Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

The Fear of Photographing in Public

streetbounty.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

1–10 of 26 posts

Re: The Fear of Photographing in Public

#4

Post by SJacPhoto »

RichardHeart wrote: post #3

I've been in a fight over a public photo. So, if you don't like fights, perhaps get a telephoto lens. (Saw accident, took picture, man that caused accident decided he was Bruce Lee. Turned out he wasn't.)

Personally I wouldn't want to rely on telephoto lenses. They feel kind of disconnected with the subject and are more creepy than using a short focal lense.

Re: The Fear of Photographing in Public

#5

Post by RichardHeart »

SJacPhoto wrote: post #4
RichardHeart wrote: post #3

I've been in a fight over a public photo. So, if you don't like fights, perhaps get a telephoto lens. (Saw accident, took picture, man that caused accident decided he was Bruce Lee. Turned out he wasn't.)

Personally I wouldn't want to rely on telephoto lenses. They feel kind of disconnected with the subject and are more creepy than using a short focal lense.

Yes, but its nice not having blood on your camera and wondering where the battery and door that used to hold it in went. I think 85mm is the perfect street photography lens. Or a 35 pancake for discreet, or a 24-70 or 24-105 if you don't like changing lenses. 70-200 is just too heavy.

Re: The Fear of Photographing in Public

#7

Post by detaro »

What's totally missing: Inform yourself where/when you are allowed to take pictures and what you are allowed to do with them afterwards. Helps both to affirm yourself that what you are doing is ok and to not look totally clueless if challenged. (but don't be an ass about "but it is my RIGHT", either)

And repeat that process when traveling, with added emphasis on cultural aspects.

Re: The Fear of Photographing in Public

#8

Post by Veratyr »

detaro wrote: post #7

What's totally missing: Inform yourself where/when you are allowed to take pictures and what you are allowed to do with them afterwards. Helps both to affirm yourself that what you are doing is ok and to not look totally clueless if challenged. (but don't be an ass about "but it is my RIGHT", either) And repeat that process when traveling, with added emphasis on cultural aspects.

> And repeat that process when traveling, with added emphasis on cultural aspects.

To expand on that, you should do this even when travelling to another state in most countries. In the US for example, Arkansas nearly outlawed street photography: https://petapixel.com/2015/03/31/arkansas-privacy-bill-vetoe...

Re: The Fear of Photographing in Public

#9

Post by mc32 »

detaro wrote: post #7

What's totally missing: Inform yourself where/when you are allowed to take pictures and what you are allowed to do with them afterwards. Helps both to affirm yourself that what you are doing is ok and to not look totally clueless if challenged. (but don't be an ass about "but it is my RIGHT", either) And repeat that process when traveling, with added emphasis on cultural aspects.

Generally speaking, people should feel as free as Japanese tourists to snap photos. There are some caveats --France is a bit funny about some buildings (like Eiffel tower at night because the operator owns the rights to the likeness enhanced by the lights. Military installations are typically a no-no as well.

But, if we went ahead and were timid about pictures in this place or that place, no photojournalism would take place, if we took it to extreme. I give photography a pass when it comes to cultural awareness. Otherwise we'd have people say things like "Robert Frank had no right to portray "The Americans" the way he did, he wasn't American and didn't understand us". Of course, have personal awareness --some people are weary of strangers taking their pictures --say Bruce Gilden taking pictures of the Yakuza in Japan.

On the other hand, be decent and don't take gratuitous pictures just for the yucks (someone in very embarrassing/compromising position that really don't add anything --a drunk/homeless in the street in their vomit, for example.

Post reply on HN