how do you photograph strangers?

[bluesmap]

what would be an appropriate way to approach someone and ask them if you can snap a photo?

ok. i know that when you're out and you have a 100mm lens (or something that reaches far) its a given to just snap away of people in the distance.

i have recently purchased a 50mm lens. i have put together a blog where i want to keep track of my daily life and people/things i encounter. how can i ask someone in a nice way if i can take a picture of them.

how have you guys done it in the past? what works? how can i go over this hurdle when dealing with random things/people on the street?

thanks for any suggestions and advice

[mknawabi]

you really just snap and go. if they say something, tell them its a school project, or offer to email/delete it.

but honestly, you need to work up a fair amount of guts to be able to do that. i do it, and let me tell you, its quite the rush. just be smart, don't take a picture of someone if their body language tells you they dont want to be photographed.