Photographing people in public.

As an hobbyist photographer, how do I photograph people in public without it being awkward or creepy?
I do lots of photography, purely as a hobby. I tend to focus on inanimate objects and scenes in part because I find it hard to take pictures of people I don't know. When I'm in public and I see someone doing something interesting or with an expressive look on their face, I often want to take a picture but don't because I feel awkward about it. I have a not so long lens (70-300mm ), so I can keep some distance, but chances are they will see me taking the picture, at which point they'll probably assume I'm a weirdo, and I can't hand them a business card from the local paper to explain that it's all in the name of photojournalism. I even feel awkward asking people for permission to take their picture, which is already a problem since it takes any spontaneity out of the shot.

Wait for the subject to strike the perfect pose, then click until you get the photo you want.

Does anyone have any advice for the best protocol for photographing strangers in public? Should I always ask permission first? What should I say if anyone confronts me about it? How can I get the shots I want artistically without seeming shady? Am I being paranoid about it and most people don't actually care?
You are in public and taking pictures in public is legitimate and most people get it. But people get awfully suspicious and even angry if they notice you sneaking up on them like you’re doing something wrong. As a “rule” I avoid photographing people who don’t want to be photographed. It’s their right and I respect it. Now, if I was secretly photographing them I would have taken that right away from them. Though I have to mention that at times I take pictures of someone, who, for various reasons, just doesn’t notice me, but as I don’t take compromising, offensive or questionable pictures to begin with, the risk of ever upsetting anybody is quite minimal.

Try to focus on the subject. Then focus elsewhere for a minute. Then go back on them. Meanwhile, laugh as though you just looked at a photo you really like. Repeat this until nobody pays any attention to you. They clearly think you are just insane and in your own world.

Most photographers will develop some method or another to deal with this challenge in a way that works best for them. Some photographers choose to secretly photograph people I find that many of them often choose to photograph people using this approach and though I’m not a fan of this method, I recognize why many photographers will choose to be unseen as it gives them a truly candid and authentic looking photos.

"I'm violating your privacy" like taking sneaky pictures of this man..

I'm never "sneaky" about it. I simply take the photos in a straightforward way. Most of the time, people don't notice. When they do notice, I usually just smile warmly - I almost always get a smile back. An old teacher of mine called this "completing the transaction". It amounts to connecting with a human being.

Some people genuinely believe that having their photograph taken steals their soul. Others don't want to be photographed for other personal reasons. It doesn't matter what happens to or with the photo later; it is the act of taking the photo that is in question.

If you live in any major urban centre you are having your photo taken when you walk into any shop, use an ATM, etc. In many cases nowadays you are also being video taped when you are in public squares and streets.
 With some practice you’ll be able to make your picture just as you imagined it and before the scene changes forever. You’d be surprised how positive people’s reaction can be in the face of your confidence and candor.
And it won’t hurt employing your cute smile as well..Happy Shooting.

Street photography in the eyes of Malaysian.

Street photography is a hobby I pick up to sustain my interest in photography. I take pictures for living, and there are times, when picking up the camera is a chore to me.Street photography has become a therapeutic indulgence, when I go out there to the enjoy the people, food and places - eddieputera.
And below is another wise word from eddieputera that inspire/inspirit me most.
If those are too complicated to achieve at the moment, than capture the everyday life. As opposed to photojournalist who were given tasks and topics to report, street photographers has millions of elements on the streets that they can capture and smile about. An old lady crossing the street with shopping bags, capture her pain and endure. A conversation between a disgruntled teen ager and policeman can make a good picture. The frantic sight of a young lawyer in black suits trying to hail a cab to the courtroom. A mamak showing his flattering skills of 'tarik'ing a glass of tea on the streets. Take that camera out and shoot these things. Tourist haggling with street vendors. Ah, so many things lah, just grab the camera and head for the streets. Open your eyes, be observant, take your time before click click, open your heart and most importantly, enjoy your outing.-eddieputera

what's the difference between shooting a sleeping old man and a beautiful rich looking woman walking down the street? Or for that matter, anything in the slums of xxxx, where poverty is a lens cap away? But wait, don't the all depict life on the streets, regardless of their status or well being? Don't we as street photographers have that every right to capture every bit of it as we see fit? Point is, shoot what you like, but don't tell others what they should not be shooting...haha, i guess this comment is from the hard core Malaysian street photographer.
I like...:)

I read a photography forum recently Thread: Street Photography.The moderator did not allowed the forumers to upload a kind of some street beggars,homeless peoples and people sleeping down the street.
Well,quite an interesting discussion going on here about photographing beggars on the street. Generally, I don't believe anyone should be telling you what to photograph and what not to. However, it is worth considering one's motives for shooting beggars.The homeless have long been accepted as one of the classical subjects for street photography. Some of the earlier photographers photographed to highlight social issues, others for personal acclaim and others just to fit within the conventions of what they have seen done before.
Read here from ROBIN WONG Portrait of a Homeless.
Do you know that some forumers would comment "I'll sue you for taking my picture when I'm asleep and posting it for public display because I'm a freak. What was your intent when you shot that picture?
I guess everyone sees things differently. As far as I am concerned, I feel that the photographer is showing different scenes from street life. At no point did I feel that the person in picture 7 was freakish in anyway.

To me he is a part of this world, living his life in his own way as do the other people in the other pictures. To me the photographer has documented street scenes which show the variations in human life. How would a picture of a sleeping beggar (assuming the person above ) be "wrong" while a picture of a sleeping taxi driver (so to speak) be "okay" hehehe....

He may or may not like his picture being taken, just as any other person may or may not like his/her picture being taken. But to me, avoiding taking the picture of someone like this is akin to ostracizing them from society. I mean if I am a beggar I could ask the photographer, "So you only take picture of rich people and not people like me ?"...So.what say you....
So many things lah,,,,, just grab the camera and head for the streets. Open your eyes, be observant, take your time before click click, open your heart and most importantly, enjoy your outing.Be yourself & establish a personal photographic style.

Decisive Moment Photography.

The Instantaneous capturing of a scene is the cameras greatest strength. The downfall of this gift is that the perfect moment has usually come and gone within a second or two. The beauty of this is that you can capture almost any event no matter how brief. The trick is not only capturing the perfect moment on film but also doing so with great composition. This is why it is imperative that photographers learn how to think very quickly. Slowly but surely the cameras manual settings will come naturally to you and you can set your camera up for any condition almost immediately.

But I believe there is more to the decisive moment than just Street photography. And of course there is more to Street photography than just this concept of decisive moment. The decisive moment can apply to any type of photography, from documentary, travel, candid or humanist photography. All images in a story cannot be a series of decisive moments and of course it’s not the only criteria to define a good photograph but definitely it is one.Does the decisive moment still exit?The answer is HERE

Local Street hooker

A good image has to be a straight and honest photograph where timing, form and content come together to reach perfection. 

Anyway here is proof that the decisive moment still exists today and that as long as photography exists, photographers around the world will still be searching for that decisive moment that makes an image so unique and incredible, somehow magical…
If you’d like to explore..& to know the answer "Does the Decisive Moment still exist?
Click H E R E

Sarawak Regatta

The iconic Sarawak Regatta scheduled for next week from 15th-18th September,2011 is very important as it will be held in conjunction with the celebration of Merdeka as well as the the 2011 IWWF Sarawak WakeBoard World Cup Championships, a world class event added for the first time.

Sarawak Regatta.

People of all races, cultures and beliefs will once again gather at the Kuching Waterfront and along the banks of the Sarawak River to witness this truly cultural sport extravaganza for four days from Sept 15.The Sarawak River will be filled with boats of multiple colours and sizes with thousands cheering in excitement.Apart from that, there will also be many side events to be held alongside the regatta namely Craft Exhibition, Trade and Food Fair as well as Cultural Show and Night Entertainment.

The Star of Florida waterski show team.

In addition to the main competitions, there is a show by the world famous “Stars of Florida Waterski Show Team” who would certainly wow the crowd with their stunts.

Wakeboard.

The WakeBoard championship will see about 30 World Cup wakeboarders from across the world.
For info about the race programmes just log on to the Sarawak Regatta Official website SARAWAK REGATTA

Architecture Pictures in Black & White.

Architecture is a favorite photography subject for many photographers. With as much symmetry, lines, and design variety structures offer, it's no wonder there are those out there who are very passionate about it.

Malay Kampong architecture.

City building architecture.

 More pictures in Black & White kindly visit my MY STREETTOGS.COM

A Creative Day.

For the last several days, I have been been wanting to have a day that I could completely dedicate to being creative. It would be a day spent writing and shooting with little else. Though I've scheduled it, something has always come up usually a health issue. It's been frustrating.

Creative style by the tourist seating near me..

I just want to get up real early one morning, even before the sun has come up, and go out shooting. In the afternoon have lunch and spend a couple of hours writing and then as the light gets good again, spend the rest of the day shooting. That would be a nice way to wind down after festival holiday.

People spending an hour reading newspaper.

I try to be more creative,after considering it I finally come up with new photoblog in Black & White images.It was a lot of fun and I was pleased with the images. Because I wasn't concerned with getting perfect exposures, composition and focus, I shot from a gut level, impulsively. I saw something that interested me and I just snapped the shutter. I didn't consider it carefully. I just saw and shot.
The B&W images that I shot for my Street Photography blog can be found here> My Streettogs.Com

The End "Last Day of Month of Ramadan".

 Today is the last day of Ramadan.First, the traffic, when it's not Ramadan, the roads are congested for a good but getting worst to-day.How you spend your last day of Ramadan?
I think most Muslims is busy with cleaning and last minute shopping .

Street vendor selling katupat casing along the street in Kuching.

People rushing for last minute shopping in Gambier Road in Kuching.

Hi, peoples.
I wish you all "Selamat Hari Raya".