How BOLD, Camera in Hand, do you feel?

[LovelyLadyLux]

So - you're outside, in a park, camera in hand snapping the posies. Then you see a really great shot involving other people who MIGHT 50/50 or even 60/40 WILL see you taking their picture. Once you break the flow of whatever to 'get permission' the shot if finished. Would you take their photo? Or? How bold are you?

What about with kids? Would you take a photo prior to asking parents it if was ok? (I'm talking you see the spontaneous shot that will go away?)

What about with kids at a swimming pool? (God forbid anybody sees you taking a shot of a child in a bathing suit as that could be considered dirty old man/dirty old woman territory) Would you snap away? or ?

Personally I'm a sneak photographer. In my experience once people know (most people) know you're going to take their photo they start to pose, become stilted etc. sooooo I tend to sneak quick shots and don't tell them. And this means I rarely get a full front face shot. Almost always from the back or side or I'm so far away they don't have a clue I'm taking their photo i.e. I used my 300mm lens to take photos of guys surfing in Hawaii. I was way out on a dock and they were zipping past me. Same I took some photos of kids at the zoo watching the animals. Was with a long lens and I wasn't close but with cropping I got some really cute shots. Never asked permission once.......BUT........ HOWBOLD ARE YOU?

[Grandad]

I think we have touched on this subject in the past LLL. There are laws in the UK that may apply when one takes photographs of people. These are principally harassment and invasion of privacy. Generally speaking it is within the law to take pictures of people in public places, even if they are to be used for wider circulation, publication etc. If there is a subject that you would like to photograph as a portrait for example, then it is wise to get permission and even to get the subject to sign that permission has been granted.

I personally like the candid shot which, by definition, must be taken without the subjects knowledge. Usually one would be using a longer lens (but not necessarily 300mm ) My Nikon has a tilt screen so it is possible to compose the picture at waist level WITHOUT actually looking at the subject. This can be useful. I often use people in a frame just to add human interest but they are seldom aware and it is often from behind like this


Or even this


If children are in the frame I never focus on one child, always more than one, and always at a distance unless I know the parents. Children in swimming pools is generally a no no. If I want to photograph any of my grandchildren I always tell the pool attendant what I am doing and my relationship with the children. One has to be SO careful because even if you have some inocent clash with the law, one of the first things they take is your computer and children, albeit your own or grandchildren, having fun with foam in the bath, or in a swimming pool, can be mis-construed as something sinister.... The law jumps to some stupid and naive conclusions on many occasions these days.

[LovelyLadyLux]

Totally agree with you on everything Grandad - one has to be soooo careful. I'm like you too in that I'd say 90% of my photos that have people in them are taken from behind. You get no faces unless they're taken from afar and I DO use a 300mm.

Kids at the pool - well - hmmmm quite agree. In Olympia there was large very shallow 'pool' of sorts in that it had lots of built in fountains that shot up water in patterns and rhythms etc. Water was maybe 1" deep if that. In the warm weather kids and parents flocked to this place. Was always totally amusing to watch the kids try and predict which spout the water was going to jump out of. LOTS of facial expressions, euuuuus and awwwws and wonderful shots but I never had the courage to take so much as one for the exact fear you mentioned. Too bad we live in the society we now do live in.

I'm sometimes emboldened to take pictures and am snapping away but soon as you're talking kids......not so much at all.

[Kiya]

I like your pic of the girl Grandad, would be good on front cover of a holiday mag

In the past I've taken pics of children, some I've asked when I've been real close & I got the go ahead from parents, others have been long distance where I have chanced my luck but been ok

[Jayway]

This post has shown me how much I am living outside the normal world. It would never occur to me, to obey all these rules you live with. Had my new camera and took funny photos of kids in the squirty fountains at the Shopping, others were doing the same - Oh dear, funny world we live in - - sad really - -

[Grandad]

An old bloke like me with a camera taking pictures in public places can raise a few eyebrows. It is much easier if I am with the other half which seems to make the picture taking more legit!

I love the sound of your water pictures LLL and Jay....that is a situation where I would get my pictures. There is a shot that I am hoping to get some day in London. The young people, students and the like from around the world, seem to be drawn to Eros in Piccadilly and they clamber all over the foot of the statue. The one time I saw it I DID NOT HAVE A CAMERA WITH ME....

[LovelyLadyLux]

@Jayway - actually I think YOU live in a NORMAL world if you're openly able to take a photo of people just doing regular normal people stuff. Here (Canada/USA/UK) in the MODERN world, the Uptight, PC, prissy world you can't walk and chew bubble gum without being in fear that you've breaking a law or might in some remote way offend somebody about something and have it all hit the fan.

I do have to say where I live on the Island now it can be hit and miss. Some people who have lived here all their life live like it was 50 yrs ago - laid back, relaxed, talk to everybody, friendly as heck however you do have the newbie yuppie PC elite who can react way crazy out of the blue to anything.

I'd NEVER take a photo (other than the sneak behind the back shots) of a child or person in the USA cause one just never knows how a parent down there could react or what accusation could suddenly come flying out. It would be the accusations out of the blue that could be wild too. I've actually never asked parents permission either because it just seems to onerous and touchy and my feeling has always been that even Asking the wrong parent permission could lead to suspicion(s) that would escalate even as I'm snapping right in front of them etc. My motto is long lens, no faces, nothing identifiable and after they've passed. Just enough as Grandad says to add the personal interest of people IN the picture but not 'them.'

Kinda sad we're so PC (for lack of a better way to describe it now) but there ARE so many weirdos out there that you can't even let your child go play in a park without you having to be there to supervise. Quite unlike when I was a child and disappeared forever most days.

The kind of photo I'm talking about though is like what Grandad describes. Seeing the natives in action! Those would be the really cool shots.