. If they look confused, scared, nonchalent - I snap. If they look aggravated / annoyed / murderous I pan to the left, pan as if I'm following something in the sky/road/water and click as I pass them......tee hee..... either that, or just click quickly, lower the camera with a very "bored photographer who's just had another shot spoiled" look on my face. That one works best. (",)