Question for Street Photographers

greenspun.com : LUSENET : B&W Photo: Creativity, Etc. : One Thread

This is for anyone who does street photography:

Has the backlash against photographers since Princess Diana's death caused problems when you are photographing people on the street? Have there been any confrontations or other negative reactions?

I'd probably know the answer to this already, but alas, I am currently based in suburbia and do not get into the big city and therefore ain't doin' my street thing these days.

~mason

-- Mason Resnick (mresnick@idt.net), September 22, 1997

Answers

Street photographers

Great question.

The very next day, after the accident, I was out on the street with a few other photographers primarily shooting objects and architecture (nothing candid). One guy in a car called us 'papparazzi' and to tell the truth we must have looked like them. Other than strange stares, which we always get, no other incidents have happened since.

-- Andy Laycock (pbrlab@unixg.ubc.ca), September 22, 1997.


I do a fair amount of street photography and the last thing I want is to appear as a "photographer" or even worse as a paparazzi. For this reason I prefer not to carry a camera bag and to use a single body/lens on a shoulder strap and sort of hidden out of sight. People often assume I'm a tourist on vacation -- and that's fine with me. I've learned that the more you can fade into the background the more effective you can be in steet shooting.

-- Bill Osterman (Boster33@aol.com), October 08, 1997.

Response to Question for Street Photogs

I agree that fading into the background is effective. Using a camera that doesn't look professional but does the job effectively also helps. I use a Leica M3 or a Konica Hexar, neither of which looks like a pro camera to the untrained eye.

If anyone asks me what I'm doing (yes, it happens rarely) I take advantage of my deceptively youthful appearance and tell them I'm on a school project.

-- Mason Resnick (mresnick@idt.net), October 08, 1997.


street photos

Have recieved no more hassel than usual. Which is very little or none at all to begin with. For the avarage street shooter the whole situation will only be a blip on the screen.

-- jim megargee (mvjim@interport.net), October 12, 1997.

Steet Photogs...

I was exiting Australia the morning after.... on the Ausy entry forms you must enter you occupation (which I had done upon entry [as photographer] many days before her death)... upon exiting I was not going to put photog, but since I had already I thought I should be consistant to avoid trouble.... upon seeing photog on my exit papers I was questioned as to just what kind of photog, in not very friendly terms.... asking for a hand check of my film I was told sure, but it would be a couple of hours..... timing can be everything....

-- Wally Hampton (WallyH501@aol.com), October 31, 1997.


I was hired to photograph Princess Dianas funeral. I walked about photographing the crowd, candlelit vigils, people camping out and other scenes through the night. People wanted a photographer to be there to record what was going on and I felt no animosity. There were not many other photographers around until about 9a.m. When I stood with the rest of the press on a specially constructed stand we did get some threatening abuse and again when I had finished taking pictures and walked through the crowd laden with camera equipment after the funeral was over.

-- (DafyddK@aol.com), February 14, 1998.

backlash??

you're welcome to drop by my title page for my photo site. i've been blacklisted by the local photo shops and the ensuing mess has left me in a delimna. your comments also welcome. i guess when one is confronted with a problem like this, it's time we discovered exactly how good our photography is and whether it will make money, after we start charging taxes! http://www.angelfire.com/ca/fotografo

-- tony (tonyl@theoffice.net), May 29, 1998.

Moderation questions? read the FAQ