Picture taking etiquette question?

[eliza61]

So I purchased my first Dslr camera a few weeks ago. A nikon d3100. So far I'm loving it and having lots of fun experimenting and getting to know it. I took a quick 2 day class to get a footing.

Anyway, since the weather was nice this past weekend dh & I decided to go play in center city Philadelphia. I of course take the new camera to get some practice.

Problem was my dh kept warning me about taking pictures of people. For example we were at the liberty bell complex and here I am clicking away and he says "be careful with that thing, people may not want you taking their pictures". Then I was trying to take some pictures of moving cars to learn about the shutter speed setting. Once again he thought it was a bad idea?

Anyhoo, is there some proper picture taking etiquette that I'm missing. Previously I've only taken shots on vacation, like at disneyworld and it seems every one has a camera there.

Does anyone simply grab their camera and take pictures in their neighborhood?

 

[photo_chick]

No... you're not missing any type of ettiquette. Shoot what you're comfortable shooting. If you are in a public place that allows photography people there are fair game. I promise you're in someone else's shots too.

We had an assignment in one of my photography classes to go out and shoot random strangers on the street. I learned really quickly that most people are oblivious to the cameras, especially at tourist destinations. And those that don't like it will avoid you. And yes, I take my camera to the local park and other places in my neighborhood all the time. Usually to shoot my kids. I've never once had anyone ask me not to photograph them.

 

[Marlton Mom]

I think you'll be ok as well.... and besides, if anyone gives you any trouble you can whack them with a soft pretzel!

In this day and age, with a digital camera, you can always just show them you are deleting the pix if someone objects. The other thing that would help would be to tell the objector that you are a student. That usually defuses the situation. I don't think too many people would complain but if they do then you have some outs with the above strategy to help with the situation.

Good luck and happy.... um, Shooting?

Marlton (NJ) Mom

PS. I find that having mustard on the whacking pretzel is a huge deterrent!

 

[SrisonS]

I'd probably be beat up by now if there was some etiquette of not taking pictures of people. But like photo_chick said, most people are unaware or just don't care.

Heck, some people here on the boards celebrate the fact that thy might be in other people's pictures. There's an Is this you? thread in the Theme Parks Community section.

 

[Bstanley]

I've taken thousands of pictures in multiple major cities around the world (including many in the US) and have never been approached by anyone - other than the people that want to instruct me on how to use my camera

If you were taking pictures in some fashion where someone thought you were actually focusing on THEM, or especially their children, it might cause them to say "Stop". I had a situation in Paris where a young girl kept jumping into frame every time I brought the camera up while trying to take pictures of my wife buying junk in a tourist trap - I ended up only taking the one picture because I was afraid the parents would think I was stalking her or something.

Along the lines of 'is this you' - some years ago I was planning a vacation and was in the process of buying some tickets to an amusement park (not Disney) from the park's website. On the ticket page was a classic 'happy family entering the park' picture - of some of our good friends and their 2 daughters! No names of course, but a good example of - when you are in a public space you can't expect privacy.

 

[NateNLogansDad]

Let me start out by saying I agree with what everyone else posted so far. I just wanted to post a few things to think about when playing around in Center City......

Most people never think twice when they see a picture being taken by someone with a P&S but show up with a DSLR and it seems like you're there for a reason and they want to know why. No one care what your camera is pointing at until you have a big lens. The bigger the lens the more serious you are about taking a snapshot of it I guess

The nicer the area you are taking pictures in, the lower your chances are of someone giving you a second look. I.E. If you see a couple guys standing on a corner that like to shake hands with shady looking people as they walk by, they may be selling drugs and may wish to not have their picture taken.

One last thing, the average shmoe looking to make a quick buck can't tell the difference between a $600 and a $3000 camera. He/she knows that it's worth at least $100 to the right person. Watch your surroundings.

Philly can be a great place to visit until you make that one wrong turn.....

 

[Marlton Mom]

Let me start out by saying I agree with what everyone else posted so far. I just wanted to post a few things to think about when playing around in Center City......

Most people never think twice when they see a picture being taken by someone with a P&S but show up with a DSLR and it seems like you're there for a reason and they want to know why. No one care what your camera is pointing at until you have a big lens. The bigger the lens the more serious you are about taking a snapshot of it I guess

The nicer the area you are taking pictures in, the lower your chances are of someone giving you a second look. I.E. If you see a couple guys standing on a corner that like to shake hands with shady looking people as they walk by, they may be selling drugs and may wish to not have their picture taken.

One last thing, the average shmoe looking to make a quick buck can't tell the difference between a $600 and a $3000 camera. He/she knows that it's worth at least $100 to the right person. Watch your surroundings.

Philly can be a great place to visit until you make that one wrong turn.....

Um.... maybe I better wear 2 mustard pretzels when shooting in the city....

But really, Rob is correct. Situational awareness is key. Does any one have any experience with getting questioned by Homeland Security when taking pictures?

~Marlton Mom

 

[rock_doctor]

As long as you are in a public space you are legally ok. You have no expectation of privacy in a public space. Now if you are taking pictures of people you should ask them if it is ok. Personally, i never take a picture with somebody in it as i do not want to be in others pictures.

 

[MrBurns]

Lucky for me, no one wants my mug in their shots!

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

I have been questioned by the Police on 1 occasion, and once by security...

A friend and I were taking night shots from a bridge over a highway trying to get the streaking lights (they were duds), and they saw the flashing of the timer on the cameras...

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

Um.... maybe I better wear 2 mustard pretzels when shooting in the city....

But really, Rob is correct. Situational awareness is key. Does any one have any experience with getting questioned by Homeland Security when taking pictures?

~Marlton Mom

I was stopped by security at Air & Space for taking this:


NASM Entrance by Gianna'sPapa, on Flickr

They came running out of the building to stop me. They thought I was taking pictures of their security measures.

 

[photo_chick]

Um.... maybe I better wear 2 mustard pretzels when shooting in the city....

But really, Rob is correct. Situational awareness is key. Does any one have any experience with getting questioned by Homeland Security when taking pictures?

~Marlton Mom

Never had a run in with Homeland Security, but I've had police ask me a a few times what I was doing. Once it was late at night in my own front yard. LOL.

 

[photo_chick]

I was stopped by security at Air & Space for taking this:


IMGP0492 by Gianna'sPapa, on Flickr

They came running out of the building to stop me. They thought I was taking pictures of their security measures.

Heheh... funny. But this does bring up a good point that we've talked about on this board many times. Privately owned publicly accessible places are subject to their own rules and if they want to toss you and your camera out they can.

Guess I could have multi quoted there instead of double posting. Sorry.

 

[NateNLogansDad]

Don't get caught taking pictures on/near/of bridges in NY. There's actually a state law now against it.

I've taken pictures fairly recently of bridges and tanker ships in both PA and NJ while standing there shooting the breeze with local police and haven't had a problem.

For outside airports....
As far as airport security I deal with for work, it seems like regular security and the lower payed TSA guys don't really want to be bothered. The higher payed guys seem to feel like everyone needs to answer to them. DHS seems to have more of an interest in what you're doing than anyone else.

For inside airports.....
No one seems to mind if you're taking pictures really at all unless you are leaving the country or are trying to take pictures of security and their screening equipment.

 

[AndrewWG]

I got over the nerves of taking pics of strangers one evening when I was at the beach looking for a backlit subject for the NYIP classes I was (still am) taking. I saw a woman walking back to the parking lot totally backlit by the setting sun. It was stunning. I decided that I would just ask her if I could take her pic. She said yes, and not only did that but walked back down the beach so that the shot would look better. At that point I realized that, heck, she could have said no and it would have been ok too but she didn't and I got a good shot out of it. That was, until I got home and realized I still had the camera set to ISO 1600 (not good on the Canon 30D).

 

[Experiment_626]

Don't get caught taking pictures on/near/of bridges in NY. There's actually a state law now against it.

Apparently, it's more complicated than that (isn't it always?) ... see http://photo.net/street-documentary-photography-forum/00WA3b

Scott

 

[ThurlFan]

This response made me chuckle...

NYC has laws about tripods from New Jersey going back to 1938 and Grovers Mill. It is a very serious matter.

 

[AndrewWG]

I just saw this article at B&H and thought I would pass it on. It talks all about street photography.

http://photography.bhinsights.com/c...d-your-fears-shooting-street-photography.html

 

[photo_chick]

I just saw this article at B&H and thought I would pass it on. It talks all about street photography.

http://photography.bhinsights.com/c...d-your-fears-shooting-street-photography.html

Good tips. Street photography is intimidating to say the least. But after i got my first real taste I found myself wanting to do more.

The tip on shooting from the hip... I had my 50D and my Holga with me last time I went to the zoo in Fort Worth. The people shots with the 50D are OK but they look to me like I was trying too hard. The ones with the Holga were much better. I think mainly because I just let it hang from the strap around my neck and took the shot. They look a lot more candid and the more unusual angles make them more interesting.

hmmm... maybe we need a street photography at Disney thread.

 

[JoeDif]

Here is another good article by Kirk Tuck regarding street photography.

http://visualsciencelab.blogspot.com/2011/05/approval-tacit-approval-implied.html