Reader's Comments - Index of - Free

Street Photography
not. It does mean that if you see that someone isn't enjoying the attention, you apologize and move on. It
is fallacy to suggest that one must sit and ponder for days on the lives of those around them. I'm not
concerned about whether they are "struggling against a crumbling socio-economic system" or whatever.
That isn't what photography is about (unless you're a political photo-journalist ;) ). To me photography is
about creating images that remind me of where I have been, where the world is/has been, and - decades
down the road - what life was like at that time. What you might encounter in a day to day existance.
The ethics, I think, lie in your intent (are you Jerry Springer or someone who is interested in capturing
images of the times and places in which you live and play - I wish I had such images from when my
great-grandmothers and fathers were living), and in your actions post-shot if they notice you. Naturally
I'm not going to offer to pull the film out of the camera and trash it, but neither will I continue shooting
near someone who is uncomfortable with it. To walk down the street introducing myself to everyone that
might fall under the lens is a waste of everyone's time - mine and theirs. Naturally, if I see a shot that I
think might warrant more than a quick composition and shot, I might stop and ask the subjects if they
would mind if I shot a few images. To those that abhor a candid shot in a public place - tell me you
haven't ever taken a photograph that had people in it that you hadn't talked to first to make sure it is ok -
not even at a local attraction or monument.
The answer - it lies in the middle. I don't believe you should stand on a city street for an hour trying to
get a shot that doesn't have anyone in it that you might think was traumatized in the past or dumped on
by an evil rich society - nor do I think you should continue to shoot if someone expresses a dislike. Just
be polite and keep a friendly smile on your face and you'll do fine. :)
-- Garry Morris, December 30, 2004
http://www.photo.net/photo/street-photography (25 of 31)7/3/2005 2:18:44 AM