Question about posting street shots.

[360°]

Just went out for the first time and walked the streets of downtown and got some pretty interesting candid shots. I obviously dont know any of the people i photographed.

so my question is; am i allowed to post the photos online (flickr, facebook, forum) of people that i dont know and dont necessarily have consent from?

[bobbyz]

Where do you live man.:rolleyes:

[360°]

Where do you live man.:rolleyes:

edmonton alberta canada

[bobbyz]

Sorry for being sarcastic. At least here in US you can post anywhere. You don't need no release.

[360°]

Sorry for being sarcastic. At least here in US you can post anywhere. You don't need no release.

yeah i think its the same here... as long as its not commercial

[TheHoff]

Yes, you are correct. I've had the Canadian laws clarified by a lawyer (as best as I could understand them) and it is pretty much the same as the U.S.

If the person is not in a place where they have a natural expectation of privacy (public bathroom, pool change room, etc) then they are fair game. Of course you cannot use the photo for commercial or editorial purposes (by implying that the person in the photo supports a product or endorses an idea). You can post the photos online, make a book of "art" photography, have an exhibition in a gallery, etc.

[360°]

Yes, you are correct. I've had the Canadian laws clarified by a lawyer (as best as I could understand them) and it is pretty much the same as the U.S.

If the person is not in a place where they have a natural expectation of privacy (public bathroom, pool change room, etc) then they are fair game. Of course you cannot use the photo for commercial or editorial purposes (by implying that the person in the photo supports a product or endorses an idea). You can post the photos online, make a book of "art" photography, have an exhibition in a gallery, etc.

thanks hoff... i've looked through your vancouver thread. yours and jason's photos are great.... its what inspired me to go out and try it

[TheHoff]

Nice! Keep at it and use a wider lens. (everyone starts out too long :D.. I didn't see your shots yet to comment though; send a link if you post them here on POTN)

[360°]

i used a 30mm f1.4 worked fine because i fired everything from about belly button height

heres the thread with the pics

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?p=8942816#post8942816

[BottomBracket]

+1 on the wide lens. the Hoff speaks the truth.

[CanonHowitzer]

+1 on the wide lens. the Hoff speaks the truth.


Could you dudes elaborate a little on that?
There's a tendency to want to get closer to people for shots which means a longer lens.
So how are you using the wider lens?
I want to do like Hoff but don't really understand.
Are you speaking of wedding shots only?
Tks.:)

[TheHoff]

Nope, we're talking about street.

There is a significant difference between "street portraiture" and "street photography". Now really there are no rules and no strict definitions; you can shoot what you want and call it what you want but most of what is posted on the forums from new street shooters is better classified as portraiture. If you're focusing on just the faces of random people on the street, then yes, I'd say you want a longer lens.

But in the vein of classic street photography you really should show context -- where do those people live? what are they doing? why are they interesting? what are they doing that deserves a photo? If you can't answer those questions about the person, why take the image? What do you hope to show other than a random person's face when they didn't know you were taking the picture?

Viewer involvement in the photo is an entirely different story. Using a long lens creates a distant, anonymous feel to the photo. The background is usually blurred out removing all context. Space seems compressed and the person looking at the image will not feel involved.

Contrast that to something taken with a 28mm or 35mm lens -- much more of the scene will be in focus and the perspective given is much closer to how we normally view the world. We have a very wide angle of view with our peripheral vision.


Street photography (candid):

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3140/2790656589_39d62db941.jpg


Street portraiture (posed or pre-arranged with the subject, but still with wide angle):

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2208/2307273864_6e38a72097.jpg



As I'm fond of quoting Robert Capa, great Magnum war and street photographer -- "If your pictures aren't good enough, you're not close enough"

Please see the images of Bruce Gilden... look how close he is! I love them...

http://www.magnumphotos.com/Archive/C.aspx?VP=XSpecific_MAG.PhotographerDetail_VPage&pid=2K7O3R1482X4&nm=Bruce%20Gilden

[360°]

i've watch this guy many times.... great photographer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkIWW6vwrvM

[iAMB]

Anyone know what focal length Bruce Gilden uses the most? Im struggling to see if it is a 35mm or a 50mm

[TheHoff]

I believe I read somewhere that as he has gotten older he has gone wider and wider. Judging by the Youtube videos, I'd say in the range of 28 to 35. It looks like he shoots full-lengths from a few feet away.

[Robert Armbrust]

I've been shooting street for 4 years, and never had a problem posting them.

[Aleness]

I always hated my picture taken by a random dude on the street, but when I thought, who's going to remember me after seeing a photo with me - no one, so I kinda relaxed.
I usually try to stay be considerate of people and know that people don't like when someone takes pictures of their kids.
There is a cool trick though - just ask. Plainly exploiting human vanity - many fall for this, especially they see a guy with a professionally looking camera.