Getting past that Creepy Old Guy feeling

[WadeCourtney]

I've tried to take more photos where people are present, but I always feel like people think I'm some creepy guy snapping pictures for some creepy website.

How do you get over that? The thought of someone catching me taking their photo and then dressing me down in public, scares the living s*** out of me.

I have managed to get a few shots at the beach, where I can stand far enough back, but even then I still feel like the paparazzi.

Please O sage photographers, spread your wisdom.

Thanks,

Wade

[Murtasma]

Personally I'm creeped out by people who take pictures of strangers. May I ask why you're taking pictures of people you don't know at all?

I really don't see the reason why a photographer would ever need to take a voyeuristic image like this (A sea of people walking down the street, or a person doing performing arts or a person doing work on the street (not a hooker) is one thing but singling out a person in a crowd is another. If you're creating an event for a gallery of "strangers on the street" that could be one thing but likely after you take the image you would ask the person if it's ok to use in your upcoming show.

If your just taking pictures of strangers with little reason behind it then I find that kind of photography creepy. If you feel like a creeper doing it then you probably are making other people who notice you doing it creeped out by it as well.

If you want to practice taking candid pictures do it with your friends and family at a gathering, they will tend to be more open then people just wandering around in public. If you want to get better at portraits then you need to work with someone directly because you can't control the pose or lighting at all when your hiding in the bushes somewhere with a stick and leaf on your head.


Nothing personal I don't think you're a creeper. I used to want to take pictures of random people but then I realized WTF am I going to do with these pictures?

Nothing....

What did I learn by doing it? Probably just how to hide in a bush hehe

[Mr Guy]

Personally, I deal with it the way I deal with any uncomfortable situation: False Confidence, Openness, and Honesty.

I feel like the way to not worry about being a creepy dude is by not BEING a creepy dude. I talk to people, smile, laugh, and deliberately draw attention to myself. I make people move for me, pose for me, and just generally act like I'm supposed to be there, and that I have some kind of magic camera authority. Of course, with some confidence and a good attitude, the camera DOES give you magic authority.

[Murtasma]

Originally Posted by Mr Guy

Personally, I deal with it the way I deal with any uncomfortable situation: False Confidence, Openness, and Honesty.

I feel like the way to not worry about being a creepy dude is by not BEING a creepy dude. I talk to people, smile, laugh, and deliberately draw attention to myself. I make people move for me, pose for me, and just generally act like I'm supposed to be there, and that I have some kind of magic camera authority. Of course, with some confidence and a good attitude, the camera DOES give you magic authority.

I walked around with a girls gone wild t-shirt once. You won't believe what I got girls to do as they were comming out of the bar.

Your idea of act the role, be the role really works.

[Mr Guy]

Originally Posted by Murtasma

I walked around with a girls gone wild t-shirt once. You won't believe what I got girls to do as they were comming out of the bar.

Your idea of act the role, be the role really works.

I demand to see those pictures to find out how offended I am.

[Murtasma]

I could show you but I'd have to charge hehe.

[WadeCourtney]

Originally Posted by Murtasma

I walked around with a girls gone wild t-shirt once. You won't believe what I got girls to do as they were comming out of the bar.

Your idea of act the role, be the role really works.

Where can I get one of those?

Like I said, I generally don't like the feeling I get. Like I said, I think the only candid shots I've gotten was at the beach.

Even when I take pictures at work, with people I know, I get that feeling, like I'm not qualified to be there, doing that. But from the comments that I get on the photos, nothing could be farther than the truth.

[Photologyst]

Perhaps my advantage is being a woman?

I take take my SLR virtually everywhere that I go, almost every day— and shoot “everything” that catches my eye. All people ever say is, “Gee that looks like a serious camera. Are you a professional?”

I have a ton of “street photos” of lovers, people hanging, whatever and no one has ever seriously objected. Occasionally, in some uptight European cities someone will make a comment about getting permission for photographing a shop. Evidently some people are worried about “industrial espionage”. I always compliment them on their displays and mention that a real spy would not carry a monster SLR camera.

I am considering getting a “pen” camera.

[navcom]

Your absolutely right Lumico...gender does matter. People are less intimidated by a female photographer. I guess considering the times we live in, I would have to agree. There are some real creepy folks out there...or they are at least getting more attention than they used to.

[Henry Wilt]

You say "I have managed to get a few shots at the beach, where I can stand far enough back, but even then I still feel like the paparazzi.", maybe that's part of your problem.
Standing that far back you are not giving the subject a chance to react or object to the photo (like paparzzi) and to me that is when it becomes more voyeuristic. Get in close and get the picture thereby giving your subject the opportunity to let you know if they object, from the pictures I've been looking at it seems to get better results as well.

Check out Eric Kim's blog on the subject here, he's a street photographer that has done at least 1 tutorial already for DPS.