taking pictures of strangers

[Michie]

Is it proper to take pictures of strangers, when they are not aware of it? I don't mean if you are at an event, park, etc, but on purpose?

 

[mick67]

Only if it has some artistic value. Otherwise, it's just weird and disturbing.

 

[MzDiz]

I do. I have a booth at a renaissance festival, so I'm sitting and people watching all weekend. We take pictures of the most *ahem* interesting folk as they walk by.

 

[UrsulasMyHero]

I do. I have a booth at a renaissance festival, so I'm sitting and people watching all weekend. We take pictures of the most *ahem* interesting folk as they walk by.

Have you started circuit yet? B.A.R.F (such an unfortunate acronym) started this last weekend at it's new venue. It was nice weather, but I wasn't in the mood to be a playtron, so I didn't bother to dress. This year I didn't even bother to go to audition to be cast. Heck next weekend I might check with vendors to see if they need assistance (clothiers and what not).

Back to the topic- It depends, As long as it's not intrusive and they're in front of something you want to take a pic of, I don't see why not. OR if they have an interesting face.

 

[Brier Rose]

It's so funny that you mention this tonight!
The kids and I were out walking this afternoon, and we passed a man leaving his apartment and going to his car. I smiled and said hello as we passed by, and didn't think anything of it.

When we turned the corner to go back up the other side of the sidewalk, I happened to look over and see him taking a picture of us.

Then he got in his car and left. It didn't really bother me really, but I did wonder why.

 

[Sylvester McBean]

proper or not, it happens. digital cameras, video and camera phones are so common now. spring break is going to be a perfect example here. last summer we saw lots of guys taking pics of girls sunning on the beaches and not trying to hide it. these days if you're out in public, you're fair game for a camera.

 

[simba928]

I think it depends on the situation.

Last fall, I worked a local car cruise. It was very big (hundreds of cars), but I ended up working a T-shirt booth that sold next to nothing all day. Anyways, this lady walks up to the booth. She starts looking at the shirts and tells me that she is from a town about 45 minutes away and she heard about it and decided to come. I was like "oh, thats good." She says that she wants to go get her friend and then they will be back and buy some shirts. So a little while later, her and this guy come back. I was at the booth alone because the lady I was working with went to go talk to someone. They buy a couple shirts and start to walk away. Then they turn around and get their camera out. They were telling me to smile because they want a picture of me. I went behind a t-shirt that we had hanging up as a display and stood there. They moved around the tent trying to get a picture of my face. I turned my back to the back of the tent and they moved to the side. The lady that I was working with came back and asked me why they were taking a picture of the booth. I told her they were trying to take a picture of me. She told me to go to her car, which was on the other side of a fire truck that was parked in front of the booth, to get something. So I went on the other side and they followed me!!! It was really creepy. I wouldn't have been so freaked out about it had they tried once and then gotten the point and left. But the fact that they were like so persistent to get a picture of me kind of creeped me out.

 

[soccerchick]

Many years ago (pre-kids) Dh and I were at a restaurant and a woman kept staring at me. It got really obvious and uncomfortable. I made DH switch seats w/ me. Thne she came over to our table and told me that I looked exactly like her DD or DIL, can't remember which. She at least asked me if she could take my picture to show her. I'm not very photogenic, but I agreed. I laugh at it now. It was probably a terrible picture and that poor girl probably looked at it and thought WTH

I do not take pictures of other people though. I know a male family member who used to take photos of women at certain European beaches where bathing suits were optional

 

[MOMTOCUTESTDOGEVER]

I take a picture during each Disney vacation of the random person we always see sleeping on a bench.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I take lots of them at WDW.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I don't take pictures of strangers for any reason, unless they walk into my shot as I am pushing the button!

I guess if someone was taking MY picture I would wonder what they were going to DO with it. That's a little creepy.

I guess it really comes down to what the person plans to do with the photo. What if you took a picture of somebody in Witness Protection and posted it on some website that ended up compromising their safety? Obviously that isn't likely to happen, but I'm sure there are people out there who have legitimate reasons for not wanting their picture taken by strangers!

I think taking pictures for things like Bad Shoe are fun, but I wouldn't want somebody to take my picture and use it for "look at this pale woman with the big butt" purposes.

 

[Skywalker]

When my friend was studying photography she would go around downtown and take pictures of people all the time. In fact, they were often encouraged to take candid pictures of people doing interesting things. My friend was challenged a couple of times by people who felt somehow that she was "not allowed" to take their picture. I would feel weird about doing it, but then again public places are public places.

 

[outstandinfarmer]

I take pictures of employees at Disney World. I also take a picture if I notice something abnormal or funny but I try not to be too obvious about it.

 

[Mickey Mouse Kid]

Someone one year while we were trick or treating, someone just snapped a picture of me and my mom..

 

[korzmom]

I did once, at wdw there was this family all dressed in the incredibles shirts and i asked them if i could take their pic, they said yes but looked at me like i was weird...i just thought it was so cute that they all had those incredibles shirts on and they were the same number and sex as the cartoon incredibles..one other time at mgm someone came up to me and my dh and asked if they could take a pic of my dh because he looked just like a friend of theirs from home..thought that was pretty funny.