Quote:
Originally Posted by bunt_q
Inevitably, when I do try and take people shots, it turns ugly. An early example:
I also feel somewhat uncomfortable traipsing around foreign cities with telephoto monsters...anything >200mm or so. That's not a lens, it's a spyscope. And I'd rather stick to landscapes than wind up accused of espionage.
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Looks like Marrakesh. Easily one of the most hostile places I've ever taken photos. I was barked at several times for raising my camera in someone's general direction. I took this shot of a crowd at the main square. The street performer actually stopped his act and singled me out, demanding money, stating the crowd was his and I had to pay to take its photo. I think he did it more to embarrass a tourist than for the reason he stated.
Hostile Crowd by
Porter Yates, on Flickr
The only other place I've experienced similar hostility is Bolivia. I took this shot and the woman sitting down in the distance spotted my camera up, pointing in her general direction. She got up and started yelling angrily and pointing at me. I moved on pretty quickly.
Rodrigo's Wall by
Porter Yates, on Flickr
Though not my preferred method I think shooting from the hip or chest to not draw attention is a legitimate practice. Just like in science there is an
observer effect with photography. I might see a shot I want but to shooting with the camera to my face results in someone looking into the lens and putting their hand up. I like to try and capture the scene as it exists naturally, not the scene's reaction to me shooting it.