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Street photography ethical or un-ethical?


9 years 4 months ago #418150 by Nancy Hait
I believe normal street photography is just fine and ethical.  However wonder at what point does society in general believe the line is crossed?  I've been looking at street photography photos this morning and can't help to think if some of these are way over the line. 

I suspect this could be another highly opinionated topic.  Thoughts?
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9 years 4 months ago #418158 by effron
Your conscience and common sense should be your guides.....;)
Why so serious?
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9 years 4 months ago #418163 by Joves
To me so long as you stay out of someones personal space then I do not find it at all unethical at all. There is that one guy in NY that I would have punched simply because he jumps right in your face, and I do mean in your face. To me that is an aggressive act, and can cause a retaliative strike from some. 
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9 years 4 months ago #418185 by garyrhook
I can't think of any aspect of "ethical" that applies, other than "legal" or "law-abiding."

I wouldn't condemn an entire genre because of a few idiots. I mean, look at Miley Cyrus or Lady Gaga. 
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9 years 4 months ago #418206 by Rudy Sosa

effron wrote: Your conscience and common sense should be your guides.....;)



Isn't that the guide to all that we do?  :thumbsup:
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9 years 4 months ago #418261 by Robert Chen

Rudy Sosa wrote:

effron wrote: Your conscience and common sense should be your guides.....;)



Isn't that the guide to all that we do?  :thumbsup:



I should be, however many missed that memo.  
Nikon D300 24-70mm f2.8
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9 years 4 months ago #418278 by Tuscan Muse
During a Street Photography Workshop that we hosted, this was a hot topic for discussion.  Many believed that you should let your conscious should be your guide.  All agreed that photographing young children without parental permission was a huge no-no. Some said that photographing the homeless was unethical, while others said it was not.  If you watch the movie, Finding Vivien Maier, you learn that she used a Rolleifex camera, which allowed her to view her subjects from waist level rather than at eye level. She never actually looked her subjects in the eye in her early photography. Some believe this allowed her to take up close and personal photos without invading personal space. 
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9 years 4 months ago #418377 by garyrhook

Tuscan Muse wrote: She never actually looked her subjects in the eye in her early photography. Some believe this allowed her to take up close and personal photos without invading personal space. 


That makes no sense whatsoever. Or: that's just rationalizing.

Anyhoo...

Children are not always a no-no, depending upon where you are, and harmless you appear to be. It's sad that it should matter at all, IMO.
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9 years 4 months ago #418387 by Barbara-Treen
Children:  I would always ask permission of the parents before photographing children, unless they were part of another shot (e.g. a beach scene, and there were kids playing in the water) and could not be identified in the photo.  I know some parents get really nervous about strangers photographing their kids, and I would respect that.

Adults:  I would ask permission of any individual or couple before taking the photo.  An exception would be a street/crowd scene.  I have some photos of a popular park with joggers, bicyclists, dog-walkers, etc on the path.  I try to get shots far enough away or from an angle that individuals cannot be recognized.

My guideline is "would I want my face plastered on Facebook/the Internet/in a photo contest without my permission?"  The answer is no.
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9 years 4 months ago #418446 by KCook

Barbara-Treen wrote: Children:  I would always ask permission of the parents before photographing children, unless they were part of another shot (e.g. a beach scene, and there were kids playing in the water) and could not be identified in the photo.  I know some parents get really nervous about strangers photographing their kids, and I would respect that.

Adults:  I would ask permission of any individual or couple before taking the photo.  An exception would be a street/crowd scene.  I have some photos of a popular park with joggers, bicyclists, dog-walkers, etc on the path.  I try to get shots far enough away or from an angle that individuals cannot be recognized.

My guideline is "would I want my face plastered on Facebook/the Internet/in a photo contest without my permission?"  The answer is no.


That is my view.  Also, I think the venue makes a difference.  I shoot "street" mainly at public events.  If you're part of the crowd, you are fair game.  Shooting people who are just out for a stroll needs more respect.

Kelly
Canon 50D, Olympus PL2
kellycook.zenfolio.com/
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9 years 4 months ago - 9 years 4 months ago #418493 by Stealthy Ninja
Well, this has been discussed before on here a few times.

I'll say what I always say about asking permission for street photography. I think it's pointless. If you want to do street portraits or whatever, then permission is fine, but I like to capture moments on the street, not staged portraits.

Sometimes I even take photos of children without permission! 
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Proof I'm an evil street photographer:
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www.aevansphoto.com
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9 years 4 months ago #418653 by Joves
:agree:
Yeah street is basically shooting candid shots on a large scale, or it is supposed to be. 
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9 years 4 months ago #418725 by Randy Shaw
OMG Ninja :rofl:
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9 years 4 months ago #418827 by Ian Stone
Here's a good article I read some time ago that hits it on the head -  www.businessinsider.my/5-basic-principle...ography/#.VKLE814AMs  
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9 years 4 months ago #418836 by KCook

Ian Stone wrote: Here's a good article I read some time ago that hits it on the head -  www.businessinsider.my/5-basic-principle...ography/#.VKLE814AMs  


Or was that 5 Reasons To Give Up On Street Photography? :pinch:
Canon 50D, Olympus PL2
kellycook.zenfolio.com/
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